Day 1
Day 1: Introduction to Dublin
Arrival on individual flights and transfer independently to your Dublin hotel (check in may not be available until this 3:00PM). Gather with fellow travelers for a brief overview tour of Dublin, including the Georgian neighborhood where Oscar Wilde once lived, the statue of Irish musician and writer Phil Lynott, and Merrion Square, where a statue of Nelson Mandela marks twenty years of his imprisonment. Enjoy a private tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift served as dean, and a visit to the adjacent Marsh’s Library, Ireland’s first public library, which opened in 1707. After some time at your hotel to freshen up, dine together at a welcome dinner with an introduction to your week by expert Kwame Alexander.
Included Meal: Dinner
Accommodations: Iveagh Garden Hotel
Day 2
Day 2: Dublin: Past, Present, and Future Literary Encounter
Visit the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) including a guided tour of the museum’s historic building by Director Simon O’Connor. Participate in an exclusive book club experience with a prominent Irish author facilitated by Simon O’Connor (author to be confirmed). Attend an event with a local non-profit like Children’s Book Ireland or Poetry Ireland and learn how the country is inspiring young readers and securing a future for Irish literature that is as celebrated as its past. Dinner and the rest of the evening will be yours to enjoy in Dublin.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Iveagh Garden Hotel
Day 3
Day 3: Dublin: From the Page to the Stage
This morning, visit EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum and uncover the stories of more than 10 million people who emigrated from Ireland over the centuries – why they left, where they went, and how a small country made such a big impact on the world. A permanent collection contains dozens of letters to home written by Irish emigrants; additional thematic exhibits in 2024 will be announced at a later date. Then turn to the stage for a theater-themed walking tour that highlights Dublin’s ties to the lives and legacies of Irish playwrights past and present, from George Bernard Shaw and J.M. Synge to Enda Walsh. After some time at leisure, participate in a private afternoon workshop at the Abbey Theatre led by professional actors or theatre-makers that explores playwriting, acting, directing, or perhaps even puppetry. This evening, you will have the option to explore Dublin on your own or join expert Kwame Alexander for an evening of live music at a local jazz and blues club. Information for the music venue will be announced at a later date, and tickets will be a small supplemental cost.
Included Meal: Breakfast
Accommodations: Iveagh Garden Hotel
Day 4
Day 4: Dublin to Belfast: In the Footsteps of C.S. Lewis
Depart Dublin by motorcoach and enter ‘Wee’ County Louth, the smallest county in Ireland. Enjoy a coffee break and meet with a local author at the Glyde Inn to discuss how C.S. Lewis was likely inspired by the misty peaks of the nearby Mourne Mountains. Continue to Belfast for a private “Beyond the Wardrobe” tour that explores the life story and local influences of C.S. Lewis, who was born in east Belfast in 1898. Delve into the author’s views on friendship as seen through his Narnia series. Pause at a life-sized statue of American abolitionist Frederick Douglass, the first statue in Europe of a Black statesman, and learn of his unique relationship with Belfast’s Anti Slavery Society. Continue the discussion of Irish-American relations as you dine as a group this evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Europa Hotel
Day 5
Day 5: Seamus Heaney’s Northern Ireland
Sojourn to the shores of Lough Neagh, where Seamus Heaney spent much of his life. Visit Seamus Heaney HomePlace, a literary center situated between the poet’s childhood homes and his final resting place. Enjoy a workshop on the works of Seamus Heaney led by a lecturer or local poet. Venture to “Open Ground,” important locations that link the landscape to Heaney’s literature for a private tour. Return to Belfast to toast your literary adventure during a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Europa Hotel
Day 6
Day 6: Belfast to Dublin/Departure
Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to Dublin Airport for individual flights home. The transfer will take approximately two hours.
Included Meal: Breakfast