Day 1
Day 1: Introduction to Dublin
Arrival in individual flights and transfer independently to your Dublin hotel (check in may not be available until this 3 p.m.). Gather with fellow travelers for a brief overview tour of Dublin, including historic sites along O’Connell Street, Phoenix Park, and the Georgian neighborhood where Oscar Wilde once lived. 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 Sony Ton-Aime.
Included Meal: Dinner
Accommodations: Iveagh Garden Hotel
Day 2
Day 2: Dublin: Literary Encounters and a Renowned Book Collection
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). Take an excursion to the Farmleigh House, a private Edwardian mansion that was once home to the Guinness family. Here, join librarian Nuala Canny in the Benjamin Iveagh Library for a private viewing of some of the gems of Benjamin Guinness’s collection, including rare books, historic manuscripts, and first editions of Ulysses and Gulliver’s Travels. Enjoy dinner at a local pub.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodations: Iveagh Garden Hotel
Day 3
Day 3: Dublin: From the Page to the Stage
This morning, visit the National Library of Ireland, home to over twelve million Irish books, periodicals, photographs, maps, manuscripts, and genealogical materials. A permanent photo exhibition reveals a unique and fascinating record of life in Ireland over the past 150 years; 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 return to the Abbey for an evening performance. Performance information 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. Discuss your own views on friendship 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