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Literary and Cultural Ireland

October 7–12, 2024

Pricing: $4,995 per person; For a single room add $600

register

For more information, contact ATA at 877-298-9677 or Reservations@academic-travel.com


Note: We are making some adjustments to this itinerary to add some additional historical and cultural experiences. Updates will be posted no later than January 1, 2024. If you want us to notify you when the updated itinerary is published, please enter your email address in the space provided to the right.

Overview

Delve into Ireland’s vibrant literary arts on a journey that brings you into the worlds of some of history’s most renowned writers. In the heart of Dublin, immortalized by James Joyce, explore the city’s relationship to the many writers it has produced—and meet a prominent contemporary Irish author for a personal perspective on writing in Ireland today. Travel into Northern Ireland, on the trail of Samuel Beckett and C.S. Lewis, and cap off the trip in the tranquil countryside Seamus Heaney called home. Along the way, enjoy exclusive tours of historic estates and examine rare books and manuscripts in libraries and private collections.

Questions?

Please contact ATA at:
Toll-Free Number: 877-298-9677
Reservations@academic-travel.com

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Trip Highlights

  • Take a guided tour of the Museum of Literature Ireland with the museum’s director, then meet with a prominent Irish author for a specially arranged book club-style discussion.
  • Discover the history of theater in Dublin on a walking tour and meet with theater-makers for a workshop at the famed Abbey Theater.
  • Visit the Glyde Inn, located in the picturesque ‘Wee’ County, and meet with an author to discuss how the rugged landscape inspired C.S. Lewis; then experience Belfast on a private tour and learn how this industrial city shaped Lewis’ imagination as a young boy.
  • Take an excursion to Seamus Heaney HomePlace and immerse yourself in the landscapes that informed the poet’s work; join a local poet or scholar for a workshop on Heaney’s poetry.

Trip Expert: Kwame Alexander

Our trip expert is #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Kwame Alexander, Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts and Inaugural Writer-in-Residence at Chautauqua. A poet, educator, publisher, and Emmy-nominated producer, Alexander is the author of 40 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir; The Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson; Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson; and the Newbery Medal-winning middle grade novel, The Crossover, now a television series on Disney+. His books have long been a staple on lists for both Chautauqua Institution’s Young Readers program and its Battle of the Books. Alexander, the former Innovator-in-Residence at the American School in London, made his Chautauqua Lecture Series debut in a week dedicated to “The Life of Literature” in August 2023. 

Kwame Alexander

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

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

What’s Included?

  • All accommodations for the duration of the tour
  • Meals, as noted in the itinerary
  • All sightseeing and visits as noted in each itinerary
  • One group transfer from Belfast to DUB on Day 8
  • Expertise of an expert, ATA-hired tour manager and local guides throughout the tour
  • All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel, and restaurant staff as part of the group program
  • All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted
  • Quietvox listening devices to facilitate audibility and social distancing on tour
  • Fully vetted program that meets COVID-19 health and safety protocols
  • The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
  • Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
  • Emergency evacuation insurance

Accommodations

Iveagh Garden Hotel
Located in a brick building in Dublin’s vibrant Portobello neighborhood, 145 warmly decorated rooms feature flat-screen TVs, a writing desk, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Relax in the cozy Ellie’s Bar & Bistro, serving delicious casual dining, craft cocktails, and the freshest local ingredients. Sustainability is a priority for the Iveagh Garden Hotel and was designed to deliver an exceptional guest experience while limiting the hotel’s carbon footprint. From sourcing energy from the nearby River Swan to smart-control, low-power lighting systems, the Iveagh Garden Hotel is widely considered to be Europe’s first sustainable hotel.

Europa Hotel
A historic hotel known for having survived over three dozen bomb attacks during the late 20th-century Northern Ireland conflict, the Europa Hotel is a favorite for celebrities and VIPs who visit Belfast. Newly renovated guest rooms have a bright and urban chic feel, and offer flat-screens TVs and tea and coffeemaking equipment. Onsite dining options include the comfortable Causerie Restaurant, serving the best of Northern Ireland, and the ever-popular Piano Bar and its impressive array of cocktails

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