Paddy's Week in Ireland

If you want to experience an authentic St. Patrick’s Day away from the big crowds and tourist traps in Dublin, the best Paddy’s Day in Ireland has got to be in Galway. Your visit to the Land of the Leprechaun will include overnights in Killarney, Galway and of course Dublin, and will include admission to many of the Ireland’s natural and historic highlights including both the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. The highlight of your week is sure to be on St. Patrick’s Day when Galway hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Festival and Parade in the seaside city’s history. This festival starts on the 15th and offers three days of events and activities culminating in a 1 hour parade featuring over 3000 participants. 

Only those with the luck-o’-the-Irish get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland. Airline availability is extremely limited and early airline deadlines apply. Contact either Kaiserslautern or Baumholder Outdoor Recreation today to reserve your week in Ireland!

Estimated Itinerary

Saturday: Check in | Fly to Ireland | Galway

A morning flight to Ireland will have you on the ground on the Emerald Isle before noon followed by a transfer to the city of Galway on Ireland’s western coast. Galway City has a reputation for being strongly associated with traditional Irish language, music, song and dancing. A tour of Galway will introduce you to its most important locations before three evenings at your 4 star hotel place you a short bus ride away from the Spanish Arch at the waterfront entry to the city, giving you the chance to explore “Ireland’s Cultural Heart” from the waterfront to Eyre Square. 

Sunday: Free Day or Connemara and Kylemore Abbey

Even more than Galway City, Connemara is most traditionally Gaelic part of Galway County.  Known for its many mountains, coves and peninsulas, Connemara’s largest village is Clifden.  Today, you can stay in Galway City or take a trip to Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine Monastery founded on the grounds of Kylemore Castle during the First World War.  The historic estate and its Victorian Gardens are one of Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions.  

Monday: Paddy’s Day

Stake out your viewing location early; the St. Patrick’s Parade starts at 11:30 this morning and runs through Galway City Centre for over an hour before it passes the viewing stand at Eyre Square.  After the parade end you can experience family-oriented fun in the square, or the festival atmosphere in the city’s medieval streets and neighborhoods.  Many pubs and other venues will have live music and many of Galway’s neighboring villages will also host their own events and festivities.

Tuesday: Cliffs of Moher | Bunratty Castle | Killarney

On the way to Killarney you will stop at two more famous locations, the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle.  Along the Atlantic Coast, the Cliffs of Moher have a maximum height of 700 feet near the visitors center and have been featured in many films and music videos, including as “The Cliffs of Insanity” in The Princess Bride and as the location of a horcrux in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Further along the route to Killarney you will find Bunratty Castle, Ireland’s most complete and authentic castle.  Located on the site of a 9th century Viking trading post, the castle is part of a larger living history museum where you can find a working 19th century Irish village.  Your day will wrap up in Kerry County when you check into your hotel which is conveniently located a mile from the village center.  

Wednesday: Free Day or Ring of Kerry Tour

On todays 179 km “Ring of Kerry” scenic drive, your eyes will experience everything the southwest coast of Ireland has to offer.  This tourist route around the Iveragh Peninsula is known far and wide for gorgeous vistas, lakes, castles, cliffs, abbeys and waterfalls, all located within the Killarney National Park.  While the high points of the route are considered to be Moll’s Gap, Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe, every twist of the road will offer incredible views and gorgeous scenery.

Thursday: Rock of Cashel | Dublin

On the way from Killarney to Dublin, you will visit the Rock of Cashel.  This location was the seat of the kings of Munster for hundreds of years before the Norman invasion of Ireland and is alleged to be where Saint Patrick accepted the conversion of the King of Munster in the 5th century. The majority of the buildings on the site now date to the 12th and 13th centuries and are home to one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture in Europe.  

Friday: Dublin

This morning you can take a guided tour of Dublin, or just venture out to explore Dublin on your own. Today and tomorrow offer you plenty of free time to use visiting your choice of Dublin’s tourist attractions. 

Saturday: Free Day in Dublin

Whether you visit Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Jameson Distillery or the National Leprechaun Museum, your visit to Dublin is sure to include just what you wanted to see. Your hotel’s location on O’Connell Street makes it easy to get out and about and even easier to find your way back at the end of your day.

Sunday: Return to Kaiserslautern

Your return flight is not until this afternoon, so you get one more morning to enjoy in Dublin. This is your chance to check anything you’ve missed off your list before your flight home.

Price, on or prior to Friday, November 29:

• Double Occupancy: $2199 per person
• Single Occupancy: $2899

Price, on or after Saturday, November 30:

• Double Occupancy: $2399 per person
• Single Occupancy: $3099
   
• Child and family room rates available upon request

Deadlines: 

• Early Bird Discount expires on Friday, November 29
• Lufthansa Initial Air Ticketing Deadline is Friday, January 3
• Airline and hotel price supplements may apply to all registrations made on or after Saturday, January 4

Trip Includes:

• Round trip transportation starting at Pulaski Barracks including:
  • Round trip transportation to Frankfurt Airport from Pulaski Barracks
  • Lufthansa flight
  • Check in and seat selection 22 hours prior to your flight
  • Checked bag up to 23 kg
  • Carry on bag up to 8 kg
  • Airport shuttles and local transportation as required for included events
• 8 total overnights in 3 and 4 star hotels with daily breakfast
  • 3 overnight at Hotel Galway Bay**** or equivalent
  • 2 overnights at Hotel Killarney Court*** or equivalent
  • 3 overnights at Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre***+ or equivalent
• Galway City Tour
• Connemara Day Trip
• Admission to Kylemore Abbey and Garden
• Admission to Cliffs of Moher
• Admission to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park
• Ring of Kerry Day Trip
• Admission to Rock of Cashel
• Dublin City Tour

What to Bring: 

• Comfortable, weather appropriate shoes & clothing 
• Credit/Debit Card or Euro
• Military ID and Passport

Departure: 6 a.m. from Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, bldg. 2905

Return: Around 11 p.m.