September is a wonderful time to visit Ireland. The summer tourists are gone and the weather is terrific. We’ll be based in Dublin and Westport, one of the most historically significant towns in the country, site of Rockfleet Castle and Burrishoole Abbey, both to the northwest, both with have ties to the 16th-century pirate queen, Grace O’ Malley. Westport is the ideal base for exploring both the extraordinary history of Ireland and meet the new Ireland.
We’ll meet members of the Men’s Shed movement which practices shoulder to shoulder therapy for older men, we’ll see the extraordinary intergenerational music culture that marks much of Irish society, we’ll visit a program that helps older Irish ex-pats (or their children) return to Ireland. In Dublin we will have a chance to meet with advocates seeking to fight ageism, ableism, and abuse, meet with people responsible for organizing the annual festival known as Bealtaine which celebrates the contributions of older adults, and we’ll meet with several of the major researchers in the field of aging.
Enrollment is limited to fourteen travelers. Reserve your seat today!
*All prices per person. Airfare not included. Itinerary subject to change.
Itinerary to fill out in coming weeks.
Wednesday, September 27: Meet at Dublin Radisson, Night in Westport
Thursday, September 28: Galway, IGS stay in Westport
Friday, September 29: Galway, IGS stay in Westport
Saturday, September 30: Westport
Sunday, October 1: Westport
Monday, October 2: Westport
Expat Center
Isle for Banshee of Ina
Tuesday, October 3: Depart to Belfast
Wednesday, October 4: Belfast
Thursday, October 5: Belfast
Friday, October 6: Belfast to Dublin
Saturday, October 7: Dublin
Sunday, October 8: Dublin departure.
Trip Information
What is included?
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Ten hotel nights, Check-in Thursday, September 27 to Check-out Sunday, October 8.
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All meals beginning with lunch Thursday, September 27 through breakfast Sunday, October 8.
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Taxis if necessary.
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Bus travel to our destination cities and to tour sites (which can include trailheads or the beach)
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Organizer and accompanying trip leader
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Museum, event, and tour fees.
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Professional guides on occasions, which will be specified in the final itinerary
Here are the exceptions:
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Airfare to and from Ireland.
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Transfers to and from the airport. It will be challenging to have a single bus pick-up for everyone if arrival times are very different. However, if you send us your arrival information, we will make an effort to meet you at the airport.
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Alcohol.
Regarding travel to and from Ireland, we suggest you arrive on Tuesday, September 26 or the morning of Wednesday, September 27. Plan to depart (unless you are planning an "after-trip") on Sunday, October 8. If you need help planning your flights let us know and perhaps we can help you choose a flight schedule or preferred airlines.
About the hotels, these will be clean hotels with excellent accessibility to the places we are visiting, city centers, or close to our major tour sites.
Transportation. We will travel either in a tour coach, usually a 20 seater. The bus will comfortably fit our group. We will do our best to find, and confirm, a coach that has wi-fi. In cities we may use taxis and/or public transportation.
Phone Service. Your cell phone provider in the U.S. may be able to provide you with an affordable package for calling, and receiving, calls from the U.S.
Cancellations & Deposits
- The total cost of your reservation is due 45 days before the trip (Sunday, August 13, 2023).
- 45 days before the trip (Sunday, August 13, 2023) or more: 90% of the total cost of the trip will be refunded.
- Between 44 and 30 days before (Monday, August 14, 2023 to Monday, August 28, 2023): 50% of the total cost of the trip will be refunded.
- 29 days before the trip (Tuesday, August 29, 2023) or less: the entirety of your payment is non-refundable.