Overseas Adventure Travel - YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
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YOUR O.A.T. ADVENTURE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE®
Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties
2021
Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 13)
®
Overseas Adventure Travel
The Leader in Personalized Small Group Adventures on the Road Less Traveled
1
Dear Traveler,
At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. And the O.A.T. Irish
Adventure: Belfast, Dublin & the Northwest Counties itinerary you’ve expressed interest in will be a wonderful
way to resume the discoveries that bring us so much joy. You might soon be enjoying standout moments
like these:
When I think of Ireland, I imagine dramatic cliffs and lush greenery, lively music echoing from a local
pub, and legendary tales of Irish folk heroes. I also love to see how the people live, work, and play in rural
communities like Dunkineely, a small village in southwest Donegal and one of the most sparely-populated
places in Ireland. You’ll experience A Day in the Life of a local hand weaver who works alongside her
mother—two of the only women working in Donegal’s male-dominated tweed industry. Perhaps you’ll even
take a turn on the 150-year-old loom to learn firsthand the work that goes into this traditional craft.
But nothing compares with the stories I hear directly from the local people. You’ll hear their dramatic
personal experiences when you explore Belfast via black cab, driven by locals who lived through The
Troubles; and you’ll have a rare opportunity to meet an ex-British soldier and two ex-political prisoners—a
Republican who fought for Irish independence and a loyalist who fought with the Ulster Volunteer Force—to
learn about the dark shadow cast by this conflict and their shared hopes for a better future.
The way we see it, you’ve come a long way to experience the true culture—not some fairytale version of it.
So we keep our groups small, with only 8-16 travelers (average 13) to ensure that your encounters with local
people are as intimate and authentic as possible. It’s also why your O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader will be a
resident “insider” who can show you the culture as only a local can.
To ensure that your adventure is truly unique, put your own personal stamp on it. You can arrive early and
stay later, add a pre- or post-trip extension, spend time in a Stopover city, or combine two or more trips.
Plus, your itinerary offers ample free time so you can pursue your own interests.
So until the day comes when you are off to enjoy your Irish Adventure: Belfast, Dublin & the Northwest Counties
adventure, I hope you will relish the fun and anticipation that this O.A.T. Adventure Travel Planning
Guide® will inspire. Should you have further questions, feel free to call our Regional Adventure Counselors
at 1-800-955-1925.
Love and peace,
Harriet R. Lewis
Vice Chairman, Overseas Adventure Travel
P.S. For more inspiration, you can watch videos and slideshows from travelers like you at www.oattravel.
com/traveler-moments. You can also share some of your own favorite moments by uploading your
travel videos and slideshows directly onto the trip-specific pages of our website.
USA Today “Best Tours”
10Best Readers’ Presented by
Choice Awards Solo Traveler
2
CONTENTS
A Letter from Harriet Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The O.A.T. Difference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
The Grand Circle Foundation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Leader in Solo Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
IRISH ADVENTURE: DUBLIN, BELFAST ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS:
& THE NORTHWEST COUNTIES CULTURE, ETIQUETTE & MORE
Your Adventure at a Glance: Irish Culture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Where You’re Going, What it Costs, Religion and Religious Observances . . . . . . . 66
and What’s Included . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Accommodations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Your Detailed Day-To-Day Itinerary . . . . . . . . . . 9
Language in Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Irish Cuisine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Pre-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Shopping: What to Buy, Customs,
Post-Trip Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Shipping & More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Dates & Prices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION
Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements. . . 44
Facts, Figures & National Holidays . . . . . . . . 71
44
No Visas Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ireland: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . . . . . . . . . 46
Northern Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Vaccines Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Facts, Figures & National Holidays . . . . . . . . 73
Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping
Northern Ireland: A Brief History . . . . . . . . . . 73
Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Tipping Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . . . . . 53
RESOURCES
Suggested Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Optional Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Suggested Film & Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Communicating with Home from Abroad . . 54
Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . . . 56
Suggested Packing Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Electricity Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Climate & Average Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . 62
O.A.T. Health & Safety Measures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
3
EXPERIENCE THE O.A.T. DIFFERENCE
in Ireland
This adventure not only showcases iconic sights, but takes you beyond them to experience the
culture through unique activities, engagement with the natural world, and authentic encounters
with local people. Since our founding in 1978, O.A.T. has become America’s leader in personalized
small group journeys on the road less traveled.
SMALL GROUPS: 8-16 TRAVELERS LOCAL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION
(AVERAGE OF 13)—GUARANTEED To see the world like the locals, you should
The world feels more intimate and engaging travel like one. Our small group size allows
when your experience of it is also personal us to take the roads and waterways that are
and genuine. That’s why our groups never less traveled, and we often follow them using
exceed 16 travelers. This gives you access to the same unique modes of transportation
people and places larger groups simply can’t that the locals use—be it a canoe, a camel or a
reach. More authentic interactions. Deeper vintage cab.
bonds with your travel mates. Personal service
from your Trip Experience Leader. Smoother UNIQUE LODGINGS
transitions. And a far more satisfying Our lodgings reflect the local character,
experience than any traditional tour offers. from smaller family-run hotels and historic
manors to comfy inns. Occasionally, larger
THE BEST TRIP EXPERIENCE LEADERS hotels closer to city centers are used. Wherever
Your English-speaking, O.A.T. Trip Experience you stay, you’re assured fine comfort and
Leader is a resident of the region you are hospitality.
visiting, so you will get a true insider’s
perspective that brings each place alive—the OUR WORLDWIDE OFFICES
stories, food, customs, hidden treasures With 36 regional offices around the world,
and more. we are perfectly poised to leverage our local
relationships to deliver an excellent experience
AUTHENTIC CULTURAL CONNECTIONS and value. During this trip, you’ll be supported
Engage with local people through visits to by our team in Killarney.
farms, factories, markets, and artisans’
studios; school visits; Home-Hosted meals;
and more.
Share a homecooked meal with a local family in Cobh, Ireland Witness sheep dogs in action at a farm in Kenmare, Ireland
4
THE PILLARS OF DISCOVERY
Enriching. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These features form the foundation
of your Irish Adventure.
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION (GCF) VISIT exclusive, immersive experience that places
GCF was established in 1992 to help change you in the heart of a community where you’ll
people’s lives in the world where we live, meet various people where they live, work,
work, and travel. To date, we have pledged or and play; visit the neighborhood school; lend a
donated $200 million worldwide. hand with daily chores; and break bread with
our hosts.
You’ll see GCF’s work in action when we meet
one of the directors at Haven Horizons, a new This adventure includes A Day in the
partner of Grand Circle Foundation in County Life experience in Donegal where we’ll
Clare dedicated to preventing domestic abuse visit a tweed weaver in the small village
and helping survivors develop the skills and of Dunkineely to hear about this mother-
resources needed to lead independent, self- daughter business and what it’s like to be
sufficient lives. one of the only women to participate in the
male-dominated Donegal tweed industry.
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS We’ll also visit Heather Hill Farm where
Every culture has its joys and achievements, we’ll gain insights into sustainable farming
and we celebrate them all. But every place during a tour with the owner and enjoy a
also has its challenges, and to gloss over them rare opportunity to prepare a meal at the
would not do justice to those whose stories farmstead before sitting down for lunch with
need to be told—nor to you, as a traveler who our hosts.
deserves more than a sugar-coated version of
things. So our Trip Experience Leaders will
HOME-HOSTED EXPERIENCES
lead frank discussions on controversial issues, Stories shared. Differences solved. Taste buds
and introduce you to people whose stories will engaged. Good will extended. It’s amazing the
expand your understanding. things that can happen across a kitchen table,
so we’ll break into groups of 5-6 to join a local
For example, we’ll explore Belfast via black family in their home for a snack or a meal.
cab, driven by locals who lived through The This is a rare opportunity to witness family
Troubles; then meet an ex-British soldier and life, learn local customs, and taste some
ex-political prisoners who fought on opposite home-cooked fare.
sides who will share their stories about the
dark deeds they took part in during the On this adventure, we’ll get a taste of Irish
fighting, their experiences while incarcerated, cuisine and a deeper understanding of the
and their shared hopes for a better future. culture when we share a meal with a family
in County Clare. Here, we’ll see how a local
A DAY IN THE LIFE family goes through their daily lives—where
Do you ever wonder, “What would it be like they live, what they cook, how they eat, and
to live here?” when you visit new lands? Let’s how they feel about their homeland.
find out during your O.A.T. A Day in the Life, an
5
GRAND CIRCLE FOUNDATION
Changing people’s lives, one village, one school, one person at a time
ON THIS ADVENTURE …
Dear Traveler,
Since our inception in 1992, the Grand Circle
In 1992 we established Grand Circle Foundation has pledged or donated more
Foundation, an entity of the Lewis Family than $200 million to projects around the
Foundation, as a means to give back to world. Here are just a few of the ways we have
the world that had already given us so partnered with the communities on this trip..
much. We’ve pledged or donated more
than $200 million worldwide to support Haven Horizons
the education of young people and the Haven Horizons—a new partner of Grand Circle
preservation of international treasures Foundation—is dedicated to preventing domestic
and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. abuse and helping survivors develop the skills
needed to lead fulfilling, independent lives. In
Of course, none of this would be possible addition to community outreach and emotional
without your help. A portion of the support, the organization offers adult education
proceeds of every adventure is donated to courses and works with the community, police,
Grand Circle Foundation—so just as your public agencies, and other institutions to promote
life will be enriched by the discoveries prevention policies.
you’ll make on your journey, you’ll also
St. Oliver’s National School
help to enrich the lives of the people
Total Donations: $8,198
you’ll meet along the way. Thank you
Located in Killarney, this Catholic primary school
for traveling with us, and for helping to
serves a diverse population of nearly 750 students
change people’s lives.
from a variety of faiths, nationalities, and abilities.
Love and peace, The school has the highest number of pupils with
low incidence Special Education Needs in Ireland
and has received awards for Cultural Diversity and
Harriet R. Lewis Chair,
Environmental Awareness. With GCF funding, the
school obtained furnishings and play therapy for
Grand Circle Foundation 40 students.
How you can help
To learn more about ongoing Foundation projects,
you can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, the
Inside Scoop, at www.oattravel.com/community/
the-inside-scoop. When you do, you’ll not only
receive updates on Grand Circle Foundation, but the
latest news and discoveries on all things Grand Circle
and Overseas Adventure Travel.
www.grandcirclefoundation.org
6
THE LEADER IN SOLO TRAVEL
in Ireland—and Around the World
ON THIS ADVENTURE …
FREE Single Supplements: We don’t charge The leader in solo-friendly
a single supplement on this adventure and travel for Americans—
optional trip extensions—a savings of $300-
by the numbers
$1,700 per person compared to other travel
companies. But single spaces fill quickly, so
early reservations are advised. More than 50,000 solo travelers
joined us in 2018 and 2019—on their
One of our most popular trips for solo
own or with a friend or relative
travelers. More than 945 solo travelers
joined us on this adventure in the past two
years—either independently or sharing 20,000 single spaces with a
a room with a mother, daughter, sister, FREE or low-cost Single Supplement
or friend. in 2021—a 25% increase from 2019
High ratings: More than 85% of these solo
travelers rated their adventure excellent.
More than 90% of solo women
On average, half of your group will also travelers rated their adventure
be traveling independently, so it’s easy excellent
to forge special bonds as you experience
unforgettable moments together.
38 exclusive women’s departures
You’ll be in good hands, thanks to your featured on 23 of our most popular
dedicated local Trip Experience Leader (a adventures—8 of which are single-
resident of Ireland), and the expertise of our only departures
regional office team in Killarney.
Increased Single Space: In 2021, we have
86% more single spaces than in 2019,
with up to 8 single spaces per departure.
See available FREE single space at
www.oattravel.com/bia2021.
Exclusive Women’s Departures: We are
thrilled to offer a women-only departure of
our Irish Adventure: October 18, 2021. Space
is limited so don’t delay. Join our traveling
sisterhood today!
Solo doesn’t mean “alone.” Three out of eight O.A.T. travelers
join our small groups as solos, so you will be in good company.
7
Lower prices than last year—a value of $1000 per couple
Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast &
the Northwest Counties Small Group Adventure
Ireland̆'ŽðķĢł̇'ŋłāėÖķ̵̇!ŋłłāĿÖũÖ̵̇!ŋŽłŶƘ!ķÖũāΆ̵Northern Ireland: Belfast, North Coast
Countries: 2 Ά!ĢŶĢāŭ̆6
Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included
(average of 13)
• International airfare, airport transfers, • Explore in a small group of 8-16
ː˕ùÖƘŭĕũŋĿ
$ 4495 government taxes, fees, and airline fuel
surcharges unless you choose to make
travelers (average group size of 13)
• Services of a local O.A.T. Trip
Includes international airfare your own air arrangements
Experience Leader
Travel from only $281 a day • All land transportation • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and
• Accommodations for 14 nights luggage porters
ː˔ùÖƘŭĕũŋĿ $ 3695 • 28 meals—14 breakfasts, 7 lunches, • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward
Without international airfare and 7 dinners (including 1 Home- your next O.A.T. adventure—an
Hosted Dinner) average of $362
FREE Single Supplement
• 12 small group activities
Maximize Your
Discoveries & Value
To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure,
Optional extensions: watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/bia2021
Dublin in Depth
4 nights pre-trip from $1695
Travel from only $424 per night
'ĢłėķāͽbĢķķÖũłāƘ̆!ŋŽłŶƘbāũũƘ̪ŭ
Rugged Coastline
5 nights post-trip from $2395
Travel from only $479 per night
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland
Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast & the Northwest Counties
8
Irish Adventure: Dublin, Belfast
& the Northwest Counties
YOUR DETAILED ITINERARY
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE WITH AN OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP EXTENSION
4 nights in Dublin in Depth
Day 1 Depart U.S. Day 4 Dublin • Glendalough
Day 2 Dublin, Ireland Day 5 Dublin • National Stud
Day 3 Explore Dublin • Trinity College & Day 6 Dublin • Howth • Join main trip
the Book of Kells
Day 1 Depart for Dublin, Ireland of 1-2 or by private minivan in groups of 3-4,
depending on the number of travelers who
Depart the U.S. today on an overnight flight to arrived with you. The transfer is approximately
Dublin, Ireland. 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
At our hotel, we’ll meet our Trip Experience
Day 2 Arrive Dublin, Ireland
Leader, as well as travelers who took our
• Destination: Dublin
optional Dublin in Depth pre-trip extension,
• Included Meals: Dinner then receive our room assignments and settle
• Accommodations: Belvedere Hotel or similar in. Depending on which hotel you stay in, it may
Morning: You’ll arrive in Dublin in the morning feature an on-site restaurant and bar. Typical
or afternoon, depending on your specific rooms are all fully equipped with wireless
flight arrangements. Upon arrival, expect to Internet, TV, coffee- and tea-making facilities,
spend about 45 minutes clearing customs and an in-room safe, iron and ironing board, and
completing any temperature checks or health a private, en suite bathroom with hair dryer.
guidelines your airline requires. Travelers Throughout the day, our Trip Experience
who have reserved their airfare with O.A.T. Leader will lead travelers on orientation walks
will also have their temperature checked by of the neighborhood surrounding our hotel as
an O.A.T. representative before boarding the they arrive.
transfer vehicle, per our NEW health and safety
Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience
protocols; those who do not reserve airfare with
Leader will be happy to provide you with
us will have their temperature checked upon
recommendations.
arrival at the hotel. You will then be escorted to
your hotel in the city by private car in groups
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
9
Afternoon: At around 6:30pm, we’ll meet building has housed Dubliners from all walks
for a 30-minute Welcome Briefing with our of life, from members of the Irish elite to 100
Trip Experience Leader, during which we will working-class tenants sharing 19 apartments.
introduce ourselves and review our itinerary in
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.
more detail (including any changes that may
• Hours: 10am-4pm, daily.
need to occur). We will also discuss logistics,
• Cost: About $7 USD.
safety and emergency procedures, and answer
• Relive history in the Irish Emigration
any questions we may have.
Museum: Learn about 1,500 years of Irish
Dinner: Around 7pm, we’ll gather with the history and culture in this digital museum
whole group at the hotel to enjoy a Welcome near the city center, featuring interactive
Dinner, featuring a selection of local and videos and audio telling the stories of the
international dishes. 10 million Irish people who emigrated and
reshaped the world. Discover the tales of
Evening: You’re free to relax at the hotel after
notable Irish people that have forged legacies
your flight or explore the area we’re staying in.
as scientists, politicians, artists, and even
Freedom To Explore: During your two days outlaws. And for a more personal experience,
in Dublin, you have the freedom to explore peruse the collection of letters sent home by
Ireland’s capital city on your own during emigrants, learning their personal stories
your free time. Below are a few recommended against the backdrop of this historical
options for independent explorations: movement.
• Learn about local literary greats at the Dublin
• How to get there: A 20- to 25-minute
walk, or a 5- to 10-minute taxi ride, about
Writers Museum: Opened in 1991 in an
$9 USD one way.
18th-century mansion, this museum tells the
story of local writers and celebrities who have
• Hours: 10am-5pm, daily.
shaped the literary culture with the sweep of
• Cost: About $15 USD.
a pen during the past 300 years. Take an audio
Day 3 Explore Dublin • Controversial
tour of the museum’s collection of artifacts
Topic: Racism against Irish Travelers with
or peruse the collection on your own, gaining
new insight into the lives and legacies of
the women of Pavee Point
literary masters such as Dublin’s own Oscar • Destination: Dublin
Wilde. Plan to spend about 40 minutes here. • Included Meals: Breakfast
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. • Accommodations: Belvedere Hotel or similar
• Hours: 10am-4pm, daily. Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we will
• Cost: About $9 USD. learn about the Controversial Topic of racial
• Discover Dublin’s history at 14 Henrietta discrimination against the Traveler community,
Street: A Georgian townhouse turned tene- Ireland’s indigenous ethnic group. We’ll visit
ment dwelling dating back to the 1720s, this Pavee Point, a nonprofit organization dedicated
museum details the building’s history and to advocating for Traveler acceptance to get a
how its use as a home, a courthouse, a bar- firsthand view of the second-class treatment
racks, and a tenement hall have reflected life that Travelers receive in Ireland, the effects
in Dublin over the years. Take a 75-minute
guided tour of the property, learning how the
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
10that it has on their day-to-day lives, and the The Travelers are Ireland’s indigenous
work that Pavee Point is doing to improve their ethnic group. As a small and insular
standing. Read more about this activity below. community—recent census data estimates that
slightly more than 30,000 of them currently
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
live in the country, making up less than 1%
7am, featuring Irish and American options.
of the population—the Travelers regularly
Morning: We’ll begin our Irish adventure with endure discrimination from their “settled”
a tour of Dublin led by our Trip Experience neighbors, who accuse them of vagrancy, theft,
Leader around 9am. We’ll ride by 30-passenger substance abuse, violence, and leaving trash
private motorcoach, operating at half capacity, and litter in the wake of their camps. As a result
focusing on iconic city sites and in part on of this ostracization, the Traveler community
the landmarks that tell the story of Ireland’s experiences disproportionate poverty, poor
ill-fated Easter Rising of 1916. Also known as health, and less access to education—Ireland’s
the Easter Rebellion, the Easter Rising was a 2011 census revealed that 70% of Travelers
six-day armed uprising against British rule that have only at best a primary school education.
left Dublin’s inner city in ruins. What’s more, the suicide rate among the
Traveler community is six times higher than
At around 10am, we’ll drive to Phoenix Park, the national average: 11% of Traveler deaths are
where we’ll step off the private motorcoach for a result of suicide.
a 1-mile walking tour of this expansive green
space located at the edge of the city. We’ll stop We’ll get a firsthand perspective of the
by the Papal Cross, a 116-foot tall monument discrimination that this ethnic group faces
erected at the spot where Pope John Paul II when we meet the women of Pavee Point,
held mass for a crowd of more than a million a non-governmental Traveler’s rights
people in 1979. In 2018, the cross was graced by organization which includes members of the
Pope Francis; in contrast to the papal visit 40 Traveler and Roma community, as well as allies
years ago, however, the mass was attended by from Ireland’s settled population. Pavee Point
only 130,000 people, reflecting the declining has been working for 30 years at the local,
importance of the Catholic Church in Irish regional, national, and international level to
society over the decades. As we walk around the dismantle the myths and stigmas surrounding
park, we’ll talk with our Trip Experience Leader Ireland’s Traveler and Roma population, and to
about why many in Ireland are losing faith in work with the community to promote Traveler
this old institution. rights in Ireland. Our speaker—a Traveler
woman who will vary by departure depending
We’ll board our private motorcoach again at on who is scheduled to work at Pavee Point
around 10:45am and drive to Pavee Point, a that day—will share her personal account of
human rights organization, for an hour-long her lifestyle, and about how she and her fellow
conversation about a Controversial Topic: Travelers are treated as second-class citizens
Discrimination against the Irish Traveler throughout the country.
community, and the efforts of the women of
Pavee Point to fight for Traveler acceptance During our conversation, we’ll learn how the
in Ireland. women here are dedicated to improving the
lives of Ireland’s Traveler and Roma population
through community development, public
policy, education, health, and other social
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
11justice programs. One of the organization’s Following our conversation, we’ll depart by
members, Eileen Flynn, broke the glass ceiling private motorcoach at around 12:15pm and ride
in June 2020 when she was selected by prime for 15 minutes to the city center. The rest of the
minister Micheál Martin to sit as a senator in day is yours to explore independently.
the Seanad Éireann, the upper house of the
Lunch: On your own. Consider stepping out of
Irish legislature, becoming the first Traveler
your comfort zone to try boxty at the Gallaghers
in history to hold this office. Ms. Flynn has
Boxty’s House in Temple Bar. Boxty is an Irish
dedicated herself to combating anti-Traveler
potato pancake made from a combination of
discrimination, and is working to introduce
grated raw potatoes and mashed potatoes, then
hate crime legislation to address this issue.
formed into a batter to fry on the griddle.
Culturally similar to—but genetically distinct
Afternoon: You’ll have the rest of the day
from—the Roma people of continental
free to explore Dublin on your own. Perhaps
Europe, the Travelers historically have lived
you’ll learn some more about the city’s history
a nomadic lifestyle, traveling around the
by walking St. Stephen’s Green, the campus
country in caravans, stopping in one location
at Trinity College, or visiting one of the
for only short periods of time. In recent years,
local museums.
the majority of the Traveler population has
transitioned to live in permanent private Dinner: On your own—consider seeking
dwellings, but members of the community still out coddle, a stew-like concoction of bacon,
lead a relatively insular life, separated from sausage, potatoes, and onions that warms
their “settled” neighbors. the bones
Because they have no written history, the Evening: Get acquainted with Dublin on your
origins of the Travelers, as well as their split own this evening. Perhaps you’ll use your free
from Ireland’s settled people are unclear. time to walk its cobbled streets, enjoy a pint
This separation, however, has resulted in a of Guinness in a pub, or view some of its most
longstanding history of distrust, stereotyping, famous sights by night.
and discrimination. Ireland’s settled people
tend to see Traveler communities as foreign
Day 4 Overland to Belfast, Northern
and suspicious, stereotyping them as scheming
Ireland • Navan Fort • Cider visit
fraudsters, seeking to con and take advantage
of the settled communities they visit. • Destination: Belfast
Throughout our adventure, our Trip Experience • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Leader will help us understand how local people • Accommodations: Clayton Hotel Belfast
throughout Ireland share this negative image of or similar
the Traveler community.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning at
After a 20-minute presentation, we’ll have 7am, featuring Irish and American options.
40 minutes to ask questions and deepen our
Morning: Today, we’ll cross the border into
understanding of the stigma that Travelers
the United Kingdom as we transfer by private
overcome, and learn more about the work that
motorcoach to Belfast, the capital of Northern
Pavee Point is doing.
Ireland. We’ll leave Dublin around 9am and
arrive around 10:30am at Navan Fort, the
centerpiece of an ancient archaeological
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
12complex and ceremonial grounds. As we explore Upon arrival, we’ll check in to our
in the company of a local archaeology expert, centrally-located hotel, which may feature
we won’t just get a tour of the site, but we’ll an on-site restaurant and bars depending on
come away with a deeper understanding of the where you stay. Typical rooms include wireless
myths and legends surrounding the monument. Internet access, coffee- and tea-making
facilities, and a private bath with a hairdryer.
We depart the fort around 12:30pm for the
Our Trip Experience Leader will then lead a
family-owned cider company by private
short discovery walk as soon as we arrive. After,
motorcoach, arriving around 1pm and meeting
the rest of your day is free.
the owners.
Dinner: On your own. Maybe you’ll try the
Lunch: Around 1pm, we’ll enjoy a traditional
deceptively named “vegetable roll,” made of
farm lunch at the cider farm. We’ll sample
spiced beef pudding and sausage with a touch of
homemade soup, fresh-baked brown bread,
dried leeks.
and an assortment of jams, chutneys, and
sparkling drinks made on the farm. For dessert, Evening: Enjoy free time exploring this historic
we’ll enjoy a homemade apple tart, baked city. Perhaps you’ll wander the streets admiring
from apples grown right on the orchard. This the murals or enjoy a nightcap with fellow
is a great opportunity to share stories, ask travelers at the hotel.
questions, and get a better sense of what life is
Freedom To Explore: During your two
like on a rural farm in Ireland.
days in Belfast, you have the freedom to
Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll learn more about explore Northern Ireland’s capital city on
the cider company on a guided tour. Our hosts your own during your free time. Below are a
will lead us through an apple orchard, where few recommended options for independent
we’ll get to taste fresh apple cider. Plus, our explorations:
small group will have opportunities to interact
• Visit Belfast’s Titanic Museum: With
with the family members—be sure to ask
interactive galleries—featuring full-scale
about how their family history led them to this
reconstructions, rides, artifacts, and
profession.
more—explore the history of the famed
Around 3pm, we’ll continue our trip to Belfast ship’s doomed maiden voyage in the city
by private motorcoach, arriving around where its story began. Opt for a media guide
3:45pm, depending on traffic. Despite being a to enhance your experience, or peruse the
center of conflict during the Troubles, Belfast extensive galleries on your own. Don’t miss
has a long history and lasting legacies. The the museum’s surrounding neighborhood
countryside surrounding the city inspired either—Belfast’s Titanic quarter is home to
stories like the Chronicles of Narnia and Gulliver’s one of the world’s greatest urban waterfront
Travels. The city itself, as an industrial center regeneration efforts.
in the 19th century, was a hub of Ireland’s
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute taxi
booming linen industry and is the birthplace ride, about $15 USD one way.
of the Titanic—which was designed, built, and
• Hours: Vary by season.
launched in Belfast.
• Cost: About $15 USD.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
13• Explore over 150 years worth of history at the Day 5 Explore Belfast • Controversial
Crumlin Road Gaol: Opened in 1845, the Gaol Topic: The violence of the Troubles
held over 25,000 prisoners in its lifetime,
with ex-political prisoners and a British
including women and children. You’ll get an
veteran, who fought on opposite sides
intimate view into their experience within
• Black cab ride with local drivers •
the Gaol walls as you walk through Northern
Home-Hosted Dinner
Ireland’s last-standing Victorian Era prison.
On your tour, you will have access to all • Destination: Belfast
parts of the Gaol, from the tunnel that links • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
the courthouse to the other side of Crumlin • Accommodations: Clayton Hotel Belfast
Road to the hanging and holding cells, or similar
centre circle, C-wing and graveyard. A local
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we will
guide will discuss the history of the prison,
experience an eye-opening view of a
executions that were carried out, and its more
Controversial Topic when we meet with three
recent history, including why the prison was
men who fought on opposing sides during the
closed down.
period of turmoil known as The Troubles. We’ll
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute bus hear their firsthand accounts of the brutal
ride, about $3 USD one way. experiences they had, and the dark deeds they
• Hours: 10am-6pm, daily. committed during the fighting, about how
• Cost: About $12 USD. sectarian divisions still split Belfast today, and
• Visit Belfast’s old Linen Quarter, Linenopolis: how they are now committed to a shared vision
During the mid-1800s, Belfast became the of reconciliation. Then, connect closely with
world leader in linen production and played Irish culture during today’s Home-Hosted
a pivotal role in the social and economic Dinner in Belfast. In smaller groups of no
development of the city. As a result, the more than 6, you’ll travel to the homes of local
nickname “Linenopolis” was given to Belfast. families to share an evening of home-cooked
A new store in the area has now taken on the Irish cuisine and friendly conversation about
name and is a nod to the heyday of linen in what day-to-day life is like in the Emerald
Belfast. The store offers a visitor experience Isle. Read more about these exclusive
through storyboards, images, and artifacts activities below.
highlighting the city’s linen heritage, as well
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning
as the wares of 33 leading linen entrepreneurs
at 7:30am, featuring a selection of
in the area, including Katie Larmour, Mourne
international dishes.
Textiles, and Flax Fox.
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk. Morning: Belfast is a city with a turbulent
• Hours: 9am-6pm, daily. history and rich culture. And today, beginning
• Cost: Free. at the hotel around 9am, we’ll get to explore
it like a local: in Belfast’s famous black cabs.
During the height of The Troubles in the 1970s,
public buses stopped serving West Belfast’s
Catholic neighborhoods, and these iconic cabs
stepped up to offer their services.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
14Today’s black cabs are driven by Catholics You’ll also have the opportunity to make your
and Protestants alike, and in groups of 3-5 mark on a peace wall—one of the still-standing
per car, we’ll get a very personal view of barricades that physically separates the city,
the city through our drivers’ eyes. They’ll now adorned with messages of hope and peace
share their perspectives on the city’s historic from locals and visitors alike.
political turmoil and religious divides, as well
Because your driver grew up in Belfast, they will
as their views on how old controversies cast
be able to offer a deeply personal perspective on
a shadow over Belfast today. As long-term
the murals you will see—depending on whether
residents of the neighborhoods you’ll be
they are Catholic or Protestant, they will have
exploring, your driver will be able to offer a
their own recollection of Belfast’s history, so
personal perspective of this dangerous period
be sure to ask questions, and to compare your
of Belfast’s history, when a wrong turn might
experience with your fellow travelers once you
have taken you across the dividing line between
have a chance to rejoin your group.
the Catholic and Protestant section of the
city, putting drivers and passengers at risk of Our tour ends at around 10:30am at the Felons
physical abuse or even death. Club, established as a meeting place for Irish
Republicans who had been imprisoned for their
As we ride through the city, we’ll hear firsthand
political or militant activities. Only former
accounts about how the Belfast of the 1970s
prisoners may achieve full membership, and
was a warzone. Fighters belonging to the
honorary membership has been extended
militant faction of Irish Republican Army (IRA)
to other famous revolutionaries, including
committed bombings, shootings, and other acts
Nelson Mandela.
of terror to pressure the British government
into recognizing Irish sovereignty over the Here, we will have a chance to hear about a
north. In response, extremists sympathetic to Controversial Topic during a 2-hour-long
the crown formed paramilitary groups like the conversation with three individuals who fought
Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), clashing with IRA in The Troubles—on opposing sides. We’ll
rebels and unleashing their own acts of terror meet two ex-political prisoners—Seamus, a
on Belfast’s Catholic population, while armed Republican who fought for Irish independence,
British soldiers patrolled the streets, fingers and Robert, a loyalist who fought with the
resting lightly on the trigger. The Troubles UVF—as well as Lee, an ex-British army
rocked Northern Ireland for three decades, serviceman (or, if these men are unavailable,
and when the dust settled, more than 3,500 we’ll meet alternative individuals who fought
people—civilians and combatants alike—were during these times). During the violence of The
killed, and more than 47,000 wounded. Troubles it would have been inconceivable to
gather men such as these in the same room;
Our black cab drivers will take us by the
today, they have put aside their differences
boundary between West Belfast’s Protestant
and will share their stories about the dark
and Catholic neighborhoods, where murals on
deeds they took part in during the fighting;
each side depict contrasting sentiments about
their experiences while incarcerated; and their
the deep-rooted conflict. We’ll stop to see
shared hopes for a better future.
famous murals—such as the Irish Language
Mural, the Tribute to Frederick Douglass, and While the violence may be over, modern
the Nelson Mandela Mural—and our driver Belfast is still a divided city, and the road to
will help to explain each one’s significance. harmony is a long one. Belfast’s religious
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
15population is roughly equally split, with 48% the manicured gardens that surround it. Our
hailing from a Protestant background, and 45% tour ends at around 1:30pm, and the rest of the
raised Catholic. To this day, the two factions morning is yours to make your own discoveries.
live in entirely segregated neighborhoods,
Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience
divided physically by “peace lines”—walled
Leader can suggest local restaurants to try.
barriers that separate the two sections of the
city which are sealed off by locked gates each Afternoon: You have the freedom to explore
night. While the brightly colored murals along on your own. You may choose to visit Titanic
the walls illustrate the city’s hope for peace Belfast, a memorial to the famed ship and
and reconciliation, the fact that the walls still museum chronicling Belfast’s maritime
stand demonstrate the progress that still needs heritage, or pay a visit to the Crumlin Road Jail.
to be made. Maybe you’ll stroll through the regal campus at
Queen’s University. Or, you could always choose
This conversation will offer a perspective of
to enjoy a pint of the famous Guinness in one
Northern Ireland made possible only by the
of the city’s pubs, mingling with locals and
local connections facilitated by O.A.T.—we
listening to traditional music.
will confront harsh and uncomfortable truths,
including tales of violence, death, and Dinner: Around 6:15pm, we will break into
deeply-rooted prejudices that still linger over smaller groups of no more than 6 and drive
Belfast today. While this controversial topic out by private motorcoach to get a taste of
may be emotionally challenging, it’s necessary Irish cuisine and a deeper understanding of
to understand the real Northern Ireland, and the Troubles during a Home-Hosted Dinner in
travelers often find it rewarding—such as Ballymurphy, a section of Belfast where 11
20-time traveler Amy Iwasaki from Henderson, civilians were murdered during a 3-day period
Nevada, who shared: in 1971. For some in this area, they believe if
investigations were conducted and the British
“At O.A.T.’s signature address of controversial
Army were held responsible for the deaths of
issues in Belfast, I experienced the most profound
these civilians, then the similar events that
session of all trips when we met with three highly
happened in Londonderry months later may
intelligent men who were former combatants,
not have occurred. We’ll enter a local home to
two of whom had spent time in prison. One was
join a family at their dinner table and see how
from the IRA (Irish Republican Army), another
they go through their daily lives—where they
from UVF (Ulster Volunteer Force) and the third a
live, what they cook, how they eat, and how
British soldier. They were brutally honest in taking
they feel about their homeland. While your host
responsibility for their actions, still have strong
family might hail from a variety of different
convictions, but respect each other as human
backgrounds, they are all wives, sisters, or
beings because they have this open dialogue. This
daughters of incarcerated men who were
session gave everyone in my group a profoundly
involved in the Ballymurphy Massacre.
deeper understanding of the strong feelings that
still exist today.” We’re afforded this special privilege by our
small group size; by dining in groups of no
At around 12:30pm, we’ll depart the club and
more than 6, we’re given the chance to enter
set off on an hour-long panoramic private
local homes and connect on a one-to-one level,
motorcoach tour of this revitalized city. We’ll
and to even share a little with our hosts about
catch a glimpse of Belfast’s grand city hall and
who we are and what has brought us to Ireland.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
16This will be a great opportunity to ask them Lunch: Around 12:30pm at the lodge in the
about the Troubles from their perspective, any park, serving a two-course meal which may
Irish customs they practice, and more. consist of a traditional roast beef or vegetarian
meal with apple pie for dessert.
Our meal will begin at around 6:30pm. At about
8:30pm, we’ll bid our hosts farewell, and board Afternoon: As we continue our transfer around
our private motorcoach to return to our hotel. 1:30pm, we’ll take a scenic drive through the
glens of the Antrim, taking in the diverse
Evening: We’ll return to the hotel by private
landscapes that include glacial valleys, grassy
motorcoach around 8:45pm where you’ll have
cliffs, dense woods, and quaint villages. Upon
the evening on your own. You’re free to explore
arrival in Portrush around 2:30pm, we’ll check
Belfast by night, or take some to rest after your
in to our centrally-located hotel, which may
long day of cultural discovery.
feature an on-site restaurant and wireless
Internet access. Typical rooms include a
Day 6 Explore Glenariff Forest Park • television, tea- and coffee-making facilities,
North Coast and a private bathroom with a hairdryer.
• Destination: Portrush Our Trip Experience Leader will then lead
• Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch a short discovery walk around your hotel
neighborhood.
• Accommodations: Portrush Atlantic Hotel
or similar With some free time to explore on your own
Activity Note: Our transfer today will take starting around 4pm, you may want to take in
about 6.5 hours, including multiple stops along the surrounding scenery on a stroll through
the way. Depending on your departure date, this popular seaside resort town. The famous
you will stay in either Ballycastle or Portrush Royal Portrush Golf Club draws locals and is a
for the next two nights, and your itinerary will popular hub for travelers due to its two linked
have the same included features and free time courses that feature 36 holes that offer scenic
suggestions. views along the water. As you brush shoulders
with the town’s residents, golf is sure to a be a
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning helpful topic to strike up friendly conversation.
at 7:30am, featuring a selection of
international dishes. Dinner: On your own—perhaps you’ll ask your
Trip Experience Leader where you can enjoy the
Morning: We’ll check out of our hotel around catch of the day with a view of the water.
9am and board our private motorcoach to begin
our transfer to the coastal town of Portrush. On Evening: Enjoy free time exploring this seaside
our way, at around 11:30am, we’ll visit Glenariff town. Perhaps you’ll take a walk to admire
Forest Park, where we’ll walk along a nature the coastline. Or, enjoy a nightcap with fellow
trail, admiring peaceful rivers and waterfalls. travelers at the hotel.
Tucked away from the more-frequented tourist
Freedom To Explore: During your two days
sites, this park is a popular spot for locals to
in Portrush or Ballycastle, you have the
get away from the hustle and bustle of daily
freedom to explore these seaside towns on
life, and we may have a chance to interact with
your own during your free time. Below are a
residents as they walk their dogs, ride their
few recommended options for independent
bikes, and more.
explorations:
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
17• Walk along the local beach: Bounded by a daily lives of locals. Ask your Trip Experience
pedestrian promenade and extensive dune Leader for details on bingo nights, bowling
system, this 2.5-mile-long beach is popular clubs, and antique stores in the area.
for watersports all year round, particularly
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk.
surfing. If watersports don’t pique your
• Hours: Bingo, 6pm and 8pm, daily.
interest, you may enjoy strolling through the Bowling clubs and antique stores vary,
white sand, listening to the crashing waves, daily.
and taking in views of the ocean, as well as
• Cost: Bingo, about $6 USD. Bowling clubs
The Skerries and Causeway headlands. and antique stores vary.
• How to get there: A 10- to 15-minute walk.
• Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Day 7 North Coast • The Antrim Coast •
• Cost: Free. Giant’s Causeway
• Join locals for open water swimming: • Destination: Portrush
Throughout Northern Ireland’s coastal • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
communities, local groups have been braving • Accommodations: Portrush Atlantic Hotel
the open waters, no matter the weather or or similar
time of year. Locals swim together to build
Activity Note: Today’s activities at the
community spirit and enjoy the outdoors.
bridge are weather-dependent. Reaching the
You can join one of the many of the swim
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge today requires
groups to meet residents and feel the chill of
a hike along an unpaved trail, which includes
the water.
steep inclines and steps. Park supervisors may
• How to get there: A 5- to 10-minute walk. close the bridge at any time without prior notice
• Hours: Early morning or late evening, due to strong winds in the area. When walking
daily. across Giant’s Causeway, please be advised
• Cost: Free. that there are no handrails and these structures
• Take part in the local bingo, bowling, or may be slippery. The Antrim coast is usually
antique communities: Interact with locals very crowded.
over a game of bingo at a community center.
Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning
You’ll be sure to strike up a conversation
at 7:30am, featuring a variety of hot and
with a resident, and you may even win a
cold options.
prize. You could also join fellow travelers for
bowling at one of the clubs along the marina, Morning: We begin our day around 9am by
or search for bygone treasures at an antique taking a private motorcoach along the Antrim
store. Whether you choose to bowl, play a coast and stopping first at the Carrick-A-Rede
game of bingo, or peruse an antique shop, Rope Bridge with our Trip Experience Leader.
you’re bound to get an intimate look into the Upon arrival around 9:30am, we will hike
the steep, 0.7-mile unpaved path up to the
bridge. When we arrive at the bridge, you may
challenge yourself to walk across the rope
bridge and back, taking in dramatic views of
Scotland and Rathlin Island. While the bridge
is made of rope, it is also reinforced with steel
cables, making it completely safe to cross. It is
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
18roughly 100 feet high and 70 feet long, and was you can wander idly along the quiet streets,
originally constructed in the late 18th century browsing the wares on display in the local
by salmon fishermen. The bridge connects craft shops.
Carrick-A-Rede Island to mainland Ireland,
At around 3:30pm, our private motorcoach
and offers sought-after panoramic views of the
will return us to our hotel in Portsmouth,
North Coast. You may also enjoy a nature stroll,
arriving around 4pm, where you can spend the
appreciating the area’s exotic flora and diverse
afternoon exploring on your own or relaxing
array of seabirds including fulmars, kittiwakes,
before dinner.
and guillemots.
Dinner: At around 6:15pm we’ll walk for
We’ll depart from the bridge around 11am and
10 minutes to a nearby local restaurant,
transfer by private motorcoach to visit the
where we’ll enjoy an included dinner of local
Giant’s Causeway, one of Northern Ireland’s
specialties.
most popular sites, arriving at around 11:15am.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, it Evening: You have the freedom to set off on
is a landscape formed by volcanic eruptions your own tonight.
dating back millions of years. Here, hexagonal
basalt columns line the coast, forming natural
Day 8 Explore Derry • Controversial
stairs leading from igneous rock cliffs into the
Topic: Bloody Sunday Massacre & the
sea. It’s these columns which make the Giant’s
Causeway famous, as well as many myths and
fight for justice with family members of
legends about their creation in a battle between victims • Donegal
the Scottish giant Benandonner & the Irish • Destination: Donegal
giant Finn MacCool, which we’ll learn more • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
about during our tour. Our small group size • Accommodations: Mill Park Hotel or similar
allows us to weave through heavy crowds as we
Exclusive O.A.T. Activity: Today we will get a
explore this iconic site, and we may even walk
new perspective on a Controversial Topic when
across the Causeway’s basalt columns.
we meet locals who lost family members in the
Our tour concludes at 1pm, after which we’ll 1972 massacre known as “Bloody Sunday,” and
ride by private motorcoach to the nearby town hear how activists are pursuing justice for the
of Bushmills, arriving at around 1:30pm, where lives lost that day. While The Troubles may have
we’ll have two hours to explore independently ended years ago, the wounds it has inflicted still
and have lunch on our own. linger today; we’ll learn about how this period
of conflict still divides local people in Northern
Lunch: On your own in Bushmills. You might
Ireland during our eye-opening conversation.
pop in to a quaint pub, café, or tearoom to
Read more about this activity below.
mingle with the locals and enjoy a soup,
sandwich, or Irish specialty like a chicken and Breakfast: Served at the hotel beginning
ham puff pie. at 7:30am, featuring a variety of hot and
cold options.
Afternoon: Enjoy some time to explore
Bushmills independently. You might choose Morning: We’ll leave our hotel around 9am to
to tour the Old Bushmills Distillery, the oldest transfer by private motorcoach to Derry, also
licensed whiskey distillery in the world. Or, known as Londonderry, depending on where
you are in Ireland. Our transfer will take up to
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
19two hours. Divided by the River Foyle, which 17 when he was killed; John can shed light on
runs through the city’s heart, Derry is one of the complicated and conflicting emotions that
Europe’s last walled cities, and the only one in locals have about the infamous events of Bloody
Ireland whose walls are still fully intact. Sunday, as well as his own raw, emotional
connection to this watershed moment of
We’ll arrive in Derry at 10:15am, then after a
Northern Ireland’s history. We’ll also learn
short rest stop, we’ll be joined at 10:30am by
about the actions that some activists are taking
Ronan McNamara, a local resident who will lead
to see that justice is served.
us on a 1-hour tour over the city walls, where
we will overlook the many murals inspired The massacre occurred on Sunday, January
by the Troubles, which spanned nearly three 30, 1972, when 15,000 protesters took to the
decades. Ronan lived through this era and will streets in the Catholic Bogside neighborhood
be able to provide insight into the challenges of Derry to march against an internment law
of daily life during this period of time. In our granting the British government the authority
small group, this city tour is a great opportunity to imprison Northern Irish dissidents without a
to interact with our local guide, who grew up trial. The crown deployed soldiers to police the
in Derry during the Troubles, and can share march, and after a day of escalating violence,
his own experiences, as well as his hopes for the army fired upon the unarmed crowd,
the future. shooting 108 live rounds that left 14 dead and
many more injured.
At 11:30am, we’ll walk to the Museum of Free
Derry, which documents the history and The events of Bloody Sunday shocked the
events surrounding the especially turbulent world, and Derry’s residents were further
period between 1968 and 1972 called “Free outraged when an official British inquiry
Derry.” Here, we’ll have a conversation about cleared the soldiers who pulled the trigger of
a Controversial Topic: The ongoing fight criminal consequence, only admonishing the
for justice over the 1972 “Bloody Sunday troops’ behavior as “bordering on the reckless.”
Massacre,” in which British soldiers shot As we talk with John, who lost his own brother
and killed 14 unarmed Catholics—including to this “recklessness,” we’ll get an emotional,
members of the volunteers’ own family. The personal perspective of this defining moment
massacre remains a divisive subject between of Northern Irish history, and of the scars that
Derry’s Catholics and Protestants to this day, as it has left today on the people of Derry.
only one British soldier has been charged with
We’ll also learn about how some Derry
a crime for the lives that were lost that day.
residents continue to fight for justice for those
While some believe that more needs to be done
who lost their lives that day, and the progress
to bring justice to the Bogside’s victims, others
that they’ve made. At the turn of the century,
say that the army was only doing its duty, and
another inquiry was opened into the massacre,
it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
and in 2016, charges were filed against a single
We’ll dive into this controversy with John soldier—given the pseudonym “Solider F”—for
Kelly, a local man who lost his brother Michael the murder of two of the victims, and the
to the violence of Bloody Sunday (or, if he is attempted murder of five others.
unavailable, another museum volunteer with
John will present his perspective of these events
firsthand experience of that fateful day). John
for about 20 minutes, after which we’ll have
was 23 at the time, and his brother was only
30 minutes to ask questions of our own. You
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925
20You can also read
