Itinerary

October 1 - Depart New York for Ireland

October 2 - Welcome to Ireland, Dublin
We arrive at Dublin Airport and meet with our guide to begin our adventure in Ireland's capital city. Today is our day to discover Dublin, the beautiful and charming city where one third of Ireland's inhabitants live. It is a very young and dynamic city in the process of undergoing an economic boom. Adored by its people and visitors alike, Dublin has everything a capital needs: a multitude of interesting sights and unforgettable cultural experiences.

Our panoramic tour of Dublin starts on the north side of the River Liffey. This area offers striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city's main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, and the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. This afternoon we check into our hotel and tonight enjoy the first of several visits with local quilters at a private reception, hosted by McCall's.

October 3 - Sheelin Lace, Ulster American Folk Park, Cresco Trust
This morning after breakfast, we travel northwards. Our first stop will be the Sheelin Antique Irish Lace Museum in the scenic village of Bellanaleck. The museum was the brainchild of Rosemary Cathcart who was inspired by the fact that this area has a long tradition of lace making. She now has a truly stunning collection, and all the finest examples are on permanent display in her Museum. The Museum traces the history of Lace-making in Ireland.

After lunch we will continue to the Ulster American Folk Park, located on the outskirts of Omagh town. The Folk Park grew up around the restored boyhood home of Judge Thomas Mellon (founder of the Pittsburgh banking dynasty). It has a permanent exhibition called "Emigrants", which explains why two million people left Ulster for America during the 18th and 19th centuries. It also has an impressive collection of historical quilts. Costumed guides and craftspeople are on hand to chat and explain the art of spinning, weaving, and candle making.

Following our visit we will continue on to the town of Derry, our home for the next two nights.

This evening we will be guest of the Cresco Trust. This remarkable nonprofit organization is a center for quilting in Northern Ireland and uses quilting as a peace making tool, an exciting social and economic development cooperative effort.

October 4 - Donegal & Hand Weaving
Its location in the northwest of Ireland has kept County Donegal a secret--and stunningly wild. The Irish consider it to be the most beautiful county In Ireland because of the great diversity of scenery. Donegal is formed by coastal scenery, mountains, lakes and bogs covered in heather, all of which combine to give the area a unique charm. Its roads are narrow, forcing you to take your time and allowing you to enjoy  wild and unspoiled nature.

In Donegal, hand weaving is a skill that has been passed down for centuries through many generations. In the old days, many families lived by hand-spinning and hand-weaving cloth in their homes. Perhaps because industrialization hardly touched Ireland, this tradition continues to thrive and develop.

Today there are still about 25 local craftsmen working at home, turning out the all-wool, hand-woven fabric that is treasured throughout the world. We will meet a local craftsman, and we will also enjoy a guided tour of Triona Design, including a description of the Tweed-making process. Late this afternoon we return to our hotel.

October 5 -Antrim Coast & Dunluce Castle
This morning we head off to explore the Antrim Coast and visit Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. County Antrim forms the northeast corner of Ireland, where a channel only 20kms wide separates Torr Head from the Scottish coast. After lunch we continue on to Dunluce Castle. The ruins of Dunluce Castle are located on the North Antrim coast and stand proudly on a 30m high column of basalt rock. The ruins portray the air of strength this site commanded. Before the advent of gunpowder it would have been almost impossible to conquer. The castle dates largely from the 16th and 17th centuries. This evening we return to our hotel in time for dinner in town, on your own.

October 6 - Irish Linen Centre and Return to Dublin
This morning we travel back to Dublin via the town of Lisburn - south of Belfast City. Today we will visit the Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum, situated in Lisburn's 17th century Market House.

This permanent exhibition features the story of the Irish linen industry from earliest times, including skilled demonstrations of hand spinning of flax and hand loom weaving of fine linen cloth on original looms. We will see the finest costume, dress and household linens dating from a past when Irish linen from Lisburn was known world-wide. You can choose to enjoy either a weaving, spinning or natural dyeing workshop.

We then continue to Dublin for check back in to the beautiful Davenport Hotel, our home for the next two nights. There will be time when we arrive back in Dublin to visit a fabric store before dinner. You are free to have dinner on your own tonight in Dublin.

October 7 - County Wicklow
This morning we travel south of Dublin to County Wicklow, also known as the Garden of Ireland. This region features all the various types of scenery that make Ireland so beautiful. In the heart of its gentle and rounded hills are nestled Enniskerry and Avoca, both very picturesque villages.

Our first stop today is the home of the American-Irish quilter Anne Marie. Ann welcomes us into her home and invites her local quilting group to join us for tea and to share their work. Next, it's on to the tiny village of Avoca and home of Avoca Hand Weavers, established in 1723, and which claims to be Ireland's oldest surviving business. We will see the three different kinds of weaving, including the traditional fly shuttle handloom, still in use today.

We also visit Ballyknocken House and Farm and Cookery School, a haven for those seeking to learn the skills of preparing fresh local foods in a countryside setting. The emphasis is always on the use of good local ingredients, many of which are supplied from the local farmers of Wicklow. Here we will enjoy a scone-making demonstration (hands on) with tea and scones afterwards.

For our farewell dinner tonight in Dublin will be at a traditional Irish Tavern, which offers great Irish food and traditional Irish entertainment in an authentic setting of stone walls, gas lights and blazing turf fires. The entertainment features a lively performance of music, song and Irish dancing.

October 8 - Farewell
After a boxed breakfast at the hotel, we head to the Dublin airport for our flights home.

*THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE