ITINERARY

DAY 1 | THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER 2024

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT THE WESTBURY HOTEL, DUBLIN

ARRIVE DUBLIN:

Arrive at our luxurious 5-star hotel, The Westbury Dublin, conveniently positioned between Trinity College and St Stephen’s Green, and close to such attractions as Temple Bar, Dublin Castle and the Gaiety Theatre. It has spacious and sumptuously furnished bedrooms. Breakfast, brunch and dinner are served in the hotel's Balfes Bar & Brasserie, a vibrant all-day bistro with an outdoor terrace and an open kitchen serving beautifully prepared dishes using the finest locally sourced produce. Hotel check-in is at 3:00pm and we recommend arriving at this time.

In the evening we meet for pre-dinner drinks and dinner with our Tour Leader, Fiona Campbell, and fellow tour guests.

DAY 2 | FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER 2024

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT THE WESTBURY HOTEL, DUBLIN

DUBLIN:

This morning we enjoy a guided tour to see the Book of Kells, located in 16th-century Trinity College Library. The masterpiece is described in the Annals of Ulster in 1007 as ‘the most precious object in the western world’. It is considered by many as the greatest example of medieval illumination for over 1,200 years.

Following our visit to the Book of Kells, we go on a guided walking tour of the city, starting from Trinity College and moving on to such places as Dublin Castle, the Old Irish Parliament and Temple Bar. We stroll along the cobbled alleyways and learn about medieval Dublin, about its stately 18th-century architecture and about its thriving contemporary cultural scene.

In the evening we attend a play at Abbey Theatre, also known as the National Theatre of Ireland. Opening in 1904 the Abbey was the first state-subsidized theatre in the English-speaking world. In its early years it was closely associated with such leading Irish playwrights as William Butler Yeats, Lady Gregory and Sean O’Casey, who had plays staged there. Through its extensive touring abroad it has become an important part of the Irish cultural brand.

DAY 3 | SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER 2024

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT THE WESTBURY HOTEL, DUBLIN

DUBLIN:

This morning we have a guided tour of the National Museum of Ireland–Archaeology. Our tour includes beautiful and intriguing items from the prehistoric, Viking and medieval periods of Ireland.

The afternoon is free to rest or do some exploration of your own. One minute’s walk from our hotel can take you to Grafton Street to enjoy the buskers, examine luxurious Irish knits, such as Aran and Fisherman Sweaters, and maybe treat yourself to tea and scones in Bewley’s famous tea shop. St Stephen’s Green, surrounded by elegant townhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries, beautiful and restful with a lake, paths, gardens and statues, is at the end of Grafton Street, and is a delightful place to visit. Such is its charm that during the 1916 Easter Rising, in a struggle in the park between a group of rebels and the British Army, gunfire was halted temporarily to permit the groundsman to feed the local ducks. You might like to visit the James Joyce Centre, situated in Joyce’s former home, with its interactive exhibit relating to Joyce’s life and his novel, Ulysses, or you might enjoy a visit to a venue such as The Temple Bar Pub, where live traditional Irish music is playing from the moment the doors open to closing time.

In the evening we travel by private coach to the prestigious Gate Theatre and attend a theatre performance. The theatre was founded in 1928, and one of the founders, Hilton Edwards, wrote: “The Gate exists to put at the disposal of our audiences all the riches of the theatre, past, present and future, culled from the theatre of all the world and irrespective of their nationality. A theatre limited only by the limits of our imagination.” It established relationships with contemporary playwrights including Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter. In 1991 the Gate presented the first ever Beckett Festival. From the 1980s onwards the Gate cemented its international relationships, touring plays around the world.

DAY 4 | SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2024

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT THE WESTBURY HOTEL, DUBLIN

DAY TRIP TO NEWGRANGE, MONASTERBOICE & MELIFONT ABBEY:

This morning we immerse ourselves in the ancient history of Ireland. In our private coach, we visit Ireland's beautiful Boyne Valley, a site of great historical importance containing some of the world’s most mythical landscapes, and home to a significant range of heritage sites and monuments. We visit Monasterboice, a former monastic settlement dating back to AD 923, to see the largest collection of carved stone high crosses in Europe, impressive stone masterpieces with elaborate carvings which revolutionized Celtic art and Early Medieval stone carving. We then visit the evocative ruins of Melifont Abbey, the first Cistercian monastery in Ireland founded in 1142 which, after its decommissioning, served as William of Orange’s headquarters in 1690 during the Battle of the Boyne.

We enjoy a traditional pub lunch and then travel to an even more ancient site, Newgrange which is a 5,200 year old passage tomb built by Stone Age farmers. Few examples of prehistoric engineering are as impressive as this one, where the morning sun shines through a perfectly aligned roof box during the Winter Solstice, illuminating the entire main chamber. We have the opportunity to enter the 19-metre passage and follow it into the main chamber. Newgrange is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, and some of these large stones are engraved with megalithic art. Three excellent stones are completely covered with complex panels of engravings.

After our visit we return by private coach to our hotel in Dublin. On our return our evening is free to rest and prepare for our departure to Killarney tomorrow.

DAY 5 | MONDAY 21 OCTOBER 2024

1ST OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE KILLARNEY PARK

DUBLIN TO KILLARNEY, VIA THE ROCK OF CASHEL:

This morning we travel to County Tipperary where we enjoy a private guided tour of the dramatic, picturesque Rock of Cashel, a giant sandstone outcrop crowned with medieval ruins. It was the seat of kings from about AD 360 to AD 1101 and was almost certainly a centre of druidic worship at the same time. According to legend this is where, in approximately AD 432, St Patrick gave his famous explanation of the Holy Trinity to the pagans by showing them a shamrock to illustrate the relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

This impressive complex is one of the most remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found in Europe. It includes the shell of the 13th-century St Patrick’s Cathedral, the well-preserved 28 metre high 12th-century round tower, the unique St Patrick’s cross (a replica, the original is in the museum), and the Romanesque Cormac’s Chapel, which is decorated with carved beasts and human figures. From the site there are magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

Following our visit, time is allowed for lunch before we continue onto Killarney. On arrival in Killarney we check-in to our 5-star hotel, Killarney Park Hotel. Elegant and luxurious, this family-owned hotel is conveniently located in Killarney’s town centre. Our evening in Killarney is free.

DAY 6 | TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2024

2ND OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE KILLARNEY PARK

KILLARNEY:

Today we enjoy the town of Killarney and its immediate environs. In the morning we visit Ross Castle, where we have a private guided tour. Built in the late 15th-century, the castle sits in a majestic position overlooking the Lough Leane and Inisfallen Island. A typical example of the stronghold of an Irish Chieftain during the Middle Ages, it is reputed to be one of the last strongholds to fall to Cromwell’s forces in the 1650s.

Our next visit is to Muckross House to explore this 19th-century Victorian mansion set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park and the shores of Muckross Lake. The principal rooms are furnished in period style and portray the elegant lifestyle of the 19th-century landowning class. After the tour there will be time to enjoy the beautiful gardens.

Following our visit we return to the hotel. In the evening we come together for dinner in Killarney.

DAY 7 | WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER 2024

3RD OF 3 NIGHTS AT THE KILLARNEY PARK

THE RING OF KERRY:

Today we enjoy another of Ireland’s picturesque treasures, the renowned Ring of Kerry, which follows the coastline of the Iveragh Peninsula and is part of the Wild Atlantic Way. It is a road that takes us through 10,000 years of dramatic history, through forests, rugged, majestic landscapes and villages. We visit the colourful and charming villages of Glenbeigh, Waterville and Sneem.

We stop for a delicious lunch and we return via ‘Ladies View’ in Killarney National Park. This spectacular panorama was given its name to record the exclamations of delight made by Queen Victoria’s entourage of ladies when she visited in 1861. We return to Killarney via the Killarney National Park, famous for its native habitats and rugged mountains encompassing lakes, rivers, forests and waterfalls. On our return to the hotel our evening is free.

DAY 8 | THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2024

1ST OF 4 NIGHTS AT TALBOT WEXFORD

KILLARNEY TO WEXFORD, VIA CURRAGHMORE HOUSE:

This morning we depart Killarney and travel to the beautiful Curraghmore House, home to the 9th Marquis of Waterford and his family. With over 2500 acres this estate is Irelands largest private demense. The house is the last of four built by the de la Poen family after their arrival in Ireland in 1167 and the castle walls are around 3.5 metres thick. Our private tour of this beautiful, historic home takes us back in time with many architectural features and original furnishings reflecting the generations of the family that have lived there over 800 years.

Following our private tour, we enjoy lunch at Curraghmore House.

After our visit we continue to Wexford and check-in to our hotel, the Talbot Wexford, conveniently located in the centre of Wexford overlooking the River Slaney. This is a contemporary hotel, with parts of the building converted from a warehouse and mill. The hotel has an Irish/European restaurant and a casual bar-and-grill. There is also a leisure centre which offers an indoor pool. Our evening is free.

DAY 9 | FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER 2024

2ND OF 4 NIGHTS AT TALBOT WEXFORD

WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA:

This morning will begin with a walking tour of the city of Wexford.

In the afternoon Fiona will give a talk about the performance we will attend this evening. Following this we will enjoy a pre-opera dinner and then attend our first opera in this renowned festival in the National Opera House.

Since the first ‘Festival of Music and the Arts’ in October 1951, Wexford Festival has introduced audiences to unjustly neglected works, many of which have since found a place in the canon. For 65 years the festival has breathed new life into forgotten masterpieces, establishing a reputation for high-quality productions that, every year, bring thousands of opera-lovers flocking to Wexford from all over the world. The venue is the National Opera House, nestled in the heart of Wexford, a state-of-the-art auditorium tactfully inserted into a dense, historic urban space, behind a reinstated street front. The all walnut-lined auditorium, which calls to mind the interior of a stringed instrument, has outstanding acoustics and excellent sight-lines. It was designated the country's official opera house in 2014.

OPERA PERFORMANCE – O'REILLY THEATRE, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, 7:30pm
Gaetano Donizetti Le convenienze

Danila Grassi conductor
Orpha Phelan stage director
Sharleen Joynt Daria Garbinati
Paolo Bordogna Donna Agata Scannagalli
Giuseppe Toia Procolo
Matte Loi Biscroma Strappaviscere
Paola Leoci Luigia Castragatti
Alberto Robert Guglielmo Antolstoinoff
William Kyle Cesare Salsapariglia

DAY 10 | SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2024

3RD OF 4 NIGHTS AT TALBOT WEXFORD

WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA:

Today begins with Fiona’s second talk about the music we will hear today.

Following this morning’s talk, time is allowed to relax or to continue exploring Wexford. We then gather for our second performance at the Festival, Leoncavallo’s dramatic single act opera, Pagliacci.

OPERA PERFORMANCE – O'REILLY THEATRE, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, 3:00pm
Ruggero Leoncavallo Pagliacci

Emanuele Quaranta conductor
Stefania Panaghini stage director
Samuel White Canio

The late afternoon is free and in the evening we attend our third performance in the festival, Mascagni’s Le maschere.

OPERA PERFORMANCE – O'REILLY THEATRE, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, 7:30pm
Pietro Mascagni Le maschere

Lavina Bini Rosaura
Benoit Joseph Meier Arlecchino
Ioana Pipelea Colombina
Gillen Munguia Brighella
Matteo Mancini Il Capitano Spaventa
Rory Musgrave Dottore Graziano
Andrew Morstein Florindo
Peter McCamley Giocadio
Giorgio Caoduro Tartaglia
Mariano Orozco Pantalone De'Bisognosi
Francesco Cilluffo conductor
Stefano Ricci Stage director and designer

DAY 11 | SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER 2024

4TH OF 4 NIGHTS AT TALBOT WEXFORD

WEXFORD FESTIVAL OPERA:

In the morning, Fiona Campbell will give her final talk about the opera performance we are attending later today.

Following our talk, we attend one of the much-loved Lunchtime Recitals. The popular Lunchtime Recitals provide an insight into the artistic personalities of some of the principal singers of the Festival. One of the delights of attending a Lunchtime Recital is that the program is not advertised beforehand, so everyone shares the same degree of anticipation and expectation.

LUNCHTIME RECITAL – O'REILLY THEATRE, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, 1:00pm

Artists TBC

Following the Lunchtime Recital, there is some free time to stroll the quaint streets of Wexford, or to return to the hotel to rest ahead of this evening’s final performance.

We then journey to the O’Reilly Theatre for our final performance at this year’s Wexford Festival Opera.

OPERA PERFORMANCE – O'REILLY THEATRE, NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE, 5:00pm
Charles Villiers Stanford The Critic

Tony Brennan Lord Burleigh
Rory Dunne Governor of Tilbury Fort - Justice
Gyula Nagy Earl of Leicester
Ben McAteer Sir Walter Raleigh
Oliver Johnston Sir Christopher Hatton
Dane Suarez Don Feolo Whiskerandos
Andrew Henley Son
Ava Dodd Tilburina
Hannah O'Brien Confidant - First Niece
Carolyn Holt Justice's Lady - Second Niece
Nick Dunning Mr. Puff
Jonathan White Mr. Dangle
Arthur Riordan Mr. Sneer
Ciarán McAuley conductor
Conor Hanratty stage director

Following our final performance of the tour, we gather for a special farewell dinner to bid a fond farewell to our time together in Ireland.

DAY 12 | MONDAY 28 OCTOBER 2024

WEXFORD TO DUBLIN, TOUR ENDS:

Following our final breakfast, we travel by private coach to Dublin. The coach will depart the hotel at 9:00am and will drop guests at Dublin Airport at approximately 11:30am and at The Westbury Hotel at approximately 12:30pm, for guests wishing to return to Dublin City Centre.

Please note: There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on the final confirmation of performances.

INCLUSIONS

17–28 OCTOBER 2024 (12 DAYS)

AUD$11,150 PER PERSON TWIN SHARE

Single supplement: AUD$2,950
Deposit payment 1: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due at time of booking)
Deposit payment 2: Deposit AUD$1,500 per person (due on 17 June 2024)
Final payment due: 14 August 2024

INCLUSIONS:

• Performances: A premium ticket for a performance at Abbey Theatre Dublin, a premium ticket for a performance at Gate Theatre Dublin and premium tickets for five opera and music performances at Wexford Festival Opera.

  Please note: There may be some changes to the itinerary depending on final confirmation of performances.

• Tour Leader and Talks: Tour leadership and three exclusive private talks by Fiona Campbell.

• Tour Manager: An experienced Tour Manager to accompany the group throughout the tour.

• Hotels: 11 nights' accommodation including:

  • Four nights at the 5-star The Westbury Hotel, Dublin in a Classic Room.

  • Three nights at the 5-star The Killarney Park in a Premium Room.

  • Four nights at the 4-star Talbot Wexford in a Seaview Room.

  • Porterage of one piece of luggage at each hotel.

• Travel: Land travel by private air-conditioned coach throughout the tour. There will be one transfer from our hotel in Wexford on the final day of the tour to Dublin Airport and The Westbury Hotel, Dublin – the transfer will depart the Talbot Wexford at 9:00am.

• Meals/Drinks: Breakfast each morning at the hotel. Seven lunches/dinners with wine, water and tea/coffee.

• Entry Fees and Guided Tours: Entrance fees for museums, art galleries etc as stated in your itinerary. Expert local guides will be used at some sites.

• Tips: Tips for drivers, local guides and for meals included in your itinerary.

• Information Pack: Comprehensive pre-tour information pack.

EXCLUSIONS:

• International/Domestic Travel: Hayllar Music Tours can provide you with a quote. Phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Airport Transfers: Transfers to/from airports and hotels at the beginning and end of the tour. With the exception of one transfer on the final day of the tour at 9:00am from our hotel in Wexford to Dublin Airport and The Westbury Hotel, Dublin. Airport transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.

• Special Taxes: Special taxes and airport levies that can only be paid in cash at the destination. We will endeavour to advise you of these charges (if any) before you depart.

• Visas: Costs associated with obtaining visas for countries visited on your tour. Please note that Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require a visa to enter Ireland.

• Travel Insurance: Please note that you are required to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover you for the duration of your tour. If you live in Australia, Hayllar Music Tours can organise your travel insurance for you. Please contact them at phone 02 9669 9181 / +61 2 9669 9181 (Australia / International) or email contact@hayllarmusictours.com

• Meals: Lunches and dinners not nominated in your itinerary.

• Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls and mini-bar.

• Activities in Free Time: Costs associated with any activities suggested for you in your free time.

SMALL GROUP SIZE

The tour will operate with 8 people. The maximum number on the tour will be 20 people.

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED - LEVEL 2

All members of the tour must have the ability to:

• undertake walking tours of two-three hours duration, including using stairs and walking on uneven ground;

• stand for long periods in museum, art galleries etc;

• climb staircases of 100 or more steps;

• embark / disembark coaches, trains and other methods of transportation without assistance.

BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that booking terms and conditions apply. Click here for the booking terms and conditions.

OPERA & THEATRE IN IRELAND