Get ready!

Cool movies and music from Ireland tourism board here.  Click through the 4 tabs: Ireland's landscapes, People and Culture, History and Heritage, Cities of Ireland.

Highlights from Itinerary - follow the links for more information

Day 1: Wednesday 4th June
LAX -- Chicaco -- DUBLIN

Day 2: Thursday 5th June ARRIVAL DUBLIN

Day 3: Friday 6th June DUBLIN
Trinity College and the famous Book of Kells
St Patrick's Cathedral
Lunchtime recital
Dublin Castle

Day 4: Saturday 7th June DUBLIN-WATERFORD-CORK
Tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory
Stop on Dungarvan
Cork

Day 5: Sunday 8th June CORK
Leisure day
Concert at St Augustine's Church, to accompany Polish Mass

Day 6: Monday 9th June CORK-KILLARNEY
Blarney Castle
Killarney

Day 7: Tuesday 10th June KILLARNEY
View of the Killarney National Park
"The Ring of Kerry"
Brendan Ferris sheepdog herding demo
Glenbeigh
Carhiciveen
Waterville
Scarrit Inn
Carroll's Cove
Gap of Dunloe
Concert at Danny Mann Pub

Day 8: Wednesday 11th June KILLARNEY-GALWAY
Adare
Ennis
Cliffs of Moher
Limerick
The Burren
Galway

Day 9: Thursday 12th June GALWAY
Start Connemara Loop
Spideal
Maam Valley
Kilerry fjord
Leenane
Kylemore Abbey and Gardens
Concert at the Gothic Church
Inagh Valley
Oughterard
Moycullen Marble Shop
Finish Connemura Loop

Day 10: Friday 13th June GALWAY-DUBLIN
Dublin
Jameson Whiskey Distillery. Guided tour of the distillery followed by Whiskey tasting, dinner, and entertainment commences.

Day 11: Saturday 14th June Departure
Dublin airport.
Return Flight

Program for the tour!

Our concert dates and venues are set! Here are the program notes and here's where we will perform:

DAY 3 Friday, June 6 Dublin
St. Patrick’s Cathedral a lunchtime concert (13:00/1pm).
DAY 5 Sunday, June 8 Cork
Concert with The St. Augustine's Polish Choir at St. Augustine's Church, City Hall, 18.00/6 pm
DAY 7 Tuesday, June 10 Killarney
Concert at 19.00/7 pm, The Danny Mann Pub
DAY 9 Thursday, June 12 Galway Noon concert at The Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey & Garden - Connemara.

Travel Tips from Incantato Tours

Luggage
In accordance with airline policies on luggage and due to limited space on the coach, Incantato Tours only allows travelers to bring the following in addition to a personal item like a purse, laptop case, camera bag and 1 small carry-on (back-pack, small roll-on, duffle) which weighs less than 15 pounds and fits in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of you, and 1 normal-size suitcase (we recommend those with wheels for easier transport) that weighs 50 pounds (22.5 kg) or less.
What to bring or, better, what not to bring.
Most people pack way too much when traveling, so while it is up to you to ultimately decide what to bring but we recommend: Comfortable clothes that mix and match, plus work well in cool, warm and hot climates (layering) as you will most likely experience all these different weathers with asual outfits for sightseeing days including good walking shoes; dressy clothes for evenings out; enough essentials such as underwear and socks for the duration of your trip; bathing suit along with a beach towel should you feel like checking out a spa; toiletries – especially contact lens solution - but remember to pack all liquids on your checked luggage; prescription medication; foldable umbrella may come in handy, along with a light rain jacket; adapter for 220 V electricity, if you bring electrical items
Money
Budgeting and Spending: between 10 to 20 Euro/day for lunches, postcards, etc., but this totally depends on your spending habits. As a reference, a Happy Meal at Mc Donald's in Dublin cost 4 Euros. You can easily get by with less or spend a lot more. We recommend bringing Euros obtained from your local bank or relying on an ATM card to withdraw the local currency once you are overseas. While credit cards are widely accepted in Europe, they cannot be used for small purchases like in the US. Cash is the preferred form of payment and the simplest way to obtain local currency abroad is by using an ATM or automated teller machine. Carry a backup credit card. If you lose your ATM card or a machine can't read it, your Visa or MasterCard will be a lifesaver. Don't change small sums. Most banks charge a flat fee for each ATM transaction outside their own networks.
ATMs: Make sure your ATM card is compatible--check with your bank, since a handful of banks put restrictions on overseas use.) Have the right kind of PIN. Your pin should be numeric, not alphanumeric--e.g., "1245," not "ab12." If necessary, ask your bank to change your PIN or translate it into numbers before you leave home.

Sincerely, Sandra Weinacht - Ted Keppler from Incantato Tours & Concert Management

AND DON'T FORGET OUR DISCOUNT AT PACIFIC TRAVELER'S 12 W Anapamu (at State Street)! IF YOU NEED ANY MAPS, LUGGAGE, ADAPTORS, ETC.

9:30 a.m -7:30p.m. 7 days a week

Come to our "local" concert! and other ways to sponsor us...

Join us for a preview of the Irish concerts by attending the SPRING CHORAL CONCERT Saturday, May 10, 2008 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.

On the right-hand of this screen this is a list of people who have generously sponsored the SBCC Concert Choir's trip this June. There's always room for more names on this list!!

If you'd like to help support the work and travel of this group, please contact our conductor, Nathan Kreitzer at kreitzer@sbcc.net or by phone 805.965.0581 x2230.

More trip planning

Follow these links to learn more about Ireland and what we will experience there:

• National Tourism Board site
  
• Ideas for what to do on our free time
  
• Prehistoric "history"
  
• The Celts and
  
• Irish history

And if you are really eager, here are many, many sites about history, news, politics, culture  here.

Minard Castle, Dingle Peninsula

A stop on our way? Minard Castle, Dingle Peninsula
Minard Castle is situated on a piece of land stretching out into the sea in the parish of Minard, near Lispole. A considerable portion of the castle remains. Walter Hussey, a Norman who settled in Dingle, had a garrison there in 1641. Colonels Lehunt and Sadler beseiged the castle. The castle defenders, being short of ammunition, were forced to use pewter bullets. As soon as the besiegers noticed this, they approached the castle by stealth, placed a charge under it, and blew up a great section. It is interesting to note that the beach near the castle is a natural storm beach, the boulders being thrown up by the sea during storms

photo Christopher Warrick

Let's Go Green!

Trying to calculate the carbon footprint of LAX-Dublin-LAX for 50 people...at least we're all going in the same plane! Extra points for someone who gets a good guestimate. In the meanwhile:

What should the responsible tourists do to preserve the ecosystem with their visit?

• Compress garbage and take it with you.
• Recycle where possible.
• Limit energy use, including your use of heat and warm water.
• Choose accommodations compatible with local traditions and that minimize negative environmental impacts.

Learn more about travelling green in Ireland by clicking here