Wednesday afternoon visits
Brú na Bóinne neolithic burial site
A bus tour to the World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne (Palace of the Boyne) in County Meath, the largest and one of the most important megalithic sites in Europe. This complex of neolithic passage tombs includes Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. It was built about 5,000 years ago and thus predates Stonehenge in England and the Egyptian pyramids. The tour begins at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and includes a visit to the Newgrange passage tomb (famous for the illumination of its passage and chamber by the sun at dawn on December 21st, the winter solstice). The large stones around and inside the tomb are decorated with spirals, chevrons, lozenges and other geometric designs, indicating that these burial sites may also have been places of astrological, spiritual, and ceremonial importance.
Glendalough monastic site
An excursion by bus to Glendalough in County Wicklow (known as the "Garden of Ireland"), south of Dublin, enjoying the magnificent scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. Known in Irish as Gleann Dá Loch, meaning "Glen of Two Lakes", Glendalough has long been an area renowned for its natural beauty and history and it is one of the most visited places in Ireland. Located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park, it is set in a glaciated valley with two lakes. It is renowned for its early medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin. The monastic remains include the famous 10th century Round Tower, stone churches and many decorated crosses.
Powerscourt Gardens
An opportunity to spend a relaxing afternoon in the beautiful Italianate gardens of Powerscourt House, Co. Wicklow. Though the interior of the 18th–century house was destroyed by fire in 1974, the wonderful gardens remain, taking full advantage of their spectacular setting facing the Sugar Loaf Mountain. There are formal terraces, a Japanese garden and a walled garden to stroll around, while the house now contains an exhibition, craft shops and excellent café.
Guinness Storehouse
Visit the Guinness Storehouse, in the heart of the St. James's Gate brewery, and learn the stories of Arthur Guinness, the brewing process and the history of Guinness Advertising. Take a tour of the exhibition floors — Ingredients, Brewing, Cooperage and 250 Exhibition — and sample the characteristic flavours of the three main Guinness variants — Guinness Draft, Guinness Foreign Extra and Guinness Extra Stout. Participants will receive a tutored session where they learn the art of pouring the perfect pint, and are then free to visit the rest of the building and enjoy one last pint and the panoramic views from Gravity Bar.
Castletown House and Maynooth University
A visit to Castletown House, Ireland's largest and earliest Palladian style house, built between 1722 and 1729. Castletown became the flagship conservation project of the Irish Georgian Society in 1967 when the Hon. Desmond Guinness purchased the house and 120 acres of land to save it for posterity. In 1994 the house came under state ownership and is now managed by the Office of Public Works; it has long been one of the venues for the chamber music festival Music in Great Irish Houses. The tour covers all aspects of the history of Castletown House up to the present day, including the members of the Conolly family who lived there, and visitors get a chance to view its fine architecture, original furniture and impressive collection of paintings. The tour of Castletown will be followed by a visit to the nearby university town of Maynooth, where delegates will have the opportunity to see its attractive 19th-century campus and visit the Russell Library.
Musical sites of Dublin City
A walking tour led by the well–known authority on Dublin, Pat Liddy. Visit locations related to the musical life and history of Dublin, including places associated with the sojourns of Handel and Geminiani. The site of Neal's Music Hall in Fishamble Street, where Handel's Messiah received its first performance in 1742, is just one of the highlights of this tour.
Pre– and Post–Conference Tours
The following tours are available through the Joe O'Reilly Ireland Group tour agency:
Pre–conference tour to the West (4 nights)
Post–conference tour to the South (4 nights)
Post–conference tour to the North (2 nights)
For further details check the Joe O'Reilly Ireland Group website.