Social Programme

MINITOUR OF CONNEMARA AND VISIT TO THATCH COTTAGE

This tour is accompanied by a professional tour guide. The group will travel along the coast road to the lovely village of Spiddal where they will visit the Naughton family home, a traditional thatch cottage, overlooking Galway Bay.

This beautiful cottage has been their family home for over 100 years and is not open to the general public. The lady of the house, Nancy, will teach the art of Irish bread making over an open fire. A member of the group will have the opportunity to bake their own.

Nancy will also make Irish Coffees, which the group can enjoy as a traditional box (accordion) player performs some traditional Irish music. Nancy and her sister Máire may even demonstrate Irish set dancing.

This afternoon will give your clients a unique opportunity to experience native Irish Culture and language in its natural environment. After this visit, the journey will continue through the heart of Connemara before arriving back to the hotel.

HISTORICAL TOUR OF GALWAY, A VISIT TO KENNY'S BOOK STORE

The morning will begin with a walking tour of Galway City with a professional Tour Guide. Participants will see many historical sites including Eyre Square, The Cathedral, Lynches Castle, St Nicholas Church and The Spanish Arch (If the weather is bad, as much of the tour as is possible will be completed by coach). The tour will take the group through the Galway's market renowned for its variety of stands including food, crafts and art. The tour will also visit Kenny's Bookshop and Art Gallery. When Desmond and Maureen Kenny opened their first bookshop in Galway in 1940 they were the only employees. Today, Kennys Bookshop & Art Gallery has a staff of almost 50 and is known throughout the world as the premier supplier of books of Irish interest - contemporary and antiquarian - and as one of the leading art galleries in the West of Ireland. A member of the Kenny Family will meet with the group and give them a personal history of the family business which has played such an important role in the heritage of Galway.

HALF DAY TOUR OF CONNEMARA

Connemara is one of Europe's last great natural wildernesses with towns and villages existing along a beautiful, indented coastline. The beauty of the area lies in its rocky and rugged landscape. Connemara is covered in purple heather and desolate tracts of brown bog-land, dotted with lakes with a backdrop of purple mountains.

The tour is accompanied by a Professional Tour Guide and will travel along Lough Corrib, through the villages of Moycullen and Oughterard to Maam Cross. The journey will continue through the beautiful Maam Valley to the village of Leenane backed by the Maamturk Mountains and facing Killary Harbour.

The first stop is Kylemore with its picturesque lake and famous abbey. Kylemore Abbey is the only Irish home of the Benedictine Nuns. Built originally as a Castle (1868) it is one of the best examples of Irish neo-gothic architecture, the estate features include a Victorian Walled Garden, restored Abbey reception rooms, Gothic Church, tranquil walks, craft shop, pottery, and restaurant. After their refreshments the group will have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour of the Abbey and the Gothic Church. The tour will then continue to the Lough Inagh valley road and head back to Galway.

Super Emerald Sponsors