WWC is touring Ireland in the summer of 2010 under the direction of Don Paul Richardson. The Washington D.C. based women's chorus is performing in Galway, at Kylmore Abbey, in Killarney, Cork and twice in Dublin between June 20 and June 30.
Dear Travelers,
the first hotel confirmations are coming in and we sure hope you will be as pleased as we are with the selections.
Here is the website for International Hotel in Killarney which is located right in the heart of town, offers one of the best breakfasts I ever had in Ireland (served table-side) and so much more.
Have a look at the following site for your Cork accommodation and don't forget to check out the spa: Imperial Hotel Cork
Here is the first itinerary, some details are subject to change to improve the overall tour experience and to make sure it really matches and even exceeds your group's expectations. Enjoy!
Highlights
• A series of up to four professionally organized and promoted formal performances in magnificent venues just for your choir.
• Educational and entertaining sightseeing
• Plenty of opportunities for immersion into the local culture
• Exchange with local musicians
• Entrances to many sights, including Blarney Castle
• Nice hotels in good and central locations
Likely Concert-Venues (to be selected from)
• St. Nicholas Church, University —GALWAY
• Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey
• Muckross House, Cathedral, Danny Man Pub —KILLARNEY
• St. Augustine, University —CORK
• St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Ann's Church, St. Bartholomew, Christchurch —DUBLIN
Possible add-on: • Bunratty Castle —BUNRATTY
The above listed venues have been carefully selected by Incantato‘s Concert Managers and will be requested for your choir and travel dates. Final confirmation is based on submission of repertoire and recording as well as final approval by the local music directors.
Accommodation and Meals
Incantato‘s Hospitality Managers take pride in working only with pre-inspected hotels that fit your budget and selected restaurants frequented by locals. We encourage you to stay and eat in typical, ideally locally owned properties for a true immersion into the local cultures. Irish breakfasts are included daily and four special dinners.
Sunday, June 20
Day 1: GROUP FLIGHT TO IRELAND (or make your own way to Ireland)
DCA - BOS - SNN
Travel to Ireland
US Airways Flight 2036 DCA to BOS depart at 14:30 arrive at 15:51
Air Lingus Flight 132 BOS to SNN depart at 19:00 and arrive at 06:05 the next day, Monday, June 21
Monday, June 21
Day 2: ARRIVAL SHANNON
Meet your Tour Manager and driver at the airport after clearing immigrations and customs.
Take the scenic route to Galway, stopping on route for tea & scones.
Check-in to city-center hotel (guests on the land-only package, please meet the group at the hotel)
Relax, explore town, free time
Welcome dinner in the hotel or a local pub
Tuesday, June 22
Day 3: SCENIC GALWAY & Connemara Start Connemara Loop with Spidea, Maam Valley, Kilerry fjord, Leenane
Stop at Kylemore Abbey and Gardens
Lunch Concert at the Gothic Church
then drive though Inagh Valley, Oughterard, stop at Moycullen Marble Shop
Return to Galway for an evening at leisure
Wednesday, June 23
Day 4: CLIFFS OF MOHER to KILLARNEY
Another day full of breathtaking scenery awaits you today as you travel via Limerick to the Cliffs of Moher and then continue via Adare and Ennis to Killarney. Free time to talk a walk or horse-drawn carriage ride through Muckross Garden prior to exploring one or a few of the music pubs Killarney is known for.
Thursday, June 24
Day 5: KILLARNEY & RING OF KERRRY
View of the Killarney National Park, "The Ring of Kerry", Brendan Ferris sheepdog herding demo
and the towns of Glenbeigh, Carhiciveen, Waterville, Scarrit Inn, Carroll's Cove, Gap of Dunloe. Return to Killarney for a concert Concert at either Danny Mann Pub, St. Mary's Cathedral or at Muckross House.
Friday, June 25
Day 6: BLARNEY CASTLE & CORK
Visit this must see tourist attraction and then take in lovely Cork with its many shops and restaraunts.
Saturday, June 26
Day 7: CORK AT LEISURE
Hit the golf course, visit the spa, explore museums or help the local economy. Today is all about you and recharging your batteries. Evening concert at St Augustine's Church or another local venue
Sunday, June 27
Day 8: CORK-WATERFORD-DUBLIN
Bid farewell to Cork
Stop on Dungarvan
See the Rock of Cashel (and should it re-open, tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory)
and continue to Dublin for an orientation tour and evening at leisure
Day 10: DUBLIN AT LEISURE
Day at leisure
Optional Distillery or Guiness Brewery Tour
Additional performance opportunity prior to a farewell dinner with lots of music and dance.
Wednesday, June 30
Day 11: DEPARTURE or BELFAST EXTENSION
Return Flight via Boston to DCA
Air Lingus Flight 133 DUB to BOS depart at 11:30 arrive at 15:10
clear immigrations and customs, rec-check your bags
US Airways Flight 2047 BOS to DCA depart at 19:00 arrive at 20:34
Dear Travelers, Incantato Tours is pleased to advise that after last night's meeting and today's conversation with Don, we will be placing the air deposit on your behalf which allows everyone more time to get the first tour deposit ready. The amount and due date will be determined by the board and announced directly by WWC. This will also give you more time to decide which travel insurance is right for you. Tour sign-up forms are currently being prepared and will be available next week. Have a great day, your Incantato Tours Team
This "Ireland must-see" for many is currently not on the group's itinerary as we received the request to give you more time in Dublin which we honored by starting off in Shannon, but again, this is your tour and we will be happy to accomodate requests that represent the majority among the travelers and can be fit into the itinerary and scheduling. So have a look at the description and websites so that you can make an informed decision when the final votes are taken on group sightseeing for the 2010 WWC Performance Tour later in the year.
Glendalough is the most spectacular and perhaps the best known Glen and attraction in Co. Wicklow. The valley of the two lakes lies a kilometere west of Laragh. In the 6th century St. Kevin founded a monastery and from this grew a monastic city, which became famous as a centre of learning throughout Europe. The spectacular Round Tower in the Monastic City stands an impressive 34m high and 16m in circumferences. There is also a visitor centre in Glendalough to help those discover more about this impressive and historic place. The area surrounding Glendalough is a paradise for walkers as along this part of the Wicklow Way there is plenty of accommodation and 'craic' nearby and the scenery is very impressive. Here are some impressions, and several weblinks: Frommers Wikipedia GCSU
Dear singers and friends of WWC, we surely enjoyed seeing you all on Wednesday evening and presenting the choir's upcoming performance tour to those that could attend in person and to everyone via this blog. Over the next few weeks, we will finalize the itinerary, start confirming hotels and venues in accordance with your director and the board members. Sightseeing is one of the most flexible elements within the tour and final decisions on what you will see where as a group will not be made for a few months. So please keep posting your findings and suggestions on the blog where we will eventually take polls as to what will be included for all. Mrs. Ellen Goldman did a lot of research already and is quite fond of Rick Steve's findings which can also be found online on his Ireland website. In addition, we encourage you to visit the official Tourism Website of Ireland which offers amazing resources and lots of wonderful features. Two of our team members belong to and graduated from the Shamrock Club, the Irish Tourism Boards continuing ed program and they will share some of their personal favorites with you on this blog too. Last not least, there is the grandmaster of travel guides, Frommers.
"Our tour was so much more than a music festival. It was a complete cultural enrichment including great performance venues, hotels, restaurants, local tour guides, as well as connections with other choirs and instrumentalists. An added bonus for us was an introduction to an Italian composer who presently will be joining us in NC for 3 concerts featuring some of his choral music. So the cultural exchange continues. Bravo, Incantato!" Dr. Sue Klausmeyer, Chapel Hill Community Chorus, Chapel Hill, SC
"As a director I loved the personal touch Incantato was able to provide and the attention they gave to even the smallest details. Incantato worked with us to suit our tour of Central Europe to our ensemble’s needs and objectives. The result was a brilliant tour that featured amazing performance venues, excellent guides, and unique cultural experiences that the students and I will remember for a lifetime."
Dr. Graeme Langager - Director of Choral Activities, University of Arkansas
"Having recently returned from a successful tour of Ireland, I can say without a doubt that this was my finest tour experience. I have used several different tours companies in my years of performance tours, and none have matched the attention to detail, the thoughtful planning, excellent venues & marketing, meal & hotels, and overall management by Incantato Tours. Their pricing was excellent, and when the US currency dropped, they did not raise any of our cost. I would recommend this company to anyone planning a tour, whether they are a large professional ensemble, or a small church choir." Nathan J. Kreitzer - Director of Choral Activities Santa Barbara City College, CA
“When we travel to Europe again, it wil be with Incantato. I have been more than impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail. We sang in great and unforgettable venues, had excellent marketing and audiences. I highly recommend Incantato.“ Howard Cheung, San Marino Chamber Choir, CA
“I’ve worked with many other tour companies, but our Incantato Tour exceeded even my most optimistic expectations. The singers will remember their time in Italy the rest of their lives. To have had the opportunity to perform in those amazing cathedrals with large appreciative audiences was truly memorable.“ Judy Filibeck, Choir of the Sound, Seattle, WA
“From start to finish Incantato was tremendous in terms of the planning and execution of our tour. We found the staff professional yet personable, and without doubt we’ll travel with them in the future.” Philemon Theodorou, SCHS Vocal Arts, CA
“Incantato Tours has created the most musically satisfying tour we have ever taken. For the singers touring is about the music in the wonderful cathedrals and the exchanges with the local kids. A toast to Incantato for fulfilling your dream, and for making so many people so happy - now and in the future.“ Arlene Jacobs, SCS Touring Choir, Akron, OH
“Incantato Tours impresses me because their clients come first. Their advantage lies in the selection of venues, impressive itineraries and the ability to tend to details.” Dr. Gary L. Unruh, Professor Emeritus, CSU Fresno
