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Football on the Emerald Isle with Belfast
Dublin
Titanic Belfast
Giant’s Causeway
Local Cuisine
Belleek Pottery Tour
Cheer on your team with fellow fans, soak up the electric atmosphere, and immerse yourself in the thrill of college football across the pond amidst Ireland’s natural beauty and warm hospitality. Begin in Belfast with a visit to the otherworldly Giant’s Causeway, a guided city tour, and uncovering rich history at Titanic Belfast. Next, journey back in time to the 18th century at Ulster American Folk Park and marvel at the intricate designs of Belleek Pottery. In Connemara, witness how Celtic designs are hand-cut into crystal and stroll the gorgeous, green riverside gardens of Kylemore Abbey. Authentic Irish hospitality awaits at Rathbaun Farm before our walk among the legendary monastic ruins of Clonmacnoise. Arriving in the capital city of Dublin, we learn about the country’s most famous brew at Guinness Storehouse, see the area’s top highlights with a local guide, and of course, watch our team face off in the Aer Lingus College Football Series in dynamic Aviva Stadium. Take advantage of Touchdown Club access with all-day gourmet grazing menus, open bar, early admission to the hospitality suite, premium padded seating, and more! Our adventure concludes with a traditional Irish Night at Taylors Three Rock, featuring award-winning dancing.
Trip overview may vary by departure.
Highlights
Ulster American Folk Park
Watch the history of Irish emigration come to life at this open-air museum, where you can wander through historic buildings, watch live demonstrations of crafts such as linen weaving or blacksmithing, board the Brig Union ship, and engage with costumed interpreters who share stories about the hardships and triumphs these settlers faced.
Aviva Stadium
Immerse yourself in the ultimate game day experience at this world-class venue! Built on the remnants of one of the oldest stadiums, Lansdowne Road, it has a distinctive exterior with curving lines and iridescent glass panels, plus an exceptional field. Our Touchdown Club’s shared hospitality suite offers a gourmet grazing menu and open bar featuring wine, Guinness, whiskey, and more. Cheer on your favorite team in comfort from reserved padded seating that ensures a great view of the action and receive a commemorative game day program with a lanyard to remember this incredible game.
Kylemore Abbey
Discover the beauty, history, and romance of Ireland’s most intriguing estate in the heart of the Connemara countryside. Home to a community of Benedictine Nuns since World War I, learn about Kylemore’s rich past including a love story that started it all, engineering initiatives, model farms, royal visits, and a girl’s boarding school. Visit the Abbey, neo-Gothic Church, restored Head Gardener’s house, and Ireland’s largest walled garden. Be sure to also try an award-winning chocolate, handmade by the Benedictine nuns
The Guinness Storehouse
Tour the home of Ireland’s most iconic beer at this seven-story museum and tasting room! Browse multi-sensory exhibits that dive into the brand’s 260-year-old history and their brewing process, then enjoy a pint of this Irish dry stout. Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on the building in the 1700s, so this facility promises to be part of the brand and the country’s history for centuries to come.
- Day 1: Fly to IrelandOur Irish adventure begins with an overnight flight to Dublin.
- Day 2: BelfastUpon arriving in Ireland, we head north to Belfast. After settling into our lovely accommodations, we get to know fellow travelers during a Welcome Dinner.
Meals Included: Dinner
- Day 3: Giant’s Causeway & Titanic BelfastThis morning, we get our first glimpse of Northern Ireland’s majestic coast on our way to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Giant’s Causeway. Walk along this unique geological wonder, formed from thousands of interlocking basalt columns, and soak up surreal vistas of the incredible landscapes around us. After returning to Belfast, a local guide details the city’s fascinating history and top attractions on a tour that includes the Titanic Quarter, St. Anne’s Cathedral, and the Prince Albert Memorial Clock. Our tour concludes at Titanic Belfast, where we browse remarkable exhibits that commemorate the birthplace of the world’s most famous ship. Later, there is free time to explore Belfast or relax before dinner at one of the city’s oldest and largest pubs, Robinsons Bar and Bistro.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 4: Ulster American Folk ParkToday, we learn about three centuries of Irish immigration at Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum in Omagh. Over 30 buildings await your exploration, each telling stories of 18th and 19th-century immigration, the hardships faced, and skilled artisans. Later, we tour Belleek Pottery to see the impressive craftsmanship at work as they demonstrate how to delicately sculpt the pottery and hand-paint shamrock accents. Tonight, we settle into our accommodations in historic Slingo.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 5: Kylemore Abbey & Celtic CrystalOur first stop today is Kylemore Abbey in Pollacappul, home to a community of Benedictine Nuns since World War I. Spend time exploring this expansive historic site including the castle, Victorian Walled Garden, neo-Gothic church, shop with handmade Irish goods, and more. Then, enjoy a scenic drive through the dramatic canvas of Connemara National Park, dense with gleaming rivers and lakes, stunning coastal views, and rugged rock formations. We arrive in Moycullen and visit Connemara Celtic Crystal to see how Celtic designs are expertly cut into colored crystal using traditional stone-cutting wheels. Later, we check in to our Galway accommodations.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 6: Rathbaun Farm & ClonmacnoiseThis morning, we experience authentic Irish hospitality at Rathbaun Farm, where sheep graze the fields as the fragrance of freshly baked goods and a peat fire fill the air. Our hosts invite us inside their charming, thatched cottage to enjoy homemade scones and a pot of Irish tea. We then travel to Athlone for some free time and lunch before heading east to Clonmacnoise, a ruined monastic site nestled along the banks of the River Shannon. This ancient site, featuring remains of nine churches, a round tower, and high Celtic Crosses, was previously a major center of religion and education that attracted scholars from all over Europe. Later, we arrive in Dublin and settle into our home for the remainder of the trip.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 7: Guinness StorehouseToday, we are immersed in the sights, aromas, and tastes of Ireland’s most famous brew: Guinness. Enjoy interactive exhibits that explore the history and brewing process of this internationally renowned Irish dry stout, then head to the top-floor lounge and indulge in a glass! The rest of the day is yours to soak up the lively capital city on your own or participate in activities the university has arranged for the game.
Meals Included: Breakfast
- Day 8: Game Day!Get ready to feel the adrenaline as we gear up for the ultimate game-day experience at Aviva Stadium’s Aer Lingus College Football Classic! Enjoy padded seating in a covered area that’s connected to our shared hospitality suite with an open bar. You may also view the game and highlight replays on the suite’s television. Our game package includes early admission to the suite, a premium game ticket and lanyard, all-day gourmet grazing menus, a commemorative game day program, and a VIP guest wallet and invitation. After the final whistle, we head back to our hotel, still buzzing with excitement from an incredible day.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9: DublinEnjoy a leisurely morning to rest up from the previous night’s festivities, then join a local guide for a city tour of Dublin’s best sights. View a mesmerizing blend of modern architecture and historic attractions, including Dublin Castle, the Spire of Dublin, and Ha’penny Bridge. This afternoon, our exploration continues at the National Museum of Ireland, four expansive sites that detail the past, present, and future of the Emerald Isle. Tonight, we celebrate our amazing adventure with a Farewell Dinner at Taylors Three Rock Irish Night, complete with delicious food, traditional music, and award-winning Irish dancing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 10: Fly HomeWe return home with spectacular memories of our time on the Emerald Isle.
What's Included
All Accommodations
- 2 nights in Belfast
- 1 night in Sligo
- 1 night at Radison RED Hotel Galway
- 4 nights at Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge in Dublin
Attractions & Highlights
- Belfast guided city tour feat. Titanic Belfast
- Giant's Causeway
- Belleek Pottery tour
- Ulster American Folk Park
- Connemara Celtic Crystal
- Kylemore Abbey
- Clonmacnoise monastic ruins
- Rathbaun Farm feat. Irish tea & scones
- Guinness Storehouse tour & tasting
- Kansas vs Iowa in Aviva Stadium's Touchdown Club
- Time at leisure in Belfast, Athlone & Dublin
- Dublin guided city tour feat. National Museum of Ireland
14 Excellent Meals
- Welcome Dinner in Belfast
- Dinner at Robinsons Bar & Bistro
- Gourmet tasting menu & open bar in Aviva Stadium
- Farewell Dinner at Taylors Three Rock Irish Night dinner & show
Learn more about what's included with the Holiday Advantage.
Birmingham - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport