UALR Public Radio goes to the Emerald Isle

UALR Public Radio General Manager Ben Fry will escort a trip with public radio listeners to Ireland this fall. The tour will circle the Emerald Isle, giving travelers the chance to experience the country’s beautiful scenery, historic castles and the warmth of the Irish people.

We’ll begin the tour on November 2 with an overnight flight to Dublin, where we will tour St. Patrick’s Cathedral, O’Connell Street and Phoenix Park. The tour continues to the medieval city of Kilkenny, then on to Waterford, where travelers will tour the new Waterford crystal facility. No trip to Ireland would be complete without a trip to historic Blarney Castle and a chance to kiss the Blarney Stone. In Killarney, we’ll get a chance to take a ride in an Irish jaunting car and tour Muckross House and Gardens.

For a look at the natural wonders of Ireland, we’ll take a ride around the famous Ring of Kerry, stopping at picturesque villages to shop for goods from local artisans. Other highlights of the trip include a tour of an Irish farm, a look at the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, a walk around the city of Limerick, a tour of an Irish whiskey distillery (with a tasting, of course) and the final night on the grounds of Cabra Castle.

“One of the real pleasures of these trips is travelling with other public radio listeners,” says Fry. “You’ll experience the beauty and magnificence of this country with people you already have something in common with – your love of public radio.”

The trip is organized by Collette Vacations, which also worked with UALR Public Radio to take listeners to Austria and the Czech Republic in 2006 and Tuscany in 2007. “We’ve had great success working with Collette,” say Fry. “Our trip to Salzburg, Vienna and Prague allowed public radio listeners to explore the cities where Mozart did his greatest work. And the 10-day trip to Rome and Tuscany exposed listeners to some of the most beautiful places on earth, as well as life-changing works of art and architecture like Michelangelo’s “David” and the Roman Coliseum. We expect no less from this trip to Ireland.”

The cost of the trip is $2,799 (double occupancy), which includes airfare, ground transportation, 13 meals and experienced tour guides.