Events
2009 Garden & Farm Tour of Ireland
REGISTRATION FOR THIS TOUR IS CLOSED, but we will be planning another great alumni tour for Summer 2010. If you'd like to be included on future mailings about our international tours, please send an email to jfields@uga.edu
This summer, CAES alumni will tour the great gardens, farms, and cultural and historical sights of Ireland. Select a link below to learn more.
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Tour Itinerary
Our group will be in Ireland for 7 days, from July 20th - July 27th. Below is a description of each day's activities.
Day 1 Monday 20 July
Early morning arrival in Shannon Airport. Visit the dramatic 650 ft Cliffs of Moher. A local expert will guide us through The Burren, a limestone plateau full of unusual plants.
Dinner & Overnight in Ennis.
Day 2 Tuesday 21 July
Visit to 15th century Bunratty Castle & Folk Park. Folk Park homes depict a typical 19th century village. Shopkeepers and homeowners will share their skills. Visit the thatched village of Adare. Afternoon visit to Muckross House and Gardens, a Victorian mansion. Watch traditional farming/home practices. Visit the 15th century monastery cloister built around an ancient yew tree, and then walk along the picturesque landscape to the Victorian arboretum. Spend the evening in Killarney, famous for its traditional Irish music.
Dinner & Overnight in Killarney.
Day 3 Wednesday 22 July
Pass over the wild Caha mountains and go by ferry to Ilnacullin, an exotic island garden designed by Harold Peto. Continue on to Blarney to visit a dairy farm for a chat with a farmer and his wife over tea and scones.
Dinner & Overnight in Blarney.
Day 4 Thursday 23 July
Visit to Waterford Crystal Glass. Visit the 12th century Castle Kilkenny. Evening demonstration on baking scones with tea/coffee with Greta Power.
Dinner & Overnight in a Kilkenny Farmhouse B&B.
Day 5 Friday 24 July
Guided tour of St. Kevin’s 6th century monastery at Glendalough in the “valley of the two lakes,” one of Ireland’s most scenic monastic settlements. Visit Powerscourt Gardens, revered for their design and their dramatic setting at the foot of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Dinner & Overnight in Gresham Hotel on O’Connell St.in the heart of Dublin.
Day 6 Saturday 25 July
Morning guided tour of Dublin including visits to St. Patrick’s Cathedral,
Christ Church Cathedral, and Trinity College, home to the Book of Kells.
Afternoon and evening free in Dublin.
Day 7 Sunday 26 July
Tour the Irish National Stud, a state-run bloodstock farm. Walk through Japanese Gardens laid out to represent the “Life of Man.” Return to Dublin for tea & biscuits in Helen Dillon’s garden. Her garden displays the artistic eye and knowledge of Ireland’s best known gardener.
Dinner & evening of Irish music and dance.
Day 8 Monday 27 July
Transfer to Dublin Airport for flight home.
About Your Leader
Tim Smalley (UGA: MS ‘86, PhD ‘88) is an Associate Professor in the Horticulture Department at the University of Georgia. His thirty-five years of gardening experience includes positions at the Royal Botanic garden of Edinburgh, Walt Disney World, and the Botanical garden of Cornell University. He teaches Woody Plant Identification and Use, Landscape Horticulture, and a European garden study abroad course in garden history, garden design, and plant selection. Dr. Smalley has led 18 other European garden tours. This is his fifth tour of Ireland.
Tour Costs
Tour space is limited to 25, and registration is on a first-come basis. Tour cost is $2250. Single room supplement is $400.00. A deposit of $500.00 is due now to hold your spot. A final payment of $1,750.00 is due by April 15.
Tour Cost Includes:
- 7 Nights Bed and full Irish breakfast
- 1 Evening of Irish music & dance
- 5 Evening Dinners
- Luxury Coach for 8 days
- All itinerary admissions
- Scone-baking demonstration
- $500 tax-deductible donation to CAES student support funds
Tour Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Trip or health insurance
- Tip to motorcoach driver
Cancellation Policy
Land-based tour costs will be refunded until April 15, 2009. Afterward, full cost of the tour will be forfeited. UGA reserves the right to cancel the tour if unforeseeable events prevent travel to Ireland (specifically act of God, acts of war, warnings of terrorism, travel restrictions, or a U.S. Department of State travel warning). The tour requires a minimum of 15 participants and may be cancelled if that number is not reached by April 15. In the case of cancellation before departure, all fees will be refunded.
Letter of Invitation
Download the letter of invitation from Dr. Tim Smalley.
Get Registered!
Sorry. Registration is closed.
More Information
More information, detailed itinerary, and registration forms available from:
Juli Fields
117 Four Towers
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-3390
jfields@uga.edu