McCraw/McGraw Tour of Ireland

June 8–21. 2011

Join your McCraw/McGraw cousins and friends for an exciting tour of Ireland!  Anticipation for the fourteen day 2011 tour is high! We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful Emerald Isle, land of our ancestors for more than 2000 years, prior to one or more MacCraiths imigrating to Scotland.

The tour will begin with a flight to Dublin, followed by two days of sightseeing in and around the city, including Newgrange Megalithic Passage tomb, the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin and Powerscourt House and Gardens.  We will also view the battlefield of Contarf where King Brian Boru won a decisive battle against the Danes, but lost his life along with his son and the grandsons of Echtighern, from whom the McCraws/McGraws and McGraths descend.

In County Waterford, we will visit the Castle Country House, (originally ccalled “Mountain Castle,”) constructed by the McCragh family in the first half of the 16th century.  We will also see the “magnificent carved sculpture on the McGrath Altar Stone” in the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Lismore. Donal McGrath built it in 1548 and was buried there in 1557.

In County Tipperary we will visit Cahir, where the MacCraiths established a Bardic school that lasted for several generations. We will see Cahir Castle, one of the largest castles in Ireland, built in 1142 by Conor O’Brien, Prince of Thomand province.

In County Cork, the brave and agile among us can kiss the Blarney Stone. Our itinerary includes the beautiful lakes of Killarney, Muckross House and Gardens, and the Ring of Kerry, a natural seaside region of spectacular beauty with an insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland.

In County Clare we will visit St. Cronan’s Church, now East Clare Heritage Center, the Brian Boru Heritage Center, and the Cliffs of Moher with the O’Brien’s tower that offers magnificent views. † †

The last evening we will enjoy a medieval dinner and entertainment at Bunratty Castle in County Clare before departing the next day from the airport in Shannon.

The price includes round trip airfare from Newark, NJ to Dublin on June 8 and return from Shannon on June 21, 2011.  Also included are 12 nights lodging in six locations, all breakfasts, 6 dinners (the first night at each location including the medieval Castle banquet), cost of admission to attractions when required, all ground transportation, and the services of an Irish guide.

The tour was first presented at the 2010 reunion.  Space is still available. The tour can take 49 people.  At 2010 prices, the tour would cost  $2995.00 based on 45 people.  The cost would be less with additional participants, up to the maximum of 49.  The price for 2011 will be determined as soon as information needed to calculate it becomes available.

For more information or to join the tour, contact:

Faye E. Moore

816-453-7712

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