Gather your club and take flight to Ireland

This evening we depart The U.S. by taking an overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland. Be sure to arrive at the airport 3 hours prior to departure.

This morning you will land at Dublin Airport, collect your This morning we will land at Dublin Airport, collect our bags, and proceed to the arrivals hall where we will be greeted by our driver guide. Once the group is assembled, we board our coach as we drive northwest to County Donegal. We stop en route for a full Irish breakfast quite soon after departing in case we are hungry. We will meander along the beautiful countryside Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands before heading into County Fermanagh. This unspoiled region is famous for its lakes, cave lands, and diverse range of habitats and landscapes. We continue to County Donegal and the spectacular views of the rugged northwest. We will arrive at the charming coastal village of Ballyliffin on the beautiful Inishowen Peninsula. After checking in, the coaching team will meet with our hosts from a local Rugby Club before our welcome dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (Breakfast on the way & Dinner)

After a delicious Irish breakfast, we will begin our day with a training session with the head rugby coach. After a delicious Irish breakfast, we will begin our day with a training session with local coach at the local Rugby Club, along with fellow players from their youth squad.  Following our morning workout, we will head north to the Doagh Famine Village, one of Ireland’s most popular attractions. Thousands of people from all over the world visit the Doagh Famine Village every year. Take an in depth look at previous generations’ way of life through the Irish Potato Famine. Later we have some free time to enjoy a beach walk or a drive around the area, before our group dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B,D)

After breakfast, we journey to Derry for a panoramic of the walled city. This walking tour will reveal a splendid city crammed full of history, heritage, interest, and a vibrant cultural scene.  This is the only remaining completely intact walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. We then make a stop for lunch before our first game of the week at the local Rugby Club. After the 2pm game, we’ll gather for some post game food before heading back to the hotel for the evening. Here there will be a later supper for those still hungry.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B, D)

Following breakfast this morning, we will depart Donegal to seek new adventures in Northern Ireland and discover the capital city of Belfast. Along the way we’ll visit the Giant’s Causeway, an amazing geologic formation of approx. 40,000 basalt stone – some as tall as 130 feet, and mostly hexagonal in shape. This is Northern Ireland’s Premier landmark, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Causeway is a result of accelerated cooling of lava outflows 60 million years ago. We’ll have time to get a bite to eat and enjoy the views, before we continue to Belfast, where we’ll check into our hotel and enjoy a group dinner together.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B, D)

After a hearty breakfast, we will enjoy another training session with the head coach at home of our second host team. This time we will be on our own. After our training session, we’ll head back into Belfast for a visit to the Titanic Belfast Museum to learn about the construction of the Titanic. Be sure to take a walk down the Titanic slipway to see exactly where the ship was created. We’ll then finish the day with a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city to take in all of its historic and fascinating areas including the City Center, the Protestant neighborhood of Shankill Road, the Catholic neighborhood of Falls Road and much more. Dinner this night is in a local restaurant in walking distance to the hotel.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B, Dinner in a local restaurant)

This morning, we will enjoy a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. Here we will check out the history of transportation across Northern Ireland, including trains, trams, motorbikes, and cars. We’ll then gather for a pregame lunch at the museum before we head off for our match against another local rugby club. Once the 2^nd and final game is complete, we will enjoy a local BBQ dinner all together.

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B, Lunch & Dinner at the Rugby Club)

After breakfast, enjoy the day as we wish! Check out some of the historical neighborhoods across Belfast, local cafes and shopping centers. This evening, we will attend a local professional game after a ‘Meet the Player’ session in the Nevin Spence Museum at the home Ulster Rugby, the Kingspan Stadium

Overnight: City Center Hotel (B, Dinner at the Rugby Stadium)

With bags packed, enjoy breakfast and head for the airport where we will board our flight home. Carry on our photos and memories and bring a bit of the Emerald Isle home with us!