LOW AERFARES: Aer Lingus announced "Aerfares" --
bookable via travel travel agencies and (800) IRISH-AIR -- that
start at $214 one-way from Baltimore, Boston and New York (Kennedy)
to Ireland, for travel Sept. 1 through Oct. 15. Flights from
Chicago start at $244 each way, and from Los Angeles, at $269 each
way. "Aerfares" booked directly online by consumers at www.aerlingus.com
are a bit lower, starting at $199 each way. The fares are based on
weekday, economy-class roundtrip travel, with a minimum
Saturday-night and maximum six-month stay; an additional $20
applies for weekend travel and a Dublin supplement may be charged.
For more, call (800) IRISH-AIR.
SUMMER SIZZLE: Far & Wide's Brian Moore
International Tours is offering 20% pay on select independent and
escorted tours to Ireland booked and deposited by Aug. 31. Sample
pricing under the "Summer Sizzle" promo on six-night FIT packages
(with roundtrip air, compact rental car, accommodations, breakfast
and sightseeing) starts at $849 per person, double, for the
"Ireland's Friendly B&B's" deal and $1,029 for "Ireland's Manor
House Hotels." Sample rates for escorted packages (with air,
accommodations, guided motorcoach tours, transfers, sightseeing and
most meals) include $1,479 for the six-night "Irish Spree" and
$2,479 for the seven-night "Luxury Castles and Manors." For more,
visit www.farandwide.com/sizzle or call (800) 925-5892.
IRELAND IN 360: CIE Tours International puts
its seven-night, escorted "Irish Adventure" package on sale this
fall, with pricing from $968 -- including air from New York
(Kennedy), Boston or Baltimore -- from Nov. 13 to 27. "This
all-inclusive trip follows a scenic circuit around the Irish
coastline," said Brian Stack, president of CIE Tours, "providing a
panorama of the Emerald Isle at a bargain price." The itinerary
visits Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Blarney, Killarney, the Ring of
Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Galway, Connemara, Foxford,
Sligo, Donegal, Lough Erne, and the Boyne Valley. Land-only
packages also are available, from $719; agent pay is 10% on land
but varies on air. For more information, visit www.cietours.com,
send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (800) CIE-TOUR.
FORE, GOLFERS: Sceptre Ireland is offering its
six-night "Legends Golf Package" from $999 per golfer for
departures Oct. 16 to Dec. 14, based on two or four people
traveling, double occupancy and midweek travel. The package
includes four rounds of golf at Lahnich, Ballybunion, Killarney and
Dooks -- some of Ireland's most famous courses; roundtrip air from
New York, Boston and Baltimore (add $100 for Chicago and $200 for
Los Angeles); six nights' accommodations at town & country
B&B's; weekly car rental; sales tax and VAT. Agent pay is 10%.
To book, call (800) 221-0924 or visit www.sceptreireland.com.
BREITHLA MAITH DUIT: Or "Happy Birthday," in
Irish! Legend Tours is celebrating its 15th anniversary this
September with offers of free travel and higher commission to
agents. The San Diego-based firm is featuring five of its all-time
favorite group tours to Europe and is giving away free travel with
each package as a "Free Birthday Bonus" for all tours booked Sept.
1 to March 31. Celtic-wise, Legend offers a free Dublin Extension
package for its Discover Scotland tour, including air from
Scotland. The company also is offering 15% commission for all
individual FIT bookings made in September for travel completed by
Dec. 31. For more, e-mail [email protected] or call (800) 333-6114,
Ext. 114.
EVENTS SEE GREEN: Ireland's Ministry for Arts,
Sport and Tourism announced grants totaling nearly $500,000 to beef
up several annual Irish events and support event organizers, as
part of a new Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative to increase
annual visitor numbers. Recipients include the Lord Mayor's Parade,
Dublin; the Carlow's Floral Festival Trail, County Carlow; Tall
Ships 2005, Waterford; the Wexford Opera Festival; the Kilkenny
Arts Festival; the Kerry Film Festival; and Donegal Tourism. Arts,
sport and tourism minister John O'Donoghue said "these festivals
and cultural events play a significant role in attracting
international tourists, ... while at the same time providing an
opportunity for local people to enjoy the benefits."