Erie Playhouse

In March of 2007 Erie established its 4th sister city with Dungarvan, Ireland, which is located on the south coast of Ireland. At the request of the Dungarvan Dramatic Club, Dungarvan delegates and athe City of Erie, the Erie Playhouse will be performing in Dungarven this August. As part of a cultural exchange, we will be performing The Fantasticks! a truly American musical, and Broadway Tonight, a concert featuring music from current Broadway shows.

This international adventure is open to all. Please see the trip itinerary below along with reservation information.

ITINERARY FOR ERIE PLAYHOUSE SISTER-CITY CULTURAL EXCHANGE AUGUST 4-14, 2008 PREPARED BY TRANSAT HOLIDAYS

Day 1 - DEP FLIGHT: TS230 04AUG08 YYZ T-3 23:55 SNN 13:25 VIA DUBMonday, August 04 Depart Toronto for Shannon with Air Transat.
Day 2 - Tuesday, August 5: SHANNON ARRIVAL
After customs and immigration formalities at Shannon Airport, your CIE Tours driver/guide will welcome you to Ireland. Leaving Shannonside drive via Lahinch to visit the Cliffs of Moher which rise 200m above the Atlantic Ocean and extend 8km along the coast. Drive through the Burren Country, an area of silvery-grey limestone, that has weathered into curious pavements and elsewhere into mountains or cliffs. Continue around Galway Bay to “City of The Tribes”.Dinner, bed and breakfast at the 4* Connemara Coast Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 - Wednesday, August 6: CLIFFS OF MOHER & KILLARNEY
Drive from Galway to Bunratty. This morning visit Bunratty Castle and explore the many halls and chambers of this medieval castle. Bunratty Castle dates back to 1425 and is the most complete building of its type. Bunratty Folk Park comprises a collection of farmhouses from different regions of Ireland and a 19th century village street with a pub, school, general store and many other buildings where traditional lifestyles and crafts are demonstrated. Drive through the outskirts of Limerick and south to Adare which is famous for its main street of thatched houses. After a stop for photos and a walk along the main street, journey into the mountainous country of Kerry and into Killarney, settled beside three lakes in the shadow of Ireland's highest mountains.Dinner, bed and breakfast at the 3* Killarney Towers Hotel (or similar)
Day 4 - Thursday, August 7: GLENGARIFF & GARINISH ISLAND
Drive south from Killarney via the scenic Loo River valley to Kenmare. Continue across the Caha Mountains to Glengariff, located at the head of Bantry Bay. Sub-tropical vegetation thrives here due to the sheltered bay and relatively mile climate. At Glengariff take a short boat ride to Garinish Island to visit the delightful gardens. These formal gardens have a collection of plants and trees from all over the globe that flourish in a scenic setting of mountains on the mainland and sea. Continue through West Cork via Skibbereen and Clonakilty to Kinsale (The Gourmet Capitol of Ireland according to Rick Steeves!)Dinner, bed and breakfast at the 3* Trident Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 - Friday, August 8: CORK SIGHTSEEING & DUNGARVAN
Cork is built on many hills so be prepared for some walking as you visit Shandon Church where you can ring the bells and also get a wonderful view over the city. Visit St. Finbarr's Cathedral in the city center and join the busy shoppers along MacCurtain and Patrick Streets. In the afternoon visit the Cobh Heritage Centre in the former railway station through which emigrants actually travelled. In fact, Cobh (formerly Queenstown) was the last port of call of the ill-fated Titanic. The detailed exhibition depicts the varied history of emigration from Ireland and many European countries to the United States over the past 150 years. Travel along the south coast via Youghal, where Sir Walter Raleigh was once mayor, to Dungarvan.Dinner, bed and breakfast at the 3* Park Hotel, Dungarvan
Day 6 - Saturday, August 9: WATERFORD CRYSTAL FACTORY
This morning, take a trip to Waterford for an entertaining walking tour of this Viking City with a local guide. Afterwards, visit the Waterford Crystal Showrooms today to see a demonstration of the blowing and cutting of this popular crystal. In the showrooms you can see a wide range of tableware and special trophies and you will have an opportunity to buy before returning to Dungarvan in the early afternoon.Bed and breakfast at the 3* Park Hotel, Dungarvan
Day 7 - Sunday, Aug 10: OLD MIDLETON DISTILLERY
Leave Dungarvan and drive to a nearby farm for a tour and freshly made tea & scones. Continue to Midleton to tour the Jameson Heritage Centre. Here you'll learn about the distillation of Irish whiskey and see the old mills, still-houses, warehouses and kilns. Also see the largest pot still in the world and then sample some whiskey. Return to Dungarvan in the early afternoon.Bed and breakfast at the 3* Park Hotel, Dungarvan
Day 8 - Monday, August 11: LISMORE
This morning, drive to Lismore. As the site of the greatest monastic school of the 8th century, Lismore attracted among others King Alfred the Great (described by Winston Churchill as “The Greatest Englishman who ever lived”). You will enjoy a walking tour of the town before you return to Dungarvan in the early afternoon. Bed and breakfast at the 3* Park Hotel, Dungarvan
Day 9 - Tuesday, August 12: CASHEL
This morning, drive through the rich dairy country of Tipperary to the town of Cashel. The town is famous for the Rock of St Patrick or Rock of Cashel, a huge rocky outcrop with many ecclesiastical ruins. Visit the centre at the Rock before returning to Cashel in the early afternoon.Bed and breakfast at the 3* Park Hotel, Dungarvan
*Day 10 - Wednesday, August 13: KILKENNY CASTLE & DUBLIN *
Travel north to Kilkenny, a town with many medieval houses and dominated by Kilkenny Castle which dates from the 12th century and was the stronghold of the Butler family. Tour the Castle where a local guide takes you through the apartments and relates the history of the region. Continue north through the prime horse-breeding country of County Kildare and into the greater metropolitan region of Dublin. This evening after an early dinner at your hotel, enjoy an entertaining evening’s Ghost Bus tour of the city.Dinner, Bed and breakfast at the 3* Jurys Inn, Parnell Street, or similar.
*Day 11 - Thursday, August 14: DEPART DUBLIN *
Sadly, today your Irish vacation has come to its final day. After your final breakfast (for this visit), you will transfer to Dublin Airport in plenty of time to check in for your flight. You may do some last minute shopping at the airport. Depart Dublin for Toronto with Air Transat.RET FLIGHT: TS235 14AUG08 DUB 11:50 YYZ T-3 16:00 VIA YUL

Tour Includes:
- Coach to and from Toronto Airport from Erie, PA
- Flight with Air Transat from Toronto to Shannon with open-jaw return from Dublin to Toronto
- Airport taxes and related fees
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout the tour
- English-speaking guide to escort and entertain you throughout
- Accommodation as listed with private bath or shower for 9 nights
- Full Irish breakfast daily (9)
- Five table d’hôte dinners
- Local guide for Cork sightseeing as well as Waterford & Lismore Walking Tours
- Tour & sample at the Old Midleton Distillery
- Tea & scones at a farmhouse
- Boat trip to Garinish Island
- Dublin ghost bus tour
- Visits and admissions to Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle & Folkpark,
- St Finbar’s Cathedral, Cobh Heritage Centre, Waterford Crystal Factory, Rock of Cashel
- Hotel porterage (one suitcase per person).
- Hotel service charges
- All local taxes

Erie Playhouse and Dungarvan Special Events included:
- Ticket to the Composer/Lyricist Concert Broadway Tonight! on Sunday, August 10, 2008
- Ticket to The Fantasticks! on Monday or Tuesday, August 11 and 12, 2008
- VIP Guest Pass for all Dungarvan Dramatic Club celebrations
- August 6, 2008 Reception with the Mayor and delegates of Dungarvan
- August 7, 2008 Luncheon with the Mayor and delegates of Dungarvan
- VIP Guest Pass for the Dungarvan Dramatic Club events at the Erie Playhouse in 2009

Cost per person: $2,899.*

*Single occupancy rates are available.

FOR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT:

J & J Travel
2690 Cherry St.
Erie, PA 16508

Phone - 814/452-4682
Fax - 814/459-0695
Email Joe at J & J Travel

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

1. Transat Holidays requires a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 per person at time
of booking. Preferred payment method is Mastercard or Visa. Charges will appear as
Transat Holidays/Air Transat on your statement.

2. Final payment is due no later than 75 days prior to departure date (May 31).

3. Cancellation Penalties -

A. 45 (forty-five) days or more prior to departure the applicable deposit is non-refundable.
B. 22 (twenty-two) to 44 (forty-four) days prior to departure date: 50% of the total cost, including taxes and service charges, per person plus $150 administrative fee.
C. 21 (twenty-one) days or less prior to departure date: 100% of total cost, including taxes and service charges, per person.

Trip Cancellation insurance is recommended.
Cost of insurance based on your age.

GENERAL CONDITIONS:

Minimum 20 adult passengers are required to qualify for a group booking. All passengers must travel together outbound and inbound on the same dates from the same gateway. Should the group fall below 12 passengers the brochure rate will apply and will be booked through reservations.

Itinerary is subject to revision at any time. No refunds will be issued for any unused portion of the trip.

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