NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2007

About the Tour

Just a short note to tell you how excited I am about the next Black 47 Trip Ireland on Nov. 7th. I think this tour may be the best so far; it is certainly the most comprehensive. The itinerary is printed below, so I won’t dwell in any detail. Suffice it to say that many of the highlights are based around the songs of Black 47.

We spend the first night at the Slieve Donard Hotel, set in the foothills of the Mourne Mountains in picturesque, Newcastle, Co. Down. Take a look at this establishment; Motel 6 it ain’t! I first visited the area after the adventures set out in the song, Uncle Jim, from Elvis Murphy’s Green Suede Shoes.

I have wanted to bring a group of Black 47 fans back to Belfast for many years now. Despite its old reputation Belfast is one of the friendliest, safest cities in Europe and is now a prime vacation/party weekend destination. Nonetheless, you will be revisiting a veritable history of the Troubles when we pass through the areas that inspired the songs, Fanatic Heart and Bobby Sands MP. The band has not played in Belfast since 1996; it will be a memorable return.

On Saturday, we’ll get into Dublin early enough so that those who wish to visit Kilmainham Jail, the museums, pubs and shops of this 1000 year old city may do so in the afternoon. Be prepared for a late night after the gig in Whelan’s. Last year’s show was on fire and it was great to see fans from the UK, Australia and mainland Europe mix with our travelers from the U.S. On Sunday we’ll travel through the Wicklow Mountains to Wexford affording us plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of my hometown before the big gig. “Then I’ll go back home to old Wexford town, paint her Forty Shades of Blue.”

Then on Monday morning we’ll hit the road for beautiful West Cork. We’ll stop in one of my favorite towns, Clonakilty, where you can choose between pints at DeBarra’s cozy Public House or visit the Michael Collins (Big Fellah) Museum before moving on to Co. Kerry. Killarney is a fitting town to have our final night’s American Wake. I vaguely remember the occasion in ‘03 but have been assured that it was quite a night. “You can always go home, you just can’t stay.”

Then it’s a hop, skip and a jump over the Broad Majestic Shannon and some last minute shopping, before our final pints in the Departure Lounge of Shannon Airport, scene of many a previous goodbye. “On that wet Monday I drove her down to Shannon, we drank brandy and kissed in the airport hall, she said she’d definitely be home by Christmas but since then not even a word, not even a phone call.” But, don’t worry, we’ll all stay in touch because one of the things I can promise is that you’ll have made many new friends by the time the plane touches down again in the US of A. And if you have any doubt about that, just visit the Forum at www.black47.com where you can read the various testimonials from previous travelers.

So do join us on this adventure. John Hammond has worked very hard to keep the price affordable, notwithstanding the fact that we will spend two nights in the more expensive North of Ireland hotels. Maybe you’d like to take some friends with you? This is an excellent way to see Ireland for the first time. And if you’re not coming, forward this newsletter to someone in need of a change. But, perhaps, you owe this trip to yourself? See you in the bar of Kennedy Airport, Nov. 7th. Don’t be late.

all the best,

larry kirwan
black 47

Tour Itinerary

November 7-13, 2007

$1399.00

• Roundtrip airfare from: JFK/DUB/SNN/JFK BOS CHICAGO ADD-ON $55 extra
• Five (5) Nights Accommodations as follows or similar:

Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel-1 Night
Belfast Jurys’ Inn-1 Night
Dublin Grand Hotel McEniff-1 Night
Wexford Talbot Hotel- 1 Night
Killarney International Hotel-1 Night

• Full Irish Breakfast Daily
• One Dinner in Wexford
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
• Amissions to: Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Distillery
• Touring By Deluxe Touring Motorcoach
• Services of Professional Irish Driver/Guide throughout
• Services of Hammond Tours Escort throughout
• Service Charges and local tips and taxes (Except gratuity to driver/guide)
• Porterage of one suitcase per person
• Professional Portfolio of Travel Documents
• Black 47 performances at discounted prices
• Free Black 47 Tour of Ireland 2007 t-shirt.
• An essay by Larry Kirwan on the history of the various areas we will travel to.

Day 1
November 7
Wednesday USA-Ireland

Meet, greet and be sweet at Kennedy Airport Departure Lounge bar. Introductions for newcomers. Depart USA for overnight flight to Ireland. Dinner, cocktails and in-flight entertainment are served shortly after take-off.

Day 2
November 8
Thursday Dublin-Monasterboice-Newcastle

After clearing customs in Dublin we meet our Professional Irish Driver/Guide. Then travel north via Drogheda to Monasterboice This former monastic settlement dates back to 923AD and is the home of the largest collection of carved stone high crosses in Europe. We pass through Dundalk up the beautiful seacoast and over the Mountains of Mourne that sweep down to the sea to arrive in Co. Down. Newcastle is a vibrant seacoast town with picturesque beaches. For our first night in Ireland we wanted our travelers to experience the luxury of The Slieve Donard Hotel situated on six acres of public grounds overlooking the Irish Sea. The hotel is located on the world famous Royal County Down Golf Course. It offers five star amenities including an indoor pool, leisure center and beauty salon. Dine at the Oak Room, The Percy French Inn, the many pubs & restaurants in Newcastle or get to know your fellow travelers at the Donard’s Chaplin Bar named for Charles who visited in 1921. Overnight at The Slieve Donard Hotel.

Day 3
November 9
Friday Newcastle-Glens of Antrim-Giant’s Causeway-Bushmills-Belfast.

Today we experience one of Ireland’s magnificent scenic routes. The Coast Road takes us through the Nine Glens of Antrim, with wonderful views of mountains, valleys and the coastline. We’ll stop at the oldest licensed distillery in the world, Bushmills, and savor a whiskey well known to Black 47 fans. Then on to the Giant’s Causeway. This impressive area of hexagonal columns was formed over 60 million years ago by cooling lava though many feel it was built by Fionn Mac Cumhail (Finn McCool). We then head for Belfast via Ballymena and check into Jury’s Hotel. Belfast is a resurgent city since the Peace Process was initiated ten years ago and is now one of the favorite weekend partying spots in Europe. In the afternoon, buses will take us on a visit to scenes of the Civil Rights struggle that began in the late 60’s. You will visit the Falls and the Shankill Roads, view the many murals and get a powerful sense of the history of the city from our experienced guides. See where such Black 47 songs as Fanatic Heart, Bobby Sands MP, Change, etc were inspired. At night, Black 47 will play its first show. Mix with people from all over the North of Ireland who hold the band in high regard for its concern and help over the bad years. Overnight Jury’s Hotel, dinner is on your own.

Day 4
November 10
Saturday Belfast-Dublin.

We depart Belfast after breakfast and travel south to Dublin Enjoy a panoramic tour of this medieval city. We pass by St. Patrick’s Cathedral where writer Jonathan Swift (Gulliver’s Travels) gave his sermons, The G.P.O., scene of the 1916 Easter Uprising where the bullet holes remain to this day. Those who wish can be dropped at Kilmainham Jail where Padraig Pearse, Sean McDermott, James Connolly and Robert Emmet were executed and many others such as Charles Stewart Parnell, Michael Davitt and Eamonn DeValera were incarcerated. Make your own way by taxi to the Grand Hotel or stay on the bus and check in first, then visit Kilmainham, Trinity College (The Book of Kells), and the many pubs, museums and other areas of interest in downtown Dublin. Make sure you see Black 47’s show at Whelan’s. All of our shows there have been memorable. Overnight Grand Hotel McEniff. Dinner is on your own.

Day 5
November 11
Sunday Dublin-Wexford.

This morning, stay in bed late for a well-earned rest, explore the lovely gated parks like St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square, or stroll down the banks of the Grand Canal where Patrick Kavanagh wrote Ragland Road and I met Bridie (see Page 60, Green Suede Shoes). Depart Dublin and pass south into glorious, mountainy County Wicklow through the wooded Glen of the Downs. On then to County Wexford, past brooding Enniscorthy, scene of the Battle of Vinegar Hill to my hometown. Wexford was originally a walled town; the streets positively breathe history. Henry II did penance in Selskar Abbey for the murder of St. Thomas aBeckett. Oliver Cromwell slaughtered women and children in the Bull Ring after a traitor opened the West Gate. Visit the Church of St. Ibar’s on the Main Street where The Duke of Wellington was married before defeating Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Have a pint with Mr. Joss Kielty, the proprietor of Mary’s Pub, one of the last of its kind in Ireland – bring your cameras. Black 47 will play in the Talbot Ballroom. Meet many of my old friends but be careful at the party afterwards in the residents’ bar. Some scandalous pictures from last year’s bacchanal are still floating around the internet. Overnight and dinner at The Talbot.

Day 6
November 12
Monday Wexford-Blarney-Clonakilty-Killarney.

A tearful farewell, then we head west across the Barrow river into Co. Kilkenny. On then to Waterford City (home of the crystal) which Strongbow’s Normans burned in 1169 and where he married Eva, daughter of the King of Leinster, amidst the flames and carnage. We pass under the shadow of the Comeragh Mountains and into Youghal – whose harbor is renowned for a skinny dip by some members of the B47 entourage in ‘03, and on through Cork City (home of Rory Gallagher). Now we head into one of my favorite parts of Ireland, Rebel West Cork where we stop at Clonakilty for a couple of pints in DeBarra’s Public House (Noel Redding of The Jimi Hendrix Experience was leader of the house band for many years) or a visit to The West Cork Regional Museum (aka The Michael Collins Museum). Collins was born close by and I wrote Big Fellah in this beautiful town. You don’t have to be a mystic to feel his unquiet presence all over this turbulent land. We then head north through some wonderful scenery over the Derrynasaggart Mountains to Killarney for overnight at the International Hotel and an unforgettable farewell party we call The American Wake. Dinner on your own or just go straight to the bar.

Day 7
November 13
Tuesday Killarney-Shannon-USA.

After a hearty Irish breakfast, we travel north to Shannon Airport where you have ample time for some last minute duty-free shopping before boarding your flight home. Remember this is merely a sketch of what you’ll see and do. I cannot even begin to describe the long nights of fun and laughter that will leave you with many warm memories and new-found friends. But I do promise that a Black 47 trip to Ireland will rejuvenate you - you’ll never feel quite the same again. Visit our forumand speak to the happy veterans of other trips. See you at Kennedy Airport!

HAMMOUND TOURS
Hammond Tours
1190 Western Avenue
Albany, New York 12203

Please call us at 1 - 866 - 486 - 8772 to inquire about this travel offering