Kilkenny and Dublin are two of Ireland's most captivating destinations. In Kilkenny, explore the stunning Kilkenny Castle, stroll through charming streets lined with medieval architecture, and enjoy the vibrant arts scene. Don't miss the chance to visit local craft shops and sample traditional Irish cuisine in delightful pubs. Meanwhile, Dublin, the bustling capital, offers a rich blend of history and modern life. Visit the iconic Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, enjoy a leisurely walk in Phoenix Park, and experience the lively atmosphere of Temple Bar. Both cities promise unforgettable experiences that showcase the heart of Ireland.
Tips for your Tour Manager, itinerary meals, and Motorcoach driver are included in your pre-paid tour cost.
Notes for meals on your own time: In Ireland, tipping is appreciated for good service. At sit-down restaurants, a tip of around 10% is common if no service charge is included. Tips may be added when paying by card or left in cash on the table.
The currency is the Euro (€).
We recommend alerting your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling to prevent your cards being locked for fraud.
Many ATM cards allow you to use an ATM in Ireland to obtain cash. Alternately, you can request cash from your local bank in the US to have some ready prior to your departure.
We do not recommend bringing US cash or traveler cheques on tour, as it can be very difficult to find places to convert these. Airports offer this service but at a very high cost.
Typical weather in Ireland during your tour:
Average daily temperatures ranging from 58−65°F, with cooler nights around 48−54°F. Be prepared for rain and wind to occur throughout the tour.
Ensure that you know if you need just an adapter (adapts the plug type but does NOT change the voltage) or converter (adapts the plug type and converts the voltage) for your items.
Most modern phones, tablets and computers have an internal converter. Most heat-producing items like hair dryers or curling irons require a separate converter. Please do not bring candle warming plates or other fire hazards on tour with you.
Remember that you will be taking your bags into and out of multiple hotels, buses, etc. and you want room for souvenirs! Pack light!
The motorcoach has room for one rolling bag per person to fit into the luggage compartment. Backpacks and smaller second bags must be brought to your seat with you.
It is safe to drink tap water in Ireland throughout every region.
7h 25m
Sit back and relax. Your tour is about to begin!
Due to TSA staffing and increased security lines at airports, please ensure that you arrive at the airport no later than 4 hours before your flight departure.
After you clear customs and collect your luggage, meet your 24/7 Tour Manager at the airport and load your motorcoach. Larger bags will go into the luggage compartment and you will not have access to them until later in the evening for hotel check-in. Please bring anything you need for the day with you to your seat on the coach.
Land Only Participants: Please plan to meet the group at the airport. Please ensure you arrive prior to the group by tracking their flight and waiting as group exits Customs, as they will be unable to wait for late arrivals. Alternately, you may meet the group at the hotel when they check in (please note the hotel is unable to give out room keys until the main group arrives.)
Emmet Lyons is a professional tour guide specialising in tours for choirs and musical groups, with deep roots in Ireland’s choral and musical culture. He grew up around choral music and is a classically trained professional chorister, having spent almost 50 years with the Palestrina Choir, Dublin’s Catholic cathedral choir, as well as other choirs and chamber groups. He has long-standing links with musicians, directors, and educators who shape the city’s musical life. This background gives him a natural sense of how singers think, work, and listen. Music is part of how he understands place and story.
Before guiding full time, Emmet built a career in information technology management that demanded clear communication, structured planning, and steady attention to detail. These skills now inform how he manages touring days for visiting ensembles. He brings order without rigidity and reads the energy of musical groups with ease. His long experience with choirs at home and abroad means he understands what supports performers, what unsettles a rehearsal schedule, and what helps a group sing well on tour.
His guiding style reflects this mix of musical heritage and professional discipline. He speaks plainly, keeps a steady rhythm to the day, and connects Irish history with the musical life of each place. Choirs respond to the way he links their craft with the stories of churches, concert venues, cathedrals, and towns they visit. He offers context that matters to musicians and delivers it in a direct and relatable way.
Emmet’s tours are shaped by a lifetime among singers and a career built on communication. This combination makes him a guide who understands the needs of musical groups instinctively and speaks to them with clarity and confidence.
Experience The Dunbrody Famine Ship, a remarkable journey through Ireland's history. Step aboard this authentic tall ship and immerse yourself in the poignant story of the Great Famine. Discover the struggles of those who sought a new life in America, as you explore the ship's decks and listen to captivating tales from knowledgeable guides. Feel the weight of history as you envision the harrowing voyage taken by countless Irish emigrants. This unforgettable experience combines education with emotion, making it a must-see for anyone interested in Ireland's rich past.
The emigrant flame burns permanently to remember all emigrants throughout the world, symbolizing President Kennedys promise to return to Ireland in Springtime. His ancestors originated just outside New Ross.
Kilkenny is a charming city in Ireland known for its rich history, stunning medieval architecture, and vibrant arts scene. Explore the iconic Kilkenny Castle, stroll along the picturesque streets filled with unique shops and cafes, and immerse yourself in the local culture at the Smithwick's Experience. Don't miss the chance to enjoy traditional Irish music in the lively pubs that dot the city. Whether you're wandering through the historic buildings or enjoying the friendly atmosphere, Kilkenny offers a delightful taste of Ireland's heritage.
Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Please bring your performance attire, music and anything else you will need for the entire day with you as you depart, as you will not return to the hotel until late in the evening, after your performance and dinner.
You will be split into 2 groups for this tour.
Group 1 Entrance: 9:30
Group 2 Entrance: 9:45
10 minute informal performance possible in the Hall fo Pictures (TBD)
Visit Kilkenny Castle, a stunning example of medieval architecture set in beautiful gardens. Explore its rich history as you stroll through the grand halls and admire the impressive art collection. Don’t miss the picturesque views from the castle grounds, perfect for memorable photographs.
This is a historic walking tour of Kilkenny with a bit of fun and good humour about how the Irish lived back in the medieval days in Kilkenny.
The walking tour commences under the arch at Kilkenny castle and returns there at the end. It will take about an hour and in total walks a distance of perhaps 1km.
Kilkenny is a compact and quaint heritage town. It is called a city because it has a cathedral.
3:00 Arrival, set-up and rehearsal
For those who informed KI Concerts of dietary restrictions prior to their tour, and alternate menu will be provided.
With Fr Willies Gospel Choir. This concert will raise funds for a local charity.
An upright piano will be available for this performance.
IRELAND TOUR REPERTOIRE
Set I Sacred Songs from Diverse Lands
Jubilate Deo Michael Praetorius
Ave Maria Giulio Caccini
The Birds Benjamin Britten
Simple Gifts arr. Aaron Copland
Set II Not Just for Kids
You’ll Never Guess What I Saw
Ruth Watson Henderson
She’s Like the Swallow
arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Luna, My Friend, My Dear
Madeleine Grim
Two Songs of the Stage Kirk Miller
Made
Book of Dreams
Set III Blessings, Hope, and Peace
O Music Lowel Mason
Bless the Beasts and the Children
Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr.
O, Colored Earth Steve Heitzeg
Blessing Katie Moran Bart
Hope for the World Jacob Narverud
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Visit the dramatic Cliffs of Moher rising 650 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and extending for 5 miles. A walk along the clifftop offers breathtaking views in all directions. Home to thousands of seabirds, including puffins and razorbills, the area is also a designated UNESCO Global Geopark.
1:30 Arrival and Lunch
Come and see the captivating collies showcase their skills in daily demonstrations against the backdrop of a 1,000 year old fort, perfectly preserved and still yielding fascinating treasures. Further hidden walks and trails, traverse classic Burren landscape providing stunning views at every turn.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Please bring your performance attire, music and anything else you for the day onto the bus with you.
Larger luggage will be loaded into the cargo area, and will not be accessible until you check into the hotel in the evening. Please bring all items that you will need throughout the day with you to your seat on the motorcoach.
9:45 AM Arrive and rehearse with Palestrina Choir, under the direction of Blanaid Murphy
Mass setting: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei
Two motets:
Offertory
Communion
Psalm and Alleluia
Dublin is a city that truly captures your imagination. Cobbled alleys, Viking remains, Georgian squares. Dublin’s history goes back over a thousand years. Step back in time in this city full of literary landmarks, from the James Joyce Centre to Trinity College, alma mater to many of Ireland’s great past and present writers and poets. Dublin is a medieval city where an abundance of museums and art galleries chronicle its long and colorful past, while the pubs and cafés buzz with traditional and contemporary entertainment.
Visit Trinity College and be guided through this ancient campus, home of the famous Book of Kells, an 8th-century illuminated manuscript celebrated for its intricate artistry and considered one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures. The Old Library will be closed for redevelopment, conserving and safeguarding the Old Library’s precious collections spanning a collection of over 400 years.
Enjoy a buffet dinner at your hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Please wear your informal performing attire, bring your music and anything else you will need for the entire day with you to load on the motorcoach as you depart the hotel, as you will not return to the hotel until late in the evening, after your performance and dinner.
Enjoy a panoramic sightseeing city tour of Dublin including historic buildings of the GPO, O’Connell Street, Georgian Dublin, St. Patricks Cathedral, Christ Church Dublin Castle, and City Hall ending in the Phoenix Park. Dublin, Ireland’s capital, is one of the friendliest cities in the world. Founded in the 9th century, the city is proud of its Viking past and it’s streets and buildings are a living museum of its history since then, with medieval castles and cathedrals on display alongside the architectural splendours of the 18th-century when Dublin was the most handsome Georgian city. On our tour today you will experience Dublin in its own unique way, from the famous highlights to its hidden gems.
1:00 PM Arrive at Christ Church prior to performance
A baby grand petrof acoustic piano will be available for this concert.
Informal concert attire
IRELAND TOUR REPERTOIRE
Set I Sacred Songs from Diverse Lands
Jubilate Deo Michael Praetorius
Ave Maria Giulio Caccini
The Birds Benjamin Britten
Simple Gifts arr. Aaron Copland
Set II Not Just for Kids
You’ll Never Guess What I Saw
Ruth Watson Henderson
She’s Like the Swallow
arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams
Luna, My Friend, My Dear
Madeleine Grim
Two Songs of the Stage Kirk Miller
Made
Book of Dreams
Set III Blessings, Hope, and Peace
O Music Lowel Mason
Bless the Beasts and the Children
Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr.
O, Colored Earth Steve Heitzeg
Blessing Katie Moran Bart
Hope for the World Jacob Narverud
Step into the spotlight and experience the thrill of a lifetime with our exclusive Artist Pass recording experience. Record your own cd in the studio where music legends The Rolling Stones, U2, Hozier, Lady Gaga and Ed Sheeran have recorded.
Enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Walk the valley of Glendalough, where ancient monastic ruins meet breathtaking landscapes. This serene haven, nestled between towering mountains, invites you to explore its tranquil lakes and lush greenery. As you stroll along the scenic paths, take in the rich history and stunning views that surround you. Keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife that calls this area home.
Step back in time with a tour of 18th century birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell, before experiencing 'Beyond the Trees,' a canopy walk, and Ireland's only giant slide.
For those who informed KI Concerts of dietary restrictions prior to their tour, and alternate menu will be provided.
Farewell dinner at Johnnie Fox's Pub – Established in 1798, Johnnie Fox’s situated in Dublin is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland.
The Hooley show at Johnnie Fox’s offers hugely experienced, traditional Irish Musicians, and the world-famous, talented Johnnie Fox’s Irish Dancers, all accompanied by a four-course meal of delicious Irish fare. The moment the stage rises and the music fills the room, you can feel the magic in the air.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel.
Your Tour Manager will accompany you to the airport to begin the journey home.
8h 5m