Tours
St. Brendan's offers tours to our sister inn, Castledaly
Manor located in County Westmeath, Ireland. In fact, in the past five
years, we have hosted nearly 7,000 guests, many of whom enjoyed themselves
so much they booked a second, third and even fourth trip back to the Manor.
View
Tour Details
Castledaly Manor is located near Athlone in the midlands of Ireland.
This 16th century manor house has been completely renovated with private
baths, fine furniture, and a quaint pub and restaurant.
Why wait a day longer? Contact us today to
book your trip!
General Trip Questions
How often are tours to Ireland and what is included?
What is the "traditional Irish breakfast"
included in the cost?
General Manor Questions
Where is Castledaly Manor?
What are the rooms at Castledaly like?
May I request a specific room or room location?
How can I check availability and make a reservation?
Does the Manor have internet access?
Reservations/Payments
Can I pay for the trip with my credit or debit card?
How far in advance must I make my reservation?
What if I want to cancel my trip or change my plans?
Transportation
Where can I get travel insurance?
Can you tell me more about the flight schedule?
Can I request a specific seat or meal?
How much luggage should I bring?
How can I get to the manor from the Dublin airport?
What are the alternatives to travel around Ireland?
How much can I expect to spend on meals in Ireland?
How can I rent a car?
Ireland Questions
What is the time difference?
What is the weather like? What clothing should I pack?
How large are the towns Athlone and Moate?
What type of money should I bring?
Tours/Recreation
What is the daily tour schedule?
Am I on my own or is there a guided tour in the cities?
Can I fish, ride a horse, golf, or rent bicycles near
by?
What golf courses are nearby?
Is there a church near by and can we still fit in the
Sunday tour?
Family Lineage
Can someone help me find my grandparents farm?
Where is Castledaly Manor?
Castledaly Manor. is located at the center of Ireland, six miles
east of the City of Athlone. The address is: Castledaly Manor, Moate,
County Westmeath, Ireland. The telephone number is 011-3539064-81221,
to call toll free in Ireland 1-800315-000. top
How often are tours to Ireland and what
is included in the cost?
Groups depart weekly from Chicago, O'Hare on Wednesday and return
from Dublin the following Thursday. The package includes roundtrip airfare,
seven nights accommodations, and breakfast daily. top
What are the rooms at Castledaly like?
There are ten rooms in the Manor itself, reachable by steps only. There
are twelve additional rooms located in the restored sable block within
a short walk across the courtyard behind the Manor. All rooms are en suite(or
have a private bathroom). Most rooms are furnished with one queen size
bed, while a few rooms have a twin bed available. We have three rooms
that can accommodate up to three guests. top
May I request a specific room or room
location?
You may request a room, however final room arrangements are made
by the Castledaly management. Room #1 and Room #24 are larger and require
an extra $90 to reserve. top
How can I check availability and make a reservation?
You may stop in the County Clare Gift Shop in Milwaukee or call
(414) 290-6101 Monday through Friday between the hours of 1:30 and 5:00.top
Can I pay for the trip with my credit or
debit card?
No, cash or check only are accepted. top
How far in advance must I make my reservation?
We can reserve a place for you as soon as you have made your plans.
Unfortunately the airfare may increase as the date of your trip grows
nearer. Your deposit and your Mandatory Registration Form should be sent
in 10-14 days after making your reservation. The names on your registration
form must match your passports exactly. Tickets will be ordered 1-2 business
days after receiving your deposit. Aer Lingus charges $200 a passenger
if there are corrections to be made. top
What if I want to cancel my trip or change
my plans?
Since tickets are purchased when your deposit is received, cancellation
fees are the full cost of your tickets. Aer Lingus may make a consideration
for the death of an immediate family member. Tickets may be exchanged
for use on another Aer Lingus flight within twelve months with the charge
of $200 per person. top
Where can I get travel insurance?
Travel Guard "Protect Assist" at 1-800-549-9037 provides
travel insurance. Fees cost usually around $75 depending upon the age
and the cost of the tour. Medicare does not cover you in Ireland. Guests
over the age of 65 are encouraged to purchase travel insurance. top
Can you tell me more about the flight schedule?
Aer Lingus flight #124 departs Chicago O'Hare at approximately
7:40pm on Wednesday and arrives at 9:15am, Irish time, in Dublin. Flight
#125 departs Dublin about 3:00pm and arrives at O'Hare at approximately
5:15 central standard time the following Thursday. The seven hour flight
includes two meals, snacks, beverages and two movies. top
Can I request a specific seat or meal?
Seat allocations are made at the Aer Lingus check-in counter only.
If you have preference for a certain seat, it is recommended to arrive
at the check-in counter up to three hours prior to take-off. Special meal
requests such as diabetic or vegetarian may be made by calling Aer Lingus
1-800474-7424. top
What transportation do you recommend to O'Hare
Airport?
Wisconsin Coach travels between Milwaukee and O'hare for about $37 per
person based on round trip. There are four pick up points including a
free parking lot located at 4960 S. 13 Street. Call 1-800-236-2028-menu-city
express. Most people take the bus departing at 2:50 pm from the parking
lot. Arrive up to fifteen minutes early. All prices are subject to change
for the bus. top
How much luggage can I bring?
Aer Lingus allows two pieces of checked luggage per person, not
exceeding 70 lbs. for the first and 55 lbs. for the second, with an overall
62 inch size. One carry on is permitted but must not exceed 20 lbs. with
an overall 41 inch overall size. top
What type of money should I bring?
Ireland's currency is the Euro. Money can be exchanged once you
arrive in Ireland, but Irish banks will not exchange $100 bills. Most
credit cards are accepted at the manor and throughout Ireland. Most people
bring travellers checks along. If you chose to purchase travellers checks,
we recommend $20 denominations. top
What is the time difference?
Ireland is six hours ahead of central time. top
How can I get to the manor from the Dublin
airport?
We have a shuttle bus available to get you to and from the airport
which is 75 miles away for a fee of about $20 each way. This fee will
be collected at the end of your stay. Please let us know as soon as possible
if you plan to use the shuttle service to ensure that the bus will wait
for you. Our driver will be in the arrivals hall with a "Castledaly
Manor" sign. top
What are the alternatives to travel
around Ireland?
Rail between Dublin and Athlone is about two hours and costs about
$13 each way.Taxi fare between Castledaly and Athlone is about $15 for
the round trip. Bus connections between Athlone and Moate to most places
in ireland are very good. A City Link bus just outside the shops across
from the arrivals area in Dublin can also take you from Dublin to Moate
every 15 minutes past the hour. top
How much can I expect to spend on meals in
Ireland?
You can plan on spending $10-$25 on meals. top
What is the "traditional Irish breakfast"
included in the cost?
Breakfast is different every day and can consist of eggs, bacon,
sausage, black and white pudding, fried tomatoes and/or porridge(oatmeal)
plus an array of other breakfast items. top
How can I rent a car?
Cars can be rented at Dublin airport or once you are at Castledaly.
If you know your rental plans, the car can usually be brought to the house
the night before you need it. Larger cars or automatics are not readily
available from local sources. Prices range from $60 per day for a subcompact
to $80 per day for a mid size sedan with manual transmission. Our program
is designed so it is not necessary for you to rent a car. There is much
to do and see by foot, taxi, train and shuttle during your stay. top
How large are the towns Athlone and Moate?
Athlone has a population of 25,000 while Moate's population is
only 1,500. top
Does the Manor have internet access?
No, but there is an internet cafe in Athlone. top
What is the daily tour schedule?
The tour schedule changes weekly depending on the weather and availability
of attractions. The General manager, tour bus driver, and the group itself
often modify the schedule. all tours are optional and only one tour is
offered per day. The following is a sample of some of the tour offerings:
- Day 1 - Crystal factory and hand knitted sweaters in Galway
- Day 2 - Dublin city
- Day 3 - South Midlands Tour: Shannon bridge, Clonmacnoise
- Day 4 - Kilkenny City and Kilkenny Castle
- Day 5 - Ely O'Carroll Tour of South Midlands, castles and Slieve
Bloom Mountains
- Day 6 - Cliffs of Moher
Tours cost approximately $30 per person plus admissions to some
sites and are the perfect way to experience most of Ireland in a short
time. Departure time is 9am returning about 6pm. After unwinding, dinner
is served in the stately dining room. The opportunity to mingle with the
local residents at the Manor is usually nightly in the pub. Live traditional
music and dance is planned for you and the locals on Wednesday and Friday
night at the Manor. Monday night is reserved for the pub crawl. top
Am I on my own or is there a guided tour
in the cities?
You are on your own in Dublin, and for some of the time in Galway
and Kilkenny. We offer maps and suggestions for your own exploration of
these interesting and historic cities. top
Is there a church near by and can we still
fit in the Sunday tour?
Saint Ciaran's Catholic Church is a 15 minute walk from the Manor.
Our Sunday tours depart at 11am. top
Can I fish, ride a horse, golf, or rent bicycles
near by?
Yes, our staff can help set up these activities for you in Athlone.
top
What golf courses are nearby and how can
I make arrangements?
There are 5 golf courses which can be reached by taxi or rental
car. Our staff is happy to schedule a tee time. A round of golf costs
approximately $40 per person at most courses. All courses have club rentals
available. top
What is the weather like? What clothing
should I pack?
There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad packing, and it never
rains in the pubs. Spring and Fall are similar to Wisconsin. Irish summers
are cooler while winters are warmer. The grass stays green and golf is
played year round. Sweatshirts, windbreakers, slacks, and rubber soled
walking shoes are the clothing of choice in Ireland. Bring a sport coat
or dress if you plan to dine in expensive restaurants. We also recommend
an umbrella and, for the optimists, sunglasses. top
Can someone help me find my grandparents
farm?
There is a regional research center in Moate that covers a thirty
mile radius near castledaly Manor. Each area of Ireland is covered by
research center. The Irish are very helpful and well researched on family
names. top
|