|
  
COME EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF IRELAND WITH KATE!
Hey everybody,
Welcome to this page about an exciting opportunity to tour Ireland.
I will be the artist host on a tour of Ireland with the Irish “tour master” Tom Pigott who owns and operates Enchanted Way Tours. Tom has been in the tour business for many years and for the last four years has been specializing in leading tours throughout Ireland co-led with American singer/songwriters.
I will be leading my first Ireland tour in the summer of 2010 with Tom and 21 of my friends and fans. The dates of the tour are Tuesday, June 28th thru Thursday, July 8th (arriving a day early is highly recommended). We’ll be travelling through the southwestern part of Ireland, one of the most beautiful places on earth. You’ll never take the color green for granted again! By day we may visit old castles and abbey ruins, stone circles, and fishing villages, all while driving along breathtaking coastal scenery.
We take 20 guests and travel in a small luxury coach/bus. We stay in small hotels and an occasional B & B; 3 nights in each of 3 towns. We’ll travel to the Shannon airport on our last morning so you can catch your flight home.
This is no ordinary tour where you move from town to town so quickly you forget where you are! This is a small, personal tour that is centered on the arts and culture of Ireland, especially the music. We’ll be stopping in local pubs and venues for back-room sessions, where wonderful Irish musicians will charm you with their whistles, fiddles, guitars and bodhran (Irish drum) skills. We may even catch a festival!
On this 10-day tour, we will concentrate on three of the most stunningly beautiful counties in Ireland: Cork, Kerry and Clare. Here is Tom’s description of the day-to-day schedule from the tour website which can be found by clicking HERE.
 
CORK / KERRY / CLARE
Day 1
Meet at Shannon Airport and head for Skibbereen, West Cork with stops at Adare and Kinsale where we visit Charles Fort. Our first dinner together tonight is in our hotel and afterwards we will be entertained by some of Ireland’s best singer/singwriters, in private concert. Last year, the following artists performed for us:
Day 2
Today we visit Skibereen Heritage Centre where we learn about The Great Famine, (1845 – 1850). We then head for Drumbeg Stone Circle and Glandore village and then head for Clonakilty and De Barras famous pub and folk club where we hope to see more Irish musicians.
Day 3
We travel today to Mizen Head, which is Ireland’s most southerly point. We then have lunch at a wonderful fish restaurant and pub in Crookhaven. After lunch we take a walk on Barley Cove Beach. Tonight we walk to a local pub in Skibbereen to take part in an Irish music session.
Day 4
Today we head for Dingle, where we will be spending the next 3 days. We drive on to the world famous Ring of Kerry and go through Kenmare, Lady’s View and Killarney. We then head out The Dingle Peninsula and stop to walk on wonderful Inch Beach. We have dinner tonight in our hotel and then out to the Pub for some serious Traditional Music.
Day 5
We do the breathtaking Slea Head Drive today where we can see the Blasket Islands and look at some of the best scenery in all of Ireland. Tonight we will learn to Set Dance, (Have you seen Riverdance?)
Day 6
Today is a REST DAY, after our dancing exertions last night. Optional Activities include:- Hiking, Biking, Echo Boat Trips, Dolphin Watching Trips etc. Back to Dingle tonight for more Music. We go to Dingle again to hear Eoin Deignan play the Uilleann Pipes.
Day 7
On to Clare today, where we will spend our last 3 days. We will cross The Shannon Estuary by ferry and then on to the world famous Cliffs of Moher. Back then for a little rest in our hotel. We go to Doolin tonight, which is the Mecca of Irish Traditional Music. We will have dinner in McDermotts Pub and afterwards we will listen to some of Ireland’s best traditional musicians.
Day 8
Today we go to the Burren Region. This is a 250 square mile expanse of Limestone rock. We will be met by Mr. PJ Curtis who lives in the region and is one of the foremost authorities on the region. Tonight we will listen to more of Irelands Best Musicians in Doolin.
Day 9
Today is our last full day in Ireland. We will travel by boat to Inis Oirr, which is the smallest of The Aran Islands. There are plenty of hiking trails here and there are also bikes for hire. Tonight we will stay in our hotel and have our last dinner together and we will share our trip happenings and finish off with a song circle.
Day 10
This morning we head for Shannon Airport and our flights home………BACK TO REALITY
 
READY TO SIGN UP? Here’s the basic information.
WHAT ARE THE DATES OF THE TOUR?
The tour starts on Tuesday, June 28 and ends on Thursday, July 8, 2010. I RECOMMEND ARRIVING A DAY EARLY so you will be rested and ready to go on Tuesday morning. Tom can arrange lodging for you in a B&B near the Shannon airport.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND HOW DO I PAY?
The cost of the tour is $1,950 per person, based on Twin/Double occupancy (Excluding Airfare). There is a single supplement of $350 per person for a single room. This covers all ground transportation, 9 nights bed and breakfast in 3 star hotels, all pub music and one private gig, usually with some of Ireland's best musicians and singer/songwriters. A down payment of $500 will be required right away and the remainder of the fee will come in two parts in early 2010.
WHERE DO I FLY TO?
Since the tour is of the southwest region, you will fly into and out of the Shannon Airport in County Clare.
WHERE DO WE STAY?
Generally we will stay in small hotels with Bed and Breakfast included. Since we will travel around during the day and frequently come back to the same hotels, you won’t need to worry about packing up and moving every morning.
Day 1, 2, 3............................Skibbereen, County Cork
Day 4, 5, 6............................Dingle, County Kerry
Day 7, 8, 9............................Doolin, County Clare
WILL THERE BE BISCUITS AND GRAVY?
Well, I don’t think so, but there will be lots of wonderful traditional Irish food and drink to try!
HOW DO I GET ON THE TOUR?
Send me an email by clicking HERE.
Space is limited, so get your email in right away as this trip will fill up fast!
 
ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO KNOW?
Yes, here are a couple of things you’ll want to know in Irish, the Gaelic language that is still used in some parts of Ireland.
Cead Mile Failte
Sounds like: Cad meel fal-cha
Means: Welcome!
Slainte
Sounds like: Slon-cha
Means: Cheers!
Ireland photos courtesy of Vicki Belinoski
ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME NEWS
CONGRATULATIONS TO SPOONER OLDHAM! Spooner was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009.
DIGITAL DOWNLOADS of Kate's albums available now at the website store!
SAVE THE DAY is available now at all cool record stores and on-line sites. Autographed copies are available only at the website store! Produced by Walt Aldridge, the new CD contains twelve songs and includes guest vocals by John Prine, Nanci Griffith and Mac McAnally.
Kate wrote a song especially for the audio release of the book THE COLOR OF LOVE by Gene Cheek. The song is included in the audio version of the book - available at iTunes and www.audible.com. It is also track five on SAVE THE DAY.
KATE FANS CONNECT
Moonpie Yahoo Discussion Group
My Space Kate Campbell Fans
For the Living of These Days, is available in stores and also available from Large River Music at the katecampbell.com store. The album was produced by Kate and recorded with the legendary Spooner Oldham at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The CD cover art is by Mary McCleary.
Blues And Lamentations (Produced by Walt Aldridge) includes ten original songs as well as three cover tunes. The CD features Guy Clark, Maura O'Connell, and Mac McAnally as guest vocalists. The CD cover art is by Michelle Mackey. To see song titles, cover art, and the names of the musicians who played and/or sang on the CD click here.
A 5 song EP titled Sidetracks is available at iTunes and other fine digital eTailers. Sidetracks is only available as a digital download.
To add these songs to your iPod or MP3 Player, visit your favorite digital eTailer on-line!
The Portable Kate Campbell (Produced by Will Kimbrough) features new renditions of Kate's earlier songs with guest appearances by Nanci Griffith, Rodney Crowell, Jeff Black, Kim Richey, and Jonell Mosser.
Sing Me Out (Also produced by Will Kimbrough) is an all acoustic recording and includes the previously unrecorded song "Would You Be A Parson."
You can order these CDs directly from the KateCampbell.com Store.
Read reviews of The Portable Kate Campbell and Sing Me Out from Entertainment Weekly and Harp.
See Tour Dates page for info about concerts and venues.
Look on the Tour Dates page for occasional concerts by The New Agrarians featuring Kate, Pierce Pettis and Tom Kimmel.
Check website often for updates to Kate's tour schedule.
Save The Day (Release Date: October 14, 2008) was recorded in Nashville at Omnisound Studios and produced by Kate's favorite musical collaborator, Walt Aldridge. Musicians on the CD include Spooner Oldham (piano), Dave Jacques (double bass), Alison Prestwood (bass), Jim Brown (organ, piano), Randy Kohrs (dobro), Carl Jones (banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle), Jim Hoke (clarinet, accordion), J.T. Corenflos (electric guitar), Tommy Harden (drums), Mark Narmore (organ), Walt Aldridge (acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, percussion, BGV's), Kate (acoustic guitar, vocals). Guest vocals by John Prine, Nanci Griffith and Mac McAnally. Background vocals by Pierce Pettis, Tom Kimmel and Cindy Walker.
For the Living of These Days was produced by Kate and recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama this past spring on Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. The only musicians on the album are Kate and the legendary Spooner Oldham. For more about Spooner, visit www.spooneroldham.com. The CD features new songs written by Kate and her Alabama songwriting collaborators Walt Aldridge, Mark Narmore and Spooner. The album also features songs written by Woody Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, and Bobby Braddock. A few hymns are included along with a new Civil Rights Memorial song as well as a prayer that Kate set to music--"Prayer of Thomas Merton."
Blues And Lamentations (produced by Walt Aldridge) includes ten original songs as well as three cover tunes. The CD features Guy Clark, Maura O'Connell, and Mac McAnally as guest vocalists. The cover art is by Michelle Mackey. To see song titles, cover art, and the names of the musicians who played and/or sang on the CD click here.
The Portable Kate Campbell and Sing Me Out feature the musical talents of Will Kimbrough, Pat Buchanan, Chris Carmichael, Steve Conn, Dave Jacques and Paul Griffith. You can order these CDs from the website store.
Tangled And Twisted, the movie about the making of Twang On A Wire can be viewed at the Discography page.
Kate's interview with John Platt on City Folk Sunday Breakfast can be heard from the archives at WFUV.
Kate and Spooner's appearance on Bob Edwards XM Radio Show is available for purchase at iTunes.
Listen to a feature about Kate from NPR's Morning Edition: "Southern Artists" series. Listen to a preview of the "Southern Artists" series.
Check back often for updates on TV and Radio news.
|
