Your Itinerary Includes 14 Nights in Ireland Including Dublin (6 Nights), Fermoy (4 Nights)

Your itinerary includes 14 nights in Ireland including Dublin (6 nights), Fermoy (4 nights) and Galway (4 nights)

Please Note:

a)Some of the academic site visits may alter when the final itinerary is completed. All of the tourism visits and meals included will not change. The final itinerary will be available 4-6 weeks prior to departure

b)We will add 2 sporting events (likely Gaelic Football & Hurling) to the below itinerary as schedules become available

Date / Ireland: An Introduction to EU Agriculture Daily Itinerary
Sun. May 13 /

• 2:00 pm: Arrive New York (JFK) Airport
• Meeting point: TBA
• Students who choose to arrange their flights with us will depart at 5:45 pm: Depart on EI 104 for Dublin, arrive 5:15 am (5/14)

Flight Time is 6 hours and 40 minutes
Mon. May 14 /

• 5:20 am: (local time) Arrive Dublin, clear customs
• 6:20 am: (apprx) Depart for accommodation and check-in (or likely store bags until regular check-in time of 2:00 pm)
• 7:00 am: Full Irish Breakfast on arrival (included)
• 9:00 am: Historical Walking Tour of Dublin

Your Guide for this two hour experience is a History Graduate of an Irish University and will provide a colorful and informative introduction to Dublin including stops at Trinity College, Old Parliament House, Dublin Castle & Christ Church Cathedral. You’ll get the story of the city, from its Viking origins to present day and hear about the roots of Ireland’s struggle with Britain

• 12:00 Noon: Lunch (own cost)
• 1:00 pm: Presentation

Topic: Program Introduction & Program Safety

• 1:45 pm: Free time to explore, You will be well orientated after your walking tour this morning
• 5:30 pm: Welcome Dinner (included)

Get an early night. You’ll be tired by now!
Tues. May 15 /

• 7:00 – 9:00 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• 9:00 am: Depart for University College Dublin
• 9:30 am: Presenter: Prof. John O’Doherty/CiaránCarrol

Topic 1: Introduction to Animal Science in Ireland

• 10:30 am: Presenter: Dr. Paul Rouse

Topic 2: Ireland Sport, History & Culture
a)The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA)
b)Hurling & Gaelic Football; History, Structure & Rules of these very traditional games

• 11:15 am: Fun Hurling Games with CiaránCarrol
• 12:15 pm: Lunch break with local students

1:30 pm: Presenters: Ciarán Carroll and/or John Doherty with Dr. Morgan Morrow
Topic 3: Production Systems, Welfare & Environment

• 2:15 pm: Presenter: Dr. Morgan Morrow (30 minutes)

Topic 4: Discussion on content presented today

• 3:00 pm: Depart for accommodation/free time

Wed. May 16 /

• 7:00 – 8:30 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• 9:00 am: Dublin Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour

This tour has been designed to give you the freedom to explore and experience the history and culture of Dublin at your leisure. With 23 stops visiting all the main Dublin attractions the entertaining on board Dublin tour guides will show you the city as only a native can. Your ticket allows you to hop on and off as often as you wish (buses stop at 6:30 pm)
Thurs. May 17 /

• 7:00 – 7:55 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• 8:00 am: Depart for the Grange Beef Research Center (75 minutes)

Grange Beef Research Centre is one of the world's leading beef production research programs and the aims of the program are to identify the key priority needs of the sector and using the latest scientific knowledge identify the technologies that need to be developed in order to meet these needs, and thus underpin the future of the sector.
The vision for Grange is to be a center of international scientific excellence in research and technology development for the efficient production of safe, quality, healthy beef, in profitable production systems that meet stringent environmental and animal welfare standards. The strategic intent will be to provide scientific and technological support for sustainable and profitable production.

• 9:15 am: Tour of the Grange Beef Research Center Facility
• 10:15 am: Presenters: EddieO’Riordan, Paul Crosso, William Minchin, PadraigO’Kiely

Topic 5: Daily Operations & Procedures at the Center
Topic 6: Recent Beef Research undertaken at Grange

• 12:00 Noon: Lunch Break
• 1:00 pm: Visit to a local farm
• 2:00 pm: Depart Irish National Stud (75 minute ride)

The Irish National Stud is a thoroughbred horse breeding facility and is owned by the Irish Government and is currently used by breeders from Ireland, Great Britain, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and USA
Topic 7: Stud Tour

• 4:45 pm: Depart for Dublin, arrive (apprx) 5:30 pm

Fri. May 18 /

• 7:00 – 7:55 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• 8:00 am: Depart for the Forestry Development Department (2 hours)

The Forestry Development Department brings together forestry advice, training and research in one Development Department to ensure greater cohesion and synergy between the sectors. Farm forestry is an expanding and developing sector in the rural economy and needs of the sector evolve in relation to advice, training and research. There are now in excess of 310,000 hectares (apprx. 12,000 sq miles) of private forest in the Ireland, primarily owned by farmers. Most of these have been planted since the late 80's and therefore the owners have little experience in managing these crops

• 10:15 am: Presenter: Marianne Lyons

Topic 8: Operations & Role of the Forestry Department
Topic 9: Forestry Farming; Opportunities & Challenges in Ireland and the EU

• 12:00 Noon: Lunch Break (60 minutes)
• 1:00 pm: Depart for Dublin, arrive (apprx) 3:00 pm

Sat. May 19 /

• 7:00 – 7:55 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• 8:00 am – 6:00 pm: Full Day Trip to the Boyne Valley.

Where you will see:
a)Newgrangewhich is possibly the finest example of a passage grave in Western Europe and is Ireland’s most famous pre-historic site. The site dates to 3000 B.Cmeaning it predates both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt
b)Mellifont Abbey which was founded by St Malachy in 1142 and was the first Cistercian abbey to be built in Ireland
c)The Hill of Slanewhich has been associated with Christianity since the 5th century and was the location of the Pascal fire lit by St. Patrick on Easter Eve of the year 433 AD

d)Trim Castlewhich is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and the largest remaining Norman castle in Europe
e)The Hill of Tara which is renowned as the seat of the high kings of Ireland. The importance of the Hill of Tara stretches back to the late Stone Age when a passage-tomb was constructed there. This is a very significant site containing ancient monuments and the reputed seat of the High Kings of Ireland
Sun. May 20 /

• 7:00 – 7:55 am: Full Irish Breakfast (included)
• Free Day for students to follow their own interests
• Good chance of a Gaelic Football or Hurling this afternoon
• 6:00 pm: Depart for Fermoy (2 hour ride)
• 8:00 pm: Arrive accomodation (staying 4 nights)

Mon. May 21 /

• 7:00 – 8:25 am: Breakfast (included)
• 7:30 am: Depart for the Moorepark Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (30 minute walk)

Moorepark Animal & Grassland Research (MAGRI) and Innovation Centre has played a vital role in the development of the Irish dairy industry. The Irish Government established Moorepark Research Center in 1959 and since then it has been the focal point of Irish research into all aspects of dairy & pig production. The continuing role of Dairy & Pig Production Research at Moorepark is to anticipate the production needs of a rapidly changing farming environment, and to provide producers with new and adapted technologies to improve competitiveness and efficiency. The major development, which is associated with Moorepark dairy production research, is based on low cost production based on maximum use of grazed grass

• 10:30 am: Facility Tour conducted by Ciarán Carroll

11:00 am: Presenters: Padraig French/Michael O’Donovan
Topic 10: Daily Operations & Role of the MAGRI

• 12:00 Noon: Presenters: Stephen Butler & John Mee

Topic 11: Dairy Fertility & Veterinary/Health Issues

• 1:00 pm: Lunch Break
• 2:30 pm: Presenters: Ciarán Carroll & Laura Boyle)

Topic 12: Pig Production
3:30 pm: Depart for Fermoy accomodation (30 minutes)
Tues. May 22 /

• 7:00 – 8:45 am: Breakfast (included)
• 9:00 am: Depart for Moorepark Research Center
• 9:30 am: Presenter: Emer Kennedy & Mary Mc Evoy

Topic 13: MooreparkGrassland Research

• 10:30 am: Presenter: Sheila Morgan

Topic 14: Moorepark Food Research

• 11:30 am: Lunch Break
• 2:30 pm: Presenter: Eddie O’Neill

Topic 15: Artisan Food Production

• 3:30 pm: Depart for Fermoy accomodation (30 minutes)

Wed. May 23 /

• 7:00 – 8:25 am: Breakfast (included)
• Free Day in Fermoy

Thurs. May 24 /

• 7:00 – 7:55 am: Breakfast (included)
• 8:00 am: Depart Fermoy & Drive the Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail (apprx) 100 miles long and is a very popular drive which high lights many of Ireland’s natural beauties.

• 8:00 pm: Arrive Galway (staying 4 nights)

Fri. May 25 /

• 7:00 – 8:55 am: Breakfast (included)
• 9:00 am: Depart for the Athenry Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (30 minute ride)

The Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre’s mission is to produce high quality animal science research to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of Irish Agriculture and is focused on three areas; Sheep Production, Animal Reproduction & Organic Milk, Beef and Sheep Production.

• 9:45 am: Facility Tour
• 10:15 am: Presenters: Michael Diskin/Tim Keady

Topic 16: Daily Operations & Role of the Center

• 11:15 am: Presenter: Tim Keady/Barbara Good

Topic 17: Sheep Research

• 12:00 Noon: Lunch Break
• 1:30 pm: Presenter: TBA

Topic 18: Organic Production

• 2:30 pm: Presenter: TBA

Topic 19: Q & A session and/or Student Presentations

• 3:30 pm: Depart for Galway, arrive (apprx) 4:00 pm

Sat. May 26 /

• Breakfast (included)
• 9:00 am: Presentation
• Presentation: Dr Morgan Morrow

Topic 20:
a)Summary of educational portion of the trip and open discussion on content presented
b)Advice on how can use this program as a resume builder and to market themselves to potential employers

• 9:45 am: Head down to St. Nicholas Church for the “lively” Saturday morning market which takes place each week from 9:00 – 12:00 Noon
• 1:00 pm: Meet you Guide Conor Riordin for a private 2 hour Guided City Walk of Galway
• 3:00 pm: Free Time for the remainder of the day

Sun. May 27 /

• Free Day
• You may like to pay for a Hop On/Off bus ticket ($15) or simply relax and enjoy the day in and around Galway
• There are also many day trips that you can book through the your accomodations front desk
• 7:00 pm: Farewell Dinner (included)

Mon. May 28 /

• 8:00 am: Depart GAL for JFK
• 2:15 pm: Arrive JFK
• Welcome Home!! We trust you enjoyed your Summer Animal Science & Agriculture Program in Ireland