Future Events
February 2012
Proposed Itinerary for O’Donnell Trip 2012
Planning is almost complete. The one thing we're certain of is the dates. Also, we will be staying at 4 star hotels. Price per persorn sharing, travelling from Ireland and back is at present 1350 euro. We do not have single supplement prices yet but hopefully by the week end. Right now (before the end of February)we desperately require a deposit of 300 euro from everyone participating. Today (9th Feb.) 32 people are booked. We need another 18 so spread the word. To download the present brochure click on
Brochure 1 and
brochure 2
click
here for history of O'Donnells in Austria.
Day 1: (Monday 24th Sept) Fly to Munich Airport and from there we will be transferred to our hotel
http://www.neutor.at/ in Saltzburg by coach. As we will be there in the morning, we will have the rest of the day to ourselves to rest and wander about unless some other activity is added. In the evening we will have dinner together at the hotel. .
Day 2: Tues. After breakfast we will meet our local guide for a walking tour of the city. In the afternoon we travel by coach to Gmunden - visiting O’Donnell grave and church, then on to Wildpark Hochkreut, home of Douglas (Douxi) O’Donell, Count von Tyrconnell – see the animals, birds, museum, O’Donnell artefacts (including the patent granting Rory O’Donnell the title Earl of Tyrconnell (1605) and Maxmilian O’Donnell’s blood stained glove after saving the Emperor Franz Joseph from assassination) and O’Donnell portraits. Dinner at Hochkreut. Return to Hotel.
Day 3: Wed. Visit Bad Ischl - summer residence of the Emperor Franz Joseph and where he signed the delaration of WW1. Afterwards we travel again to Gmunden where we board a boat for a cruise around the Traun See. Return to Salzburg. Evening free.
Day 4: Thur. Travel to Vienna visiting Melk abbey en route. This is a stunning Baroque monastery that towers over the town and river below. Melk's early renown was based on Medieval scholarship and it's possession of very valuable relics including the body of the Irish missionary St. Koloman who was revered for his powers of healing. After our check in at the hotel
http://www.sauerhof.at/ just outside Vienna we have an evening at leisure.
Day 5: Fri. After breakfast take the coach to meet our City Guide who will be with us for the morning and we will visit the St Stephens Dom, Votive Kirche (built in thanksgiving for Maxmilian O’Donnell saving the Emperor’s life when attacked by an assasin), the Schottenstift (an Irish church) and other places worth visiting including the Sacher Hotel where we must sample their Sacher Torte - a famous Viennese specialty with tea / coffee.
In the afternoon there are so many things to do and see. Perhaps visit the Vienna Opera House for a tour, or see the Lipizzaner horses.
Day 6: Sat. Today we travel from Vienna to Budapest stopping off to see the beautiful city of Bratislava.Our hotel is the
http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-budapest.
Day 7: Sun. After Mass (possibly in the beautiful Matthias Church
http://www.matyas-templom.hu/eng/index1.html) and breakfast a guided tour of Budapest visiting the Castle district and maybe Veresegyhaz (both places homes to the O'Donnells of Budapest). This evening we will have a special meal together in a Budapest Cellar and enjoy traditional Hungarian food and music.
Day 8: We travel home.
All hotels are 4 star. There may be more O’Donnell related activities not yet confirmed.
Departing Dublin at 7.30 am 24th Sept. with Aer Lingus. 2 hrs. 20 mins. to Munich.
Departing Budapest about 10 am 1st. Oct. with Aer Lingus. 3 hrs. 10 mins. to Dublin
Right now we are looking for a deposit of €300 per person. This is mainly to secure seats on the plane (Aer Lingus).
Vincent O'Donnell.
9th Feb. 2012