Sightseeing Highlight today, Friday, May 21: The Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher are located in the parish of Liscannor at the south-western edge of the Burren area near Doolin, which is located in County Clare, Ireland. The Cliffs are currently one of the 28 finalists for The New-7-Wonders of Nature. The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometres away. The cliffs have one of Ireland's most spectacular views. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara. O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornelius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in order to impress female visitors. From atop that watchtower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Pins to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.

Standing Ovation for the Occidental College Glee Club in Galway

The Occidental Glee Club travelers are having a blast in Ireland. The concert at the Franciscan Abbey was a hit last night and the singers received a standing ovation! Some hours before, there was another big crowd as well at the Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey for their performance. After the concert last night, the group decided to take on the city of Galway with the locals and, from what we understand, had a smashing good time!

Occidental College Glee Club will meet some new friends tonight, May 20

Tonight, May 20, the Occidental College Glee Club will meet some new friends! At the Incantato Galway concert venue, the Franciscan Abbey, they are going to perform together with the Galway Gospel Choir and the Choriaaros from Norway.

Here is what the Choriaaros tell about themselves:
"Aaros is a small village in the kommune of Røyken. Røyken lies about 40 kilometres west of Oslo. Choriaaros means choir in Aaros – which is what we are! We are a mixed choir with about 35 members. Our ages range from 27 years old to 70 years old – two thirds women and one third men! Of course we all love singing together but we also have a lot of fun together. Most of our members have been in the choir for many years, some since the choir started in 1993. We practise every Tuesday from 18.50 to 21.30 at the local school. In addition to our weekly practises we have two seminars every year where we invite a song pedagogue to instruct us.
We have a wide repertoire and enjoy singing a variety of songs, from musicals and pop to classical and folk music. Our choir enjoys working towards a goal, be it a Christmas concert or a bigger venture like a musical. Choriaaros has performed two musicals in the nearby town of Drammen – Les Miserable’s in 1999 and Fiddler on the Roof in 2004. We have also had exciting ventures such as a New Years concert with a local symphony orchestra and another choir, and a carol concert with a local brass band. Most of our concerts are performed locally and we often use the local churches or the village hall as venues. The annual Christmas concert in the old wooden church in Aaros has become a tradition. In 2008 our choirmaster of many years left us. In his place came Ragnar Elverhoey, a former member of the choir. Ragnar’s laid back attitude, sense of humour and enthusiasm has given the choir a new lease of life. At the moment we are rehearsing for a Gershwin concert that is planned for October 2010. Needless to say the syncopated rhythms and the fast Americans lyrics are a challenge, but with Ragnar at the helm we are going to give it a go!"
For more information, visit their website (IN NORWEGIAN).

The Galway Gospel Choir is composed of at least 60 vocalists of varying occupation and background from in and around Galway, Ireland. The choir was formed in 2001 and has slowly grown to be recognized in Ireland. Click here to go to their website.

Exchange concert tonight, May 20, at the Franciscan Abbey in Galway

The travellers of the Occidental College Glee Club are getting ready for their exchange concert in Galyway tonight at 7.30 pm:
The Franciscan Abbey was founded in 1296. In 1483 a school of advanced theology was instituted there. About 40 years later, Maurice O Fihely, archbishop of Tuam, was buried in the church. 1657 the friary was destroyed and the church was made into a court house (the present court house stands on the same site). In 1660 a church was erected on the present site. The only novitiate of which they have definite information was opened here in 1774. The church was rebuilt in 1781 and around 1836 the present chuch was opened; present friary was built or rebuilt in 1820, and renovated recently. The organ of the Abbey, Galway, is placed in the gallery at the back of the church, and is divided between two cases to avoid obscuring a large stained-glass window in the centre. The swell and pedal divisions are located in the left case (as seen from the church, facing the back) and the great in the right. The console is beside the left case, and faces sideways across the rather narrow gallery. The instrument has a pleasant, sweet sound with good definition and a fast, ready response from the action. The picture is from the official website of the Irish Franciscans.

Occidental Glee Club starts their Ireland Tour with a concert at the Gothic Church at Kylemore Abbey today, May 20

Today, May 20, the Occidental College Glee Club under the direction of Desiree LaVertu travels to Kylemore Abbey and presents the first formal concert of their Incantato Ireland tour at noon.
Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland. The abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I. Originally called Kylemore Castle, it was built between 1863 and 1868 as a private home for the family of Mitchell Henry, a wealthy politician from Manchester, England who was also MP for Galway County from 1871 to 1885. Architects were James Franklin Fuller and Ussher Roberts. After the death of his wife Margaret in 1875, Mitchell did not spend much time there. He and his wife are both buried in the small mausoleum near the church in the grounds of the abbey. A notable feature of the abbey is the neo-Gothic church, a miniature replica of Norwich Cathedral, made from local green Connemara marble. It was built between 1877 and 1881 and has a beautiful stained glass tracery window depicts the five graces; Fortitude, Faith, Charity, Hope and Chastity, and it is a center of reflection and prayer for many visitors.

Failte to Ireland

The 2010 Occidental Glee Club Tour to Ireland is off to a good start as the group landed safe and sound in Dublin and with only a small delay in Shannon. Director Desiree LaVertu said: All is well! The surely tired bunch is heading to Galway next for check-in and a first orientation tour of the lively university town by Incantato Tourmanager Conor. After their first Irish meal, a special welcome dinner served at the hotel, the singers are invited to a local pub by member of the Galway Gospelchoir. Oxy Student Alison offered to send updates from abroad so look forward to her postings.

Wishing you safe travels to Ireland

Dear Members of the 2010 Occidental Glee Club Tour to Ireland and especially everyone on the group flights via Chicago and Dublin to Shannon, we are sure glad that everything is looking good for your journey and wish you safe travels to the emerald isle. Incantato Tour Manager Conor Ellard will be welcoming everyone on Wednesday, May 19 on the Irish West Coast and then bring the group to Galway where a special surprise treat awaits Oxy. More soon : ) Your Incantato Tours Team

Flight update from Air Lingus

Latest Schedule Information

Aer Lingus Flight Schedule Tuesday 18th May

Dear customers,

Based on the information currently available from aviation authorities throughout our network we do not expect volcanic ash related disruption to our schedule for Tuesday 18th May.

We will update customers via this website, via the broadcast media and through SMS messages should this position change.

Travel Insurance - Please make sure you are protected! ASH CLOUD related travel interruptions are covered!!!

It is not too late to get coverage for the upcoming Occidental Glee Club Ireland Tour 2010 and with the current ash cloud situation in Europe, Incantato Tours more than ever strongly recommends getting travel insurance for your journey. Not only are you covered medically should anything happen when traveling or interrupt your journey at any point, but with TravelGuard's policies, you also protect your investment should anything beyond our control (such as a volcano erruption or weather related situation) affect the trip.
Here is a direct line to purchase travel insurance online and can you do so with your credit cards and also select the option that is best for you.



In the meantime, have a look at the most comprehensive coverage option The Protect Assist Gold below.

Protect Assist (Gold) -

Comprehensive Travel Protection for the World Traveler

Trip Cancellation Trip Interruption and Travel Delay Emergency Medical and Emergency Medical Transportation Baggage and Travel Document Protection Baggage Delay and Lost Baggage Tracking NEW - Cancel For Any Reason option now available NEW - Cancel For Work Reasons option now available NEW - Children age 17 and under covered at no additional cost IMPROVED -Trip Cancellation limit increased to $100,000 (from $15,000), IMPROVED - Trip Interruption coverage increased to 150% of Trip Cost IMPROVED - Travel Delay required hours reduced to 5 hours (from 12) ProtectAssist special features: Best coverage for Weather Related Cancellations Pre-existing Condition Exclusion Waiver* Default/Bankruptcy Protection* $50,000 Flight Accident Insurance* 24-Hour "LiveTravel" Travel Agency Emergency Cash Transfers Identity Theft Restoration

Comprehensive non-insurance travel services* automatically included with plan!With the ProtectAssist plan, every customer also has access to these valuable travel services when they travel:· Arrangements for last-minute flight changes· Hotel finder and reservations· Rental car reservations· Emergency medical assistance· BagTrak® -- lost baggage tracking· Pre-trip health and safety advisories· Live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends· Cash transfers· Airport transportation· Golf course reservations· Event ticketing· Floral services· Identity Theft restoration
Business Assistant* (available when Optional Cancel for Work Reasons coverage is purchased)

*Non-Insurance services are provided by AIG Travel Assist.

Eligibility
Citizenship: All Nationalities
Residency: United States
New York, Oregon, and Washington residence please call to purchase
Some rider options are not available and other restrictions may apply
Destination: Worldwide
Ages: All Ages
Max Trip Length: 365 Days

Occidental College Glee Club Concert Announced on the Web

Dear travelers of Occidental College Glee Club,
Check out your Dublin concert announcement on the web! Your performance on May 25 at the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral is listed on the official Dublin Tourism website.

Incantato Weather Forecast for Galway

Dear travelers of the Occidental College Glee Club,

Your trip to Ireland is just around the corner! We had a look at the weather forecast for you: There is light rain in Galway with around 60°F during the next days. But when you are visiting the Cliffs of Moher on Friday, May 21, the sky will light up just in time and the sun is likely to shine.

Want to learn more about Ireland?

Then visit the official website of the emerald isle at http://www.discoverireland.com/us/

Don't want to miss any updates?

Dear Readers of the Oxy Glee Club 2010 Ireland Tour. If you want to make sure you don't miss a post, then become a follower. There is a box in the right navigation of the blog that you can click to do so. Your email address (we are pretty sure it has to be a googleemail) will not be used for anything but updates about the Oxy Glee Club Incantato Tour.

Occidental Glee Club Ireland Performance Schedule

Travel Tips: Q & A

What should everyone carry at all times, real passport or a photo copy?

Ideally, your passport should be on your person at all times. Please be “street-smart” and don’t wave it around for all to see. Photocopies of the passport should be packed in your suitcase, available in your e-mail and also Incantato should have a copy as well.

Is the tap water safe to drink?

It is save to drink the water in Ireland. But in some cities it's not tasty because of the chlorine or hard water.

Do you have recommendations or suggestions on the type of power adapter needed and what wattage?

Electricity in Ireland is supplied at standard European voltage, 230V 50Hz, but the plugs used are not the same as continental Europe. Ireland uses IS401 (BS1363) plugs which are identical to those used in the United Kingdom. Visitors from the US using 110 volt supplies need to purchase voltage adaptors, or ensure that their equipment can be used on 230V 50Hz. Adapters and converters may be found at Target, Walmart and radio shack etc.

What is the weight limit for check-in baggage?

1 suitcase weighing under 50lbs.

What the size limit and number of items is for carry on?

You may have 1 carry-on bag – it must be able to fit either under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. We recommend a backpack.

What are the airline carryon container regulations?

No containers holding more that 3ozs of liquid or (100g for toothpaste) is allowed in the carryon luggage. They also must be in a plastic zip-lock bag.

What has the best exchange rate, using a debit card to pull money out or exchanging US currency?

By far the best way is to use your debit card. Most banks only charge around $2 per withdraw and they also take care of the exchange rate for you. You do need a 4 digit pin and also let your bank know that you are travelling abroad. DO NOT BRING TRAVELLERS' CHEQUES!

What is the approximate exchange rate right now?

It’s about $1.31 to 1 EUR.

What happens if someone gets injured while in tour? Medical care and cost wise? Do they need a medical consent form for treatment?

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. You find a link to our recommended partner on this blog.

If needed, is there laundry service?

It’s really expensive to do laundry overseas as it is dry-cleaning only. There are no irons in the hotel room.