One of the great perks of my job is that I get to travel to Ireland for research. And I love to bring people along with me and share some of the amazing places I've discovered in many visits there. 

I'm taking a small group of 8 intrepid travelers this September, on a tour called "IRELAND: The Creative I," which will focus on Ireland as the inspiration for painting, photography, music, poetry and prose.

We'll spend 10 days and 9 nights in Connemara (a region of West Galway, and one of my most favorite places in Ireland), the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry, and West Clare, the home of some of the best traditional music in the world.

In addition to day trips to amazing places—historic sites, ancient ruins, and landscapes that will take your breath away—we'll also be talking with and learning from artists, photographers, musicians, and writers (myself included), as we follow our creative impulses. 

My partner in crime is Linda Rosen of Ireland On My Mind, a tour company that specializes in small groups and off-the-beaten-path adventures.

I'm putting together a reading list for the group, some of my favorite poets and novelists whose voices seem to rise up from the land:  Seamus Heaney, Edna O'Brien, Liam O'Flaherty, Patrick Kavanagh, and of course W.B. Yeats, among others. And I'm talking with musician friends to see if I can fix up some music sessions for us along the way as well.

This is going to be an excellent adventure. Hope you'll think about coming along with us.

FULL ITINERARY AND TOUR DETAILS:

MY WEBSITE
http://erinhart.com/tour-ireland.php

IRELAND ON MY MIND WEBSITE
http://www.irelandonmymind.com/creative-i.htm



One of the fine sights along the Dingle coastline.
The ramp where the curraghs used to bring the sheep and cattle in from the Blasket islands...