Bringing Photographers Closer to Their Natural World
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Capture the Essence of Western Ireland This Workshop is a Joint Effort with Strabo Tours Typical Workshop Schedule Fees and What Is Included Payment, Discounts, Cancellation, Refund Policies What to Bring Return to Schedule of Offerings Return to Richard Buchbinder's Bio Page
Images Courtesy of Jacque Boehm Steedle
This tour will provide an excellent opportunity to capture the essence of Ireland, from ancient villages, abbeys, and round towers, to dramatic seaside cliffs, and the rugged Connemara Mountains. Using his extensive assignment experience, Richard will work with you to create a dynamic portfolio of Western Ireland images. You will maximize your time in the region by taking advantage of all lighting conditions in order to artistically interpret the drama of the landscape, the intimate details of Irish history, and the rich greens of spring in Ireland. Your local Irish guide, Olcan Masterson, is a walking authority on the history of western Ireland. He has spent many years exploring the hills and back roads of the area. An accomplished musician as well, he has spread traditional Irish music all over Europe and the U.S. with his flute and tin whistle. Mostly though, he is a living embodiment of Irish charm and hospitality. He will show you the spirit and soul of Ireland, as few visitors will ever experience it. You will get a view of the land and the culture that comes with living it, not merely visiting it. While in Ireland you will be treated to true Irish flavors at Hillcrest House, which was renovated for the sole purpose of accommodating photography groups. A computer is now provided to enhance digital instruction sessions. The Hillcrest House homelike quality adds to the relaxed atmosphere of the trip. You will enjoy traditional Irish breakfasts and dinners during your stay. Lunch will be at various restaurants and pubs, or we can stop in town and have a picnic lunch wrapped for our daily excursions in the field. Transportation is provided in a roomy tour van, which is large enough for both the group and equipment Highlights of your trip: The focus will be photography, including people and culture. 10 days with Photo Instructors Richard Buchbinder. Tour limited to 10 passengers. Experience Western Ireland while majority of your evenings are in one home. Relaxed & flexible itinerary to make the most of the opportunities that come our way. ITINERARY June 10 - Depart U.S. Our journey to Ireland begins with an overnight flight from the U.S. June 11 - We will be met at Ireland’s Shannon International Airport and driven north to Westport, on the shores of Clew Bay. The first afternoon we can relax; perhaps enjoy conversation in the library. If we are feeling a bit energetic, we can capture the sunset by exploring the nearby countryside or climb the hill above Hillcrest House. June 12 - 18 Western Ireland Each day we will visit some of these typical areas from our home base at Hillcrest House. It is not possible to see everything during each tour, as we also like to take time for unscheduled stops. Our guides will plan each day considering the interests of the group, and special events taking place during your time in Ireland. We often start each trip with a visit to Ballintubber Abbey, or Baile Tobair Padraig, in Irish. It is one of the oldest Abbeys in Ireland dating back to the twelfth century, named for the natural spring nearby, where St. Patrick baptized his first Irish converts. Hillcrest House lays half way between the City of Westport and the Village of Newport. Both capture the flavor of true Irish towns with their tree-lined canals and colorful shops. After a stop in Westport we drive along the shores of Clew Bay, stopping at Murrisk Abbey, at the foot of Croagh Patrick. Ireland’s Holy Mountain, named after the national saint, is one of Mayo’s best-known landmarks. Later in the day we will be at the ocean on the west coast of Mayo at a remote rocky shore called Barnabawn Point. Another day we will spend the morning photographing in and around the town of Cong. Photo locations include Cong Abbey, the forest and river as well as the town itself. The picturesque village of Cong was the setting for John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara’s film The Quiet Man. The King of Connacht founded the abbey ruins in the 12th century. In 1198 the last High King of Ireland died in the abbey. After lunch we will have the opportunity to photograph an area of rolling hill, sheep and a myriad of stonewall, on a hillside flowing down to Lough Corrib. Driving north today, our first stop will be along the ocean on the Atlantic drive in Mulranny. After lunch on Achill Island we will continue photographing along the ocean and given time, wind up at the deserted famine village at Keel. Achill Island is the largest island off the Irish coast. To get there, we will drive over the bridge at Achill Sound. Wrought by wind and water, the island is an arrangement of rock, cloud, and cliffs falling off to the sea.Today we visit one of the few remaining round towers in Ireland, Turlough, standing amid a field of ancient carved gravestones. Nearby is the new Museum of Country Life, one of Ireland’s National Museums, well worth the stop. We photograph along the shores of Doo Lough and the Connemara Mountains, where we will see some of the most stunning landscapes in all of Ireland. After lunch in the town of Louisburgh, we will spend the afternoon photographing in the Sheeffrey Wood, a place where we must be careful not to disturb the leprechauns who inhabit the forest. spend the afternoon photographing in the Sheeffrey Hills, a place where we must be careful not to disturb the leprechauns who inhabit the forest.
June 19 Westport – Burren - Ennis We will leave Hillcrest House early this morning, and drive to the Burren, a remote region near the town of Ennis. Our last full day of exploring and photographing will be spent in this beautiful area for the wild landscapes, culminating in the mighty cliffs along the East Coast. Tonight we will stay at the Temple Gate Hotel (or similar) in Ennis and enjoy dinner on our own. The hotel rests on the site of a nineteenth century convent. June 20 Ennis – Shannon – U.S. After breakfast this morning, we will say good bye to our new friends in hopes of seeing them again some day, perhaps even at Hillcrest House. We board our afternoon flights for home. We hope you can join Strabo Tours & The Nature Workshops for this very special experience.
GENERAL INFORMATION Land cost: $3395*, based upon minimum of 5 paying passengers, maximum of 10. All our program prices are based on double occupancy.Single room supplement: $345*, Single rooms are subject to availability and are not guaranteed. We try to accommodate single travelers who request single accommodations, as well as single travelers who are looking for a roommate. If a single room is requested, we are unable to find a suitable roommate, or you are in a single for another reason, you will need to pay the single supplement. Note: The land costs on international tours is based upon current exchange rates. Although the rate has been relatively stable, should it change, there may need to be an adjustment in the land cost. The land cost includes:
The land cost does not include:Domestic or International air fare; other airfare if noted in exceptions; air fare tax; airport departure tax; airport transfers; additional transfers or accommodations that may be required by those not traveling with the group; excess baggage charges; meals not included in itinerary; activities listed as optional, or those taken on your own; passport/visa expenses; personal medical or travel insurance; any expenses of a personal nature, such as room service, laundry, beverages not included with meals, medical expenses, film or processing, any activities not specified in tour itinerary or listed as optional, or any items not listed in what is included; upon the completion of your trip, modest gratuities to the local guides and the drivers are customary; tips for meals not included in itinerary. Please contact Strabo Tours if you would like assistance on International Airfare. Deposits, Cancellations AND Refunds A deposit of $500 per person is required. Payment in full is required when bookings are made less than 90 days before the departure date. Space is subject to cancellation by Strabo if payment is not received when due. If a passenger wishes to cancel they must send notification in writing to: Strabo International Tour, Co., P.O. Box 580, Dryden, NY 13053; fax 208-545-4119. At the time we receive your notification, the following per person charges apply: • 121 days or more before departure: $100 cancellation fee. • 91-120 days before departure: $300 cancellation fee, plus Strabo’ costs, as well as fees that are charged by the suppliers providing the services included in your tour, and/or the airlines providing the air transportation. • 31-90 days before departure: $500 minimum cancellation fee, plus Strabo’ costs, as well as fees that are charged by the suppliers providing the services included in your tour, and/or the airlines providing the air transportation. Fees may range from 25% to 100% of tour costs. • 30 days or less before departure or anytime after departure: NO REFUND. Refunds for services that are voluntarily not used by you cannot be made. FITNESS AND HEALTH The trip is not strenuous and anyone who is reasonably fit should be able to take part in most of the activities. You may experience general fatigue due to the long flights and the change in time zones. You will need to be sufficiently agile to climb in and out of the tour van and should be able to carry and manage your own equipment. We will frequently hike trails ranging from easy to moderate. Some hotels do not have elevators. If you have any special needs or any physical condition that you feel might prevent you from fully participating, please contact Strabo Tours with your concerns (607-756-8676). Each participant must be covered by medical insurance that is valid overseas. We strongly urge you to evaluate your risk and to take out insurance on your trip. It is vital for you to realize that if you experience a delay or find it necessary to cancel or cut short your trip for any reason, you will lose part or the entire sum you’ve invested in it. Travel insurance helps to minimize the risk of monetary losses you would incur in the event of a delay of your departure due to weather, airline strike, missed connection , etc., your inability to travel for reasons such as illness, injury, unforeseen financial complications and other personal circumstances, or if you were required to cut your trip short for medical or any other reasons.
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