The Emerald Isle is both warm of heart and beauty. It calls you back time after time and we hope you will consider joining OLLI at the University of Pittsburgh to explore this beautiful country in a unique and meaningful way.  Experience the cultural beauties and magic of Ireland and interact with the warm Irish people, while also learning about Ireland's "Troubles" and the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998. 

This program designed in collaboration with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Pittsburgh. It provides travelers the opportunity to meet directly with those involved and impacted by the Troubles. Learn about the origins of the issues, subsequent turbulent years, the peace agreement and how life is today in Ireland. 

Program Highlights 

-  The key focus of this program is to learn about the road to peace after the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland lasting from the 1960-1998. Hear from various hosts and speakers about conflict resolution process in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and much more. 

- To achieve this goal, you will visit facilities like the Museum of Free Derry to see their exhibit dedicated to the events in the city from 1968-1972 including the Battle of the Bogside, Bloody Sunday and Operation Motorman from the point of those who were affected by these events. 

- Meet former political prisoners from both sides of the conflict as you explore Shankhill Road.

- Talk to Martina and Elaine, two nuns (former lawyer and journalist respectively) now based in Downpatrick who specialist in the subject of peace and reconciliation. 

- Meet with a professor or student for a brief lecture on the Troubles and/or Irish history at Trinity College in Dublin. 

- Visit for a tour of Stormont Estate, home to the Northern Ireland Government, on a visit you can explore its history and see the many interesting features of the estate. Request pending, meet with a representative to hear about the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

Cultural Immersion & Exploration

- Explore some of the iconic sites of Ireland including walking tours of Belfast and Derry plus a visit to the Titanic 

Belfast exhibit, which recreates the story of the world’s most famous ship in an iconic, six-floor building right beside the historic site of the ship’s construction.

- A visit to the Epic Museum of Irish Emigration will provide an opportunity to learn about the history of the Irish diaspora and emigration to other countries.

- Visit Merchant Hotel for afternoon tea! 

- Immerse yourself in daily life and learn about Ireland’s unique culture and history with hands on experiences including a baking class in a family farmhouse.

- Tour Hillsborough Castle, built in the 18th century.   

For questions relating to this journey, please contacts Nanda Journeys.

Call 888-747-7501 Ext 1 or Email info@nandajourneys.com and mention the program title OLLI at University of Pittsburgh Ireland Road to Peace.

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Depart from Pittsburgh (or your home airport) today and fly to Dublin. The Emerald Isle is spectacularly beautiful, with green rolling hills, majestic coastlines and picturesque country lanes. But what you will take home with you, are the stories of the Irish people, their warmth, and their beautiful hospitality.

After clearing Immigration and Customs procedures, the group will be met by your national guide for the transfer to city center. Lunch is on your own this afternoon.

On arrival enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin City. Discover the north and south side of the river Liffey. This area offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found (today owned by an American College), its colorful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. 

This afternoon visit EPIC, The Museum of Irish Emigration. EPIC is a state-of-the-art interactive experience located in the beautiful vaults of the 1820 Custom House Quarter building in Dublin’s Docklands, the original gateway for so many of Ireland’s emigrants. It will inspire and guide you on a journey to discover the stories of Irish emigration around the world, from early times to the modern day.

Enjoy an orientation meeting with your local guide and leader before enjoying a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Ashling Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Dinner

Please Note: Breakfast is included daily at your hotels.

After a leisurely breakfast discover the award-winning GPO Museum. The General Post Office is one of Ireland’s most famous buildings because of its role in the 1916 Easter Rising as it served as the headquarters for the Easter Rising and got heavily damaged in the fighting. Heralded as a symbol of Irish independence the General Post Office houses a small museum on the building’s places in Irish life. The museum is an immersive and interactive experience telling its story as well as modern Irish history. 

Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant or pub.

Later today visit the Pearse Lyons Distillery. With over eight hundred years of history, awaken your senses with a whiskey tour and tasting. Located in the former St. James’ Church in Dublin’s city center, this small and intimate family-owned distillery offers guests a unique blend of Irish history, culture and the very best of whiskeys. See how Pearse small batch Irish Whiskey is made and chat with the team of distillers. 

Enjoy some free time later this afternoon to explore the city, do some shopping and dine at one of Dublin’s fine restaurants or lively Irish Pubs. Your guide will be able to provide his/her recommendations.

Overnight:  Ashling Hotel  (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

This morning the group will visit Trinity College or similar. The plan is to meet with professor or student to learn about the Troubles and/or Irish history lesson. Time to engage with the speaker and ask questions. Within its walls, visitors will be able to admire Parliament Square and its 18th Century edifices. Trinity College has had many famous students such as Jonathan Swift and Samuel Beckett who later became a lecturer in French at the university. 

Depart for Belfast. In route, enjoy a hands-on farmhouse baking experience with Tracey in her 18th century thatched cottage on the shores of Strangford Lough. She will teach you all about traditional Irish baking and walk you through the steps to make your very own treat like Irish soda bread. 

Pending availability, meet with Martina and/or Elaine two nuns based in Downpatrick who specialize in the subject of peace and reconciliation. Martina was a reporter for the BBC who reported on the Good Friday Agreement and it’s signing at close quarters. Martina also wrote a book on her experiences and the subject. Elaine was previously a barrister before becoming a nun.

Check into your hotel in Belfast and enjoy the night with dinner on your own.

Overnight: Stormont Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Today the group will enjoy a walking tour of Belfast with your local guide. 

Continue onward to explore the Titanic Museum, which recreates the story of the world’s most famous ship. Opened in April 2012 to coincide with the centenary of its launch, the self-guided journey begins on entering the building's giant atrium, where the visitor is surrounded by the four ‘ship’s hull’ shaped wings which house the Titanic Experience. As you journey through the nine large galleries of the interactive exhibition, you will uncover the true story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900's, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage.

Enjoy Afternoon Tea at the Merchant Hotel (or similar). Experience fine dining at its best in this stunning space with its original Victorian interior, glass cupola and truly remarkable chandelier.

Return to the hotel where dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight:  Stormonth Hotel  (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

No visit to Ireland would be complete without a visit to Derry, Londonderry. Nationalists refer to the city as Derry, viewing the “London” prefix as a colonial imposition, while unionists view the prefix as an important part of their identity and have resisted attempts to officially rename the city as Derry. Explore Derry during a walking tour include the Derry Walls which date back to the early part of the seventeenth century and have been a place of several sieges. 

Next tour the Museum of Free Derry. The main signature project of the Bloody Sunday Trust is the Museum of Free Derry, opened in 2007 to tell the story of what happened in the city during the period 1968 – 1972. Popularly known as ‘Free Derry’, the timeframe spans the civil rights era, Battle of the Bogside, Internment, Bloody Sunday, and Operation Motorman. Their story is told from the point of view of those who were most involved in and affected by these events – the Free Derry community. 

Lunch is on your own this afternoon with some time to explore independently. 

Enjoy an Irish Dance Lesson before heading back to Belfast where dinner is provided.

Overnight:  Stormont Hotel (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

This morning the group will begin your continued exploration to learn about the conflicts with a walking tour of the Shankill and Falls Road (3 hours). You’ll meet with two different guides, both are former political prisoners, one from the republican community and the other one from the loyalist community. They offer their own personal perspective over the local history and the recent conflict. 

Start at Divis Tower in the nationalist area of Falls Road where they will hear about the colonization of Ireland by England, and how the conflict started in 1969. Continue up the road to see the international wall and the Remembrance Garden commemorating local people who died during the conflict, if time allows, they will stop in the republican museum which gathered artefacts from Armagh jail and the H-Blocks. The next main stop is the famous Bobby Sands mural where the guide will explain the hunger strike of 1981. 

Travel next to Lanark Way where you will meet the loyalist guide. He will show you the "peace line", a big wall dividing nationalist and loyalist/unionist areas. He will then take you to see Shankill Road to see the famous loyalist murals before you finish in the garden commemorating local soldiers who went to France to fight during WW1. 

Enjoy lunch today with your two guides. 

This afternoon, visit Stormont Estate. Stormont is a public park with beautiful gardens, walking and fitness trails and children’s play park. The Estate has been recognized as one of Northern Ireland’s best green spaces with the prestigious Green Flag award. Home to the Northern Ireland Government, on a visit you can explore its history and see the many interesting features of the estate.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight:  Stormont Hotel (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

  This morning tour Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Hillsborough Castle holds a unique place in the history of Northern Ireland. Since it was built in the 18th century the castle has gone from being a simple country house for the Hill family to becoming the official royal residence in Northern Ireland and the place where many of the formal and informal stages of the Peace Process happened.

Return to the city, with the afternoon free and lunch on your own. 

Say goodbye as you reflect and share memories over a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. 

Overnight:  Stormont Hotel (or similar) 

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Drive to the airport for check in for your flight home. Depending on the flight time, lunch is by individual arrangement.

Included meals: Breakfast

Please note: All itineraries are subject to change based on availability of hotels, flights and hosting organizations at the time of finalization of booking. Comparable meetings and activities will be arranged should an itinerary change be necessary. 30 days before departure, a finalized itinerary will be available and reflect final details.

Review and download Booking Terms & Conditions HERE