Latrobe chamber offers group tour of Ireland
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A journey of discovery from Westmoreland County to the Emerald Isle is less than a year away, in the first-ever foreign travel package offered by the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
There is no limit to the number of chamber and community members who can sign on for the nine-day private group tour to Ireland, according to chamber President Briana Tomack.
Ireland was the top choice in a survey asking chamber members to pick their ideal destination. “It got the most interest and votes,” she said.
The trip, slated for September, will include visits to Dublin and Galway and such majestic attractions as the mountains and lakes along the Ring of Kerry scenic drive and the Cliffs of Moher, which provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife high above the Atlantic Ocean in County Clare.
Participants also will have an opportunity to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, with the option of attending a medieval-styled banquet at Bunratty Castle.
Tomack, who has traced her roots back to Ireland, will be part of the tour group. She’s looking forward to exploring cultural treasures such as the Book of Kells, through an exhibition in the Old Library Building at Trinity College Dublin.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland,” Tomack said, noting former chamber intern Alexandra Kornides sparked her interest in the Dublin library when she described spending a semester at Trinity College in 2018. A Greater Latrobe Senior High alumna, Kornides is set to graduate from Seton Hill University in May.
To make the trip to Ireland possible, the chamber is partnering with British Columbia-based Indus Travels, a company Tomack learned about at a state conference.
“Traveling as a group is a great way to enjoy the convenience of a well-planned trip without the hassle of doing all the research, price comparisons and booking on your own,” Tomack said, adding, “It’s an opportunity to get to know other travelers and make some new friends.”
An informational meeting for prospective tour participants will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at the chamber’s Visitor and Information Center, 811 Ligonier St., Latrobe. Information also is available by visiting latrobelaurelvalley.org/news or calling 724-537-2671.