All Things Irish Bus Trip

On Thursday, September 10, our bus trip this year will be touring Dublin (Ohio, not Ireland), a modern city just outside Columbus’ beltway with quite a story to tell. What’s there, you ask? Lots of “grand little turn-ups” (Irish phrase for events or places that turn out better than expected).

Boarding the bus begins at 7:30 am. The bus will leave for Dublin no later than 8 am. Along the way, we’ll play the “Irish Inspirational and Popular Expressions Game” to see how well you are acquainted with Irish funny sayings.

Our first stop will be to tour the Anthony Thomas Chocolate Factory, famous for its Buckeyes and Pecan Dainties (they make many other chocolates too). This hour-long tour showcases how chocolates are made from start to finish (30,000 per shift on eleven separate lines) and concludes in their retail shoppe where everyone gets a free sample and of course can purchase more chocolate.

Then on to Dublin where we pick up our step-on guide at the visitor center, who will point out the area highlights from the comfort of our bus. We’ll hear about Dublin’s founding, history, and see sculptures like “Dublin’s Cornfield” and their famous waterfall. The tour ends at "The Link," a 760-foot-long, S-shaped suspension bridge that spans the Scioto River and connects Historic Dublin to the Bridge Park district where we will have lunch. It is the longest single-tower S-shaped suspension bridge in the world. Active participants can choose to walk across the bridge to our lunch site (while others may choose to just remain on the bus to be driven there).

We will enjoy our lunch in the Fado Irish Pub along the Scioto River. Lunch will include finger sandwiches, Fado’s famous Farmhouse Salad, and Irish pretzel bites served with a smoked cheddar-Dijon. Ice water will be served but drinks are not included unless you pay for yours. They have non-alcoholics, like root beer, sparkling seltzers, Red Bull, and Coke products.

While we dine, an Irish storyteller, dressed in period clothes, entertains us with old-time accounts of Irish everyday life, marriages, and funerals. She comes with her own casket for an Irish wake.

Continuing our bus tour, we ride to Ferris-Wright Park, featuring three ancient earthworks and what is believed to be the area’s first framed house. We can try ancient tools and technology, explore the garden and learn about the Hopewell Culture, Wyandot Nation and early farming in Dublin.

Midafternoon we will enjoy watching Irish step-dancers perform, their upper bodies rigid and arms straight down at their sides, dancing to official Irish reels and jigs. Whatever you do, don’t call them “cloggers” or “jiggers!”

Since we’re already in the historic downtown, you’ll get time to walk the main streets and shop in their quaint stores. For the adventurous ones, there’s the Fairy Door Trail, a scavenger hunt for tiny doors located in downtown buildings. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s Jeni’s Ice Cream or the more traditional Johnson’s Real Ice Cream.

Finally, we will end the day at the Morgan House, a huge retail complex of restaurant, gift shoppe, gourmet foods, and much more. The store developed in 1985 from the original log cabin of Civil War veteran John Hunt Morgan (still seen at the entrance) into the sprawling complex where people love to browse and buy that special keepsake.

The evening meal will be at the Supreme Buffet & Hibachi, an all-you-can-eat blend of Chinese/American/Japanese dining. on the way home.

Total cost including bus ride, tours, entrances, meals and snacks is $90 per person (same as last year). You can secure your spot via our website.

Click HERE to Register.

Deadline for registration is Sep 4.

Dan Stevens
Tour Host

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