STORIES OF RESISTANCE
A Modern Irish Literary Tour with Literati Bookstore
MARCH 8 - 15, 2027
$6750
JOIN US ON THIS EXCLUSIVE SMALL GROUP GUIDED LITERARY TOUR OF IRELAND IN COLLABORATION WITH ANN ARBOR’S LITERATI BOOKSTORE
LIMITED TO JUST 12 GUESTS
Join Bog & Thunder and Ann Arbor’s Literati Bookstore on a collaborative journey in Ireland as we follow the stories of Irish writers as they confront contemporary issues and create change through their written work. We will travel north from Dublin to Belfast, and learn about how various writers have explored issues like motherhood, nationalism, colonialism, reproductive rights, the peace process—and even male-centered mythology and folklore—in both fiction and nonfiction.
Trip highlights include a visit to a rare bookseller in Dublin; private tours & special experiences in locations which have inspired contemporary Irish literature; time spent with professional Irish writers; and other bespoke events created especially for this trip and not available to the average traveler.
Please note: This itinerary includes all breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners. We’ll provide suggestions for the rest of your meals!
SAMPLE IRELAND TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1
Our trip begins in Dublin with a private museum tour, where we’ll toast the beginning of the trip over bubbles and an overview of Ireland’s literary history. Afterwards, we’ll take our merriment with us to our first dinner together, prepared by one of our favorite Irish chefs and featuring hyper local ingredients. After dinner, feel free to hit the pub for a night cap, or take a stroll along the River Liffey.
DAY 2
We will start the day with a literary walking tour across the city of Dublin. After a break for lunch, we will meet for a behind-the-scenes experience at a rare bookseller.
DAY 3
We spend some time in the private collection of one of the city’s most gorgeous libraries this morning. Later, we’ll enjoy a delicious afternoon tea service, where we’ll be joined by a local writer who will talk about her most recent book. The rest of the day is free to explore the city.
DAY 4
After a hearty breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head north to Belfast! On the way, we’ll stop for a guided hike and tour of one of Ireland’s most fascinating archaeological monuments, located within an area steeped in Celtic mythology. Then we’ll continue the drive north, where we’ll check into our Belfast hotel before enjoying a communal dinner in the city center.
DAY 5
Our first experience of the day is a guided tour of West Belfast where we will learn about the history of the recent political conflict and its impact on this historically working class, Catholic neighborhood. Our guide will be a former IRA volunteer who is now a published author. We’ll have the opportunity to hear about his artistic practice, as well as what it is like to harness the creative arts to tackle sensitive and often controversial subjects.
DAY 6
We’ll head out into the countryside today to immerse ourselves in the work of poet Seamus Heaney. We’ll visit the village in which he was born, see the local spots that inspired some of his most famous poems, and spend some time at the museum dedicated to his legacy. For lunch today, we’ll dine at a brewery started by his nephew.
DAY 7
Our trip to Belfast coincides with the annual Féile an Éarraigh, a spring festival celebrating Irish language, culture, and trad music. We’ll head back to the western part of the city to enjoy local literature and music this afternoon. Our farewell dinner this evening will be at an incredible Michelin-starred restaurant overlooking the River Farset.
The itinerary above is the current plan, and things may change. We will make every effort to provide the tours and experiences that are described. However, the nature of the places we’ll be visiting — not typical tourist destinations — means that things can change at the last minute.
ACCOMMODATION
The Wilder Townhouse
Dublin
Tucked away on one of Dublin’s prettiest residential streets, The Wilder Townhouse is a handsome red-brick retreat that blends rich character, residents-only exclusivity, and design-led charm. A proud member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Ireland’s Blue Book, and Mr & Mrs Smith, The Wilder Townhouse is Ireland’s only property to feature in all three prestigious collections — and with a One Michelin Key to its name, it’s no wonder that one stay is never enough.
The Harrison Chambers of Distinction Belfast
The Harrison Hotel in Belfast is an easy hangout for the discerning traveller. We’ve been welcoming scoundrels and scholars since 1879. This is a hotel of slow living and romantic moments. Feel like an aristocrat when you book one of our carefully curated Victorian chambers or elegant suites, nestled in the heart of the Queen’s Quarter beside the Botanic Gardens, the city’s theatre and arts district. If you're culturally curious and seeking a hotel experience that’s anything but ordinary, you’ve found it. The Harrison is recognised as Belfast’s most unique and memorable hotel stay.
ABOUT LITERATI BOOKSTORE
Literati Bookstore® is one of the premiere independent bookselling institutions in the United States. In 2019, Literati won the Publishers' Weekly Bookstore of the Year award. Literati has a loyal customer base both in Michigan and across the country.
Literati was founded and opened in March 2013 by Hilary and Michael Gustafson as an independent, general interest bookstore with a brick and mortar presence in Ann Arbor. Literati opened in the hopes of enhancing the vibrant downtown culture and arts scene. Its original aim was to be a lively bookstore--a welcoming place where book lovers could go, talk, and interact with each other through author readings, book clubs, poetry nights, and more. Above all, Literati believes that the right book can change a person's life for the better.
