News has broken very recently that a long overdue memorial to the Irish casualties of the Gallipoli campaign will be erected in the area where the 10th Irish Division operated at Suvla Bay. The President of Ireland will be paying a State visit to Turkey and during it will spend a day  on the Peninsular and will dedicate the foundation stone of the proposed memorial at one of the cemeteries in the Suvla Bay area.

 The Somme Association, which had planned to make a pilgimage  on October has brought this forward to coincide with the visit of the President and details of its Tour from 20th to 26th March has been sent to all members of that Association.

 In order to accommodate others who may wish to witness this historic event, in particluar members of the disbanded Irish Regiments Associations, a similar tour has been organised, on request, by Group Travel International, a Dublin based Travel Group and details are attached to this  email. 

 The email is addressed to all who have an assoication with the Irish Regiments involved in Gallipol with a  request that the information should be widely publicised amongst their members in the event that  they would wish to join the Tour. The key date is Wednesday 24th March and on that day the Tour will concentrate at the proposed location of the memorial in the Suvla Bay area.

 The conditions of the offer need to be noted; full payment is due at the time of booking; closing date for booking is 9th February; vacancies are being allocated on a first come first served basis; and a figure of at least 20 applicants must be achieved if the tour is to proceed; applications are to be made direct to the Tour firm, GIT

Tour Details -  

MILITARY TOUR TO GALLIPOLI

FOR THE DEDICATION, BY PRESIDENT MARY MacALEESE,

OF THE FOUNDATION STONE

OF A MEMORIAL TO THE IRISH FALLEN

€995

Per person sharing

Including Taxes and Charges

5 Nights - 4* and 5* Hotels

22 - 27 MARCH 2010

This tour provides a unique opportunity to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula and is specifically and especially

designed to coincide with the historic first visit of an Irish President to the First World War battlefields there

where so many Irish soldiers fought and some 3,500 died. On Wednesday 24th March, the President will

dedicate the foundation stone for a proposed memorial at Chocolate Hill to all the Irish who perished in that

campaign and, in particular, the men of the 10th Irish Division. The Tour will visit the battlefields of the

Helles, ANZAC and Suvla Bay Sectors and will enable members to participate in a remarkable journey of

remembrance where the rugged landscape provides the backdrop to untold heroism, endurance and sacrifice.

While in Turkey, the Tour will also visit the ancient site of Troy as well as the magical city of Istanbul, which

is a 2010 European Capital of Culture.

Your Price Includes:

• Return flights from Dublin to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines including baggage, taxes and charges.

• Flight from Istanbul to Canakkale including baggage, taxes and charges.

• Tour manager and professional guide assistance with executive coach transfers throughout tour.

• 2 nights accommodation in the centrally located 4* Nippon Hotel in Istanbul. Includes bed and breakfast.

Based on twin share. (www.nipponhotel.com.tr)

• 3 nights accommodation in the 5* Kolin Hotel in Canakkale. Includes bed and breakfast. Based on twin

share. (www.kolinhotel.com)

• Welcome Dinner at a traditional roof top restaurant in Istanbul,

• Guided walking tour of the Old City of Istanbul including Sultanahmet, Haghia Sophia and Blue Mosque.

• 3 evening meals (buffet) in Canakkale, 1 lunch in Istanbul and 2 lunches in Canakkale.

• Attend a Service of Remembrance to the 10th (Irish) Division at Chocolate Hill during which the foundation

stone of a new Memorial to the Division will be laid.

• Visit to the Helles Sector including the Turkish Memorial, Helles Memorial, V Beach Cemetery, W Beach

and Lancashire Landing Cemetery.

• Visit to ANZAC Cove including Lone Pine Memorial, Shrapnel Valley, Brighton Beach, Ariburnu

Cemetery, 57th Turkish Memorial, Chunuke Bair and the New Zealand Memorial.

• Visit to Suvla Bay including Hill 10, Green Hill and Scimitar Hill Cemeteries.

• Visit to the ancient site of Troy.

Booking Remarks:

• Includes airport and flight taxes and charges of €104.64 • Single supplement: €185.00 per person per tour • Optional insurance:

€25.00 (conditions apply) • Full payment is due at time of booking by laser, credit card or cheque made payable to GTI • Bookings must be made by 09th February 2010 sold on first come first served basis • A minimum of 20 persons must book for tour to proceed.

Call to Book or Enquire:  01-8434734  01-8434734

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