Dear Parents,

I am pleased to enclose the trip itinerary for our Tour to Ireland, with departure scheduled in 44 days. This itinerary includes information on flight departures and arrivals, accommodation details including phone numbers, emails and web pages, transport arrangements, host Jesuit institutions and descriptions of the Tour activities. We start our tour in Limerick in the southeast on St. Patty’s day and head our way northwest to the shores of Galway and Connemara via the Cliffs of Moher, ending in Dublin with a side trip to Belfast.

We will be using a combination of local transport, ranging from private bus hire to inter city express trains and public buses/trams in the cities

We have a tour party consisting of 40 lads and 15 parents including two coaches and one faculty representative. We expect another four to six parents to be joining us for parts of the tour and believe we have made adequate provisions for the safety and benefit of all.

Coach Kelly and I will have GSM cell phones for the entire duration of the tour and you will be able to reach us 24/7. We will provide these numbers to you prior to departure. In addition, the Tour Party will endeavor to send out an email to all parents updating them on Tour events every 48 hours. This email and possibly photos of the Tour will be posted on the Gonzaga Rugby Web page which you can link to from the schools web page @ www.gonzaga.org.

We will be playing three sister Jesuit schools in rugby including Crescent College, St. Ignatius and Gonzaga of Dublin. We expect difficult, tough matches where our boys will need to show the courage and conviction by which the Gonzaga Rugby Program is renowned. Our Tour is being hosted by Coach Fergus Walsh, who has been one of our guest coaches for the past two seasons at Gonzaga Rugby. The local Jesuit schools have organized doctors to attend to any injury on the pitches and make any referrals to local health care institutions. In addition, this year we have purchased health care insurance for each lad going on tour. This covers local health care treatment at Irish hospitals and emergency medical evacuation for specialized treatment if needed.

Our non rugby playing activities range from a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle in Limerick to tours of the wild Connemara landscapes of Galway to Mass in storied cathedrals of Limerick and Dublin. Our community justice activity includes a day trip to Belfast with the famous “Black Taxis” and offers a unique opportunity to participate in discussions on community conflict resolution with local Catholic and Protestant youths through “Play for Peace” a non profit organization started by graduates of our own Gonzaga High here in DC. I am pleased to note that the school has endorsed this trip for all students on tour and kindly offered to pay one half of the costs of the day tour to Belfast.

We are finalizing Tour costs at the moment, and fully expect to come in at the projected $1,600 per player. This amount includes projected costs $ 255 for 17 lunches/dinners which the boys will purchase on their own. The cash for meal purchases will be provided to the boys on a daily basis by the Tour officials. A hearty meal of local fish and chips in Galway costs $10.00. All breakfasts are provided by the hotels and hostels where the boys are staying. Three dinners are provided courtesy of our host Jesuit schools.

The $1,600 does not include money for purchase of tour mementos, gifts or supplementary food. I would recommend that parents provide their boys with an additional amount of $10.00 to 15.00 per day for the ten day tour. This can be in the form of cash, traveler’s checks, or a pre-paid debit card for ATM use. The Tour officials will provide cash to the youngsters, on very favorable terms of credit, for those individuals who are unable to successfully manage their resources while on Tour. Please note; if you have not as yet made the final payment for the balance of the tour costs to do so ASAP and mail it to Jay Fielding.

Also, please note that 50% of all advertising sold by the boys for this year’s rugby program goes to defray the costs of the individual player’s trip. Boys selling $3,200 of advertising space would be credited with the entire $1,600 of tour costs. Please encourage your lads to sell now and often.

We face several tough matches prior to departure to Ireland, most notably in North Carolina where we will defend our 2005 title on March 11th and 12th. Rugby is a physical game and injuries are part of the sport. Parents wishing to purchase trip cancellation insurance can look at one option on the Aer Lingus web page which quoted $68.00 for a policy based on total travel costs for a trip to Ireland of $1,600 during March 16th to 27th. Trip cancellation insurance is not covered under the medical insurance policies we have purchased.

The Boosters Club is also pleased to offer a unique insurance product designed to protect parents from the costs of fines levied upon their sons or spouses for conduct unbecoming a member of the Tour party, and/or behavior which prejudices or jeopardizes the reputation, good will and/or integrity of Gonzaga College High School. As the Tour Fine Chairman, and based on my last three years experiences touring with the lads and parents overseas, I highly recommend you contribute an amount of $100.00 payable to Gonzaga Rugby to ensure all due consideration is given to your son or spouse in the event of a fine.

Let me assure those parents whose son is going on tour for the first time, that the Coaches and Officers of the Booster’s Club first priority is the safety and well being of your lads. I am pleased to note that we have an exceptional and experienced group of parents participating on the tour this year and we all are committed to this bringing the boys home safely and in one piece.

If I can be of any assistance in answering any questions you have concerning the tour, please feel free to call me at home 703 534 6117 or my cell 703 967 3423. I will be out of the country from February 1 to 9th.

Eire Go Braugh,

Chas. Gore
Tour Chairman