Tour Dates: Aug 5 - 9, 2027

Sample Itinerary – Subject to Change

Get ready for an adventure filled with stunning landscapes, rich culture, and unforgettable memories both on and off the field.

Take your game across the Atlantic and experience Ireland beyond the softball diamond. Experience the best of Ireland through city exploration, Irish culture, and international slow-pitch softball competition. From discovering Dublin and visiting a whiskey distillery to competing in the IOST Tournament at the University of Limerick, this trip blends unforgettable travel experiences with high-level competition, team connection, and the chance to experience Ireland together.

Trip Highlights

• Explore Dublin – Get your first taste of Ireland with a city tour and time to experience the heart of Dublin.

• Irish Whiskey Distillery – Visit a traditional whiskey distillery and experience a piece of Ireland’s iconic culture.

• University of Limerick – Stay on the University of Limerick campus and make the university your home base during the tournament.

• IOST Tournament – Take the field for two full days of slow-pitch softball at the IOST Tournament.

• Tournament Celebrations – Join the Welcome Party and IOST Party for fun and team time beyond the field.

• Discover Limerick – Experience the city of Limerick while enjoying time with your team throughout the tournament.

Important Things to Know

Walking & Accessibility

This tour includes sightseeing at historic and archaeological sites where travelers may encounter stairs, hills, cobblestones, and uneven surfaces. The itinerary also includes hotel changes, possible ferry travel, and transportation between destinations.

Travelers with mobility concerns should contact ABSA before registering to discuss the itinerary and scheduled activities.

Travel Expectations

International travel is part of the adventure!

When traveling outside the United States, you will experience different customs, traditions, foods, accommodations, sporting facilities, transportation systems, and ways of life. Things may not always operate or look exactly as they do at home—and that's part of experiencing another country.

Gyms, fields, facilities, equipment, competition levels, match formats, and game-day experiences may differ from what athletes are accustomed to in the United States.

Some games may be highly competitive, while others focus more on cultural exchange, sportsmanship, and sharing our love of softball with athletes from another country.

Regardless of the opponent or facility, ABSA athletes are representing their team, their families, the United States, and ABSA. We expect athletes and travelers to approach every experience with respect, flexibility, and a spirit of adventure.

We encourage you to research your destination to enhance your experience. Tools like Google Street View are a great way to explore the area in advance.

Traveling With Children

All travelers under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian unless an alternative arrangement has been specifically approved by ABSA.

Parents and legal guardians remain responsible for the supervision of their minor traveler throughout the tour.

Protect Your Trip

Travel insurance is strongly encouraged for all ABSA travelers.

ABSA does not provide individual or group travel insurance. Travelers may purchase coverage from the provider of their choice.

ABSA partners with InsureMyTrip, a travel insurance comparison platform that allows travelers to compare plans from multiple insurance providers and select coverage appropriate for their individual needs.

When comparing policies, travelers may want to consider coverage for:

• Trip cancellation

• Trip interruption

• Airline delays or cancellations

• Lost or delayed baggage

• Illness or injury

• Medical treatment while traveling internationally

• Emergency medical transportation or evacuation

• Other unexpected circumstances that could affect travel

Coverage varies significantly between policies. Travelers should carefully review the policy's terms, exclusions, coverage limits, and eligibility requirements before purchasing.

We recommend speaking directly with a licensed travel insurance representative if you have questions about the coverage appropriate for your circumstances.

Purchasing travel insurance is the individual traveler's responsibility.

International Travel Documents

A valid passport is required for international travel.

To travel to Ireland, you must have a valid passport. U.S. citizens traveling to any destination outside the United States are required to present a valid U.S. passport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date.

Each traveler is responsible for ensuring they have all documentation necessary to enter Ireland, transit through any connecting country, and return to the United States.

Requirements may include:

• A valid passport

• Required passport validity

• Visa or travel authorization, when applicable

• Transit documentation

• Entry or exit forms

• Documentation required when traveling with minors

• Any additional requirements established by the destination or transit country

The name on your airline reservation must match your travel documents.

Entry and transit requirements can change. Travelers should verify the current requirements applicable to their citizenship, itinerary, and connecting countries well before departure.

U.S. citizens should review current international travel and destination information through the U.S. Department of State at https://travel.state.gov

Travelers who are citizens of another country should verify requirements with the appropriate embassy or consulate.

Failure to obtain required documentation may result in denied boarding or denied entry and does not qualify a traveler for a refund from ABSA.

Travel and entry requirements are subject to change. Travelers are responsible for verifying current requirements before departure.

All trip deposits and balance payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.

A $250 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure a place on the tour.

Because unexpected circumstances can prevent travel, ABSA strongly encourages travelers to consider appropriate travel insurance.

Payments

ABSA offers several options to make international travel more manageable:

• Payment Plan: Remaining payments are divided according to the payment schedule provided during registration.

• Automatic Payments: Scheduled payments may automatically draft from the payment method provided during registration.

• Affirm Financing: Financing may be available for eligible travelers.

• Fundraising: Travelers are welcome to utilize fundraising opportunities to help offset their individual trip costs.

All balances must be paid according to the established payment schedule to maintain your reservation.

Please Do Not Book Flights Yet

Airfare is not included in the tour price.

ABSA will provide the official arrival airport, departure airport, travel dates, and required arrival/departure time windows once flight parameters are finalized.

⚠️ Warning⚠️:

Do not book a roundtrip

• This trip starts and ends in different cities.

• When booking your flights, do not select a round-trip flight. Instead, search for a Multi-City itinerary so you can enter a different airport for your arrival and departure.

• A Multi-City booking allows you to fly into your starting city and depart from your ending city, rather than returning to the original airport. Multi-City flights are also often less expensive than purchasing two separate one-way tickets.

Travelers who arrive before the official tour begins or remain after the tour are responsible for any transportation or accommodations outside the official ABSA itinerary unless otherwise stated.

📍 Arrival:  Dublin Airport
📍 Departure:  Shannon Airport

Please wait for official ABSA flight parameters before purchasing non-refundable airfare.

Pack your bags for Ireland and get ready for a softball adventure unlike any other. Explore Dublin, experience Irish whiskey culture, stay at the University of Limerick, and take the field for two days at the IOST Tournament. With softball, sightseeing, and plenty of time to celebrate together, this is Ireland beyond the ordinary.

Compete internationally. Experience the Ireland with your family. Build friendships with slow-pitch softball players from across the United States and abroad. ABSA tours combine sport, culture, connection, and adventure to create experiences that go far beyond the field.

Sample itinerary. Activities, competition schedules, accommodations, transportation, and order of events are subject to change.

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! Board your international overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland, where your journey begins!

Touch down in Ireland and jump right into the adventure. Get your first look at Dublin, settle into your hotel, and wrap up the day with dinner at a local brewery.

• Welcome to Dublin – Arrive in Ireland and start your trip with a quick introduction to the city.

• Explore Dublin – Take a city tour and get your first taste of Ireland’s capital.

• Settle In – Check into your hotel and freshen up after your journey.

• Local Brewery Dinner – End your first day with dinner at a local brewery before your overnight stay in Dublin.

Leave Dublin behind and make your way to Limerick for the next chapter of the adventure. Visit a whiskey distillery, settle into your University of Limerick accommodations, and celebrate the start of the IOST Tournament at the Welcome Party.

• Journey to Limerick – Enjoy breakfast before heading to the University of Limerick.

• Irish Whiskey Experience – Visit a whiskey distillery and experience a taste of Irish tradition.

• University of Limerick – Check into your campus accommodations and settle into your new home base.

• IOST Welcome Party – Kick off the tournament experience with the official Welcome Party.

• Campus Stay – Spend the night on the University of Limerick campus.

It’s time to play! Fuel up with breakfast on campus before taking the field for Day 1 of the IOST Tournament. After the games, enjoy dinner together and keep the celebration going at the IOST Party.

• Tournament Day 1 – Take the field and get your IOST Tournament experience underway.

• Team Dinner – Relax and enjoy dinner together on campus after a full day of softball.

• IOST Party – Celebrate the tournament experience and enjoy an evening with fellow athletes.

• University of Limerick – Return to campus for another night at your home base.

The tournament continues with another day of slow-pitch softball. After the games, head into Limerick for dinner together and enjoy an evening out before returning to campus.

• Tournament Day 2 – Take the field for another day of IOST Tournament action.

• Dinner in Limerick – Head into the city and enjoy dinner together after the tournament.

• One More Night in Ireland – Wrap up the tournament experience with an evening together before your final night on campus.

Enjoy one final breakfast on campus before saying goodbye to Ireland. From the University of Limerick, transfer to Shannon Airport and continue your journey home or on to your next adventure.

• Final Breakfast – Enjoy one last breakfast on the University of Limerick campus.

• Transfer to Shannon Airport – Head to the airport for your departure.

• Continue Your Journey – Say goodbye to Ireland OR continue to explore on your own.