TRAVEL BARGAINS : TOURS LURE ALL TO EMERALD ISLE.

You probably won't make it there in time for St. Patrick's Day, but you have until May to take advantage of a self-drive trip in Ireland or an eight-day escorted tour of the Emerald Isle.

The self-drive package includes round-trip air fare from New York or Boston to Ireland, seven nights' accommodations chosen from a list of bed-and-breakfast inns, country homes and farm houses, daily breakfast, rental car, maps and a coupon book with discounts for attractions. Cost, per person, double occupancy, is $719 for March departures; $793 for April departures; and $907 for May trips. Information: [phone].

A visit to a working farm, Waterford Crystal Factory and Blarney Castle are among the features of the escorted tour sponsored by CIE Tours International, which starts in Shannon and follows Ireland's west coast before ending up in Dublin. Cost begins at $1,274 per person, double occupancy, including air fare from New York or Boston, six nights' accommodations (in guest houses and first-class hotels), most meals and sightseeing. Information: [phone].

Pack trips: Observing the wild mustangs roaming the Pizona Area of Inyo National Forest is the focus of the May 17-20 pack trip sponsored by Frontier Pack Train.

Participants will be led in their daily study of the horses by Dr. Robert M. Miller, a veterinarian specializing in equine behavior. The tour leaves from the town of Bishop. Cost is $450 per person and includes a mountain-trained horse and tack, food and camping equipment. Participants should bring sleeping bags. The trip is open to riders of all abilities and other pack trips are planned through June 10 at prices ranging from $250 to $450 per person. Information: [phone].

Free nights in Fiji: Three free nights in Fiji are part of several New Zealand fly-drive packages offered by Air Pacific and the New Zealand Tourism Board.

Several packages are available, including a 12-day tour that starts at $1,238 per person, double occupancy, and features round-trip air fare from Los Angeles, seven days' rental of a two-berth motor home, transfers and three nights' accommodations at the Crow's Nest on Fiji's Coral Coast. The package is good between April 16 and Aug. 31. Information: [phone].

Laughlin package: The Colorado Belle Hotel Casino in Laughlin, Nev., is offering a two-night package April 4-5 featuring accommodations and tickets to the River Stampede Rodeo on April 5-6 and a concert featuring the Diamond Rio band on April 5. Guests will also receive T-shirts. Cost is $169 per couple. Information: [phone].

Freebies: Students considering traveling to Europe can get a free copy of the Student Travels magazine, published by Council on International Educational Exchange, by calling [phone]. A brochure that gives an overview of European train, rental car, hotel and trans-Atlantic air services available from Rail Europe can be obtained free by calling [phone] or [phone].

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Photo: Ancient Irish castles, such as Birr Castle in County Offaly, can be among the stops on a self-drive tour of the Emerald Isle.