Unforgettable Ireland 2023

Today meet with your coach & English speaking driver/guide & depart Ireland’s Capital traveling to County Kerry. En route, stop in the town of Blarney to visit Blarney Castle. Here you will find the legendary Stone of Eloquence. Kiss it & you’ll never again be lost for words.

Enjoy some time for shopping at Blarney Woollen Mills. The presence of the Woollen Mills during the famine shielded Blarney from the worst effects of the famine, due to its employment of local workers. In 1976 Chris Kelleher, himself a mill worker, bought the old mill property. Within a short period of time Chris & his family transformed the mill into what is perhaps the largest quality craft shop in Ireland. (B)

Accommodation: TBA or similar – Kerry

Today you can enjoy a superb tour of the Iveragh Peninsula, which will give you the opportunity to discover the Ring of Kerry. Taking in spectacular scenery – mountains, peat bogs, lakes & magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. Leaving Killarney pass through Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair, then to Glenbeigh where the cliff road affords panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula & Dingle Bay. Next arrive in the sea town of Waterville. Continue to Sneem Village, famous for its brightly coloured houses.

Along the Ring of Kerry stop at a local farm for a sheepdog demonstration. Your visit starts with an overview of the different breeds of sheep, followed by an introduction to the farmer’s most important tools, his border collies. Next you will see a superb demonstration of sheep herding as the farmer with his dogs demonstrate how, by working together, he can take a flock of sheep from the mountain top to the sheeppen close to the farmyard.

Enjoy transportation of a different kind! A pony and trap (also known as a Jaunting Car) helps you discover areas of Killarney National Park that you might not otherwise visit. Relax aboard a jaunting car as your Jarvey (driver) takes you through the magnificent scenery of the National Park. This evening enjoy dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants or pubs in Killarney town. (B)

Accommodation: TBA or similar – Kerry

Travel northwards to Tarbert & take a short boat ride across the mouth of the River Shannon to land on Clare’s shore at Killimer. Travel along the coast to the Cliffs of Moher, the most majestic cliffs in Ireland which rise from the Atlantic Ocean & extend for over 7km. On a clear day, you can admire the Aran Islands & Connemara Mountains.

Enjoy a tour of the Burren Region. The Burren is a strange & unique region in Europe; it is a high plateau of porous limestone situated in Northern Clare.

This evening enjoy a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.  The castle was built in the 15th century by the Earl of Thomond and stands on the banks of the Raite River in County Clare. The Earl was known for his generosity and his lavish entertainment and banquets. The entertainment today is provided by the superb Bunratty Singers & is a fitting compliment to the lively mead reception, a four course meal and of course good wine. (B,D)

Accommodation: TBA or similar – Limerick

This morning travel to Galway City & get oriented with this beautiful place which has attracted many musicians & artists. Visit Galway Cathedral, one of the largest & most impressive buildings in Galway built between 1958 & 1965.

Next enjoy a cruise along Lough Corrib including scones & an Irish coffee. This journey on the Corrib Princess takes passengers along the majestic Lough Corrib and onto the lake. Visitors will see unsurpassed views of the historic monuments & natural amenities that make this one of the most spectacular waterways in Ireland. (B,D)

Accommodation: TBA or similar – Galway

Today travel through the beautiful Connemara Region filled with lakes, rivers, bogs & mountains. Enjoy some time at leisure in Connemara National Park. Visit Kylemore Abbey, built in 1868 by Mitchell Henry, and see its most famous feature the miniature Cathedral. It has been home to the Irish order of Benedictine nuns since 1920.

Next you will visit a bodhrán maker (traditional Irish drum). Roundstone Music and Crafts is located in a former Franciscan monastery in Roundstone, in the heart of Connemara. It is here that you will find the workshop of Malachy Kearns, better known as Malachy Bodhrán, who is famous for the manufacture of bodhráns, the oldest instruments that accompany traditional Irish music. Malachy makes bodhráns for the world famous Riverdance troupe and he is currently the only full-time bodhrán maker in Ireland. (B)

Accommodation: TBA or similar – Galway

Depart Galway for Dublin today. On arrival in Dublin, you will first explore the north side of the city which offers striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on O’Connell Street & Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The city’s south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares & is home to Trinity College, Dublin Castle & two Anglican Cathedrals.

Visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum. This is a stateof- the-art interactive experience located in the beautiful vaults of the 1820 Custom House Quarter building in Dublin’s Docklands, the original departure point for so many of Ireland’s emigrants. It will inspire and guide you on a journey to discover the stories of Irish emigration around the world, from early times to the modern day.

In the evening visit Tyalor’s Three Rock (or similar), a lively pub in Rathfarnham for an excellent night of music and dance. (B,D)

Accommodation: TBA or similar 0 Dublin

After a final Irish breakfast, transfer to Dublin Airport unless extending your stay. Ask us about hotel packages. (B)