Unforgettable Ireland 2024

Today meet with your driver and English-speaking tour guide and depart to County Kerry. En route, visit Blarney Castle and Estate. Blarney Castle is set in over 60 acres of stunning parkland, filled with rare and unusual plants and trees and steeped in history. Visitors, too, can possess the gift of the gab by kissing the mythical Blarney Stone (or stone of eloquence).

Enjoy some time shopping at Blarney Woollen Mills. The presence of the Woollen Mills during the famine shielded the village of Blarney from the worst effects of the famine due to its employment of local workers. In 1976, a mill worker, Chris Kelleher bought the old mill property, transforming the mill into perhaps the largest quality craft shop in Ireland.(B)

Accommodation: Randles Hotel, Dromhall Hotel or similar – Kerry

Today you can enjoy a superb tour of the Iveragh Peninsula, where you will discover the Ring of Kerry while taking in the spectacular scenery such as mountains, peat, bogs, lakes and magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. Depart Killarney and drive through Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair, then on to Glenbeigh where the cliff road affords panoramic views of the Dingle Peninsula and Dingle Bay. Continue through the landscape of peat bogs before arriving at the seaside town of Waterville and then on to Sneem, famous for its brightly coloured houses, before arriving back in Killarney.

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 and his dogs demonstrate how, by working together, they can take a flock of sheep from the mountaintop to the sheep pen 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.  This evening enjoy dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants or pubs in Killarney town. (B)

Accommodation: Randles Hotel, Dromhall Hotel or similar – Kerry

Check out of your hotel, travel northwards to Tarbert, and take a short boat ride across the mouth of the River Shannon to Killimer in County Clare. Travel along the coast to the Cliffs of Moher, the most majestic cliffs in Ireland, which rise from the Atlantic Ocean and extend for over 7km. You can admire the Aran Islands and Connemara Mountains on a clear day.

Enjoy a tour of the Burren Region. The Burren is a strange and 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 superb Bunratty Singers provide today’s entertainment and is a fitting compliment to the lively mead reception, a four-course meal and good wine.(B,D)

Accommodation: The George or similar – Limerick

Today, travel to Galway City, renowned for its vibrant lifestyle and numerous festivals, celebrations, and events. Stroll down Shop Street – a charming pedestrianised street which is the cultural heartbeat of Galway City. The main squares in the city are Eyre Square (containing John F. Kennedy Park) and Spanish Parade next to the Spanish Arch. Visit Galway Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive buildings in Galway built between 1958 and 1965.

Later, enjoy a cruise along Lough Corrib, including scones and 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 and natural amenities that make this one of the most spectacular waterways in Ireland. (B,D)

Accommodation: Salthill Hotel, Clayton Hotel or similar – Galway

Today visit Connemara, a land of lakes and rivers, bogs and mountains. A land of small villages where Gaelic is still the spoken language, and little has changed since the beginning of time. It is undoubtedly the wildest and the most romantic part of Ireland. 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 Dan O’Hara’s homestead. The Centre offers a unique insight into the history and heritage of this most beautiful part of Connemara and the West of Ireland. Here you will enjoy tea and scones. (B)

Accommodation: Salthill Hotel, Clayton Hotel or similar – Galway

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

Visit EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum. Over the centuries, over 10 million people
emigrated from Ireland – at EPIC you can find out why they left, where they went and how they shaped the world. As you uncover the stories of our emigrants, you’ll realise that emigration is not about what people leave behind but what they bring with them.

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

Accommodation: Academy Plaza, The Gresham or similar – Dublin

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