Our route across the Ireland's midlands takes us past a range of interesting and historic sites including the Rock of Dunamase where an Iron age hillfort and remains of a mediaeval castle loom dramatically above the plains of Portaoise. We then drive across the dramatic landscape of the Slieve Bloom mountains. Next on our voyage of discovery is Birr. Set in Ely O'Carrol country (ancestral home of any who bear the O'Carrol name), the town of Birr is not one normally found on tour itineraries which tend to neglect this region, yet it is one of Ireland's gems. The town boasts approaching 2000 years of inhabitation, and today its famed for its authentic Georgian street layout, traditional shop fronts and the 'Steffin Stone'. This is said to be the "Navel of Ireland", supposedly marking the centre of Ireland. What Birr is perhaps most famed for, however, is Birr Castle where, in magnificently landscaped gardens, we'll discover the famed Birr telescope.

Continuing our journey westward, our next stop will be at the historic town of Athenry, one of Europe's walled towns. The heritage centre here maps out both the local and national history and is a fascinating visit.

This is a day of choice with tour participants deciding what you'd most enjoy doing. Always remember; a Back-Roads touring Co. tour is a flexible tour. You have a say in your holiday.

Either you may spend a very special day with a boat trip out to the Aran Isle of Inishmore. The islands, are renowned for a way of life that has changed little for generations. Irish is the traditional language and the islanders have a rich fund of stories and legends. Amongst today's highlights are the 2000 year old Celtic fort of Dun Aengus, the early Christian monastic remains of St. Enda, cliffs and sandy beaches and quiet walks to discover local birds, wild flowers and plants.

Alternatively, there will be a day's explorations of the wilds of Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, the pretty harbour town of Westport.

This evening we'll be together again to enjoy the Galway City nightlife. This compact but busy university city is an intriguing place with its narrow streets crammed with interesting sites, pubs and shopping opportunities! Some participants may wish to spend an evening at of the local theatres. On some tours we may use Athenry as our base and we'll enjoy evening in this historic town.

We've a wonderful day planned today with a typical Back-Roads Touring Co. mix of 'must-see' icons and sights and a range of additional attractions that are not always visited by the tourist masses. As ever, we'll be taking you behind the tourist façade but we'll begin our day with a visit to the world-famed Cliffs of Moher. En route, you'll probably see some turf-cutters and perhaps a stop at the commemorative Great Famine site will prove interesting. Then we tour through the lunar-landscape of the Burren with stops at the Aillwee Cave and some incredible prehistoric burial sites. Following the coast road, we'll visit some Galway Bay harbours before enjoying another evening in Galway City itself.

Our first stop will be Shannonbridge. Firstly, we'll take a tour by pint-sized train across the bogs for a fascinating insight into the history and development of the bogs and peat gathering. The small lakes that punctuate the bogs are a paradise for wetland birds and there's distinctive flora to admire.

Then to Clonmacnoise to explore the impressive remains of a 6th century monastery. Many kings of Tara and Connaught are buried here and there was reputedly a direct chariot route to Tara! If we've time, and the group express an interst, we'll build on the them of the ancients later at Fore Abbey - the largest group of Benedictine remains in Ireland and marvel at the Seven Wonders of Fore which include the Water That Flows Uphill, the Tree that won't burn and the Monastery Built in a Bog!

Next to Athlone, (Ath Luain - the Ford of Luan), situated on the principal fording point of the middle Shannon is most famed for its thousand year old castle with a unique museum of military uniforms through the ages.

Finally, a visit to the Emerald Isle would not be complete without acknowledging whiskey and we'll visit either the Tullamore Dew distillery or Locke's distillery which is believed to be the oldest licensed pot still distillery in the world. The distillery has made pot still Irish Malt Whiskey for almost 200 years.

This afternoon we see the Northern Island coast line, stopping at the Victorian seaside resort of Portstewart, and the famed Giant's Causeway. The sheer strangeness of this place and the bizarre regularity of its 37,000 basalt columns has made it the subject of numerous legends.

If there's time before we turn back to Omagh, we'll tour Old Bushmills Distillery where they've been producing whiskey since 1608!

Tonight, we enjoy an evening in one of the town's many musical pubs.

Finally we head south with our two hour touring drive taking us beside the Mountains of Mourne, Dundalk and to see the Monasterboice Tower and High Crosses. Theses historic ruins are of an early Christian settlement situated north of Drogheda. Founded in 520 AD by St.Buite, the ruins include the 35 metre high Round Tower (built for the monks as a safe haven against the attack of the Vikings) and, most famous the three High Crosses. These crosses date back to the 10th Century.

And a taste of the famed Ring of Kerry. This is perhaps western Ireland's most renowned tourist route. It's a must see despite the occasionally coach-crowded roads. We'll be taking one or two turns off the main roads and following the back-roads through the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Also on today's itinerary will be time at Muckross House / Kilarney Lakes and a look at the fast-developing Killarney.

Our day of discovery includes the city of Cork and the nearby Blarney. Yes, you'll 'kiss the Blarney stone'! The well preserved village square is also impressive. In Tudor style, the village has developed around the square.

A stone's throw away is Cobh, known historically as Queenstown. Poignant reminders are everywhere of the hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish who left from here to build a new life, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Today it is a pleasant town; its streets climb the steep slope of a hill, the top of which is crowned by St. Coleman's Cathedral. On the quayside there is a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery. The ship was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an action which was responsible for bringing the USA into the Great War. Another unhappy association is with the Titanic, 'the safest liner in the world'. Queenstown was her last port of call on her fateful maiden voyage.

Kinsale begs our attention. This pretty town, nestling between the hills and the shoreline, boasts a maze of narrow streets, none far from the water and little changed in many hundreds of years. Amongst buildings of later periods are those of another age with historical links to the French, Spanish, British and Americans. Highlights of our visit are Charles Fort and Desmond Castle, (French Prison). Desmond Castle has had a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence.

Waterford is perhaps better known as the home of Waterford Crystal, the world-famous hand-crafted, cut glass product and we'll visit the centre. Also on our itinerary wil be Waterford Treasures at the Granary is both a treasury of gold, bronze, silver, crystal and historical documents and a treasure trail that takes you through 1000 years of Ireland's oldest city.

We take the scenic route (is there any other in Ireland?) through Wicklow to Glendalough "the glen of the two lakes", is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. Once the monastic capital of Europe, Glendalough features the ruins of no less than seven churches and the 6th century round tower. It owes its origin to St. Kevin, the hermit who founded the monastic city and who lived in a cave - St. Kevin's Bed - overlooking the Upper Lake. The famous Round Tower, about 34m high and 16m in circumference at the base, is still in near perfect condition even though it is almost 1,000 years old. The excellent Glendalough Visitor Centre provides regular exhibitions, informative guided tours of the monastic site as well as an audio-visual show about the rich heritage of the area.

We return to Dublin. Accommodation is not included in your tour price for tonight but we are happy to book additional nights or any other arrangements you require.

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