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Day 1: Dublin Castle & City Tour
Arrive in Dublin Airport, complete immigration formalities and pick up your luggage. Go to the CIE Tours desk in the Arrivals Hall to arrange a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, you will need to transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin city centre with a local guide to see elegant Georgian squares, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, the Famine Memorial and O’Connell Street. Find out about Irish history as you tour the State Apartments of Dublin Castle, which contain magnificently-furnished chambers. Back at your hotel enjoy a welcome drink and discuss your tour.
Day 2: Glendalough Monastery & Taylor’s Three Rock
This morning take a drive south through the lovely Wicklow Mountains to visit St. Kevin’s 6th century monastery, picturesquely set in a peaceful valley between two lakes. Walk through the ruined churches, round tower and Celtic crosses. Return to Dublin where the afternoon is free to take your independent open-top bus tour and Guinness or Jameson visit. In the evening head to Taylor’s Three Rock Pub for dinner and a great show of traditional music, songs and step-dancing. (B,D)
Day 3: Rock of Cashel & Historic Kinsale Walk
Depart Dublin and travel south to visit the Rock of Cashel, where Brian Boru was crowned King of Munster in 977. See the 12th century highly-decorated Cormac’s Chapel, the large cruciform cathedral and a round tower. Continue past the Galtee Mountains and through the outskirts of Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old town on a narrow inlet of the sea. Formerly a fishing and merchant town, today it is renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Check in to your waterfront hotel and join a local guide for a short walking tour around Kinsale’s historic places. (B,D)
Day 4: Muckross House & Killarney
This morning drive via Macroom to Kenmare and along part of the Ring of Kerry route for splendid views of lakes and mountains. Just outside Killarney tour the 19th century Muckross House with a guide to tell you about influential owners and visitors before heading into the famous town for some free time. Continue your drive out along the Dingle Peninsula, the most westerly landmass in Europe. Enjoy views of heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Check in to your hotel, set overlooking Dingle Bay. (B,D)
Day 5: Dingle Peninsula & Gallarus Oratory
Today discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies, “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away.” Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip and tour the Blasket Experience to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy farming and fishing families. Next visit Gallarus Oratory, a small church dating from the 6th to 9th centuries. It was built with corbel vaulting and no mortar, but has remained watertight through the centuries. Travel up to the Conor Pass for sweeping views before returning to Dingle for some free time before dinner. (B,D)
Day 6: Flying Boat Museum & Cliffs of Moher
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, near the River Shannon. During the 1930’s and early 1940’s, the Port of Foynes was a hive of activity with Pan Am’s Clipper traffic between the United States and Europe. The museum’s exhibits and memorabilia recall this era. Travel through the outskirts of Limerick on the way to Ennis, the main marketing town of County Clare, and check in to your centrally located hotel. At 2:30 pm depart for the Cliffs of Moher, a dramatic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. Return to Ennis for dinner with some informal entertainment in your hotel. (B,D)
Day 7: Poulnabrone Dolmen & Connemara Crystal
In Kilfenora visit the Burren Display Centre to learn about the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills. Then drive through the weathered hills, which contain ancient monuments, especially dolmens. View the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic burial place dating to 4,000 BC. Stop for a look around the village of Ballyvaughan. In Moycullen visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory to see a skilled glass cutter at work and learn about the symbolism of the Celtic motifs. Drive into Galway to check in to your central hotel overlooking Galway Bay. (B,D)
Day 8: “Quiet Man” Walking Tour & Catamaran cruise
Drive to the village of Cong where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. A guided walk will show you places that featured in the production. Drive through Connemara for sweeping views of misty mountains and shimmering lakes. Embark on a short cruise of Killary harbour. Enjoy an Irish coffee as you enjoy the scenery. Keep an eye open for sea birds as you pass Salmon and mussel farms. Make a brief stop at Kylemore Abbey visitor centre before heading to Clifden, a delightful market town set between the Twelve Bens and sandy bays before returning to Galway. (B,D)
Day 9: Museum of Country Life & Belleek China
Outside Castlebar visit the Museum of Country Life. View collections of domestic goods, used in everyday living from 1850 to 1950. Exhibits and a movie explain how country people lived by farming. Make a brief stop in the pilgrimage town of Knock and view W. B. Yeats’ Grave, situated near the distinctive outline of Ben Bulben Mountain in County Sligo. Continue to Belleek for a tour of the Belleek Pottery Factory, founded in the mid-19th century to create employment. Drive to Donegal town for your next overnight stop. (B,D)
Day 10: Slieve League Cliffs & Donegal
Drive to the fishing port of Killybegs and on to Teelin to view Slieve League sea cliffs, the highest in Europe reaching 1,972 feet. The cliffs drop straight down to the wild Atlantic waves creating marvellous views. Enjoy coffee or tea with home-baked scones before driving through the majestic Glengesh Pass to Ardara. Visit Triona Design to see demonstrations of spinning, weaving and knitting. Return to Donegal town for free time before returning to your nearby hotel. (B,D)
Day 11: Derry Walk & Giant’s Causeway
Travel to Derry for a walking tour with a local guide to see the medieval city walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pause for photos at the ruins of Dunluce Castle before visiting the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Continue south to experience wonderful views of mountains, valleys and bays along the “Nine Glens of Antrim.” Drive to your centrally-located hotel in Belfast. You will have time to take a walk or you may like to visit the ornate Victorian bar, Crown Liquor Saloon, just across the street. (B,D)
Day 12: Belfast & St. Patrick’s Burial Site
Tour Belfast with a local guide to see Victorian buildings, the Harland & Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built and the Falls Road and Shankill residential areas. Drive south via the town of Newry and pass the gentle slopes of the Mourne Mountains to Kingscourt to your castle hotel, built in 1760. Arrive mid-afternoon so that you will have time to enjoy the facilities and ambience of your lovely hotel. You may like to play the 9-hole golf course. After dinner in the Court Restaurant, enjoy youthful dancers display intricate Irish step-dancing. (B,D)
Day 13: Battle of the Boyne Centre & River Liffey
Drive to Drogheda to visit the Battle of the Boyne Centre. Learn about the 1690 conflict between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II, for dominance over the British throne and religious power in Ireland. Then travel into Dublin and check in to your hotel overlooking the River Liffey. You will have the balance of the day at leisure so you may take an open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson, if you did not use the vouchers at the start of your tour. (B)
Day 14: Depart from Dublin Airport
Your hotel offers a shuttle service to Dublin Airport every two hours starting at 7:20 am. So choose a suitable transfer time to arrive at the airport to check in for your flight. If you need an earlier transfer, your tour escort will arrange one for you. Then you’ll have an opportunity to shop at the duty-free stores before boarding your flight for the journey home. (B)
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