Itinerary

Amy & Phil Wedding  

Tour of Ireland September 2013

Day 1-Tuesday 3 September - Cashel and Blarney
Meet our Driver-Guide in a location convenient to group in Durrow Castle

Driver-Guide will have a sign: Cunneen / Allman Party

Depart for Killarney via Tipperary & Cork

First stop is to the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. You will also have time to browse around the village, charmingly set around a large village green.

Continue the journey west through rugged countryside to Killarney which is widely celebrated for its setting overlooking lakes and mountains.

Pass over the Cork/Kerry Mountains via the Irish speaking villages of Ballymakeery & Ballyvourney to the old market town of Macroom, where you will see Macroom Castle, once home of Sir William Penn, whose son was later to found the state of Pennsylvania.

Overnight in Brook Lodge Killarney

Day 2 Wednesday 4 September – Dingle Penninsula, Galarus and Slea Head

Depart Killarney and drive out along the Dingle Peninsula. We will journey along the scenic road which winds along portions of the shoreline and through hilly country, enjoying spectacular views of mountains and coast, with new vistas opening up at every turn in the road. You can also see the Iveragh Peninsula to the south.

Stop in the town of Dingle before driving to the very tip of the peninsula to see the primitive stone “beehive” huts of the early monks and the Gallarus Oratory, built in the 6th century of unmortared stone and watertight after 14 centuries. Then drive on to Slea Head at the western tip of the peninsula. This excursion will give you excellent views of mountains and coastline and looking over to the Iveragh Peninsula. Visit the Blasket Centre in Dunquin to learn about the Blasket Islands, inhabited until 1953 by hardy families who eked out a living by farming and fishing.

Tour the Dingle Peninsula with its early Christian sites including the 6^th century Gallarus Oratory. Explore the Gaelic speaking fishing port of Dingle, Slea Head and walk the Atlantic beaches of the Peninsula.

Overnight in Dingle Skellig Hotel

Day 3 Thursday 5 September 2013 – Leisure Day in Dingle

Today is a day of leisure. The driver and the bus will be available all day for any activities desired. The group may decide to take ride to Inch Beach. The beach juts into the sea between Dingle Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour, where Ryan's Daughter was famously filmed. An extensive sandy beach in a rural environment, the whole area is rich in habitats of flora and fauna. If you can convince your driver to take Conor Pass it will be something you will always remember. Please note due to road conditions and weather the coach may only be able to travel as far as the car park, but you will still experience the majestic and thrilling experience of Conor Pass.

Overnight in Dingle Skellig Hotel

Day 4 Friday 6 September –Bunratty, Cliffs of Moher and Galway

Depart for Galway City via the Atlantic west coast of Clare

Stop at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - Bunratty Castle, built in 1425, is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland and contains furnishings, tapestries, and works of art from the period. Bunratty Folk Park, set on 26 acres, is a stunning recreation of 19th Century Ireland and features various types of farmhouses, a church, a magical walled garden and village street complete with pub, post office and various shops.

Visit the dramatic 650ft Cliffs of Moher & see TheBurren (Gaelic for rocky land)

Pass through the Burren Country, an area of rocky limestone hills where a number of unique flowers thrive. This region also contains many dolmens, prehistoric monuments formed by large limestone slabs. Then stop in Kinvara to visit Dunguaire Castle, which is probably the most famous land mark that is associated with Kinvara. The castle was built in 1520 by the O'Hynes clan on the picturesque shores of Galway Bay. This restored 16th century tower house sits on a rocky outcrop on the shores of Galway Bay, 300 yards outside the village of Kinvara.

Continue to Galway and embark on a panoramic tour to see the principal sights of the city. A drive around will take you to the large modern cathedral set on an island on the River Corrib. See the Spanish Arch in the Claddagh area, formerly a fishing village, the City Museum, National University of Galway and the Cathedral of Our Lady, which is built on the site of the former county jail. Then check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. You may choose to relax in your hotel or spend some time around Eyre Square, the hub of the city. Most of the shops are within easy reach and there are also many quaint pubs where Irish traditional music is played. Take a ramble down Quay Street with its many great pubs including “The Quays” and “Ti Neachtain” a town house which belonged to “Humanity Dick”, an 18th –century MP who promoted laws against cruelty to animals

Overnight in Radisson Hotel Galway

Day 5 Saturday 7 September 2013

Depart east for Dublin

Visit Clonmacnoise the monastery founded by St. Ciaran in 6^th Century

Continue on to Dublin

Afternoon visit to the GuinnessStorehouse at St. James Gate and enjoy a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar located in at the top of a glass tower that commands spectacular views of Dublin City & County in every direction.

Overnight in Bewley's Hotels Dublin Airport

End of the tour

Day 6 Sunday 8 September 2013

Transfer by hotel complimentary shuttle to Departure Terminal Building at Dublin Airport

Depart on return flight home

Click here for tour pricing

Tour includes:

5 Nights Bed and full Irish breakfast in named Hotels 

Experienced Driver-Guide for 5 days

Luxury Air – Conditioned Coach for 5 days

All Driver-Guide expenses

All visits and admissions listed on the itinerary including

Rock of Cashel

Old Midleton Distillery

Gallarus Oratory

Cliffs of Moher

Clonmacnoise

Guinness Storehouse including complimentary pint of Guinness

Tour does not include:

Airfares

Dinners

Lunches

Drinks

Gratuity to Driver-Guide

Note: Itinerary subject to change depending on time available, weather etc.