Leave no stone unturned on this journey through Ireland. Start your vacation in Limerick, head to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, and visit Rathbaun Farm, where you’ll see a farmer shear a sheep and use a sheep dog to move his flock. Stop at the fishing village of Clifden, visit Kylemore Abbey, experience the rugged Atlantic Coast of Donegal, and discover awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway. Learn about life in Northern Ireland from your Local Guide in Derry and spend the night in Belfast, where you explore the fascinating Titanic Exhibition. In the “Fair City” of Dublin, enjoy an orientation drive that includes O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and a visit to Trinity College with its Book of Kells. Travel south through the Wicklow Mountains, pausing at Ballyknocken House for our Local Favorite, an entertaining baking demonstration, coffee, and scones. Next up: Kilkenny, the House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Cork, and the lush, tropical garden on Garinish Island. Spend two nights in the popular resort town of Killarney with an excursion to the Blasket Island Centre on Dingle Peninsula. Your marvelous vacation ends back in Limerick.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Shannon, Ireland–Limerick. Céad míle fáilte! A hundred-thousand welcomes! After checking into your hotel, free time to relax and perhaps enjoy the hotel’s leisure amenities or explore the city. This evening, a special Irish welcome: enjoy a [LF] Traditional Irish Night, a fun ceili in the setting of a village barn with dinner, wine, and entertainment all included. (D)
Day #2 Limerick–Cliffs of Moher–Galway–Clifden. Drive to the CLIFFS OF MOHER, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, and savor the breathtaking panorama of the Clare coast. Next, a special treat: at RATHBAUN FARM, watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog, then enjoy your morning coffee. On to Galway, a popular seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with cobblestone streets, colorful shops, and a busy café and bar culture. Call at the Joyce family’s MARBLE WORKSHOP before spending the night at Clifden, a small fishing town in the far west. (B,D)
Day #3 Clifden–Knock–Drumcliff–Bundoran. Visit KYLEMORE ABBEY this morning, the massive castle acquired by Benedictine nuns, and see the restored house, church, and gardens. Pause at Westport before continuing on to Knock, a village that attracts pilgrims from all over the world. On the way to the resort of Bundoran, stop at Drumcliff on Sligo Bay to visit the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats. (B,D)
Day #4 Bundoran. Donegal Excursion. Enjoy the attraction of this remote part of Ireland for a day dedicated to wild and beautiful county Donegal. Visit the ancient town of the same name, founded by the Danish Vikings and home of the O’Donnell Clan. Later, call on the BELLEEK POTTERY factory, renowned for its exquisite cream-colored Parian china. (B,D)
Day #5 Bundoran–Derry, Northern Ireland–Giant's Causeway–Belfast. A rich string of Northern Ireland attractions awaits you today. In Derry, walk the city walls in the company of a Local Guide. After lunch, pass Dunluce Castle before visiting awe-inspiring GIANT’S CAUSEWAY. Arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s seat of government, and visit the fascinating TITANIC EXHIBITION. Learn all about the building of the largest passenger steam ship, its maiden voyage, and the tragic night of April 14, 1912. As a reminder of this unique experience, take home your [LF] TITANIC SOUVENIR. (B,D)
Day #6 Belfast–Knowth, Ireland–Dublin. This morning, your Tour Director will show you Belfast’s most famous landmarks before you drive in the lee of the Mountains of Mourne back into the Irish Republic. At Bru na Boinne (Palace of the Boyne), one of the world’s most important archaeological landscapes, visit KNOWTH, where your guide explains the fascinating passage-grave dating from the Bronze Age. For a first taste of the Irish capital, join an optional cabaret evening with dinner and entertainment. (B)
Day #7 Dublin. An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Then, a highlight visit to Oscar Wilde’s TRINITY COLLEGE, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)
Day #8 Dublin–Kilkenny–Waterford. Vistas of the Wicklow Mountains unfold as you head for a special visit to BALLYKNOCKEN HOUSE, a typical Irish family-run farm guesthouse. Your host will present an entertaining [LF] BAKING DEMONSTRATION, and then serve coffee and scones fresh from the oven. Travel on to the pretty county town of Kilkenny, and then to Waterford for a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. Before dinner you may want to join an optional excursion to a local pub. (B,D)
Day #9 Waterford–Blarney–Cork. The first of the day’s highlights is an entertaining walk through Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, in the company of a Local Guide. Then, visit BLARNEY CASTLE, renowned for its magical [LF] KISSING STONE. Overnight in Cork, Ireland’s second-largest city. An optional suggestion would be a visit to Cobh’s Queenstown Story, which tells of the transatlantic liner route between Liverpool and North America and last port of call for the Titanic. (B)
Day #10 Cork–Garnish Island–Killarney. This morning, board a private boat for the short crossing to GARINISH ISLAND, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Follow the winding paths between the strong-scented flowering trees and shrubs of this lush tropical island garden. Then, head over the mountains into County Kerry. At Kenmare, join part of the RING OF KERRY and stop for spectacular photos of the Lakes of Killarney from Ladies View before arriving in the popular resort of Killarney. Tonight, an entertaining optional evening in Tralee with dinner and tickets for Siamsa Tire National Folk Theatre. (B)
Day #11 Killarney. Dingle Excursion. Panoramic views on Dingle Peninsula on the way to the BLASKET ISLANDS CENTRE. Learn about the way of life and unique literary achievements on the string of remote offshore islands evacuated by the last inhabitants in 1953. Visit Dingle, then return to Killarney. (B,D)
Day #12 Killarney–Adare–Limerick. A final morning at leisure in Killarney with time for an optional excursion by horse-drawn jaunting car. In the afternoon, drive via quaint Adare, renowned for its pretty thatched cottages, to Limerick. A suggestion for a very special night out: attend an optional banquet at Bunratty Castle. (B)
Day #13 Limerick. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)