Twelve days across Ireland, from the sea cliffs of Donegal to the coastal road of the Ring of Kerry, ending with the museums, pubs and Georgian streets of Dublin.
Begin with an overnight flight to Dublin and travel north to Donegal for a welcome dinner. Spend a full day on the county’s landmarks, including Donegal Castle, the Donegal Craft Village, the fishing port of Killybegs, the Slieve League Cliffs and the folk village of Glencolumbcille.
Travel south by way of Drumcliff Churchyard, where W. B. Yeats is buried, the Belleek Pottery, the Ancient Tombs of Carrowmore and the Shrine at Knock. In Galway, walk Connemara National Park, browse the city’s shops for a claddagh ring, and sit down to a medieval dinner at Dunguaire Castle.
Stand above the Atlantic at the Cliffs of Moher, then base in Kenmare for two days on the Ring of Kerry, taking in Valentia Island and the Skellig Experience, the village of Sneem and the panorama at Moll’s Gap.
Return east through Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel. From Dublin, tour the Waterford Crystal Factory and the harbour town of Cobh, last port of call for the Titanic. Close the trip with Trinity College and the Book of Kells, Dublin Castle, the Guinness Storehouse and a farewell dinner of live music and dancing at the Merry Ploughboy.
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Depart the United States on an overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland.
After arriving in Dublin, we drive north toward Donegal. On reaching Donegal we check into our accommodation and take some time to relax.
In the evening we come together for a welcome dinner.
We spend the day exploring Donegal and the surrounding coast. Today we visit:
Early this morning we depart Donegal and begin the journey to Galway. Along the way we visit Drumcliff Churchyard, the final resting place of the poet William Butler Yeats.
Next we stop in Belleek, home to the famous Belleek Pottery, before continuing to the Ancient Tombs of Carrowmore. Dating back nearly 5,000 B.C., Carrowmore is Ireland’s largest megalithic cemetery and one of the most significant in Europe, predating even the pyramids of Egypt. Our route then takes us to The Shrine at Knock, an important pilgrimage site.
After these historic and cultural landmarks we continue to Galway, where we check into our hotel for the evening.
This morning we travel to Connemara National Park, which covers more than 4,000 acres of mountain, bog and heath.
This afternoon we return to Galway, where you can browse the local shops or stop into a pub. This is also your chance to buy a claddagh ring, said to have originated in the fishing village on the Claddagh shore of Galway Bay, so there is no better place to find one.
In the evening comes a real treat, a medieval dinner at Dunguaire Castle. Once home to noble medieval lords, the 500-year-old castle sits on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay. You enjoy a four-course meal while learning about Irish culture through music and storytelling.
This morning we journey to the Cliffs of Moher, where rugged cliffs rise 700 feet above the Atlantic and stretch for nine miles along the coastline. Take in the views, walk the cliff tops and photograph one of Ireland’s most recognisable landscapes.
After time at the cliffs we continue south to Kenmare, our base for the next three nights.
Today we travel part of the famous Ring of Kerry. This 112-mile coastal route wraps around the Iveragh Peninsula and offers sweeping coastal and mountain views.
Here you see sites memorialised in Irish folklore: the Old Monastery, rural villages, abandoned famine cottages and unspoiled beaches. We visit Valentia Island to stop at the Skellig Experience, where you learn the story of Skellig Michael, a filming location for Star Wars and once home to early Christian monks. We also stop at the colourful village of Sneem, and at Moll’s Gap for panoramic views of Ireland’s highest mountains.
We spend another day traversing the Ring of Kerry, visiting picturesque Irish villages and stopping at sites along the way.
This morning we travel from Kenmare to Dublin, with several stops along the way. Our first is Blarney, where we visit the historic Blarney Castle and have the chance to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, said to bestow the gift of eloquence.
From Blarney we continue to the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most recognisable historical sites. These ancient ruins, perched on a limestone hill, hold medieval architecture, Celtic crosses and a history reaching back more than a thousand years.
After the Rock of Cashel we resume the drive to Dublin, where we check into our accommodation and relax for the evening.
This morning we depart Dublin for Waterford, a drive of about two and a half hours. On arrival we tour the Waterford Crystal Factory, where artisans cut and finish crystal by hand.
From Waterford we continue to the harbour town of Cobh, the final port of call for the Titanic in 1912 and a departure point for Irish emigrants between 1848 and 1960. We stop here for lunch and time among the town’s maritime heritage.
Later we visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and close the day with dinner in the Temple Bar district.
Visit Trinity College, where you can see the Book of Kells, tour Dublin Castle, and spend time at the Guinness Storehouse exploring the ingredients, history and culture behind Ireland’s most famous beer. There is also time to walk Dublin’s streets and admire the Georgian architecture.
In the evening we hold our farewell dinner at the Merry Ploughboy, with live traditional music and dancing.
Depart Ireland on your return flight to the United States.
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