Highlights…
- ✴Jump into Ireland’s vibrant capital city — Dublin.
- ✴Experience the Ring of Kerry, one of the world’s greatest coastal roads.
- ✴See sheepdogs in action on a visit to a working sheep farm.
- ✴Stand in awe of the stunning 700-foot-high Cliffs of Moher.
- ✴Kiss the famed Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle.
- ✴Enjoy traditional Irish music and dance entertainment.
- ✴Overnight on the grounds of a regal castle.
- ✴10 Days ● 14 Meals: 8 Breakfasts ● 6 Dinners
Today we travel to St. Louis, where we board our plane for Dublin, Ireland.
Following arrival at Dublin Airport, we will be met by our tour director and escorted to our awaiting motorcoach. This morning, enjoy a tour of Dublin City, founded as a Viking settlement and home to the Irish Parliament since the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. On our tour we will see the Georgian Squares with their 18th century houses, Phoenix Park (the biggest town park in Europe), statue-filled O’Connell Street and the fashionable Grafton Street. We will visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, an architectural and historical site which has been at the heart of Dublin history for over 800 years. No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Brewery founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. Here we will enjoy a guided tour which concludes with a leisurely pint of Guinness in the 360-degree roof top bar while enjoying spectacular views of Dublin City. This afternoon we check into the Camden Court Hotel for an overnight stay. This evening, regroup with fellow travelers and enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel . (D)
This morning, bid farewell to Dublin and travel south to County Kildare – the center of Ireland’s horse breeding industry where we will enjoy a guided tour of the Irish National Stud Farm. Since it bred its first winner MINORU in 1909, the stud farm at Tully has continued to produce many famous racehorses. Also on the grounds of the Stud Farm are The Japanese Gardens renowned for their symbolism of “The Life of Man” and the St. Fiacre commemorative garden. Travelling on to Kilkenny City, located on the banks of the River Nore, we will enjoy a Shenanigans Kilkenny Walking Tour. Discover the hidden history and stories of the city’s breathtaking landmarks with an entertaining and informative tour guide, weaving through the picturesque narrow city streets of this medieval city. We then visit Kilkenny Castle – a 12th century castle, remodeled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands. Our overnight stay is in Waterford. (B, D)
Our first stop today is to Blarney where we will have an opportunity to visit Blarney Castle and kiss the famous Blarney Stone, said to
Blarney Gardens
bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who dare. There will be free time for shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills which carries a wide range of sweaters, tweeds, china and crystal. On return to Kinsale, we board The Spirit of Kinsale for a guided tour of Kinsale Harbor, its stunning scenery, history and legends. The remainder of the day is free to explore Kinsale, browsing its many shops, enjoying Kinsale harbor, the pubs and award-winning restaurants. (B)
This morning we travel along the southern coastline to Skibbereen. Continue to Ballydehob and then to Mizen Head Light Signal Station– the most southerly point of Ireland. We will visit the award-winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction and take a ten-minute walk down the 99 steps and across the Arched Bridge over the crashing waves to the Lighthouse. Following this adventure, we travel up the coast with lovely lazy towns & villages to Kenmare, an example of one of Ireland’s few planned towns. Kenmare and its Gaelic name Neidin (“Little nest”) was named after its fine setting nestling as it does among the mountains of Cork and Kerry. We continue to Killarney for a two night stay in the Killarney International Hotel. This evening dinner is included in your hotel. (B, D)
Today, embark on one of Ireland’s most famous tours – The Ring of Kerry. Our first stop this morning will be the Kerry Bog Village
Border Collie on a sheep farm
where we visit little thatched cottages and see how people would have lived in Ireland many years ago. Continuing through the wild and rugged landscape of The Iveragh Peninsula which has some breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline, we will stop at a Sheep Farm and see the border collie dogs at work rounding up the sheep. Journeying through the towns of Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahirciveen and Waterville to Sneem, our tour then winds its way through the Killarney National Park, with some fine views of the Lakes of Killarney and the Ladies View, before returning to Killarney. This evening a delicious dinner is included in a local pub before travelling to a special Irish show – Celtic Steps. Enjoy a magical journey through Ireland’s colorful past bringing together popular Irish dance with the best of traditional Irish music. (B, D)
DAY 8: Killarney National Park – Dromoland Castle
This morning, travel in traditional style on board an Irish Jaunting Car to the Killarney National Park. Your journey winds its way
Dromoland Castle
through some of the oldest oak forests in Ireland and by the famous Lakes of Killarney to Muckross House and Gardens, where you will have a guided tour of one of Ireland’s leading stately homes built in 1843. From here, we travel to the picturesque village of Adare where we will see some traditional thatched roofed cottages. We then continue to the luxurious Dromoland Castle for an overnight stay. The castle, built in the 16th century, was once the royal seat of the O’Brien clan. It was refurbished and transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962 and retains priceless reminders of the castle’s historic past. Splendid woodcarvings, stone statuary and fine antique furnishings surround you during your stay. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy some of the castle’s many activities which includes golf, fishing, falconry, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, archery and horseback riding. The golf course at Dromoland is regarded by many as one of the finest 18 hole parkland golf courses in the country. You may also like to try out the luxurious health spa with six treatment rooms and an outdoor hydro spa. This evening, enjoy dinner in the elegant surroundings of the castle’s restaurant. (B, D)
DAY 9: Cliffs of Moher – Dublin
This morning we bid farewell to Dromoland Castle and travel to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, which rises to a height of 600 ft over the Atlantic Ocean. O’Brien’s Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors over hundreds of years. Following some free time to view the cliffs, our tour continues through the lunar type landscape of the Burren which takes its name from the Irish word bhoireann meaning, “a stony place” or “a rocky place”, which is a good description for this 350 sq. kilometers limestone plateau. The rough, intriguing and attractive landscape was formed 320 million years ago under a tropical sea. From here we continue across the Irish midlands to Dunboyne for an overnight stay in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner in your hotel. (B, D)
DAY 10: Depart Dublin
This morning, with fond memories and newly acquired accents and many stories to relate to friends and family, we travel to Dublin Airport for our flight home. (B)
Beannacht De agus go N’eiri on bothair Libh (“May the journey be successful for you.”)
Includes:
- Roundtrip Airfare from St. Louis
- Roundtrip Pickup from Southern Illinois to STL Lambert Airport
- Air Taxes
- 14 Meals: 8 breakfasts, 6 dinners
- Dublin City
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Guinness Brewery
- Powerscourt House and Gardens
- Glendalough
- Avoca Hand Weavers
- House of Waterford
- Cobh Immigration Museum
- Blarney Castle
- Kinsale Harbor Cruise
- Mizen Head Lighthouse
- Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction
- Killarney National Park
- Celtic Steps Music and Dance Show
- Kate Kearney’s Cottage Pub
- Ross Castle
- Ring of Kerry
- Kerry Bog Village
- Sheep Farm
- Cliffs of Moher
- Luxurious Castle Stay
- Deluxe motorcoach transportation
- Fully Escorted by Jane’s Journeys