14 Day Jewels of Ireland Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Dublin Castle & City
Tour
Start your tour at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin to see elegant Georgian squares, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, the Famine Memorial and O’Connell Street. Take a guided tour through parts of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government for many centuries. Back at your hotel enjoy a welcome drink.
Start your tour at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. If your flight arrives later, transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm tour Dublin to see elegant Georgian squares, Trinity College, St. Stephen’s Green, the Famine Memorial and O’Connell Street. Take a guided tour through parts of Dublin Castle, which was the seat of power and government for many centuries. Back at your hotel enjoy a welcome drink.
Day 2 : National Stud & Taylor’s
Three Rock
In Kildare visit the Irish National Stud to see many lovely horses and learn about breeding and racing. Also walk through the charming Japanese Gardens, laid out over 100 years ago to represent life from the cradle to the grave. Return to Dublin where the afternoon is free for an independent open-top bus tour and a visit to either Guinness or Jameson. Head to Taylor’s Three Rock Pub for dinner with traditional music, songs and step-dancing.
In Kildare visit the Irish National Stud to see many lovely horses and learn about breeding and racing. Also walk through the charming Japanese Gardens, laid out over 100 years ago to represent life from the cradle to the grave. Return to Dublin where the afternoon is free for an independent open-top bus tour and a visit to either Guinness or Jameson. Head to Taylor’s Three Rock Pub for dinner with traditional music, songs and step-dancing.
Day 3 : Waterford Crystal & Kinsale
Walk
Travel south to the ancient port of Waterford. At the House of Waterford Crystal watch skilled craftspeople blow and cut crystal to create elegant tableware and special trophies. Drive through Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old fishing town, which is now renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a short walk around Kinsale’s historic streets.
Travel south to the ancient port of Waterford. At the House of Waterford Crystal watch skilled craftspeople blow and cut crystal to create elegant tableware and special trophies. Drive through Cork to Kinsale, a delightful old fishing town, which is now renowned for sailing and gourmet food. Join a local guide for a short walk around Kinsale’s historic streets.
Day 4 : Jaunting Car & Killarney
Drive via Macroom to Kenmare and along part of the Ring of Kerry for splendid views. Tour stately 19th century Muckross House and travel through the peaceful Killarney National Park into Killarney by jaunting car. Continue along the Dingle Peninsula and enjoy an Irish coffee at the South Pole Inn and learn about the Antarctic explorer, Tom Crean. Check in to your hotel in Dingle.
Day 5 : Dingle Peninsula Tour &
Brewing Company
Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula with heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip of the peninsula. Watch brewing processes at the Dingle Brewing Company and have a sample at the end of the tour. Spend some free time browsing around the compact town with attractive shops and lively pubs.
Discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula with heathery mountains, sandy beaches and rocky headlands. Drive to Slea Head at the westernmost tip of the peninsula. Watch brewing processes at the Dingle Brewing Company and have a sample at the end of the tour. Spend some free time browsing around the compact town with attractive shops and lively pubs.
Day 6 : Cliffs of Moher & Knappogue
Banquet
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, which recalls early days of flying during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Travel through the outskirts of Limerick city to your hotel in Ennis. 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 free time and drive a few miles to 15th century Knappogue Castle for a medieval-style banquet with entertainment.
Visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum, which recalls early days of flying during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. Travel through the outskirts of Limerick city to your hotel in Ennis. 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 free time and drive a few miles to 15th century Knappogue Castle for a medieval-style banquet with entertainment.
Day 7 : Burren Display Centre & Galway
In Kilfenora visit the Burren Display Centre to learn about the Burren, an area of rounded limestone hills with a rich archaeological past. Then view the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic burial place dating to 4,000 BC. Take a look around the village of Ballyvaughan and drive to your hotel overlooking Galway Bay and the Burren.
Day 8 : “Quiet Man” Walk &
Catamaran
Take a guided walk around Cong village where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. Drive through the lovely scenery of Connemara for lunch at Portfinn Lodge in Leenane and then embark on a short cruise of Killary Harbour. Enjoy an Irish coffee as you view traces of pre-Famine potato “lazy beds.” Pause for photos of Kylemore Abbey and stop to look around the market town of Clifden before returning to Galway.
Take a guided walk around Cong village where “The Quiet Man” movie was made in 1952. Drive through the lovely scenery of Connemara for lunch at Portfinn Lodge in Leenane and then embark on a short cruise of Killary Harbour. Enjoy an Irish coffee as you view traces of pre-Famine potato “lazy beds.” Pause for photos of Kylemore Abbey and stop to look around the market town of Clifden before returning to Galway.
Day 9 : Belleek China & Donegal
Bay
Drive north into County Mayo to visit the pilgrimage town of Knock and in County Sligo view W. B. Yeats’ Grave. Tour the Belleek Pottery Factory, founded in the mid-19th century, to see craftspeople create the renowned fine china. Drive to Donegal town for a look around on your own before checking in to your hotel on the outskirts of the town.
Drive north into County Mayo to visit the pilgrimage town of Knock and in County Sligo view W. B. Yeats’ Grave. Tour the Belleek Pottery Factory, founded in the mid-19th century, to see craftspeople create the renowned fine china. Drive to Donegal town for a look around on your own before checking in to your hotel on the outskirts of the town.
Day 10 : Slieve League Cliffs &
Donegal Castle
Drive along the coast of Donegal 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 marvelous views. Enjoy coffee or tea with home-baked scones before driving through Glengesh Pass to Ardara to visit Triona Design for demonstrations of spinning and knitting. Stop in Donegal town for a tour of Donegal Castle, built by the O’Donnell chieftain in the 15th century and return to your hotel.
Drive along the coast of Donegal 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 marvelous views. Enjoy coffee or tea with home-baked scones before driving through Glengesh Pass to Ardara to visit Triona Design for demonstrations of spinning and knitting. Stop in Donegal town for a tour of Donegal Castle, built by the O’Donnell chieftain in the 15th century and return to your hotel.
Day 11 : Derry Walk & Giant's
Causeway
Take a walking tour with a local guide to see Derry’s medieval walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pause for photos at Dunluce Castle before visiting the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Continue along the scenic coastal drive of the “Nine Glens of Antrim” to your stylish hotel in Belfast, close to the waterfront and city attractions.
Take a walking tour with a local guide to see Derry’s medieval walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s Cathedral. Pause for photos at Dunluce Castle before visiting the Giant’s Causeway, enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Continue along the scenic coastal drive of the “Nine Glens of Antrim” to your stylish hotel in Belfast, close to the waterfront and city attractions.
Day 12: Titanic Belfast & Cabra
Castle
Tour Belfast to see Victorian buildings and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through state-of-the-art displays before taking an afternoon drive south past the Mourne Mountains to Kingscourt to your lovely castle hotel, built in 1760. Arrive in time to enjoy the facilities, including a 9-hole golf course. After dinner, youthful dancers will display intricate Irish step-dancing.
Tour Belfast to see Victorian buildings and the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912. Visit Titanic Belfast to learn about this famous liner through state-of-the-art displays before taking an afternoon drive south past the Mourne Mountains to Kingscourt to your lovely castle hotel, built in 1760. Arrive in time to enjoy the facilities, including a 9-hole golf course. After dinner, youthful dancers will display intricate Irish step-dancing.
Day 13 : Battle of the Boyne Centre &
Leisure Time in Dublin
Outside Drogheda visit the Battle of the Boyne Centre to learn about the 1690 conflict between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II. Then travel into Dublin, to your hotel located on Dublin Bay to the south of the city. The balance of the day is free so you may take an open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson, if you did not use your vouchers at the start of your tour.
Outside Drogheda visit the Battle of the Boyne Centre to learn about the 1690 conflict between King William III and his father-in-law, King James II. Then travel into Dublin, to your hotel located on Dublin Bay to the south of the city. The balance of the day is free so you may take an open-top bus tour and visit Guinness or Jameson, if you did not use your vouchers at the start of your tour.
Day 14 : Tour Ends Dublin
Airport
Group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
Group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
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