Gems of Ireland
Tour Highlights
- Galway - visit the Wild and beautiful Connemara
- Wild and beautiful Cliffs of Moher
- Killarney - Ireland's Heavens Reflex
- Dingle Peninsula's ancient Irish Traditions
- Get the Gift of Gab at Blarney Castle and tour a Irish Whiskey Distillery
- Tour the early Christian settlement of Glendalough
- Spend the day Exploring Dublin
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 – UNITED STATES/EN ROUTE
Depart today on the scheduled flight traveling en route to Shannon, Ireland. Dinner and breakfast will be served during our flight according to airline schedules. (I)
Day 2 – DUBLIN/GALWAY
Shortly after the sun rises on the Irish coast we will arrive in Dublin where we’ll meet our Irish Driver/Guide who will travel with us throughout the tour. We will depart Dublin and journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit the monastic settlement Clonmacnoise. We will continue our drive to Galway and our hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to relax and settle in before joining with the group for dinner. (I, D)
Day 3 – GALWAY (Connemara, Kylemore Abbey and Celtic Crystal)
Today we tour Connemara and admire the sweeping views of bog lands and misty mountains. We will stop in the quaint village of Spiddal, which retains the Irish language and many traditional lifestyles. We will then stop to visit Kylemore Abbey, a 19th century neo-Gothic mansion overlooking Kylemore Lake. Originally a private residence, it is now a prestigious girls school. We’ll visit the chapel and the restored award winning Victorian Gardens. We continue to the town of Moycullen to visit the Connemara Celtic Crystal Factory. We will watch the craftsmen demonstrate the cutting of designs and see the full range of products in the showrooms. We will return to Galway. (B, D)
Day 4 – GALWAY/KILLARNEY (Cliffs of Moher)
We will depart Galway this morning and travel through Galway and around Galway Bay. We continue through the Burren Country, a unique region of limestone hills renowned for its flora and prehistoric stone monuments. We’ll stop to view the majestic Cliffs of Moher, a rocky wall that rises nearly 700 feet above the foaming Atlantic Ocean. From there, we will take a short ferry ride across the River Shannon Estuary to the mountainous countryside of Kerry. We will arrive in Killarney in the afternoon and the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to relax and explore before our evening dinner. (B, D)
Day 5 – KILLARNEY (Dingle Peninsula)
Today we will explore the Dingle Peninsula, it contains some of the most ancient and traditional aspects of Irish culture. We visit the thriving fishing port of Dingle, the Dunbeg Promontory Fort, one of the best preserved forts in all of Ireland. Then see the Slea Head promontory where with its prehistoric beehive huts that were used as shelter for monks in the early Christian period, and for a spectacular view of the Blasket Islands. We make our way through the more remote areas of the peninsula before reaching Kilmalkedar, home to a ruined Irish Romanesque church with stone carvings. Our final visit of the day will take us to the nearby Gallarus Oratory, shaped like an upturned boat, it is a tiny drystone church that is a relic of early Irish Christianity. (B, D)
Day 6 – KILLARNEY/CORK (Blarney Castle and Cobh Heritage Center)
Leaving Killarney, we drive into the rich farming country of Cork. At Blarney, we will stop to climb to the battlements of Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence”. We will also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills, which has an excellent range of Irish products of all types. A short drive to brings us to the Cobh Heritage Center, which depicts the varied history of emigration from Ireland to the United States. Cobh was the last port of call for the famous “Titanic” and many liners that carried emigrants to the New World. This informative display is housed in the rail station through which all of the Irish emigrants had to pass. After our visit we will drive to our hotel in Cork city. (B, D)
Day 7 – CORK/DUBLIN (Glendalough and Powerscourt)
This morning we depart Cork and travel through the rich dairy country of Cork and Tipperary, past the majestic Rock of Cashel. We continue across the Wicklow Mountains to see the 6th century monastic ruins of Glendalough, where the peacefulness of the valley conjures up the spirit of the monks. The Visitor Center explains how St. Kevin founded this settlement at a time when Christianity was burgeoning throughout Ireland. Today the monks have long gone, leaving the ruins of numerous churches and a round tower. We will then drive north toward Dublin stopping to visit the Powerscourt Gardens. This former home of Lord Powerscourt is a delightful experience with terraced Italian Gardens and abundant floral displays. After our visit we drive into Dublin and check into our hotel. (B, D)
Day 8 – DUBLIN
Morning sightseeing of Dublin will include the Bank of Ireland, formerly the Irish Parliament, the National Museum and the High Courts of Justice. Then it’s on to Trinity College to view the Book of Kells, a 7th century masterpiece. We visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral to attend Mass before continue to see Dublin’s elegant and graceful 19th century squares and terraces. Our tour ends with a visit to the Guinness Hop Store where you will experience the Guinness Story and the brewing process and finishing with a sampling of their wonderful stout in the Visitors Bar. This afternoon is free in Dublin for last minute shopping. This evening we enjoy dinner with entertainment. (B, D)
Day 9 – DUBLIN/UNITED STATES
This morning we transfer to Dublin International Airport where we board our transatlantic flight for the beginning of our journey home. (B, I)
