Your itinerary
12 Days ~ Ireland
Tour Pace
This is a well paced tour with
two-night stays
in Tralee and Galway, as well as in
Dublin. The driving days are of a
reasonable
length, with frequent stops offering
splendid photo opportunities.
DAY 1 – MON – UK -
SIGHTSEEING
Welcome to Ireland! After your
scheduled flight complimentary transfers
depart
Dublin Airport for the Insight tour
hotel at 09.15 and 12.15 hours. This
afternoon
a sightseeing tour of Dublin includes
the elegant
squares of Ireland’s ‘fair
city’ and a visit to the impressive
castle
(when open). See also the famous
O’Connell Street and Customs House.
Enjoy
an evening Welcome Drink and a Highlight
Dinner in a traditional venue. Hotel:
Burlington.
(HD)
DAY 2 – TUE
– DUBLIN – WATERFORD
Drive to Kildare and visit
Ireland’s National
Stud, one of the country’s main
racehorse breeding centres. Visit the
Japanese
Gardens, laid out by Eida, a Japanese
landscape artist invited to Ireland at the
turn of last century. Move on to the
architectural gem of Kilkenny and visit the
13th century Kilkenny Castle, with its
splendid picture gallery. See also the
Kilkenny
Design Centre before continuing on to
your hotel in historic Waterford. Hotel:
Dooleys.
(B)
DAY 3 – WED
– WATERFORD – BLARNEY
See history unfold before your eyes
in Waterford
as you view the 9th century
Reginald’s Tower and the remains of
the old city
walls. Tour the famous Waterford Crystal
Factory before a coastal drive brings you
to Ireland’s second city of Cork.
See St Finbar’s Cathedral, Cork’s
most exuberant church building then
continue to your hotel in Blarney.
Hotel: Ramada
Hotel & Suites. (B,D)
DAY 4 – THU –
BLARNEY – TRALEE
Visit the ancient castle of Blarney
this morning.
Will you dare to hang upside down from
the ramparts to kiss the Blarney Stone, and
ensure a lifetime of eloquence? Admire
displays of Waterford Crystal at Blarney
Mill before driving up the valley of the
River Lee into the majestic Derrynasaggart
Mountains. Now to the beautiful scenery
of the Dingle Peninsula, spectacular
setting
for the film Ryan’s Daughter. From
dramatic Slea Head at the peninsula’s
far end, make your way to Tralee with
its 18th century architecture. Hotel: Abbey
Gate. (B,D)
DAY 5 –
FRI – RING OF KERRY
EXCURSION
An excursion takes you around the
Ring of Kerry
on one of the world’s greatest
scenic tours: see towering cliffs, lush
lakelands,
remote villages and, above all,
Ireland’s highest mountain range,
and view
the three peaceful Lakes of Killarney.
En route to Tralee, take a highlight ride
with the locals on one of
Killarney’s famous jaunting cars.
(B)
DAY 6 – SAT
– TRALEE – GALWAY
Drive via picturesque Adare to the
city of Limerick
and see 12th century St Mary’s
Cathedral and medieval King John’s
Castle.
Now visit Bunratty Folk Park, a living
museum before a delightful drive takes you
through the Burren, a strange, rocky
landscape rich with wild orchids, to
Galway.
Hotel: Corrib Great Southern. (B,D)
DAY 7 – SUN –
CONNEMARA EXCURSION
In Galway, see St Nicholas Cathedral,
the Spanish
Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the
late US president John F Kennedy. The
beautiful
rugged landscape of Connemara opens up a
wonderland of rivers, lakes and silent
hills en route to the famous marble
factory, where you will tour the
workshop. Visit
palatial Kylemore Abbey before returning
to your hotel. (B)
DAY 8
– MON – GALWAY –
LONDONDERRY
Bidding farewell to Galway and
Connemara, drive
past Tuam to Clonalis House. This estate
is the home of the O’Connor family,
descendants of the last High Kings of
Ireland. Meet the resident family and tour
their home before driving through County
Sligo to visit the Belleek Pottery Centre.
Continue to Donegal town, with its
stronghold of the great O’Donnells,
and
head north through the Blue Stack
Mountains into Northern Ireland,
settling for
the night in the ancient city of
‘Derry’.
Hotel: Everglades. (B,D)
DAY 9 – TUE –
LONDONDERRY
– BALLYGALLY
Sightseeing with a local guide takes
you inside
the well-preserved walls, still topped
with cannons, and down steep Shipquay
Street,
with its elegant Georgian houses, to the
Gothic Guildhall. Continue along the coast
to the spectacular Giant’s
Causeway, and hear the fantastic legends
which surround
this geological masterpiece created by
the cooling of lava which burst through the
Earth’s crust millions of years
ago. Continue along the scenic Antrim coast
to arrive in Ballygally for an overnight
stay. Hotel: Ballygally Castle. (B,D)
DAY 10 – WED –
BALLYGALLY – BELFAST
Continue around the coast, past the
huge Norman
castle at Carrickfergus, to arrive in
Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland.
Meet your local guide for a panoramic
tour of this unique city, with highlights
including City Hall, Queen’s
University and Stormont Castle. Hotel:
Europa.
(B)
DAY 11 – THU
– BELFAST – DUBLIN
Travel alongside the Mountains of
Mourne to Drogheda,
taking a short drive along the historic
Boyne Valley, site of the Battle of Boyne
where William of Orange defeated the
forces of Catholic King James. Return to
Ireland’s
lively capital, Dublin, and spend a
leisurely evening relaxing, exploring or
perhaps
taking in a famous Irish Cabaret show.
Hotel: Burlington. (B)
DAY 12 – FRI –
DUBLIN - UK
Your tour ends after breakfast.
Complimentary
transfers arrive Dublin Airport at 8.30
& 11.00 hours in time for your scheduled
flight home. (B)
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