Wonders of Ireland

Spend some time in Dublin to take in the sights of the city. For a Dublin brand experience, head to the Guinness Storehouse for their Visitor Experience tour where you can explore the ingredients, history, and culture that tell the Guinness story. In the afternoon head to Dublin’s Quay to visit the new EPIC Museum which tells the story of Irish immigration to America and how the Irish have integrated and contributed to society. If you have Irish roots, a truly personal experience might be to add your ancestors’ names to the The Power of a Name exhibition.

Overnight at a historic 4-star hotel in Dublin.

Pick up your rental car in Dublin and travel west into County Meath for a visit to Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland. Modern walkways allow you to look down over the interior of the keep and appreciate the sheer size and thickness of the mighty castle walls. Other sites for a visit while in County Meath include: Tullynally Castle and Gardens, the Hill of Tara and Newgrange. Continue west towards Galway.

Overnight at a luxurious 5-star retreat in Galway.

A day spent visiting the beautiful area of Connemara in the north of County Galway.  Drive to Kylemore Abbey with its 1000-acre estate including a fantastic 6-acre Victorian walled garden. Kylemore was originally built as a castle in 1868 and is now the home of a Benedictine community of nuns. Spend the rest of your day immersed in quintessential Irish landscapes at Connemara National Park which covers some 2000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands.

Overnight at a luxurious 5-star retreat in Galway.

In the morning explore Galway’s vibrant food culture by embarking on a food tour in the city where you will take in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts. After your tour you will leave Galway behind and head south on the coast to reach the world-famous Cliffs of Moher for a visit. Make a stop along the way to visit Allwee Cave and the Birds of Prey Centre, which is home to eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls from all over the world.

Overnight at an elegant 4-star guest house in County Clare.

Depart Galway and head south again to reach Cork, the second-largest city in Ireland. On the way, make a stop in the medieval city of Limerick, which is situated along the River Shannon. Limerick offers a wealth of medieval sites, including St. Mary’s Cathedral, St. John’s Square and King John’s Castle. If you are visiting on a weekend, don’t miss a visit to Limerick’s Milk Market on Mungret Street for a vibrant foodie experience.

Overnight at a historic 4-star hotel in Cork.

In the morning jet off on another food tour, this time in Cork. The tour will take you along the Cork’s Food Trail and will engage your taste buds for approximately 3 hours. In the afternoon, cover the short distance (approx. 16 min drive) to Blarney Castle for a visit. Blarney Castle, built almost 600 years ago by Cormac MacCarthy, is the home of the famous Blarney Stone. The gardens at Blarney are also well worth a visit: 60 acres of sprawling parklands which include gardens, avenues, arboretums and waterways.

Overnight at a historic 4-star hotel in Cork.

Start your journey back to Dublin, the final destination of your tour. You could take a variety of routes, however if you’d like to stop and visit the famous Rock of Cashel, head northeast towards County Tipperary. Set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale, the Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. Among the monuments to be found there are a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth-century Tower House.

Continue on towards Dublin for your evening Canal Boat Dinner experience. Cruise for 2 hours on a beautiful stretch of the Grand Canal while savoring some drinks up on deck before making your way down to the dining saloon for a delicious three-course meal.

Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Dublin.

Drop off the rental car at Dublin airport. Depart for home.