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Ireland in Depth
For
those with a little more time to spend in Ireland this tour covers a lot of
ground but in a totally unhurried manner. You will see Ireland urban and rural,
modern and ancient, with plenty of opportunity to linger whenever you find a
place you really like.
The itinerary assumes arrival in Dublin, with departure from either Dublin or Shannon, though it can easily be altered to take account of any variation in this.
Fully guided tour - 15 days - 14 nights
This tour can start on any date.
For more information and booking details, please click on the tabs below.
Tour Overview Detailed Itinerary Price Guide How to Book
Ireland in Depth
Your tour will be a private one, specially arranged for your party - you will not be joining a larger group. This itinerary is particularly flexible. We can easily allow time for leisure pursuits such as golf, horse riding or fishing, or alter the itinerary to take account of your special interests.
We spend more than one night in most locations, minimising the number of moves which makes for a much more relaxed tour and gives you a chance to get to know the places you visit and the people you meet a little better.
Tour Highlights
- Plenty of time to explore and experience Ireland's historic and metropolitan capital, Dublin
- A tour of the 3000 year old megalithic structures at Bru na Bionne.
- Exploring the winding streets and ancient buildings of Kilkenny City, the medieval capital of Ireland.
- Visits to the Waterford Crystal Factory and to the lovely riverside village of Inistioge.
- A day spent touring beautiful West Cork, a part of Ireland few tour buses reach
- Touring the scenic regions of Kerry, including the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry
- Majestic Connemara, with it's unique light beloved of artists and photographers and it's capital, Clifden.
- A step into a different world with a visit to the magical Aran Islands.
Your Accommodation
You will stay in 3 star hotels specially selected for their superior quality and service for 14 nights - 3 nights in Dublin, 2 nights in Kilkenny, 1 night in Kinsale, 3 nights in Killarney, 1 night in Limerick, 3 nights in Galway, 1 night in Ennis.
You can opt to upgrade to 4 star or 5 star accommodation in any or each location if you wish. All accommodation is in rooms with private bathrooms and breakfast is included each morning.
Your Driver/Guide
Your guide will be an experienced driver with an impeccable safety record and will have an extensive knowledge of Ireland. More than that, all our guides are friendly, flexible and easy company, adept at dealing with any problems that may arise and at making sure their guests have the best possible experience at each place they visit. They are committed to making your trip an enjoyable and truly memorable one.
As well as providing guided tours each day, guides are happy to make suggestions about good places to eat out or about evening entertainment options and to make reservations for you also.
Transport
All our vehicles are recent Mercedes models, or others of equivalent standard, which are configured to maximise touring comfort and passenger space. Smaller parties will travel in a Mercedes E Class Sedan, others in Mercedes Sprinter vans or small coaches. All vehicles have air conditioning.
Detailed Itinerary
The itinerary assumes arrival to and departure from Shannon Airport. If that is not the case we can easily alter the running order to take account of your plans.
Day 1: Arrival - Dublin Tour
Today's tour will depend on your arrival time
and how tiring your journey has been. The best, and least
exhausting, way to get an overview of Dublin is to take
one of the frequent city tour buses which provide a commentary and pass all the major attractions
- you can stay on the bus or hop-off, hop-on as you wish.
Among the 'must see' places are Dublin Castle, St Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral, Trinity College, Marsh's Library and the Custom House.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 2: Boyne Valley Tour
This tour visits some of the most ancient and mystical
places in Ireland. The megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange date
from around 3000 BC. At Monasterboice the ruins of an early Christian
settlement include three richly carved high crosses which date back to the
12th century. Mellifont Abbey with its layout of dormitories,
refectories, chapter house and kitchens intact, provide a fascinating
glimpse into the lives of monastic dwellers of almost 1000 years ago.
Travelling back towards Dublin we pass through the picturesque village of Slane and visit the Hill of Tara, ancient seat of the high Kings of Ireland, which has several artefacts from Ireland's distant past including the Lia Fail or stone of Destiny.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 3 (Option 1): Free in Dublin
For many one
of the main attractions of Dublin is the richness of its literary heritage.
The James Joyce Centre on North Great Georges St, one of Dublin's
most impressive Georgian streets, houses a wealth of Joyce
memorabilia and is run by members of the Joyce family. Trinity College, with its extensive library which includes the
Book of Kells, and the collection of the National Library are
essential visits for those with an interest in Irish books.
The main shopping areas in Dublin are clustered around Grafton St south of the Liffey and Henry St on the northside. Temple Bar is an old quarter of the city which has many interesting and offbeat shops as well as good places to eat or to sample some of Dublins most famous export - Guinness!
Overnight in Dublin
Day 3 (Option 2): Kildare Tour
For those who prefer to head out of the city during the day, this tour
has lots of interest. First stop is the magnificent Georgian mansion of
Castletown House, a world-class example of Palladian architecture. The
Long Gallery and the Print Room are highlights of an interesting tour of the
restored house.
The Curragh is the horse-racing capital of Ireland and a tour of the Irish National Stud includes not only a chance to see some fine Stallions close up but to visit the Irish Horse Museum, which puts the Irish love of and relationship with horses in context. The Japanese Gardens , in the stud grounds, were planted in the early 1900's and take the form of an allegorical journey from the cradle to the grave.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 4: Dublin - Powerscourt - Glendalough - Avova - Kilkenny
Powerscourt Gardens are among
the finest formal gardens in Ireland, wonderfully situated at the foot of the
Sugar Loaf Mountain. The monastic settlement of Glendalough (left)
was founded by St Kevin in 498 AD with the famous 110 ft high tower dating
from about 1000 years later.
Avondale House in nearby Rathdrum was home to Charles Stewart Parnell, leader of the Home Rule Party in the early 1880's. The beautiful Vale of Avoca has a tradition in gold and copper mining some remnants of which can be seen in the countryside. The village is now home to Avoca Handweavers, who produce a unique range of woollen goods and where an exhibition of hand looming and weaving can be seen.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 5: Kilkenny - Thomastown - Waterford - New Ross
It would be easy to spend several days exploring the narrow streets and
lanes of medieval Kilkenny with its many historic buildings, including Kilkenny Castle and St Canice's
Cathedral. There is time this morning to tour the city - a guided walking
tour is highly recommended.
The port city of Waterford is famous for its Crystal Factory - a tour is highly recommended. Reginald's Tower in the centre of the city has watched over the Quay for more than 800 years. We travel back to Kilkenny via New Ross, the birthplace of John F Kennedy's ancestors, and the charming village of Inistioge with its tree lined square.
Overnight in Kilkenny
Day 6: Kilkenny - Cashel - Blarney - Cobh - Middleton - Kinsale
Cashel is home to the magnificent "Rock" - an important monastic
settlement dating back to 370AD and once the seat of the Kings of Munster. Kissing the famous stone at Blarney Castle
may (or may not!) impart the gift of
eloquence but you must be suspended upside-down to try it! Nearby Blarney
Woollen Mills is one of best places in Ireland to
purchase Irish clothing, gifts, glassware or pottery.
Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and also the point of departure for many Irish people who emigrated to America. A visit to the commemorative exhibition in the restored railway station is highly recommended. At the Old Midleton Distillery visitors learn the story of Irish Whiskey with the aid of some magnificent artefacts of the industrial age, including a 40 foot water wheel.
Overnight in Kinsale
Day 7: West Cork Tour
Close to Clonakilty at the start of today's tour is the Drombeg
Stone Circle, one of the finest of its kind in existence and dating back
to 150 BC. The drive through West Cork, via Baltimore and Schull,
is enchanting, peace and beauty are the main features of this part of
Ireland. Mizen Head is Ireland's southernmost point - next stop New
York!
Bantry House, overlooking Bantry Bay, was home to the local earls and is now open to the public. Just off the shore at Glengarriff, Garnish Ireland is a semi tropical garden, planned to avail of the unusually warm micro-climate in this area courtesy of the warming waters of the Gulf Stream.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 8: Ring of Kerry Tour
At the start of today's tour we pass the famous Lakes of Killarney,
with wonderful scenery that has long inspired artists and poets. The
landscape changes completely as we climb towards Moll's Gap, high in
the mountains and with spectacular views down to the sea.
Near the pretty village of Sneem are the ruins of Staige Fort, more than 3000 years old and well worth a stop. Derrynane House was the home of Daniel O'Connell and now houses a museum featuring his memorabilia. Kenmare is a wonderfully situated town and a very good place to do a little shopping.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 9: Dingle Peninsula Tour
Today we drive through some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland - and
on some of its narrowest roads! The fishing town of Dingle is a haven for
Irish music lovers, its narrow streets always lively with many pubs
restaurants and craft shops.
Just off Slea Head are the Blasket Islands, uninhabited since 1953 but visits can be arranged. Nearby Gallarus Oratory (left), shaped like an upturned boat, is over 1000 years old and still intact. Dunbeg Fort, on a rocky promontory, dates from the Iron Age and the nearby Beehive huts are great examples of this ancient form of monastic dwelling. Tralee is a bustling market town famous for its annual Rose of Tralee festival held each September.
Overnight in Killarney
Day 10: Muckross - Adare - Limerick
From Killarney a Jaunting Car (left) is the best form of transport
for a visit to Muckross House and National Park on the shores of
Killarney's famous lakes. As cars are not permitted on the internal roads of
the Park, the Jaunting Car is a good way to take a trip by the lake to the
waterfall at Poulnabrone.
Adare is a perfect example of an estate village and was developed by the Earls of Dunraven who lived at Adare Manor. There is a good visitor centre in the village. The recently restored King John's Castle in Limerick is well worth a stop, as is the Hunt Museum. Frank McCourt fans can take a walking tour around some of the places mentioned in his best-selling memoir "Angela's Ashes".
Overnight in Limerick
Day 11: Bunratty - The Burren - Cliffs of Moher - Kinvara - Galway
Bunratty Castle is host to regular medieval banquets during the
tourist season and the adjoining folk park, with reconstructions of typical
rural dwellings, including a full village, is well worth seeing. The Burren covers 100 sq miles of lunar like rock with underground
rivers, caves, turloughs and ancient burial places, some dating back more
than 3000 years.
At 800 feet above the Atlantic Ocean a walk along the Cliffs of Moher is a bracing experience and will certainly give you an appetite for lunch! In the fishing village of Kinvara a very old type of boat, the Currach (left), is still popular; currach races are held regularly in the Summer months. The lively university city of Galway, capital of the West, is a great place for those who like a night on the town!
Overnight in Galway
Day 12: Connemara Tour
Connemara, an area of rugged landscape, bogs and mountains, is known for
its clear light and unspoilt beauty and is, as a result, a favoured area for
artists. Kylemore Abbey was built by Mitchell
Henry as a gift for his wife and is now a select private boarding school for
girls. Visitors are restricted to the gardens and lakeside walks.
The town of Clifden famous for its Connemara Ponies, a breed renowned for good looks and an even temperament, and was also the landing point for the first transatlantic flight. On the return trip through the Maam Valley you are likely to see locals harvesting turf, used as fuel, from the bog still using tools and methods a thousand years old.
Overnight in Galway
Day 13: Aran Islands Tour
The three Aran
Islands are situated in Galway Bay and the ferry crossing
takes about 50 minutes depending on weather. The population of the three island is approximately 1000 with most of
those on the main Island, Inishmore (left). Gaelic is still spoken the older
people on the islands.
Dun Aenghus, on Inishmore, is one of the most spectacularly situated circular stone forts in Ireland, perched on the edge of the cliffs. All three islands are dotted with ruins of small churches, dolmens, and some beehive huts.
Overnight in Galway
Day 14 (Shannon Departures): Coole Park - Kilmadough - Ennis - Limerick
Coole Park was once home to Lady Gregory who regularly played host
to W.B.Yeats. Although the house is long gone, the magnificent grounds and
lake, with its famous swans, are worth visiting. Yeats lived at nearby Thoor Ballylee (left) which is
open to visitors and contains much interesting memorabilia.
The monastic settlement at Kilmacdough, dating from the 7th century, are not only interesting in themselves but are dramatically situated with great views of the surrounding countryside. Ennis is a thriving market town, famous as a centre for traditional music. The 13th century Franciscan friary is worth a visit.
Overnight in Ennis
Day 14 (Dublin Departures): Coole Park - Loughrea - Clonmacnoise - Kilbeggan - Dublin
We return to Dublin via Clonmacnoise,
where a large monastic settlement, famed for its scholarship, thrived from
the 7th until the 12th century. Many Irish kings were buried there and
though few buildings are now intact it is easy to imagine from the well
preserved ruins what life there was like 1000 years ago.
We will stop at Lockes Distillery in Kilbeggan, which is believed to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world, commencing production of Irish Whiskey in 1757. When in production Lockes depended largely on the export market to the USA and was so badly hit by prohibition that it never recovered and closed shortly afterwards.
Overnight in Dublin
Day 15 - Departure
For those with late flights from Shannon it is a good opportunity to
see any places that were missed on the earlier visit to Limerick or to
spend a few hours at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, which is very close
to Shannon Airport. Those with Dublin departures with certainly have places
they still want to see in the city, or perhaps a little last minute shopping
to do.
Either way we will be with you right until your plane leaves and will be happy to arrange activities for those who are not leaving early in the day. We hope you will take home happy memories of your time in Ireland - and that you will be back to visit us again soon!
Price Guide for the Ireland in Depth Tour
Important Note:
Because your tour will be specially created for your party, and only your party, it can be customized as much or a little as you wish.
This means that it is not possible to give an exact price before we discuss your specific requirements.
If your party is larger or smaller or you wish to alter the duration of the tour, change the accommodation class, or make other changes, this will have an effect on price.
Guide Price: €3400 per person, based on four adults travelling together.
The price includes:
- Accommodation for 14 nights in specially selected and good quality 3 star hotels.
- Breakfast each morning of your tour
- Transport throughout your tour in a Mercedes vehicle (or equivalent), specially configured for comfortable touring
- The exclusive services of an experienced driver/guide for 15 days
- Guided tours on each day of your trip
- A meet and greet service plus transfers to and from the airport
- All petrol costs, road tolls and applicable taxes.
- Booking service and advice about dining and entertainment
The Price does not include:
- Travel to and from Ireland
- Travel Insurance
- Gratuities
- Meals other than breakfast unless specified
Send a Booking Enquiry
Please use the form below to send us an enquiry about booking the Ireland in Depth Tour.
Note: Because your tour will be customised just for your party, we need to discuss the details of your tour with you before providing you with a final price or making a confirmed booking.
