To ensure a smooth start to your tour, it is advisable to aim for an arrival time in Dublin Airport before 11:00 am, as clearing immigration and reclaiming baggage typically takes around 1 hour. On arrival in Dublin Airport, reclaim your baggage and enter the Arrivals Hall. Here, you will meet your tour guide (who is also your driver). There will be three group transfers this morning between 7:00 am and 1200 noon.
Board your luxury coach and transfer to the Dunboyne Castle Hotel.
3:00 PM Check-in time. Hotel reception will store your luggage prior to Check-in.
At 6:00 PM this evening, all participants will gather for dinner in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel restaurant where you will become acquainted with your fellow travellers and the coming days can be discussed at leisure with your tour guide.
| Time | Arrival Transfer details |
|---|---|
| Between 07:00 and 12 (noon) | Dublin Airport There are 3 group airport transfers this morning, between 7am and 12 noon, from Dublin Airport to Dunboyne Castle Hotel. |
After a hearty full Irish breakfast, we will depart for Galway City. Travelling west, your route today will take you through Ballinasloe & Athlone — in the centre of Ireland.
You will visit Clonmacnoise. A medieval monastery on the banks of the River Shannon, founded by St. Ciaran in the 6th century. Clonmacnoise lay at a crossroads of medieval Ireland, linking all parts of the island. Sacked time and again by the Vikings, it nevertheless flourished for over 600 years.
Journey on towards Galway City. It is known as the "City of the Tribes". On arrival in Galway, you will have a panoramic tour of this ancient city, including its famous Eyre Square. Take time for a ramble through Salthill Promenade, a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point, or down Shop Street to Galway's Latin Quarter where stands Lynch's Castle, Galway's grandest 16th century townhouse. Stroll up the bustling Quay Street with its many great pubs and lively street performers.
Tonight you will dine in the Menlo Park Hotel.
Today you will tour the sights of wild Connemara via the villages of Moycullen, Oughterard, Maam Cross and Recess, before travelling up the spectacular Inagh Valley with the 12 Bens of Connemara on your left and the Maumturks Mountains on your right as you travel to Kylemore.
You will visit Kylemore Abbey. An historic building nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain, on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul — in the heart of the Connemara Mountains. It is regarded as one of Ireland's most romantic buildings.
Travel on via the shores of Killary Fjord. This is Ireland's only fjord and is a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, on the Mayo - Galway border, Ireland's only fjord, before crossing into Mayo and continuing on to the village of Cong, the film location of "The Quiet Man" for a brief stop.
Return to Galway City via the shores of Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland and is considered by many as the best fishing lake in Europe.
Tonight you will dine in the Menlo Park Hotel.
This morning, bright and early, we will head down the Atlantic seaboard on the west coast of Clare to Killarney Town. Your route today will be via the famous Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle and the fishing village of Kinvarra.
You will see The Burren, which is Gaelic for rocky land—an apt name for this vast limestone plateau. In the 1640s, Cromwell's surveyor described it as "a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury".
On the coast, you will stand on the Cliffs of Moher. Braced against the ocean, on the coast of County Clare. Here you will stand on the dramatic 702ft (214m) high and 9 miles (14km) long cliffs, a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, to gaze out on the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.
Further south in County Limerick, take time to stroll the main street of the beautiful thatched village of Adare before travelling on to Killarney Town.
Tonight you will overnight & dine in Dromhall Hotel.
This morning after breakfast, you will set off on the world-famous Ring Of Kerry. It is officially known as the Iveragh Peninsula. You will travel via Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Coomakesta Pass with its magnificent views over Derrynane, home of Daniel O' Connell, known as "The Liberator", to Caherdaniel. Travel on via the hamlet of Castlecove, the colourful village of Sneem and on via Moll’s Gap, Ladies View, Killarney National Park and along the Lakes of Killarney to Killarney town.
Today, you will have a pub lunch in Blind Piper Pub. Here you will have a traditional Irish Pub Lunch. Located in the village of Caherdaniel, locals and visitors alike have been drinking here since 1865. Who is the Blind Piper, you may ask? The Blind Piper is Mici Cumba O'Sullivan, who was born nearby in 1835 and became one of Ireland's most famous pipers.
Continue on Ring Of Kerry via the pretty village of Sneem, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View and along Killarney Lakes to Killarney Town.
Tonight you will overnight & dine in Dromhall Hotel.
After a hearty Irish breakfast this morning, you will depart for Cork City. Founded on the banks of the River Lee. The rebel city is home of Murphy's Original Irish Stout, and is considered by many Corkonians to be the real capital of Ireland!
Journey west through the "county bounds" via the wild Derrynasaggart Mountains, sometimes referred to as the Cork/Kerry Mountains and made famous in the ballad - "Whiskey in the Jar".
On this journey you will see the village of Macroom where lie the ruins of Macroom Castle. Once home to Sir William Penn, whose son later founded the state of Pennsylvania. (This is a drive-by only, and is noted for historical reasons, as the castle is in ruins).
Travel on to the village of Blarney via the valley of the River Lee. Here you will visit Blarney Castle. Built on this site in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. You will have the chance to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone. You will also have an opportunity to shop at Blarney Woollen Mills, boasting a huge selection of Irish arts, crafts and produce.
Continue onto Midleton Town and visit the Visit Midleton Distillery Experience. You will experience a fully guided tour. Here you will find the world's largest pot still, with a capacity of over 30,000 gallons. Continue onto Cork City.
Dine & Overnight at the Maldron Hotel South Mall.
After breakfast this morning, you'll have free time to wander through some of the small streets of Cork City.
Later this morning, you will travel to Charles Fort. This star-shaped fort was built in the 1670s by the English to protect Kinsale harbour against foreign naval forces.
Take time this afternoon to explore the beautiful town of Kinsale. The Gourmet Capital of Ireland. Originally a medieval fishing port, historic Kinsale is one of the most picturesque towns on the southwest coast of Ireland. Boland's Craft Shop is just one of the many unique stores that are well worth a visit.
Dine & Overnight at the Maldron Hotel South Mall.
This morning after breakfast, you will depart for Dublin — Ireland’s capital city. En route, visit The Rock of Cashel. Rising dramatically from the grassy plains of county Tipperary. This was the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977, before becoming High King of Ireland in 1002.
You will enjoy a unique home-cooked Traditional Farm Lunch. This will be on a Family Farm outside Kilkenny. You can chat with your hosts and hear about their life and times farming in this rural part of Ireland.
After a hearty lunch, you will visit the Irish National Stud. This is a state–run bloodstock farm, which was founded in 1900 by an eccentric Anglo–Irish man by the name of Colonel William Walker. On finishing the tour of the stud farm, take a walk through the Japanese Gardens—laid out in 1906 to represent the "Life of Man".
This afternoon you will once again be back in Dublin City.
Overnight & dine at the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge.
After breakfast, your exploration through Dublin City will begin with EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum. Voted, recently, as "Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction", this museum tour tells the story behind the millions of people who fled, or were forced from, Ireland over the past three centuries. Located in Dublin's Docklands.
From here you will travel to Christ Church Cathedral. Founded by the Viking King Sitric almost 1000 years ago in 1034. The cathedral crypt is one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, dating back to the 12th Century. Here, in the crypt, you can see the mummified remains of the Cat and the Rat which were found in the cathedral organ, and a rare 14th century copy of the Magna Carta.
Visit Guinness Storehouse. With an address at the world-famous St. James's Gate. Here you will tour the world-renowned brewery and enjoy a perfect complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar — located at the top of a glass tower that commands spectacular views of Dublin City.
Your farewell dinner and evening entertainment will take the form of a Traditional Music Night at The Merry Ploughboy Pub—one of Dublin's iconic trad music venues.
Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge.
Today marks the end of the 10 Day Iconic Tour of Ireland.
After a final great Irish breakfast this morning, there will be 3 group airport transfers between 0500 and 1100 to get you to Dublin Airport for your return flight home. The confirmed transfer times will be advised 10 days prior to the tour start date. The confirmed transfer times will be advised 10 days prior to the tour start date. Turas sàbhailte dhuibh (safe journey).
| Time | Departure Transfer details |
|---|---|
| Between 05:00 and 11:00 | Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge There are 3 group airport transfers this morning, between 5am and 11am, from Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge to Dublin Airport. |