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Irish Pub & Folk 8 & 9 Day Coach Tour
Tour Highlights
- 12th Century Brazen Head Pub Dinner
- Guinness Storehouse
- Kiss the Blarney Stone
- Sheepdog Trials on Ring of Kerry
- Pubs with Live Music in Kilkenny, Killarney and Westport
Day 1: Dublin Tour & Guinness Storehouse
Your tour starts at Dublin Airport with a group transfer to your hotel between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon. Passengers arriving later will transfer to the hotel at their own expense. In the afternoon get together with a local guide to tour Dublin city centre to see elegant Georgian squares with the famous colourful doorways and the peaceful St. Stephen’s Green. Cross the River Liffey to O’Connell Street and view the General Post Office where the 1916 Uprising started and pause to view the sombre figures of the Famine Memorial. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to explore the many levels of exhibitions, ending in the rooftop bar for a view over the city while you sip a creamy pint of stout. Back at your hotel discuss your itinerary over a welcome drink with your tour group and guide and you are free for dinner. Ryan’s of Parkgate Street, a traditional Victorian pub, is beside your hotel and the lively Temple Bar area is within easy reach.
Day 2: National Stud & Medieval Kilkenny
Depart Dublin and stop in Kildare to visit the Irish National Stud. Horseracing is a passion for the Irish and you will see some of the finest stallions and learn about breeding. Walk through the charming Japanese Gardens, created to symbolize life from birth to death. Arrive in Kilkenny and check in to your centrally-located hotel. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure – Kilkenny is a fun place to explore on your own. You may like to tour Kilkenny Castle, first built in 1192 and constantly changed until the 19th century. The Kilkenny Design Workshop is near the castle and Kyteler’s Inn, a tavern established in 1324 and reputedly owned by a witch, is within easy walking distance. (B, D)
Day 3: Waterford Crystal & Blarney
Drive south to the ancient port of Waterford to visit the House of Waterford Crystal, located in the city centre. See how molten glass is transformed by skilled craftspeople into elegant glasses and magnificent trophies of all types. Drive along the south coast to visit Blarney Castle and climb to the ramparts to kiss the well-known “Stone of Eloquence.” Enjoy some time for shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills or take a break in the pub hidden between the shops! Travel through County Cork and on to Killarney and check in to your hotel in the centre of the town. In the evening you may like to explore some of the cosy pubs where traditional Irish music is played. (B, D)
Day 4: Ring of Kerry Tour
Explore County Kerry’s popular scenic drive with Ireland’s highest mountains on one side and a varied Atlantic coastline on the other. Every turn will reveal new vistas of mountains, cliffs and beaches. Stop at Kells to meet a local farmer, Brendan Ferris, for a taste of farm life as he demonstrates how dogs herd flocks of sheep and see different breeds of sheep. Stop at the Bridge Bar in Portmagee for lunch before taking the bridge to Valencia Island to visit the Skellig Experience. Learn about early Christian monks who braved a harsh existence on the rocky offshore islands. Continue your trip around the peninsula and stop in the colourful village of Sneem and pause at Moll’s Gap for a look at the Lakes of Killarney. You are free for dinner this evening. (B, L)
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher & Connemara
Drive north and take a short ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. View the Cliffs of Moher that rise to heights of almost 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Pass through the Burren, around the shores of Galway Bay and through the lovely scenery of the Connemara region. Pass hills, little lakes and open country where mountain sheep roam freely. Stop in Leenane, renowned as the location of the movie, “The Field.” Continue to Westport, a charming town and check in to your hotel. Westport is a great town to walk around and has lots of interesting shops and traditional pubs, many with live music. (B, D)
Day 6: Westport House & Achill Island Excursion
Visit Westport House, an 18th century mansion, set in superb parkland with magnificent views overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Achill Island. See stunning rooms with original priceless furnishings, paintings, books, silver artifacts and Waterford Crystal. Drive around Clew Bay to Achill Island, joined to the mainland by bridge. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains plunging into the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Near Slievemore see the Deserted Village, the remains of nearly 100 stone cottages abandoned around the time of the 1840’s Famine. Return to Westport for a stroll around this attractive estate town, which was laid out in 1780. (B, D)
Day 7: Strokestown House & Brazen Head Pub
Travel to the centre of Ireland to visit Strokestown Park House in County Roscommon. There are three parts to see – the 18th century mansion with its original furnishings; the four-acre walled garden, restored to look as it would have during the heyday of the estate; and the Famine Museum, which explains the circumstances of the 1840’s Great Irish Famine through a combination of original documents and images. Head to the Brazen Head Pub, Dublin’s oldest, dating back to 1198 for an evening of “Food, Folk and Fairies” where story-telling will reveal Ireland’s myths and beliefs in times past. (B, D)
Day 8: Depart for Home or Extra Day in Dublin
For clients booked on our 8-day tour, complimentary group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon. (B)
If you have booked our 9-day tour, spend an additional night in Dublin and enjoy an independent Dublin open-top bus tour pass (valid for 24 hours), a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery to learn how smooth whiskey is created and enjoy a sample.
Day 9: Tour ends at Dublin Airport
Take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport on final day. (B)
YOUR TOUR INCLUDES
- Group transfers at start and end of tour
- Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
- Dublin open-top bus tour with complimentary visit and a drink at Old Jameson Distillery (9-day tour only)
- Professional tour director throughout
- First class hotels with private bath/shower for 7 or 8 nights
- Full Irish breakfast daily (B) except Day 1
- 5 dinners (D) including:
- Food, Folk and Fairies dinner/show at the Brazen Head Pub
- 4 table d’hote dinners
- Lunch at Bridge Bar on Ring of Kerry (L)
- Welcome get-together drink
- Tour of Dublin with a local guide
- Tour and a pint at the Guinness Storehouse
- Sheepdog trials on Ring of Kerry
- Ferry ride across the River Shannon
- Day tour to Achill Island
- Visits and admissions to Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens, House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Westport House, Strokestown House and Famine Museum
- Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
YOUR HOTELS
Stay at the following (or similar):
- Ashling Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
- Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny (1 night)
- International Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Wyatt Hotel, Westport (2 nights)
- Ashling Hotel, Dublin (1 or 2 nights)
Tour starts Tour ends 8 Days 9 Days Dublin Dublin* Sat Feb 16 Sat Feb 23 1076 1218 Sat Feb 23 Sat Mar 02 1076 1218 Sat Mar 02 Sat Mar 09 1128 1274 Sat Mar 09 Sat Mar 16 1128 1274 Sat Mar 16 Sat Mar 23 1128 1274 Sat Mar 23 Sat Mar 30 1128 1274 Sat Mar 30 Sat Apr 06 1128 1274 Wed Apr 03 Wed Apr 10 1268 1418 Sat Apr 06 Sat Apr 13 1268 1418 Wed Apr 10 Wed Apr 17 1268 1418 Sat Apr 13 Sat Apr 20 1268 1418 Wed Apr 17 Wed Apr 24 1268 1418 Sat Apr 20 Sat Apr 27 1268 1418 Wed Apr 24 Wed May 01 1398 1558 Sat Apr 27 Sat May 04 1398 1558 Wed May 01 Wed May 08 1515 1698 Sat May 04 Sat May 11 1515 1698 Wed May 08 Wed May 15 1515 1698 Sat May 11 Sat May 18 1515 1698 Wed May 15 Wed May 22 1515 1698 Sat May 18 Sat May 25 1515 1698 Wed May 22 Wed May 29 1515 1698 Sat May 25 Sat Jun 01 1515 1698 Wed May 29 Wed Jun 05 1515 1698 Sat Jun 01 Sat Jun 08 1515 1698 Wed Jun 05 Wed Jun 12 1515 1698 Sat Jun 08 Sat Jun 15 1515 1698 Wed Jun 12 Wed Jun 19 1515 1698 Sat Jun 15 Sat Jun 22 1515 1698 Wed Jun 19 Wed Jun 26 1515 1698 Sat Jun 22 Sat Jun 29 1515 1698 Wed Jun 26 Wed Jul 03 1515 1698 Sat Jun 29 Sat Jul 06 1515 1698 Wed Jul 03 Wed Jul 10 1515 1698 Sat Jul 06 Sat Jul 13 1515 1698 Wed Jul 10 Wed Jul 17 1515 1698 Sat Jul 13 Sat Jul 20 1515 1698 Wed Jul 17 Wed Jul 24 1515 1698 Sat Jul 20 Sat Jul 27 1515 1698 Wed Jul 24 Wed Jul 31 1515 1698 Sat Jul 27 Sat Aug 03 1515 1698 Wed Jul 31 Wed Aug 07 1515 1698 Sat Aug 03 Sat Aug 10 1515 1698 Wed Aug 07 Wed Aug 14 1515 1698 Sat Aug 10 Sat Aug 17 1515 1698 Wed Aug 14 Wed Aug 21 1515 1698 Sat Aug 17 Sat Aug 24 1515 1698 Wed Aug 21 Wed Aug 28 1515 1698 Sat Aug 24 Sat Aug 31 1515 1698 Wed Aug 28 Wed Sep 04 1515 1698 Sat Aug 31 Sat Sep 07 1515 1698 Wed Sep 04 Wed Sep 11 1515 1698 Sat Sep 07 Sat Sep 14 1515 1698 Wed Sep 11 Wed Sep 18 1515 1698 Sat Sep 14 Sat Sep 21 1515 1698 Wed Sep 18 Wed Sep 25 1515 1698 Sat Sep 21 Sat Sep 28 1515 1698 Wed Sep 25 Wed Oct 02 1515 1698 Sat Sep 28 Sat Oct 05 1515 1698 Wed Oct 02 Wed Oct 09 1398 1554 Sat Oct 05 Sat Oct 12 1398 1554 Wed Oct 09 Wed Oct 16 1268 1554 Sat Oct 12 Sat Oct 19 1268 1554 Wed Oct 16 Wed Oct 23 1268 1409 Sat Oct 19 Sat Oct 26 1268 1409 Wed Oct 23 Wed Oct 30 1268 1409 Sat Oct 26 Sat Nov 02 1268 1409 Sat Nov 02 Sat Nov 09 1128 1269 Sat Nov 09 Sat Nov 16 1128 1269 Sat Nov 16 Sat Nov 23 1128 1269 Sat Nov 23 Sat Nov 30 1128 1269 Sat Nov 30 Sat Dec 07 1076 1218 Sat Dec 07 Sat Dec 14 1076 1218 Single room supplement: 8 day $388, 9 day $446 * 9 day tour returns from Dublin one day later than shown above