OUR TOURS TO IRELAND CAN BE TAILOR MADE WITH ITINERARIES THAN CAN INCLUDING CORK, KERRY, WATERFORD, WEXFORD, LIMERICK, GALWAY, SHANNON, DUBLIN OR EVEN MULTI-CENTRE TOURS

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Selected departure dates throughout the year
From 4 day durations
Return executive coach or flight options
Return ferry
3 nights half board at a 3 star hotel with en-suite facilities

SAMPLE 6 DAY ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Travel to Ireland either by air or coach. On arrival in Ireland you will have a brief coach of the city before visiting the Old Library in Trinity College - this is a self guided visit and entrance is included. From here we continue onto the Guiness Storehouse for your included visit / tour before arriving at the hotel to freshen up. Tonight dinner is combined with a traditional Irish night including music and dancing at Taylor's Rock where you will be entertained with a superb show and it also includes a 3 course meal.

DAY 2 Departing Dublin after breakfast we head south through the scenic Wicklow Mountains making a stop at the Glendalough Visitors centre (entrance included). This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. The Visitor Centre has an interesting exhibition and an audio-visual show. From here we then continue onto Kerry and the town of Killarney where you will be based for the next 4 nights. Dinner is included tonight after your long day travelling.

DAY 3 Today is a leisurely day as we start with a visit to Muckross House & Gardens a magnificent Victorian mansion and one of Ireland's leading stately homes (entrance included). The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty. In particular they are noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons, an extensive water garden, and an outstanding rock garden hewn out of natural limestone. Muckross House is also home to a number of skilled craft workers who can be viewed using traditional skills in the crafts of weaving, bookbinding and pottery. From here we return to Killarney where you will have some free time to purchase lunch and explore a little before your included one hour cruise this afternoon on Lake Leane. This is a spectacular experience as you cruise in the scenes of gentle low land with a scattering of islands in the shadow of the towering ruggedness of the McGillicuddy Reeks Mountain Range. A full commentary on the flora, fauna and historical heritage of the area will be given by the experienced skipper. We return to the hotel later today for dinner. continued

DAY 4 Today we will include a full day tour of ‘The Ring of Kerry’, which is one of the most famous day tours in the whole of Ireland. From Killarney we travel northwest to Killorglin, which is believed to date back four thousand years and was originally settled because of the abundance of fish in the river around where the town has developed. Killorglin is a pretty market town set in some of the most beautiful countryside that includes the world famous Macgillycuddy’s Reeks. The town’s principal fame has been Puck Fair where a male goat is enthroned to preside as King, while the revellers ‘act the goat’ so to speak. We travel on along the north coast of Dingle Bay to Cahersiveen, which is about the halfway point around the Ring Of Kerry. Cahersiveen town lies at the foot of Benetee mountain, on the river Fertha overlooking Valentia Harbour. The Liberator Daniel O' Connnell (1775-1847) is the towns most famous son. The writer Sigerson Clifford was also born in the town and his poem "The Boys Of Barr Na Sraide" has been immortalised in song. The town contains many ancient anchoritic sites (heritage sites). Five of these are seen close to the town. Traditional fairdays or market days are still held on the streets where young and old, visitors and locals meet and chat. A visit to Cahersiveen ensures intimate bars, superb food and a wide range of shops. We travel on around the stunning headland through Waterville Caherdaniel to Sneem. Sneem literally translated means the ‘knot’ in Irish, today referred to as ‘The Knot in the Ring of Kerry’. The town is set at the head of the Sneem estuary between Kenmare and Waterville and remains a very pretty peaceful and romantic village that attracts many poets and artists, which is evident by the many galleries in the village. We return to the hotel later today for an evening of relaxation after your included dinner at the hotel tonight.

DAY 5. Today we journey east towards the city of Cork and Blarney Castle and it’s Woollen Mill. Blarney Castle (entrance included) is famous for it’s stone, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all those who kiss it. The term ‘blarney’ was introduced into the English language by Elizabeth 1 of England and is defined as "pleasant talk, intending to deceive without offending". The world famous Blarney Stone is situated high up in the battlements of the castle. Follow one of the several long, stone spiral staircases up to the top and enjoy the spectacular views over the lush green Irish countryside, Blarney House and the Village of Blarney. The stone itself is set in the wall below the battlements and to kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. (Please note that the walk to the top of the tower is not for the feint hearted, but if you are brave enough to attempt this, it will be a memorable experience!!). Blarney Woollen Mills is just across the green from the castle. Over the past 30 years, the Kelleher family have converted the huge rambling mills into one of the world’s greatest gift and craft centre. There is a restaurant and café where you can purchase lunch before we travel into Cork (Corcaigh). Dinner included tonight. Cork City is Ireland’s third city (after Dublin and Belfast) and has always been an important seaport. Today the river flows through Cork city in two main channels, so that you find yourself constantly crossing bridges. Some of the main streets are built over the channels where ships nuzzled their anchor-chains a century ago. Along the South Mall, you will see large gateways at street level, under steps leading to a higher main door. These were once boathouses, when merchants arrived at their warehouses by water. After an afternoon at your leisure, we return to Killarney - dinner is included tonight.

DAY 6 We depart the hotel after breakfast and re-trace our steps. We stop at the famous Waterford Crystal for lunch (payable locally) where we include a short guided tour of the factory and begind the scenes before continuing north to the small town of Avoca, of Ballykissangel fame where you can visit the famous Avoca Handweavers which is sited in the mill which dates back to 1753. Why not take an afternoon tea here before we continue onto Dublin arriving at the airport in good time for you to check in for your mid evening flight back to London. Coach tours will return to Dublin on day 5 and back to the UK on day 6.

PRICE & SUPPLEMENTS
Prices are determined by the duration and excursion programme which we will tailor make to suit your requirements.

HOW TO BOOK

Choose your departure date
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Call Simply Groups on 01943 605999 or
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