The Ireland Connection

Your tour commences this evening in vibrant Dublin. Join us tonight for a welcome drink before dinner. This is an ideal chance to meet, and get to know your Tour Manager and fellow travellers. (D) Stay: Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

This morning we have included a half day panoramic Dublin city tour which takes in all the sights from Trinity College to St Patrick's Cathedral. Starting in the beautiful 18th century Merrion Square we get a real sense of the glory of Georgian Dublin. Here many significant Irish lived including Daniel O'Connell, the poet W B Yeats and Oscar Wilde. Nearby we make an intriguing visit to the three masted, Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship to understand what life was really like below decks for those fleeing poverty stricken Ireland two centuries ago.

Later we visit the famous Guinness Storehouse, where we learn to pour the perfect pint before enjoying a pint of the ‘black stuff'. Your afternoon and evening is free - ‘My Time' - in this most beautiful city of poets, literary giants and political reformers. (B) Stay: Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

A leisurely start this morning for our visit to the magnificent Powerscourt Gardens. Covering 47 acres, these gardens are ranked the third best in the world by National Geographic! Exploring the formal walled gardens, Italian and Japanese gardens, Dolphin Pond, terraces, ornamental lakes and romantic walkways is a delight.

The rest of the day will be spent exploring the beautiful Wicklow Mountains National Park. Our scenic drive takes us though shady woodlands, with streams flowing into peaceful deep lakes. A highlight will be our stop at Glendalough. Founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, this ancient monastic settlement with its 33 metre high ‘Round Tower' is in a glorious valley setting beside a romantic lake.

This evening we have included a special dinner in a beautifully renovated 300 year old church, complete with a giant pipe organ, stunning carved wooden balconies, and a traditional Irish band! (B/D) Stay: Hotel Riu Plaza The Gresham Dublin

This morning we will explore medieval Kilkenny, with its Norman Castle, Cathedral and winding, narrow alleys filled with craft shops and stores. We have also included an Irish Pub lunch at Malzard's Pub. Enjoy lunch accompanied by traditional Irish music. The pub owner will also take you to the Hurling field next door to explain this classic Irish game, and you can even have a hit! Then it is on to the little village of Clonoulty to see the moving Australian convict memorial and hear the intriguing story.

Later we have included entrance to the famous ‘Rock of Cashel' with its sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Standing there at the top by the ruined church it is fascinating to know as you look around that 70% of all Irish emigrants to Australia came from the land within a 50 mile radius.

Later we continue to Cork where we stay the next two nights. (B/L/D) Stay: The Metropole Hotel, Cork, Ireland

This morning we have included a visit to Blarney to explore the castle grounds, ‘poison garden' and delightful paths through the woodland. After an opportunity to kiss the world famous Blarney Stone, we will enjoy our morning break at the very popular Blarney Woollen Mills.

Later we will continue to Cobh – ‘huge harbour'. Here we visit the excellent Cobh Heritage Centre, with its stories of the Titanic (Cobh was its last port of call), the ill-fated Lusitania, the early assisted emigration to the colonies from Cork and the convict transportation to Australia. Between 1791 and the early 1850s Cobh Harbour was the departure point for dozens of convict ships heading for Sydney and Hobart.

Later we have time at leisure to explore this attractive, historic Irish port with its waterside cafés, bars and shops. Your evening is at leisure in Cork. (B) Stay: The Metropole Hotel, Cork, Ireland

This morning we head west to Killarney. With time in hand, we take the scenic route through Macroom, and side track to visit incredibly picturesque Gougane Barra. This makes a perfect stop, with St Finbarr's little church set romantically on a small island in the lake. Later we continue to Killarney where we stay the next three nights.

This afternoon we have included a scenic lake cruise on Lough Léin on board The Lily of Killarney. Later, at Ross Castle, we board our horse drawn Jaunting Cars, for a tour through the Killarney National Parklands. (B/D) Stay: Cahernane House Hotel, Ireland

Today we enjoy a scenic drive around the incredibly picturesque Dingle Peninsula, famous for its beauty and is the setting for many of the scenes in the film ‘Ryan's Daughter'. At the far end of the peninsula we stop and visit the Blasket Heritage Centre at Dún Chaoin (Dunquin). This fascinating museum focuses on the unique Blasket community who lived on the wild and remote Islands until their evacuation in 1953. With its interactive displays, models and artwork, the centre tells the story of traditional subsistence life on the island, their culture and struggle for existence. All this, with a fantastic back drop of sweeping views across to the islands.

Later we make an afternoon stop in the quaint village of Dingle, on Dingle Bay. (B/D) Stay: Cahernane House Hotel, Ireland

Today we will drive along the Wild Atlantic Way around the entire Iveragh Peninsula, known better as the Ring of Kerry. Renowned for its grand scenery, we make a special visit to Derrynane House, which was the ancestral home of the “great Liberator of Ireland” Daniel O'Connell (there is a statue of him by Parliament House in Melbourne). The house makes a fascinating visit having been restored to its former glory with genuine period furnishings. Make sure you take a stroll through its ‘fairy garden' and along the windswept beach to the rocky headland.

The remainder of the day is at leisure in Killarney. The vibrant town, full of shops, restaurants and music bars, is waiting for you. This evening, maybe visit a local pub for some music and the ‘craic'. (B) Stay: Cahernane House Hotel, Ireland

Driving north we make our first stop at Foynes to enjoy a guided visit of the Flying Boat Museum. Foynes has some important connections to Australia. The destination of two of the last flying boats ever to leave was ‘Down Under'. Foynes also claims to be the birthplace of Irish coffee and we enjoy a demonstration on how to make it properly. Naturally we must ensure they still make it right, so we enjoy a cup too! We will also stop to reflect at the incredibly moving ‘Boy at the Workhouse Door' famine memorial near Ennistymon.

Later we continue to the Cliffs of Moher to take in the incredible views along the mighty cliffs battered by the incessant Atlantic waves. Driving through ‘The Burren' we continue to Galway where we stay three nights. (B/D) Stay: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway, Ireland

Today the choice is yours! Relax and enjoy ‘My Time' to explore Galway, or join us as we travel through Connemara National Park and visit Kylemore Abbey, romantically set in woodlands beside a beautiful lake. We also make sure you have time to visit the stunning Victorian walled garden.

This evening after dinner, relax and enjoy what has been voted the best Irish music and dance show in all of Ireland – the ‘Trad on the Prom'. (B/D) Stay: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway, Ireland

Today we visit the Aran Islands. What an experience! Crossing to Inis Mór (Inishmore) – ‘the big island'- we board our ‘Wild Atlantic Bus' for a private tour of the island. Home of the Aran sweater, the island is laced with over a thousand kilometres of ancient stone walls and cliff top stone forts that date back thousands of years. Here we visit the remarkable Dún Aonghasa (Dún Aengus) fort. One of the oldest archaeological remains in Ireland, this stone fort sits atop the huge cliffs, and the views down to the wild Atlantic rollers are inspiring.

In Kilronan town, we will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Your evening is at leisure in Galway town with its shops, buskers, restaurants and buzzing bars. (B/L) Stay: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway, Ireland

Driving across Ireland we stop to visit the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre - site of the ancient megalithic tombs of Knowth and Newgrange. Stepping back in time, these UNESCO World Heritage listed passage tombs pre-date the Egyptian pyramids and epitomise ancient Neolithic history.

Later we visit one of the most emotive sites in Ireland – the ruined monastic site of Monasterboice, with its round tower and tall Celtic high crosses. Peacefully surrounded by trees, the beautiful Muiredach cross is acknowledged as being the finest example of Celtic stonework. Entering Northern Ireland we reach Belfast where we stay the next three nights. (B/D) Stay: Titanic Hotel, Titanic Quarter, Belfast

This morning we explore this rejuvenated city with a local guide. Highlight of the morning will be a visit to the Titanic Experience. This multi award winning museum is an audio and visual feast as it reveals the story behind 19th century industrial Belfast and how this was indelibly linked to the story of the building of the Titanic.

In the afternoon we also visit the Ulster Folk Park – a heritage time capsule of Ireland, north and south, throughout the centuries. Your evening is at leisure in Belfast. (B) Stay: Titanic Hotel, Titanic Quarter, Belfast

Today we follow the Causeway Coastal route on the Antrim Coast to enjoy a tour through Bushmills Distillery – the oldest licenced whiskey distillery in the world. Time for a tipple! Afterwards, we visit the UNESCO Heritage listed Giant's Causeway. Supposedly built by an Irish giant called Finn McCool, this unique geological feature consists of 40,000 hexagonal, basalt columns cutting through the broad beaches, forming an intriguing, patterned promontory stretching out to sea. Back at our hotel our farewell dinner promises to be special, as we feast on a Titanic themed menu. (B/D) Stay: Titanic Hotel, Titanic Quarter, Belfast

Your tour ends today after breakfast. For those departing from Belfast, the airport is a short taxi ride away. We have included a morning group transfer to Dublin, with stops at the airport and the city centre. We recommend you book flights that depart Dublin after 2pm. (B)