Ireland Family Journey: Castles, Folklore & Gaelic Traditions

Welcome to Dublin–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.

Included Experiences

• Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Your day begins with a treasure history hunt through Dublin with the whole family! The entire city center is your playing field: clues on your phone will guide you to various locations, where you’ll crack encrypted codes, solve logic tasks and search for evidence that will lead your team to the treasure as you learn about this historic city. After finding the treasure, you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon to explore more of Ireland’s vibrant capital. You can visit Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592 and view the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating back to the 9th century. From the Dublinia and Butler’s Chocolate Experience to the city’s medieval Quarter and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, there’s fun for the entire family. Dinner this evening will be on your own.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the afternoon exploring the vibrant capital of Ireland on your own. Opt to visit Trinity College Dublin and it's centuries -old academic atmosphere. Perhaps view to Book of Kells, partake in Butler's Chocolate Experience, or visit Saint Patrick's Cathedral. From wandering through the city's medieval Quarter to sample fish n' chips in a cozy local pub, there's plenty to see and do in Dublin.
• Treasure Hunt Dublin: Combine a scavenger hunt in Dublin with a thrilling mystery story for the entire family! The premise? A local art collector has acquired a medieval document at an auction and the manuscript has all of these mysterious sequences of letters that make little sense. You and your team of treasure hunters must find the priceless artifact being referenced in the manuscript. After the group briefing, the roles will be distributed for each team. Are you a born tracker? A true adventurer? Or an expert code-breaker? Once roles are assigned the hunt begins. At various locations throughout the city your team will solve encrypted codes, conquer tricky logic tasks, and search for evidence in locating the treasure. As you go, you will learn fascinating stories and facts about the history of Dublin.

Optional Experiences

• Dublinia: Travel back to the heart of the old city at Christchurch. Walk where Vikings once left their own footprints and step into Medieval Viking Dublin.
• Butler’s Chocolate Experience: Visit the magic and wonder of a real life chocolate factory during the Butlers Chocolate Experience.
• Visit to Trinity College (Book of Kells): Step into the halls of Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592, to visit the Book of Kells Exhibition and the historic Long Library. Written in the 9th century, the Book of Kells is a richly illustrated document (inscribed in Latin) of the four Gospels in the New Testament. Widely considered Ireland's greatest cultural treasure, it's one of the world’s most famous medieval manuscripts. Continue to the Long Library, a soaring room filled with over 200,000 books, including the library's oldest collections. A must-visit for book lovers, it's also known for its appearance in Harry Potter movies.

In the morning, travel to the charming city of Cork. Along the way, you’ll stop at spectacular sites, including the Rock of Cashel—the ruins of a castle set on a dramatic outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale. This iconic site is renowned for its impressive cluster of medieval buildings and includes a Gothic cathedral, a 15th-century tower house, an abbey and a high cross. Transfer to Cobh and enjoy lunch with the whole group before boarding the ferry to Spike Island. Take a guided tour with a storyteller and learn about the island’s monastic, military, penal and cultural history. Explore the fort’s atmospheric prison cells, impressive military fortifications and internal passages. There will also be time to walk along the area’s nature trails before boarding the ferry back to Cobh. Transfer to Cork, where you’ll spend the evening exploring at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
• Rock of Cashel Visit: A visit to the Rock of Cashel is a journey through 1,500 years of Irish history. From the pre-Christian legends of the Devil’s Bite to the Gothic grandeur of the cathedral ruins, it offers a visceral connection to Ireland’s royal and ecclesiastical past. The combination of the Cormac’s Chapel frescoes and the panoramic views over the Golden Vale makes it an essential stop in Ireland’s Ancient East.
• Spike Island Visit: Experience a trip through 1300 years of Irish history on a trip to Spike Island off the coast of Cork. Learn about the island’s history and experience beautiful nature in a wild Irish setting. The island’s unique and Irish history has included monks, monasteries, rioters and redcoats, captains, convicts, sinners, and saints. The island today holds the 200 year old Fort Mitchel, a star shaped Fortress that became a prison with over 2300 prisoners—there has never been a larger prison in Ireland or Britain before or since—a monastery, and modern museum spaces. Enjoy a guided tour of the island with a storyteller. Learn about the island’s monastic, military, penal, and social past. There will be Included free time to explore the fort’s atmospheric prison cells, impressive military fortifications, and internal passages on your own. There’s also time to wander the nature and walking trails in the area. You can choose between the 20-minute ‘Glacis Walk’ around the fortress with stunning harbor views, or the ‘Ring of Spike’ walking trail, a 45-minute walk to see the abandoned buildings with spectacular views along the coastline.

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Na Piarsaigh GAA Club, where you’ll experience traditional Irish sports with a hands-on Gaelic Games family activity. First, attend an engaging cultural introduction by expert coaches, then head outside to take part in 3 sports—Gaelic football, hurling and handball, where you’ll enjoy some friendly competition as you learn what it was like to play these historic sports. After lunch, spend the afternoon on your own exploring Cork, where you can opt to visit Fitzgerald Park or attend the bustling English Market, which has been trading since 1788. Dinner will be on your own, so be on the lookout for local restaurants with ingredients sourced from the English Market.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a free afternoon getting to know Cork as a family. There's lots to see and do in this Irish city, so get out and explore! Opt to walk through Fitzgerald Park, visit The English Market which has been trading since 1788 making it one of the oldest covered markets in all of Europe.
• Gaelic Games Family Experience: Enjoy cultural immersion during an out of the ordinary activity during: A Gaelic Games Family Experience. The visit combines a mixture of culture, history, tradition, and sport for an authentic Irish Game Day. Start by meeting the locals during a welcome into the heart of the local Gaelic Club. Hear stories of ancient myths and legends from expert coaches during the cultural introduction. Then, learn the ancient arts of three different sports, Hurling, Gaelic Football, and Gaelic Handball. Take part in team building activities and enjoy a day of friendly competition as a family.

Optional Experiences

• English Market: Established in 1788, the English Market in Cork is a vast and eclectic covered food market filled with longstanding family-run stalls. Get in with the local hustle and bustle.
• Cork County Gaol: Once a prison constructed in the 1820s, the Cork County Gaol is now a coveted part of University College of Cork. Take an audio tour of the grounds to learn more about the tumultuous history of this building.
• Fitzgerald Park: Take a break from the city bustle and take a stroll through this tranquil park.

Begin the day with a visit to Blarney Castle as you make your way from Cork to Killarney. Built nearly 600 years ago, the Blarney Castle is one of the most iconic sights in Ireland. During your visit, wander a network of paths that will lead you through various gardens, arboretums and avenues on the grounds. Enter the castle and admire the impressive fortifications of the massive tower house. Next, continue on to the lovely town of Killarney—located on the shores of Lough Leane and adjacent to Killarney National Park. Enjoy lunch at a local spot among the area’s rolling green hills, lakes and forests. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is yours to become acquainted with Killarney. Opt to visit the national park for impressive views of the Irish landscape or head to Muckross House, a 19th-century Victorian mansion close to the shores of Muckross Lake. Another option for a great family visit is Ross Castle, perched in an inlet of Lake Leane. This stunning castle—steeped in legends—was likely built by the Irish chieftain O’Donoghue Mór in the 15th century.

Included Experiences

• Blarney Castle & Gardens Visit: Visit Blarney Castle, a tower house type of fortification built by the Gaelic lords and Anglo-Irish between the 15th and 17th centuries. This unusually large tower house is made up of two towers with walls that are 18 ft thick at the base and gradually slope inwards as they rise. Enter the castle and see the chapel, banquet hall, family room, and the dungeon. Then, spend some time in the 60 acre gardens discovering nature in the Boardwalk and Water Garden, the Carnivorous Courtyard (with plants that derive some or most of their nutrients from trapping or consuming animals), the Fern and Ice House, and the Seven Sisters (a circle of nine standing stones from medieval times).
• Free Time: Free afternoon in Killarney. Choose to visit the national park for sweeping views of the Irish landscape, or visit Muckross House, Ross Castle, or Lake Leane.

Optional Experiences

• Celtic Steps Dance Performance: Spend an evening immersed in Irish music and dance at the world-famous Celtic Steps show. Watch the country's best dancers, musicians and performers take to the stage with a truly unforgettable blend of traditional and modern Irish dance, accompanied by live music.
• Ross Castle: Take a guided tour of this 15th century castle on the shores of Killarney.
• Muckross House Visit: Land at Muckross House and explore the spectacular gardens. The house was built in the 19th century for the politician Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife Mary Balfour Herbert, a painter. Queen Victoria came to visit the Muckross House in 1861, to honor her arrival the Herberts commissioned the extensive gardens that cover the grounds.
• Killarney National Park Visit: Spend some time exploring the expansive Killarney National Park, home to the only native red deer in the country. The national park is a great place to enjoy nature with hiking or biking options. Walk along the edge of the famous and scenic Killarney Lakes, or bike on the trails through the forest to seek out some of the waterfalls in the area.

Set out on a full-day excursion around the famed Ring of Kerry, considered one of Ireland’s most scenic drives. Take in stunning views of the Iveragh Peninsula’s windswept coast and lush forests, as well as historic castles, churches and seaside villages. Partway through the drive, stop for a visit to a sheepdog farm where a local farmer will demonstrate herding and how sheepdogs respond to the direction of whistle commands. The demonstration will be followed with a question-and-answer session before the group sits down to eat a delicious lunch at a traditional local pub. Continue back along the Ring of Kerry, where you will take in stunning landscapes, such as rugged cliffs, golden beaches, peat bogs and picturesque mountain ranges. Arrive back in Killarney for dinner on your own and a night at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Ring of Kerry Day Excursion: Experience Ireland's incredible natural beauty, scenic landscapes and glimpses of everyday life as we drive along the famous Ring of Kerry. Our journey starts in Killarney, home to Ireland's first national park and many historic sites. Continue to the picturesque villages of Kenmare and Sneem before reaching the coastal towns of Caherdaniel and Waterville, where Charlie Chaplin loved to holiday. Get a feel for traditional Irish culture in Ballinskelligs, where locals speak Gaelic, and Portmagee, where colourful houses line the docks and visitors set off for Skelligs Rock. Continue along the coast to Glenbeigh, "the jewel of Kerry", and stop by historic Killorglin and Beaufort before returning to Killarney.
• Sheepdog Farm Visit & Herding Demonstration: Experience one of the most unusual and popular sights on the Ring of Kerry; a sheepdog demonstration! A local farmer will introduce you to his crew of sheep dogs and give a lively and fascinating demonstration that showcases what a sheepdog looks like in action. Then, listen to a talk about how a sheepdog is used to bring sheep in on farms and watch as the dogs respond to whistle commands to guide the sheep downwards from the pastures. By the end of the demonstration all of the sheep will be calmly gathered in a pen beside the group. Take part in the question-and-answer session afterwards and then enjoy a group lunch at a local pub.

Leave Killarney behind and travel to the iconic Bunratty Castle—the most authentic castle in Ireland. Hear how the lords and ladies of the castle lived, listen to stories of battles and bravery, and admire stunning views across the idyllic County Clare countryside. Then, visit the Folk Park at Bunratty, which features over 30 buildings in a mock living village and rural setting. Then, tuck into a delicious traditional lunch at one of Ireland’s renowned pubs. From here, continue on to Limerick, where the group will partake in an Irish Dance Experience. Learn the steps to 3 styles of Irish dancing: step dancing (Riverdance-style), sean nós Dancing (old-style) and céilí (group/social-style). A professional Irish dancer will lead the lesson and provide tips and hints on how to remember the steps. The remainder of the evening will be on your own in Limerick, where you can opt to make dinner reservations at a local spot for a traditional meal.

Included Experiences

• Irish Dance Experience in Limerick: Take part in a lively family activity during the Irish Dance Experience in Limerick. The workshop lasts between 60 and 90 minutes and takes place completely indoors. You and your family will learn the steps from three styles of Irish dancing. The first is Step Dancing, known as the Riverdance-style. The second is Sean Nós Dancing, or the old-style, and the third is Céilí Dancing, which is the group/social-style. Gain a deeper understanding of Irish dance, music, and culture, strengthen family relationships by learning historic dances together, and leave at the end of the day with a sense of achievement in learning a new skill.
• Bunratty Castle & Folk Park Visit: Enjoy entrance into Bunratty Castle and spend time on your own visiting the historical grounds, known as the most complete and authentic castle in all of Ireland. The land on which Bunratty Castle has been built used to be a Viking trading camp in 970. Learn how the lords and ladies of this castle lived during times of bravery and battles, while taking in the views of the idyllic County Clare countryside.

This morning, visit Inis Oírr (Inisheer), the smallest and most easterly of the 3 Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway. Learn about the island’s rich history—dating back to the time of Saint Edna in the 5th century—and enjoy a guided tour of Inisheer. Stop to view important sites and landmarks like the Plassey Shipwreck and the 10th-century underground church of Saint Caomhán. You’ll also visit Loch Mór, the only freshwater lake on the island and O’Brien’s Castle, located on the high point of the island and dating back to the 14th century. Enjoy lunch before taking the ferry back to the mainland and transferring to the stunning Cliffs of Moher. Set out on a guided walk along safe, paved pathways to view these famous Cliffs that tower above the rugged west Clare coast. This evening, savor a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant.

Included Experiences

• Ferry: Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
• Inisheer Visit: Spend the morning on Inisheer, the smallest and most easterly of the three Aran Islands. Located just off the coast of County Galway this island possesses a rich history dating back to before the 5th century. Highlights of your time on the island include, the iconic Plassey Shipwreck and the 10th century underground church of Saint Caomhán.
• Cliffs of Moher Walk: Wander along the paved pathways and view the famous cliffs on Europe’s western frontier. Visit the award-winning visitor center nestled into the hillside like something out of Lord Of The Rings. The eco-friendly design of the center has minimal visual impact on the surrounding wild landscape. Inside there is an Interactive Exhibit, two cafes, a Heritage Craft Store, and more. The centerpiece of this space is the interpretative exhibition located in the domed roof structure of the exhibition space. Learn about the geology of the cliffs, the wildlife, and the human impacts, all sprinkled with stories about County Clare and all of Ireland.

Depart at any time. Departure transfers are included to the Shannon airport for outbound travel.