9 Day The Original
Irish Pub & Folk Tour Itinerary
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 tour Dublin
with a local guide to see elegant Georgian squares with the famous
brightly-painted doors 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 solemn figures of the Famine Memorial.
Visit the Guinness Storehouse to explore the many exhibitions, ending in the
rooftop bar with a creamy pint of stout. Back at your hotel discuss your
itinerary over a welcome drink with your tour director 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 portray 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, dating back to 1192, shop at the Kilkenny Design Workshop or
have a drink at Kyteler's Inn, a tavern established by a reputed witch in 1324.
(B, D)
Day 3 : Waterford Crystal & Blarney
Castle
Drive south to the ancient port of
Waterford to visit the House of Waterford Crystal. See how skilled craftspeople
transform molten glass into elegant tableware and magnificent trophies of all
types. Drive along the south coast to visit Blarney Castle and climb to the
ramparts to kiss the “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 evening drive to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner and traditional Irish entertainment
with songs and dances. (B, D)
Day 4 : Ring of Kerry Tour
Embark on 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. Meet a local farmer, Brendan Ferris, for a taste of farm life as he
demonstrates how dogs herd flocks of sheep. At the Skellig experience learn
about early Christian monks who braved a harsh existence on the rocky offshore
islands. Continue your trip around the peninsula with stops in the attractive
village of Sneem and at Moll's Gap for views of the Lakes of Killarney.
After dinner in your hotel, you may like to explore some of the lively pubs where traditional
Irish music is played. (B, D)
Day 5 : Cliffs of Moher,Connemara &
Mayo
Drive north for 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, an attractive estate town built in 1780, and check
in to your hotel. Westport is a great town with lots of interesting shops and
traditional pubs, many with live music. (B, D)
Day 6 : Achill Island Excursion & Westport
House
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 priceless furnishings,
paintings, books, silver 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 free time. (B, D)
Day 7 : Strokestown House & 12th Century Brazen Head
Pub
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 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 : Dublin City Tour & Jameson
The entire day is at leisure so you may schedule
sightseeing as you wish. Use your open-top bus tour voucher to explore Dublin -
you may get on and off at any of the 23 stops along the route, which include
Dublin's most popular attractions. Take a tour around the Old Jameson Distillery
to see whiskey production techniques and enjoy a drink of the finished product.
(B)
Day 9 : Tour Ends Dublin Airport
Take a taxi transfer to Dublin Airport in good
time for your flight home. (B)
B: Breakfast, D: Dinner