8 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 and you are free for dinner.
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. Walk through the charming Japanese Gardens, created to portray life from birth to death. Visit a farmhouse to sample tea and home-baked scones and chat with the owners about country life. Arrive in Kilkenny and check in to your centrally-located hotel. Enjoy free time to browse around the compact little city before dinner – Kilkenny is a fun place to explore.
(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 explore some of the lively pubs where traditional Irish music is played.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Ring of Kerry Tour & Pub Dinner
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. In the evening drive to Kate Kearney’s Cottage for dinner and traditional Irish entertainment with songs and step-dancing.
(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 : Westport House & Achill Island Excursion
Visit Westport House, an 18th century mansion, set in superb parkland with magnificent views overlooking Clew Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. See stunning rooms with priceless furnishings, paintings, books, silver and Waterford Crystal. Drive around Clew Bay and cross by bridge to Achill Island. Follow the Atlantic Drive to capture wonderful views of steeply-sloped mountains and the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Stop at the Beehive Restaurant in Keel for lunch and 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, L)
Day 7 : Kilbeggan Distillery & 12th Century Brazen Head Pub
Drive eastwards to the center of Ireland and in Kilbeggan visit the Kilbeggan Distillery Experience, established in 1757, to see how whiskey is distilled in a historic building and enjoy a creamy Irish coffee. Continue your journey to Dublin and check in to your hotel. In the evening 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
Group transfers are provided to Dublin Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon.
(B)
B: Breakfast, D: Dinner, L: Lunch