12 Day Irish Tradition Tour Itinerary
Day 1 : Shannon Airport & Ennis Walking Tour
Your tour starts at Shannon Airport with a transfer between 7:00 am and 12:00 noon to your
hotel in the charming marketing town of Ennis. If your flight arrives later than 12:00 noon,
transfer to the hotel at your own expense. At 2:00 pm join a local guide for a walking tour around
the main points of interest. Meet your tour director over a welcome drink to discuss your trip
before dinner in your hotel.
(D)
Day 2 : Cliffs of Moher & Galway Bay
Travel to the coast to view the Cliffs of Moher, a five-mile wall of limestone rising above the
foaming Atlantic breakers. See the rounded limestone hills of the Burren and the Poulnabrone
Dolmen, a huge stone monument marking a Neolithic burial place. Take a panoramic tour around
Galway city and continue to your hotel in Glasson, just north of Athlone and set on the shores of
Lough Ree, one of the River Shannon’s large lakes.
(B, D)
Day 3 : Lakelands & Viking Boat Ride
Take a scenic Viking boat ride right from your hotel to view the expansive Lough Ree.
Disembark in Athlone and drive south to visit Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, on the banks of the
River Shannon. See a round tower, church ruins and elaborate Celtic crosses. Tour the Kilbeggan
Distillery Experience, the oldest in the world, to see whiskey production and enjoy a tasting. Return
to your hotel and in the evening enjoy excellent food and ambience at the charming Glasson Village
Restaurant.
(B, D)
Day 4 : Yeats’ Country Lunch & Tour
Visit Athlone Castle to learn about the history and life in the Lakelands before pausing at Boyle
Abbey for a photo stop. Continue to County Sligo to Broc House for lunch and a talk on the writer W. B.
Yeats who spent much of his time in Sligo and loved the scenery. After lunch take a drive with a local expert
to see places associated with Yeats – Lough Gill, Glencar Waterfall and his grave at Drumcliffe. Drive through
the mountainous country of County Donegal to Stranorlar.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 : Glenveagh Castle & Donegal’s Atlantic Drive
Travel into the heart of Donegal to Glenveagh National Park where Captain Adair evicted 225 tenants to
build Glenveagh Castle in 1870. Learn about the history of the mansion, owners and guests as you tour the
rooms and walk around the extensive gardens filled with exotic plants. Then experience the glorious natural
beauty of the Grand Atlantic Drive, which winds through Downings and Rosapenna and around the coastline.
Return to Stranorlar in time for dinner.
(B, D)
Day 6 : Derry & Giant’s Causeway
In Derry join a local guide for a walking tour to see medieval city walls, the Diamond and St. Columb’s
Cathedral. Drive along the north coast, pausing for photos at Dunluce Castle. Explore the Giant’s Causeway,
enormous hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity over 60 million years ago. Experience wonderful
scenery along the coastal “Nine Glens of Antrim” route and continue to Belfast.
(B, D)
Day 7 : Titanic Belfast & Dublin’s Brazen Head Pub
Take a panoramic tour around central Belfast followed by a visit to Titanic Belfast to learn about the
famous liner through state-of-the-art displays. Visit Down Cathedral to see the reputed burial place of
St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. Also visit the St. Patrick Centre to learn about his life and times.
Travel to Dublin and in the evening head to the Brazen Head Pub, Dublin’s oldest, dating back to
1198, for an evening of story-telling entitled “Food, Folk and Fairies.”
(B, D)
Day 8 : Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Tour Dublin city to see elegant Georgian squares with brightly-painted doorways; pass St. Stephen’s
Green and shopping areas around Nassau Street; cross the River Liffey to O’Connell Street and view the
General Post Office where the 1916 Rebellion started. Walk through the campus of Trinity College to view the
8th century manuscript of the Book of Kells. In the afternoon use your independent vouchers for an open-top
bus tour all around central Dublin and a visit to either Guinness or Jameson.
(B)
Day 9 : Farmhouse Tea & Blarney Castle
Drive through prime agricultural country and pause at the impressive Rock of Cashel with medieval ruins.
Visit a nearby sheep farm for freshly-baked scones with tea and find out about country living. Continue south to
climb Blarney Castle and kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” Shop at the Blarney Woollen Mills or take a look
around the village green. Continue to Killarney and your deluxe hotel overlooking the mountains and lakes.
(B, D)
Day 10 : Killarney’s Jaunting Car & Ring of Kerry
Travel by horse-drawn jaunting car to Ross Castle for views of Killarney’s largest lake,
Lough Leane. Head off on the Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland’s most popular drives with amazing
scenery. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about early Christian monks who lived on the rocky
offshore islands. Drive through the villages of Waterville and Sneem and stop at Moll’s Gap to view
the Three Lakes of Killarney before returning to Killarney.
(B, D)
Day 11 : Foynes Irish Coffee & Bunratty Banquet
After a leisurely breakfast and late departure from Killarney, drive to the Foynes Flying Boat Museum
to learn about the early days of flight, during the 1930’s and early 1940’s. This is the birthplace of
Irish coffee so watch a demonstration before sipping one. Drive to Bunratty and spend free time in
Durty Nelly’s Pub or the Bunratty Folk Park. In the evening head to 15th century Bunratty Castle’s
Great Hall for a medieval-style banquet to carry you to the Middle Ages in spirit.
(B, D)
Day 12 : Tour Ends Shannon Airport
Your tour ends with a transfer to Shannon Airport to arrive at 6:00 am, 9:00 am or 12:00 noon, in good time to check in for onward or return flights.
(B)
B: Breakfast; D: Dinner; L: Lunch