UK Vacations

Ireland Vacation Packages Vacations

Day 1   Arrive in Dublin
 
Today we arrive in Dublin, Ireland's capital city. Since its beginning around AD 988, Dublin has accommodated many diverse nationalities from the Vikings and English invaders, to sailors, traders and writers who settled and lived here over the centuries. Modern Dublin is being transformed by enormous changes brought about by the recent economic boom, thought the city will always have a reputation as a great historical city, and its strong links with world literature and the arts are readily apparent. Overnight in Dublin. Dinner if required.

Day 2   Dublin: City Tour
 
Today we have a tour of the delights of Dublin, much of which will be done on foot at a leisurely pace. There are many architectural features of interest around the city from Georgian Dublin to the very modern Spire on O'Connell Street. We will visit Trinity College, founded by Elizabeth I, and home to the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels. St Patrick's Cathedral, the national cathedral and the home of the first university of Ireland, is our next visit. After our tour we will return to our hotel and have the balance of the day at leisure to relax or explore some more of this vibrant city on your own. Overnight in Dublin. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 3   Dublin - Glendalough - Waterford
 
This morning we depart for Waterford. Travelling south we pass through the Wicklow Mountains and arrive in the beautiful valley of Glendalough. Situated around two lakes, the monastic ruins of Glendalough create an atmosphere of romance and sanctity. After a visit of Glendalough, we continue on through the wooded river valley and the Vale of Avoca, famous for its handweavers. The poetic beauty of this region once inspired the writings of Thomas Moore. At the end of our day we arrive in Waterford, the largest town of the southeast. Situated on the bank of the River Suir, Waterford is best known for its glassworks whose production dates back to 1783. On arrival we will have a brief orientation tour of Waterford before checking in to our hotel. (NOTE: We no longer include a tour of the Glassworks as most past travellers have told us that they would have preferred more time at Glendalough and Avoca which are more in line with the cultural / historical nature of our tour). Overnight in Waterford. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 4   Waterford - Cobh - Killarney
 
This morning we continue to Killarney via Cobh in County Cork. Cobh was known as Queenstown for some decades before reverting to its old Irish name in 1922: the Cobh (cove) of Cork. There is nowhere in Ireland more full of poignant memories than this embarkation point for hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish men and women who left for America left to build a new life, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Many thrived and prospered, but many died on the journey in the terrible travelling conditions of the time. We visit the Cobh Heritage Centre in which the story of Cobh's unique origin are dramatically recalled through a multimedia exhibition. Visitors can explore the conditions on board the early emigrant vessels to America and a convict ship leaving Cobh to Australia in 1801, discover the connections between Queenstown and the Titanic and learn about Annie Moore who was the first emigrant ever to be processed in Ellis Island. A pleasant drive west then brings us to Killarney, nestled just off the northern tip of Killarney National Park. Sites of interest in the town reflect it's strong religious and educational history. Killarney was a Church foundation from the 5th or 6th century; house settlement began here from around 1500. Overnight in Killarney. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 5   Killarney - Ring of Kerry - Killarney
 
As we circle around the Ring of Kerry today we are continuously presented with a succession of picturesque land and seascapes. This is some of Ireland's most spectacular scenery, including Dingle Bay, Ireland's highest mountain, Carrantuohill; Moll's Gap, Ladies' View and the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Above all the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland: Iron age forts and ogham stones, old monasteries and a landscape carved out of rock by the last ice age 10,000 years ago. We return to Killarney. Before and / or after dinner you can explore colourful laneways, historic buildings dating back to the days of the landlord, and experience the ambience of busy streets in the town centre. Killarney is a lively hub of activity with many shops, restaurants, and pubs. Overnight in Killarney. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 6   Killarney - Dingle Peninsula - Killarney
 
The Dingle Peninsula offers us more superb coastal scenery with a variety of beaches, mountains, and countryside. There is no other landscape in western Europe with the density and variety of archaeological monuments as the Dingle Peninsula. This mountainous finger of land which juts into the Atlantic Ocean has supported various tribes and populations for almost 6,000 years. Because of the peninsula's remote location, and lack of specialised agriculture, there is a remarkable preservation of over 2,000 monuments. We visit the Blasket Centre in Dun Chaoin, at the western end of the Dingle Peninsula. The centre celebrates the Irish language and the distinctive character of the people who once lived on the Blasket Islands. A main focus of the centre is the unique literary achievements of this isolated community off the Kerry coast which was evacuated in 1953. We will also stop at the Gallarus Oratory, one of the finest examples of an early Christian church to be found in Ireland, dating from 800 AD. As early as the 6th century monastic settlements were built in remote areas of Ireland. This small oratory, built without mortar, uses corbel vaulting a technique developed by Neolithic tomb-makers. We return to Killarney. Overnight in Killarney. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 7   Killarney - Cliffs of Moher - Galway
 
Heading north we continue on to Galway via the car ferry across the Shannon from Tarbet to Killimer. The highlight of our day is a visit to the Cliffs of Moher. These great dark cliffs rise from the Atlantic to heights over 200 m (656 feet). The panorama of the Clare coast is breathtaking, and these remarkable cliffs are home to a great variety of seabirds, including a puffin colony. On a clear day you can see the Aran Islands off in the distance. We also pass through an area called the Burren, a karst limestone region of approximately 300 sq km. It is composed of limestone pavements, which are eroded in a distinctive pattern known as 'karren.' This pavement is crisscrossed by cracks known as grykes and underneath the pavement there are huge caves and rivers that suddenly flood when it rains. It contains dozens of megalithic tombs and celtic crosses and a ruined Cistercian Abbey from the 12th century. We continue to Galway, one of Europe's fastest-growing cities with a population of 61,000. Galway is a major city by Irish standards, yet it still manages to retain much of the accessibility and congeniality of a small town. Galway is perhaps the most prosperous city in Ireland and arguably the most immediately appealing. Overnight in Galway. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 8   Galway - Connemara - Galway
 
Today we tour one of the most beautiful regions of this country, the Connemara. This has long been regarded as the true real essence of Ireland. As with most of County Galway, Connemara's history goes back thousands of years. Local archaeologist, Michael Gibbons describes finding a Bann spearhead in Streamstown dating 7,000 years old. It was a rare and wonderful find as the people of that era were known to be nomadic hunter gatherers. Other sites found in the area suggest the change over from the nomadic lifestyle to that of farming communities. Connemara's coast is very convoluted and it has a wealth of lovely beaches, little islands and harbours. The area around Clifden, the main town in Connemara, is rich with megalithic tombs. The famous green/white Connemara Marble was a trade treasure used by the inhabitants of the time and it continues to be of great value today. As part of today's tour we will visit Kylemore Abbey, a neo-Gothic mansion where Benedictine Nuns now house a convent school. After a full morning of touring we return to Galway with the afternoon free to wander about on your own. In the center of town, on Shop Street, is Lynch's 'Castle', dating from 1490 and renovated in the 19th century. It's the oldest Irish medieval town house used daily for commercial purposes (it's now a branch of the Allied Irish Bank). The exterior is full of carved gargoyles, impressive coats of arms, and other decorative stonework. Walk northwest 1 block to Market Street, and you'll see the Lynch Memorial Window embedded in a wall above a built-up Gothic doorway. It commemorates the 16th-century Mayor James Lynch FitzStephen, who condemned his son to death for the murder of a Spanish merchant. During the 170-year heyday of the tribes, Galway grew wealthy and cosmopolitan, with particularly strong trade links to Spain. Close to the city docks, you can still see the area where Spanish merchants unloaded cargo from their galleons. The Spanish Arch was one of four arches built in 1594, and the Spanish Parade is a small open square where visitors strolled in the evening. Local legend has it that Christopher Columbus attended mass at Galway's St. Nicholas Collegiate Church before setting sail for the New World in 1477. Originally built in 1320, the church has been enlarged, rebuilt, and embellished over the years. It has also changed denominations at least four times. Overnight in Galway. All meals.

Day 9   Galway, Ireland - Londonderry / Derry, Northern Ireland
 
Our early morning departure enables us to make the most of our day. Northward from Galway, we find beauty in the landscape as we travel from the west coast to the northern tip of the island. We pass through the once quiet village of Knock, which has since been transformed into a place of pilgrimage. It was here that in 1879 two village women saw apparitions on the gable of the church, and today more than one million pilgrims travel to see the 'Apparition at Knock'. The beautiful and varied scenery continues as we proceed on to Sligo, nearby which we visit the grave of poet/playwrite, William Butler Yeats (1865-1939), one of Ireland's most accomplished and renown literary figures. We will also pass through Donegal, once a Viking stronghold, at the mouth of the River Eske. We spend an hour in Donegal town to visit Donegal Castle or Magee's, the home of Irish Tweed, arriving in Londonderry / Derry*, Northern Ireland in the late afternoon. * The true name of the city of Derry or Londonderry is a subject of dispute between Nationalists (mostly Catholic) and Unionists (most of whom are Protestant), with nationalists calling it Derry, and Unionists, Londonderry. Although many Unionists will call it Derry in casual conversation, they generally insist on calling it Londonderry during political discourse; the reverse is not true of Nationalists. The most visible sign of this dispute to the visitor is in the road signage; those pointing to the town from within the Republic refer to it as "Derry", while across the border it is written as "Londonderry". Overnight in Derry. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 10   Londonderry / Derry: City Tour
 
We will start our walking tour at the city's original 17th Century walls which have withstood several sieges over the ages. Four main streets radiate out from the Diamond in the town centre where the town hall used to stand. We will be able to visit St Columb's Cathedral, one of the most important historic buildings within the walls. The history of the city from prehistoric times to the present can be seen in the Tower Museum, located in the O'Doherty Tower. The Guildhall, erected in 1890, is remarkably well preserved despite having been severely damaged twice during Northern Ireland's more recent tumultuous past. Its stained glass windows illustrate almost every episode of note in the city's history. Also outside of the city walls we will see the Long Tower Church, the oldest Roman Catholic church in town. Overnight in Derry. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 11   Londonderry / Derry - Giant's Causeway - Belfast
 
Leaving 'Derry we head northeast along the coast road. Our journey to Belfast not only takes us along one of the most scenic routes in all of Ireland, but it also passes Northern Ireland's most famous landmark, the Giant's Causeway, once believed to be the work of giants. Today we will visit these masses of basalt columns that form stepping stones climbing out from the sea up to the cliff. Some of the approximately 40,000 columns reach up to over 12 m (40 feet) in height. En route we visit spectacular Dunluce Castle where the limestone cliffs of the White Rocks end abruptly against a dark basalt outcrop crowned by the castle and joined to the mainland by an arched walkway. It is believed that the castle was built or (possibly) rebuilt by Richard de Burgh or one of his chief followers during the Anglo Norman period in Ireland. The site was certainly occupied as a fort prior to this time. The castle which has seen many additions to its original structure over the centuries gradually fell into disuse from the late 1600s. We travel further along the coastal route, eventually heading south with the North Channel to our left, arriving in Belfast in the late afternoon. Much of this city has been pleasantly pedestrianized, and in the early evening you may like to go for a stroll and explore this lively, cultural metropolis. Overnight in Belfast. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 12   Belfast: City Tour
 
Belfast is essentially a Victorian city, and no matter where you go you can see Edwardian and Victorian buildings with elaborate sculptures over the windows and doors. The City Hall, which dominates the main shopping area, was built in the grand Classical Renaissance style with an Italian Marble interior. We will also visit St Anne's Cathedral, enlivened inside by mosaics and a floor made of stone from all parts of Ireland. Although the Cathedral was begun in 1899, it was not completed until 1981. During part of our day we will drive by the historic Belfast Port and Harbour, once the UK's largest shipyard and the building site of such famous liners as the Titanic. We will visit the newly refurbished boat that was used to ferry the first and second class passengers from the pier to the Titanic. You will also learn much about the city's more recent history and the challenges it has faced during the times of 'The Troubles'. After our morning tour we return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Belfast. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 13   Belfast, Northern Ireland - Dublin, Ireland
 
Today we depart Belfast and head south, stopping at Lisburn Linen to see the development of the linen industry of Northern Ireland. We also make a stop in Hillsborough, an exceptionally historic and picturesque village just outside of Lisburn. The Boyne Valley is rich in Irish history, with several prehistoric burial sites in the surrounding area. We arrive in Dublin in time to allow for some last minute museum browsing or shopping. Overnight in Dublin. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 14   Departure
 
Departure from Dublin. Breakfast. SLAN ABHAILE!!

10/09

United Kingdom, Ireland Vacations

Book or Plan Your United Kingdom, Ireland Vacation or Tour Here