9 Day Tours 2012 THE ORIGINAL IRISH PUB & FOLK TOUR
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Irish Pub Tour - from $1248 9 Day Tour including Superior & First Class Hotels |
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The Package
Highlights:
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Your Hotels
Superior & first class:
- Ashling Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
- Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny (1 night)
- International Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
- Wyatt Hotel, Westport (2 night)
- Ashling Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
Tour Includes:
- Airport transfers at start and end of tour
- Sightseeing by luxury coach
- Professional tour director
- 8 nights in hotels listed above
- Full breakfast daily except on day 1 (B)
- 6 dinners (D) including:
- Kate Kearney's Cottage dinner and entertainment
- Food, Folk and Fairies dinner/show at the Brazen Head Pub
- 4 table d'hote dinners - Welcome get-together drink
- Tour of Dublin with a local guide
- Tour and a pint at the Guinness Storehouse
- Sheepdog trials on Ring of Kerry
- Ferry ride across the River Shannon
- Day tour to Achill Island
- Dublin open-top bus tour with a visit and drink at Old Jameson Distillery
- Visits and admissions to Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens, House of Waterford Crystal, Blarney Castle, Blarney Woollen Mills, Skellig Experience, Cliffs of Moher, Westport House, Strokestown House and Famine Museum
- Deluxe carry-on backpack, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
- All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person
Itinerary
Day 1
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
Day 2 - National Stud & Medieval KilkennyDepart 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
Day 3 - Waterford Crystal & Blarney CastleDrive 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 you may like to explore some of the lively pubs where traditional Irish music is played. (B, D)
Day 4
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 dances. (B, D)
Day 5
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
Day 6 - Achill Island Excursion & Westport HouseVisit 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
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
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)
The Hotels
Ashling Hotel, DublinThe hotel is in an excellent location for visiting and exploring Dublin, and offers a wide range of services and amenities. Recently completely rebuilt, this property offers 225 spacious and well-equipped guest rooms as well as stylish, modern restaurants, bar and public spaces. |
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Ormonde Hotel, KilkennyThe four-star Ormonde Hotel is centrally located in historic Kilkenny. With its magnificent Castle and superb buildings of historical interest, Kilkenny is often referred to as the medieval capital of Ireland. Relax in the elegant public rooms or use the state-of-the-art leisure facilities. |
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International Hotel, KillarneyThe International Hotel is located at the heart of Killarney Town just a stroll from Killarney National Park. One of Killarney's longest established and much loved hotels, it brings guests the warmest of welcomes with a promise of excellence and blends the charm of times past with contemporary elegance. |
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Wyatt Hotel, WestportTraditional style 3-story building. Each of our en-suite bedrooms has been furnished to the highest standards, complete with direct dial telephone, hairdryer, trouser press, iron and 21" cable TV. |
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Ashling Hotel, DublinThe hotel is in an excellent location for visiting and exploring Dublin, and offers a wide range of services and amenities. Recently completely rebuilt, this property offers 225 spacious and well-equipped guest rooms as well as stylish, modern restaurants, bar and public spaces. |
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