10 Day Iconic Scenes Of Ireland 2020

Itinerary

The Definitive Ireland Tour

The perfect introduction to the very best of Ireland. A 10-day tour of the Republic of Ireland, visiting its best-loved attractions and its best-kept secrets including the Wild Atlantic Way. The rich and rugged scenery. The friendly, welcoming people. The storied, unforgettable history. At a comfortable pace, this all-inclusive tour introduces you to Ireland’s iconic locations and its vibrant culture.

Day By Day

Offering guests the chance to explore the quintessential destinations of the Irish landscape, the 10 Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland Tour is the perfect bucket list adventure of Ireland. Click on the days below to find out what adventures await you on each day of your tour.

Day 1 Itinerary

On arrival in Dublin Airport reclaim your baggage and enter the Arrivals Hall. Here in the Arrivals Hall you will meet your tour guide (who is also your driver). There will be three group transfers this morning between 0700 am and 1200 noon. Board your luxury coach and transfer to the Dunboyne Castle Hotel.

15:00 Check in time. Hotel reception will store your luggage prior to check in.

At 1900 this evening all participants will gather for dinner in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel restaurant where you will become acquainted with your fellow travellers and the coming days can be discussed at leisure with your tour guide.

Included Today

• Welcome Dinner
• Dunboyne Castle Hotel

Day 2 Itinerary

After a hearty full Irish breakfast we will depart for Galway City, known as the “City of the Tribes”. Travelling west your route today will take you through Ballinasloe & Athlone, which is the centre of Ireland.

You will visit Clonmacnoise, a medieval monastery on the banks of the River Shannon founded by St. Ciaran in the Sixth Century. Clonmacnoise lay at a crossroads of medieval Ireland linking all parts of Ireland. Sacked time and again by the Vikings, it nevertheless flourished for over 600 years.

On arrival in Galway City you will have a tour of this ancient city including its famous Eyre Square. Take time for a ramble down Shop Street to Galway’s Latin Quarter where stands Lynch’s Castle, Galway’s grandest 16th century town house. Stroll through Salthill Promenade, a Wild Atlantic Way discovery point, or up the bustling Quay Street with its many great pubs and lively street performers.

For guests who start their tour on March 16th (Monday), today will be March 17th (Tuesday)… also known as St.Patrick’s Day! Feel free to explore Galway City as it goes into full St. Patrick’s Day mode.

Tonight you will dine in the Menlo Park Hotel.

Included Today

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Clonmacnoise Monastery
• Menlo Park Hotel

Day 3 Itinerary

Today you will tour the sights of wild Connemara via the villages of Oughterard and Maam Cross before travelling up the spectacular Inagh Valley to Kylemore.

You will visit Kylemore Abbey, which is nestled at the base of Duchruach Mountain on the northern shore of Lough Pollacappul, in the heart of the Connemara Mountains. It is regarded as one of Ireland’s most romantic buildings.

Continue on via Letterfrack to Clifden, where you can enjoy some free time. The capital of Connemara, Clifden was founded in 1812 by the High Sheriff of Galway to create a pocket of respectability within the lawlessness of Connemara.

Return east to Galway City. Tonight you will dine in the Menlo Park Hotel.

Included Today

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Kylemore Abbey
• Menlo Park Hotel

Day 4 Itinerary

This morning bright and early we will head down the Atlantic seaboard on the west coast of Clare to Killarney. Your route today will be via the famous Galway Bay, Dunguaire Castle and the fishing village of Kinvarra

You will see The Burren, which is Gaelic for rocky land – an apt name for this vast limestone plateau. In the 1640’s, Cromwell’s surveyor described it as “a savage land, yielding neither water enough to drown a man, nor tree to hang him, nor soil enough to bury”.

On the coast you will stand on the dramatic 214 metres (704 feet) high and 8 kilometres (5 miles) long Cliffs of Moher, a Wild Atlantic Way signature discovery point, to gaze out on the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean.

Further south in County Limerick take time to stroll the main street of the beautiful thatched village of Adare before travelling on to Killarney.

Tonight you will overnight & dine in Dromhall Hotel.

For guests who start their tour on 25th of May, 15th of June & 14th of September, you will overnight & dine in Randles Hotel.

Both of these 4 star hotels are located adjacent to each other on the same street in Killarney.

Included Today

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Cliffs of Moher
• Dromhall Hotel Or Randles Hotel

Day 5 Itinerary

This morning after breakfast you will set off on the world famous Ring of Kerry (Iveragh Peninsula) via Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Coomakesta Pass with it magnificent views over Derrynane, home of Daniel O’ Connell (known as “The Liberator”), to Caherdaniel.

Today you will have a traditional Irish pub lunch in The Blind Piper Pub in the village of Caherdaniel. Locals and visitors alike have been drinking here since 1865.

Who is the Blind Piper? The Blind Piper is Mici Cumba O’Sullivan who was born nearby in 1835 and became one of Ireland’s most famous pipers.

Continue on via the pretty village of Sneem, Moll’s Gap, Ladies View and along the Lakes of Killarney to Killarney town.

Tonight you will overnight & dine in Dromhall Hotel.

For guests who start their tour on 25th of May, 15th of June & 14th of September, you will overnight & dine in Randles Hotel.

Both of these 4 star hotels are located adjacent to each other on the same street in Killarney.

Included Today

• Irish Breakfast
• Traditional Pub Lunch
• Evening Dinner
• Dromhall Hotel Or Randles Hotel

Day 6 Itinerary

After a hearty Irish breakfast this morning you will depart for Cork City on the banks of the River Lee, home of Murphy’s Original Irish Stout, and considered by many Corkonians to be the real capital of Ireland!

Your route today will take you over the famous Cork/Kerry Mountains via the Irish speaking villages of Ballymakeery and Ballyvourney to the old market town of Macroom, where you will see Macroom Castle, once home of Sir William Penn, whose son was later to found the state of Pennsylvania.

Travel on to the village of Blarney via the valley of the river Lee. Here you will visit Blarney Castle built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy. This might be your only chance to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone!

You will have an opportunity for shopping at Blarney Woolen Mills where one of the largest selections of Irish arts, crafts and produce can be seen on display.

In Midleton Town you will visit Jameson Old Midleton Distillery which has the world’s largest pot still with a capacity of over 30,000 gallons. After the tour you might like to enjoy a complimentary drop of Irish whiskey.

Guests who start their tour on a Monday will Dine & Overnight at the Imperial Hotel.

Guests who start their tour on a Wednesday or start their tour on Monday 27th April will Dine & Overnight at the Maldron Hotel South Mall.

Both of these 4 Star hotels are on the same street, in the heart of Cork City.

Included today:

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Blarney Castle
• Jameson Distillery
• Imperial Hotel or Maldron Hotel South Mall

Day 7 Itinerary

After breakfast this morning you’ll have free time to wander through some of the small streets of Cork City.

Later this morning you will travel to the historic town of Kinsale to visit Charles Fort. This star shaped fort was built in the 1670’s by the English to protect Kinsale harbour against foreign naval forces.

Take time this afternoon to explore the beautiful town of Kinsale and you might want to visit Boland’s Craft Shop.

Guests who start their tour on a Monday will Dine & Overnight at the Imperial Hotel.

Guests who start their tour on a Wednesday or start their tour on Monday 27th April will Dine & Overnight at the Maldron Hotel South Mall.

Both of these 4 Star hotels are on the same street, in the heart of Cork City.

Included today:

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Charles Fort
• Imperial Hotel or Maldron Hotel South Mall

Day 8 Itinerary

This morning after breakfast you will depart for Dublin, Ireland’s capital city. En route, will visit The Rock of Cashel, rising out dramatically from the plains of Tipperary. This was the seat of kings and medieval bishops for 900 years and flourished until the early 17th century. Brian Ború was crowned King of Munster here in 977 and he became High King of Ireland in 1002.

You will enjoy a unique home cooked lunch experience today on a family farm outside Kilkenny. Here you will have an opportunity to chat with your hosts and hear about their life and times farming in this rural part of Kilkenny.

After a hearty lunch you will visit the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens. This is a state-run bloodstock farm, which was founded in 1900 by an eccentric Anglo-Irish colonel called William Walker. On finishing the tour of the stud farm take a walk through the Japanese Gardens, which were laid out in 1906 to represent the “Life of Man.”

This afternoon you will once again be back in the “Fair City” of Dublin.

Guests who start their tour on a Monday will Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge.

Guests who start their tour on a Wednesday will Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Charlemont.

Both of these 4 Star hotels are located in the same picturesque region of south Dublin City.

Included today:

• Irish Breakfast
• Farm Lunch
• Evening Dinner
• The Rock of Cashel
• National Stud
• Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge or Clayton Hotel Charlemont

Day 9 Itinerary

After breakfast, your exploration through Dublin City will begin with Trinity College founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I on the site of an Augustinian monastery. Trinity College is also home to the Book of Kells, which is the most richly decorated of Ireland’s medieval illuminated manuscripts. The book contains the four gospels in Latin. Some of the dyes used were imported from as far as the Middle East.

Christ Church Cathedral, founded by the Viking King Sitric almost 1000 years ago in 1034. The cathedral crypt is one of the largest in the UK and Ireland, dating back to the 12th Century. Here in the crypt you can see the Mummified remains of the Cat and the Rat which were found in the cathedral organ, and a rare 14th century copy of the Magna Carta.

You will also have a unique opportunity to visit the Belfry and ring the Cathedral bells. Please note: Getting to the Belfry in Christ Church Cathedral involves climbing 86 stone steps in a medieval building and crossing the roof at the South transept – quite the experience!

For guests who start their tour on the 6th of July, today’s church visit will be to the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Founded over 800 years ago and dedicated to Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Today, Saint Patrick’s stands as Ireland’s largest cathedral and is the venue for many public national ceremonies, including Ireland’s Remembrance Day.

Visit Guinness Storehouse at St. James’s Gate for a tour of the world famous brewery and afterwards enjoy a perfect complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which is located at the top of a glass tower that commands spectacular views of Dublin City and County in every direction.

This evening in The Merry Ploughboy, one of Dublin’s iconic traditional venues, you’ll enjoy dinner and an evening of Irish music, song and dance.

Guests who start their tour on a Monday will Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge.

Guests who start their tour on a Wednesday will Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Charlemont.

Both of these 4 Star hotels are located in the same picturesque region of south Dublin City.

Included today:

• Irish Breakfast
• Dinner & Show
• Guinness Storehouse
• Trinity College
• Christ Church Cathedral or Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
• Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge or Clayton Hotel Charlemont

Day 10: Departure Day

Today marks the end of the 10 Day Iconic Tour of Ireland.

After a final great Irish breakfast this morning there will be 3 group transfers between 0500 and 1100 for you to choose from to get you to Dublin Airport for your return flight home. Turas sàbhailte dhuibh (safe journey).