14-day Itinerary “Full Ireland Experience”
(Note — This itinerary can be started from either Shannon or Dublin)
Travel gather, flight to New York/Boston or Atlanta and then
on to Dublin, Ireland
2:45 pm - Meet at Gerald R Ford Airport in Grand Rapids, check baggage
4:47 pm - Flight leaves for Chicago; arrives 4:41 pm in Chicago
7:15 pm - Flight leaves for Ireland
Day 1 Arrive in Ireland, then we’ll introduce you to “Eire” by
driving north to see the historic Boyne Valley
Flight arrives 8:45 pm
Newgrange/Knowth/Dowth Passage Tombs, Old Mellifont Abbey,
Monasterboice High Crosses and Round Tower; Stay at South Lodge B&B in Portmarock for two full nights
Day 2 Today we'll drive north to the historic hills sites, then farther north through Dundalk and the Carlingford Peninsula We'll visit the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland, the Hill of Tara, then on to Slane Hill and Abbey (where St Patrick challenged the local kings at Easter), on north to Dundalk and the Proleek burial dolman and into Carlingford Town, visiting two castles and finely preserved round tower, before returning to north Dublin for dinner in Malahide; Stay a second night at South Lodge B&B.
Day 3 driving south today, through the Wicklow Mountains, then further south to Waterford and finally to Tramore St. Kevin’s at Glendalough, Avoca Hand Weavers (site of Ballykissangel from PBS/BBC fame), Dunbrody Famine Ship, Waterford Crystal Factory; Stay at Cliff House B&B
Day 4 driving north and west today, on to Cashel, then back south to Blarney After a morning drive, we’ll visit the imposing Rock of Cashel, then to Cahir Castle (sight of the filming of the movie Excaliber) and finally to Blarney Castle, Shopping at Blarney Woolen Mills; Stay at Blarney Vale Bed and Breakfast
Day 5 a day trip to 3,000 year old stone circle, then on to Killarney through the national park Headed west in the morning brings us to the scenic southwest peninsulas, including the Beara and its imposing Ardgroom Stone Circle, over Healy Pass, through Moll’s Gap, past and through the Macgillikuddy’s Reeks Mountains, Killarney National Park, Lady’s View, Tork Falls, Muckross House, Ross Castle, Laurels Singing Pub; Stay at Inches House Bed and Breakfast for two nights
Day 6 Choice of Ring of Kerry OR Ring of Dingle Tour Each feature outstanding scenery, grand oceans capes, mountain grandeur and select visits to historic Neolithic sites on either peninsula. We’ll have lunch out at the end of either land-mass, then eventually back to Killarney for shopping, further site-seeing, a jaunting cart ride, dinner and visits to Ross Castle and/or the Laurels in the evening; Stay again at Inches House
Day 7 north to Tralee, then east to Limerick and north to the Bunratty/Shannon area Killarney town, Adair Castle, Limerick, afternoon at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park or Golf, evening meal at Bunratty Medieval Banquet; Stay in Bunratty at the Courtyard B&B, within walking distance of Bunratty Castle, Folk Park and Medieval Banquet
Day 8 north and west from Bunratty, to the Cliffs, the Burren and
beyond
Dromoland Castle, through Ennis to the Cliffs of Moher, Kilfenora
Burren Center, Polnabrohn Dolman, The Burren, Dunguaire Castle,
Connemara Marble Factory;
Stay at the Lake Side Country House Bed and Breakfast, Oughterard
Day 9 driving northwest through Connemara Country, then back east , visiting two of the most famous Irish areas, including Kylemore Abbey and Sky Drive in the west and Clonmacnois in the Midlands Aughnere Castle, 12 Bens/Pins Mountains, Sky Drive and Clifden Castle, Kylemore Abbey and Gothic Church, Joyce Country Drive; Stay again at Lake Side Country House
Day 10 A day of leisure and choices golf on a links course, trip into Galway town for shopping and tour and ½ day junket to Salthill and out along the islands and inlets of Galway Bay; Stay at Lakeside
Day 11 drive north and then east through the Lough Gap to visit Cong and Ashford Castle, then a stop at Jeff’s favorite ‘off the beaten track’ castle at Hacket’s, then on visit the ‘crossroads’ of Christianity at Clonmacnoise Cong, Ashford Castle, Hacket’s Castle, and then visit the high Ecclesiastical Site at Clonmacnoise on the Shannon River; Stay at Meadow View B&B - near Shannonbridge and Eat at the Fort Restaurant
Day 12 south to visit the Shannonbridge and Offaly Railway into and through the Blackwater Bog, then south to Birr Castle Gardens, up and over the Slieve Bloom Mountains and on to Kildare We start with the quaint railroad through the living Blackwater Bog south of Shannonbridge, then on to the grand Birr Castle Gardens, a natural loop up over the Slieve Bloom Mountains and on to the National Stud/Japanese and Crystal Gardens at Kildare; Stay at Dun Aohngus B&B near Kildare
Day 13 we drive farther north and east for a ride on the Grand Canal at Robertstown, then on to see the largest castle in Ireland at Trim, then to the haunting and ancient Hill at Tara, home of the ancient High Kings of Ireland; St. Patrick’s Easter fire site at Slane Grand Canal Barge ride at Robertstown, then on to a visit to Trim Castle (site of the filming of portions of Braveheart), then on to see the Hill of Tara, the Hill of Slane and finally to Malahide Manor House; Stay at Beechwood Country House for our last two nights in Ireland
Day 14 Full day in historic and contemporary Dublin Ride into Dublin on the DART electric train; the morning will include the Hop-on, Hop-off Dublin Tour (Drive past Trinity College and Book of Kells, National Museum, National Library, GPO, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, Phoenix Park and more!; Lunch at Bewleys on Grafton Street; Afternoon: half a day to shop, tour, eat, see more history or sites in depth from the morning motor tour; dinner in Dublin or in Malahide town; stay at Beechwood County House for second night
Travel breakfast, then off to the airport for flights back to
the United States
To the airport by 12:45 pm
Fly out of Dublin at 2:45 pm; arrive Chicago 5:00pm
Depart Chicago 6:30pm; arrive Grand Rapids 8:30 pm
Itinerary Highlights
See the sites in the photo gallery. The pictures were all taken by Jeff on previous tours, so you'll get a glimpse of just how beautiful your tour will be.