10
Day
Irish Rover
Departs from
Dublin every Thursday at
09.00
Day 1 : Dublin
to Westport
Departing Dublin we make our
way straight to Galway to meet up with
some more travellers who will join our
crew. From here we mak
e
our way into the wilderness of Connemara
and follow the stone wall laneways around
the rugged mountains. This is followed
by a visit to Killary Harbour, Ireland’s
only fjiord, before we make our way to
Westport at the foot of Croagh Patrick.
Day 2: Westport
to Derry
From Westport we leave Mayo en route to
Sligo where we climb to the hillside tomb
of Queen Maeve. This lies at the top of
Knocknarea with its panoramic views of
Sligo Bay and the Donegal Coastline. At
the base of Benbulben we find the final
resting place of W.B.Yeats the founding
member of the Abbey theatre in Dublin
and one of the main movers of the Gaelic
literary revival at the end of the 19th
Century. On our route into Derry we visit
the fort of the O'Niells at Griannan an
Ailleach with its commanding position
overlooking Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly.
Day 3: Derry
to Belfast
We start the day with a walking tour of
the old town of Derry with a local guide.
Passing Dunluce Castle, we arrive at the
Giants Causeway a World Heritage Site
with unusual volcanic rock formations.
From here we head to Ballycastle going
via the Rope Bridge of Carrick-a-Rede*.
We then follow the Glens of Antrim where
we may get a clear view of our Celtic
neighbours in Scotland. They’re are
only a stone’s or spear’s throw
across the Irish Sea. Tonight we will
explore the nightlife of Belfast.
Day 4: Belfast
to Dublin
This morning we have some free
time with the opportunity to take the
famous ‘black taxi’** tour around
the city. This will give you an insight
into the recent history of this divided
place with an opportunity to visit areas
not normally on the tourist itinerary.
We then depart Belfast and start making
our way back to Dublin. We go back via
Monasterboice where we will see some excellent
examples of 10th century High Crosses,
the Hill of Slane, where we will see the
remains of a famous monastery and a church
built in the 16th century. Then it’s
off to the Hill of Tara before returning
to Dublin. Overnight tonight in Dublin
included in package price.
Day 5: Dublin
- Kilkenny
Leaving Dublin city we pass through the
Wicklow Mountains giving you an excellent
view of the entire city and en route down
from the Sally Gap we pass Lough Tay and
the Guinness Estate. Next up it’s
Glendalough, an ancient monastic settlement
with fine examples of round towers and
Christian architecture. We then visit
Tullow – a site of great victory
during the 1798 Rebellion and commemorated
by a statue of Fr. Murphy in the town
square. We then check out Browneshill
Dolmen, the largest dolmen in Ireland
with the capstone alone weighing approx
150 tons. Finally today it’s Kilkenny
Town, once the seat of medieval Irish
Parliaments and rivaling Dublin in importance.
It’s also home to a famous medieval
castle built in 1192, and many examples
of architecture dating from the Middle
Ages.
Day 6: Kilkenny
- Cork
We leave Kilkenny today and travel to
Cork City. En route we stop at the Rock
of Cashel and its soaring 13th-century
Cathedral of St. Patrick dramatically
overshadowing Cashel town. Then it’s
Cork, the second biggest city in the Republic
and the home of Murphy’s and Beamish
Stout. We have lunch in Cork and then
on to Blarney Castle with the famous Blarney
Stone which gives all who kiss it the
gift of the gab.
Day 7: West
Cork - Tralee
From Cork we make our way to Killarney
where we take a stroll in the Killarney
National Park with its great views of
the Lakes of Killarney. We then enjoy
the spectacular scenery of Ireland's highest
mountains, Macgillycuddy's Reeks, and
a visit to Torc Waterfall. Finally we
visit Tralee, home of the International
Rose of Tralee Festival.
Day 8: Dingle
Today we visit Dingle Harbour
- home of Fungi the most famous dolphin
in Ireland. We then take a drive around
the Dingle Peninsula with its stunning
scenery on the route out to Slea Head.
We also pass beneath Mount Eagle with
hills that appear to drop into the sea.
We find ourselves at Europe’s most
westerly point with views of the Blasket
Islands and the famous Sleeping Giant.
After a visit to Dingle town we head back
for another night in Tralee
Day 9: Tralee
and Galway
We travel from Kerry to Clare by ferry
across the Shannon, the longest river
in Ireland.
We stop in Kilrush, famous for traditional
music and then it’s on to Lahinch,
a beach town very popular with surfers.
Next it’s on to the Cliffs of Moher,
the most famous cliffs in Ireland, six
miles long and reaching to 700ft at their
highest point. After stopping at the cliffs
we drive past the Burren – a famous
exposed limestone area originally formed
at the bottom of shallow seas 300 million
years ago and scraped clean of topsoil
by glaciers 15000 years ago. It’s
also one of Europe's richest botanical
areas.
And then it’s on to capital of the
west - Galway - a University city, famous
for the arts, the Galway Races and the
Oyster festival.
Day 10: Galway
to Dublin
Take time this morning for bit of shopping
before departing the city returning to
where it all started , Dublin the home
of Guinness.
* opened from April – October
** Black Taxi tour approx stg £7
