Day 1 Dublin - Kilkenny
Within half an hour of leaving Dublin city we are driving through some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland, the Wicklow Mountains. Glorious mountains, glacial lakes, battlefields and bog holes, you name it! Stopping all along the way breathing in the fresh mountain air. Our first major stop is Glendalough an ancient monastic settlement, the ruined churches and round towers evoking an eerie yet tranquil atmosphere where your imagination can run wild thinking about monks on the run from Vikings and Saints throwing naked women into lakes (all will be revealed)!! After a hearty lunch in the nearby village we drive through Wicklow, the “Garden of Ireland”, and onto Browneshill Dolmen, a formidable ancient momument with deep mystical connections. Finally we arrive in Kilkenny city, the city of cats (not a pretty story) in medieval times more important than Dublin and famous for it’s castle.
Day 2 Kilkenny - West Cork
Leaving Kilkenny we make our way through the infamous highways but mostly byways of Ireland and on to Cork. On route we stop at the imposing but awe-inspiring Rock of Cashel, one of the most spectacular archeological sites in Ireland. We arrive into Cork City second largest city in the Republic, stout lovers watch out this is the home of Murphys & Beamish. From here we pucker up and make our way to Blarney. One kiss of the Blarney stone will entitle the kisser to the “gift of the gab”, kissing requires an acrobatic manouvre at the top of the 15th century Blarney castle. However another secret treasure awaits in Blarney and that’s the fairy glen, if you don’t meet them here, you never will! After a quick strip search of all passengers to ensure that no fairies are travelling in cohoots, we make our way out into West Cork countryside and end up in the wee town of Kinsale with it’s brightly painted shop fronts, not to be missed.
Day 3 West Cork - Tralee
Our very first stop this morning brings us to the ancient site of Drombeg Stone Circle more than two thousand years old, it’s one of the most beautiful in the country and set in stunning scenery. On a misty morning it’s magical, mystical Ireland at its best. From Drombeg we drive through some of the most beautiful scenery on our way to Kenmare. The tropical village of Glengarriff and the rugged mountains of the Magillycudd0y Reeks. We have reached the Kingdom of Kerry!! After lunch in Kenmare we make our way through Killarney National Park with it’s magnificent Lakes and spectacular scenery with Ireland’s highest mountains providing a dramatic backdrop, we take visit (or a dip) to Torc Waterfall and then a short drive to Tralee for the night!
Day 4 Kerry
Today is spent in Dingle. Health Warning: The “Dingle Tingle” is infectious, you may never be able to leave!!!! Fungie the dolphin has been in the bay for over 15 years, there is nothing more spectacular than watching him playing in the ocean as the sun is setting over the peninsula. We will take a drive along Slea Head, one of the most impressive drives in Ireland with several ancient sites to be explored and stunning wild atlantic scenery. Then back to Dingle town for whatever tickles your fancy, pints in one of the 54 pubs (there’s 45 pubs in the winter, the others are shops that turn into pubs for the summer!!) or shopping in one of the beautiful craft shops or just plain wandering around the bay. Then back to Tralee for another night of merriment and relaxation.
Day 5 Tralee - Galway (New Years Eve)
Today we make our way to Co. Clare, via a ferry across the mouth of the longest river in Ireland, the Shannon and the setting for many ancient Irish legends. In Clare we drive through Kilrush and Listowel both famous for their traditional music and literary festivals. Listowel being the home of the late John B. Keane. Then we drive to Lahinch for lunch, a surfing town with long sandy beaches and great waves, and from here the beach disappears and the land rises higher and higher until we reach an 750ft drop to the ocean…..the Cliffs of Moher. Whether you find a grassy knoll, or hike along the cliffs they never fail to impress. From the cliffs we make our way through the Burren – a moonscape of limestone originally formed at the bottom of shallow seas 300 million years ago and carved out by the ice age 15,000 years ago. We drive along the coast all the way to Galway, a city famous for its festivals and tiny cobbled streets, buskers and street performers are found in every corner and the vibrant atmosphere will have you out dancing till the wee hours.
Day 6 Galway - Dublin (New Years Day)
The journey back to Dublin begins with a morning shopping/strolling break in Galway. Then as we make our way through the heart of Ireland we visit a place that has a special place in the heart the Irish….Locke’s whiskey distillery, the oldest licenced distillery in the country, to taste some of it’s finest. On route into Dublin we detour via Phoenix Park ,the largest enclosed park in Europe, three times the size of Central Park in New York, which now houses the American Ambassador as well as the President of Ireland. It was originally opened as a deer park in 1662 and there are still around 300 deer roaming around. After a lark in the park we make our way back into the city for around 4.30pm
Departure?
Departs
Dublin 27th December 2004
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