Exploring Southern Ireland
Details
Starts: Thur., May 1, 2025 Ends: Sat., May 10, 2025
Visiting: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Epic Museum, Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, The Epic Museum, Guinness Storehouse, Book of Kells, Jameson Whiskey, Brazen Head Story night, Clonmacnoise Site, Kylemore Abbey, Cliffs of Mohar, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Bog Village
Sheepdog Trials, Blarney Castle, Cobh Heritage, Waterford Crystal, National Stud
- Round trip air from Rapid City, SD including ALL taxes & fuel surcharges
- Private Transportation with Irish Driver / Guide & all hotel accommodations based on double occupancy
- 8 Irish Breakfasts
- Free time to explore the local Pubs & all sightseeing and entrance fees as listed in the itinerary
- 1 suitcase per person maximum 50lbs (any airline fees are included) with all baggage handling & taxes
- Entrance Fee Visits Included
- Fully escorted
Day 1
Home Airport to Dublin, Ireland
This morning we depart Rapid City Regional Airport and head out on our overnight journey to the beautiful Emerald Isle. Your Travel Escort(s) will be with you throughout.
Overnight Trans-Atlantic flight – Meals aboard aircraft
Day 2
Arrive Ireland and explore Dublin City
We arrive at Dublin Airport this morning, pass through immigration and then pass through customs with our baggage. On exiting the Arrival Hall we are met by our Irish driver/guide. He will offer us a Failte or a Cead Mile Failte, (Welcome). We board our private motor coach and then we’re off on our Irish Adventure! Our visits in Dublin are - Scenic City Tour, Phoenix Park, Edwardian Squares, St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Guinness Storehouse & The National Gallery (nearby) Kildare St. After our touring we check in to The Alex Hotel where we enjoy relaxing free time until our welcome supper.
Overnight Dublin – Welcome Supper included
Day 3
Dublin City
After a hearty breakfast we board the coach for part two of Dublin. Our visits today are; The Epic, the natural History Museum, The Book of Kells/Trinity College, The Jameson Whiskey Experience then a free afternoon for shopping and exploring. Tonight we are in for a treat! We enjoy an evening of food, folklore and fairies at The Brazen Head Pub – Ireland’s oldest pub established in 1198! We experience an enchanting evening of Irish folklore and storytelling while enjoying a candlelit traditional Irish dinner in The Brazen Head. Their renowned storytellers will take us away into a world of the imagination with wonderful insights and magical tales about Irish life in times past. This wonderful evening also includes live traditional Irish music and ballads. After we return to our hotel for overnight.
Overnight Dublin – Breakfast included plus Irish Night with Supper
Day 4
Galway
This morning after breakfast we load our luggage, board our coach and head to Galway - total distance is 133 miles (215Km), mostly 4 lane Motorway (Highway) but we will have a few stops! Visits today are; Clonmacnoise monastic site with a short walking tour of Medieval Galway. We check into our hotel and enjoy free time.
Overnight Galway – Breakfast included
Day 5
Connemara
This morning, we travel around the Irish speaking area of west Galway known as the Gaeltacht known for its rugged landscape, unusual places and spectacular scenery. Visits today are Cong Village film set for the ‘Quiet Man’ John Wayne/Maureen O’Hara, Kylemore Abbey, Siopa Standun and an Aran shop. We return to the Galway Bay hotel for free time.
Overnight Galway – Breakfast included
Day 6
Killarney
This morning again after a hearty breakfast we depart for Killarney, 172 miles of driving with three great stops. On route through Limerick County we try our hand/brain at composing the funniest of Irish ‘literature, The Limerick! Our visits today are; The Burren, Lunar landscape, The Cliffs of Mohar, Bunratty Castle, Bunratty Folk Park and Adare Village, a unique little town. After we check in to the Randles Court Hotel, Killarney for overnight and dinner. Killarney is a fun town and has loads of pubs with music and late opening stores.
Overnight Killarney – Breakfast included
Day 7
Ring of Kerry
The most famous circular tour in Ireland is the Ring of Kerry - 110 miles total. Travelling around the Iveragh Peninsula this tour takes in the Wild Atlantic Way, the National Park and much more. Lots of stops today! Visits today are; The Bog Village, The Sheepdog Exhibition, Shepard & dogs herding flighty sheep on the mountain, The Scariff Inn our cliff top lunch stop, Ladies View named by Queen Victoria, The lakes and the National Park, Killarney. After our scenic day we return to the hotel for overnight.
Overnight Killarney – Breakfast included
Day 8
Cork & Blarney
Ladies have your best lipstick on today as we travel to Blarney Castle to ‘Kiss the Stone of Eloquence’! We enjoy shopping at the famous Blarney Woollen Mills and then we continue our journey to Cobh on Cork’s Great Island. This ancient and nautical town was the last port of call of the Titanic and also is the burial site of the souls lost onboard the Lusitania. Visits today are; Cork City tour, the English Market, Blarney Castle (Lots of stone steps, spiral stairway), Cobh Heritage Centre - here we see a statue of Annie Moore, the 1st person to pass through Ellis Island, 1st January 1892. After our exploring today we check into our hotel for overnight.
Overnight Cork – Breakfast included.
Day 9
Waterford & Dublin - 195 Miles
This morning we travel to Waterford home of the famous Crystal. We visit the center to see the crystal blown shaped and carves, the store here is dazzling! From Waterford we drive through the best land in Ireland the Midland Plains to Kildare, home to the Irish Bloodstock industry, here we visit the National Stud where we see the best of the equine world, both mares and the highly strung stallions. Visits today are; Waterford Crystal factory, National Stud & Japanese Gardens. Late afternoon we check in to our last hotel in Ireland the medieval Clontarf Castle Hotel. Tonight we have our ‘Gala Dinner’ in the castle where we could surely find some time to read those ’Limerick’s’ we composed? Drinks in the bar before a good night’s sleep.
Overnight Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin - Breakfast & Supper included
Day 10
Return Home
After breakfast we make the short drive to Dublin International Airport for our return to the USA. We allow at least 2 1/2 hours for check in and airport procedures. US Customs are at Dublin airport making it much easier when we arrive back in the USA. We have time at the Duty Free for last minute gifts and to cash in any Tax Free vouchers… you may be able to re-claim Irish sales tax on any qualifying purchases you have made. Your Irish Driver/guide will wish you a ‘Slan Abhile’, Translated this means “Safe Home”.
Breakfast included plus meals on aircraft
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