Day 1: Arrive Shannon; pick up car and drive to Galway
Galway is a lively university city of narrow streets, quaint shopfronts, bustling pubs and stunning surrounding scenery. It has always attracted a bohemian mix of musicians, artists and intellectuals and that attitude is palpable as you walk the streets. Galway has been commercially important since the 11th century when it was a center for trade with Spain and Portugal. In 1477 Christopher Columbus paid a visit. Galway earned the title “City of the Tribes” around that time, when it was ruled by 14 wealthy merchant families. Today it is lively, with loads of things to do, and is so popular that it can get very crowded in summer, especially during the annual Galway Races. The annual Arts Festival also attracts thousands, especially for its street parade, organized by the multi-award winning production company, Macnas. Its famous Druid Theatre produces and stages plays and has toured internationally, winning awards, including Tonys on Broadway.
Day 2: Private Tour of the Burren
Today you will enjoy a private tour with a local Irish expert on The Burren. Your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in the morning in Galway will take you on a private tour of the Burren.Like most of Ireland , the Burren was under a tropical ocean over 360 million years ago resulting in a layer of limestone. Later tectonic movement raised a section of this ancient seabed into a great plateau which we now know as the Burren. The Ice Age ploughed through the region, widening the river valleys and depositing boulder clay. After the Ice Age the landscape went through periods of tundra and different types of woodland. Man came here over 6000 years ago, cleared the forests and set in motion soil erosion. Centuries of weathering has produced a terrain of fissured limestone pavements, disappearing lakes, terraced mountains, and underground cave systems. (approximate time = 4 hours). You will have the second half of the day to wander the medieval streets of Galway and sample the gourmet in cuisine in one of Galway's many restaurants.
Day 3: Private Tour of Connemara
Today you will enjoy a private tour with a local Irish expert on Connemara. Your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in the morning in Galway and take you on a private tour through Connemara. Connemara, or Land of the Sea, is a wild region of bogland, pristine lakes and mountains located in the west of County Galway. Unlike the more famous Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula, Connemara is sparsely populated and the landscape much more open. This is Ireland’s big sky country. Because the area is so remote, the Irish language and traditions have survived here and Irish is the first tongue of many of the inhabitants, particularly along the south coast. (approximate time = 8 hours)
Day 4: Doolin & Ballyvaughan
The small coastal village of Doolin is located on County Clare’s wild Atlantic coast. The surrounding area has much of interest including the barren yet strikingly beautiful Burren region with, among other things, the 5,000 year-old Poulnabrone Dolmen. Also worth a visit is Doonagore Castle and of course the spectacular 650-foot high Cliffs of Moher, only 3 miles from Doolin. But the real reason people flock to Doolin from all over the world is the traditional music in the local pubs. Doolin has only three pubs; McGann’s, McDermots and O’Connor’s, but even at that you are spoilt for choice. Each pub is full most nights with musicians and music lovers alike. Be sure to check out all three!
Ballyvaughan village is situated between the hills of the Burren and the southern coastline of Galway Bay. It is the ideal place for almost everybody: those who look for peace and tranquility in their holidays, those who look for traditional music and old pubs, for the archaeologists, botanists, and fishermen. Families will enjoy the safety of our beach in Bishopsquarter, surfers will love the waves in Fanore. Hillwalking and cycling are among the most popular pastimes among locals and tourists alike. It is also a great base for exploring some of the best known landmarks of Ireland; Cliffs of Moher, Poulnabrone Dolmen and Alliwee Caves.
Day 5: Guided Walk of the Burren
Today you will meet another local expert who will take you on a guided walk of the Burren to learn more about its amazing history. The region is visually similar to a moonscape yet shelters a mixture of flora and archaeological sites which have attracted visitors for centuries. The fame of the Burren is in its rock garden and its shoreline, limestone fissures, grasslands and hazel woods also yield an abundant and unique set of flora. Botanists explore the Burren finding Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean plants growing together in Ireland 's mild climate. From May to September the colors of the landscape change as plants flower. For the more patient visitors glimpses of the wild butterflies, mammals and birdlife add to this untouched habitat. The Burren contains a wealth of attractions, it's scenery, geology, botany, wildlife, archaeology and history most of which are hidden and can be enjoyed with only the noise of the wind to distract the visitor.
Day 6: Medieval Castle Banquet Dinner at Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, located just 7 miles from Shannon Airport, is high on the list of Ireland's top visitor attractions. If you want to learn about Ireland and how the Irish lived in earlier times, Bunratty's Folk Park is a must. Entire houses of various sizes and dates have been taken apart stone-by-stone and reassembled here, along with a school, a pub, a church, a row of shops, and other buildings. What makes it especially enjoyable is watching activities, including scones and bread being made, as well as work being carried out in the little fields. Chat with the staff; they are very friendly and informative. Bunratty's most obvious attraction is its imposing castle which overlooks the river Shannon. For over 40 years the Ladies of the Castle, aided and abetted by the Earl's Butler, have welcomed guests from the four corners of the globe to join them at The Earl's Banquet. The entertainment provided by the superb Bunratty Singers is a fitting compliment to a four course meal, a lively meal reception and of course good wine. We invite you to enjoy an unforgettable evening in the splendor of this magnificent castle. This unsurpassed mediaeval experience held in the world-famous 15th century Bunratty castle lasts two and a half hours.
Day 7: Depart from Shannon |
