Day 1 Arrive Dublin

Arrive at Dublin airport in the morning, take a taxi to your hotel and relax (1 hour).

Arrive at Dublin airport in the morning and take an independent coach or taxi transfer to your hotel.  You will be staying in the 4-star Pembroke townhouse for 2 nights. Dublin is a compact city easy to get around by foot or taxi. We recommend picking up your car as you leave Dublin on Day 3.  If you would prefer to pick up your rental car at the airport upon arrival, your hotel does have complimentary parking available so please contact your agent to include.  (Most all city centre hotels charge for overnight parking.)

Day 1 & 2 Dublin

Dublin is a lively cosmopolitan city brimming with culture. You could spend your time strolling the streets soaking up the atmosphere, relaxing in its cafes and bars or you could check out its myriad historical, literary and cultural delights. The 8th century illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, must be viewed. It is on display at the impressive Trinity College, Ireland's first university (founded 1592) in the heart of Dublin. For the rest of your time, it is up to you how much you want to pack in. Phoenix Park, twice the size of New York City's Central Park, Georgian Dublin around Stephen's Green, the National Botanical Gardens, National Museum, Kilmainham Jail and the Hugh Lane Municipal Art Gallery are all highly recommended stops on your tour. Then there's the Guinness Storehouse and Jamieson Distillery.  A visit to Dublin's Temple Bar to experience the lively Dublin pub culture is a must, though many of Dublin's best bars can be found outside this area in the streets and laneways around Grafton Street, the shopper's street of choice.

Day 1 or 2 Optional Activities (See Add an Activity section for more information):
Food, Folk and Fairies - dinner and lively entertainment at Dublin's oldest pub (Available May - September each year)
Dublin's Literary Pub Crawl
Historical Walking Tour of Dublin

Day 3 Kilkenny

Travel south from Dublin to Kilkenny (2 hours).

Pick up the car rental today in the city centure before begining your journey south to Killenny city. Kilkenny, or the Marble City as it is known, is one of Ireland's oldest cities, and proud of it. Its array of ancient buildings is unrivalled. It is renowned for being a vibrant cultural center, devoted to the musical and visual arts. Its two most impressive landmarks are Kilkenny Castle, founded in 1172 and privately owned until 1967, and St. Canice's Cathedral. The current structure of the cathedral dates from the 13th century, though this is nowhere near the beginning of its story, which is rich in folklore and legend. There is no shortage of pubs to explore and enjoy in Kilkenny and during the summer the city is always full of life. The summer also sees the city host an Arts Festival and a very highly regarded Comedy Festival called the Cat Laughs.

Day 3 Optional Activities
Kilkenny Trad Trail - an unforgettable evening filled with songs, tunes and stories

Day 4 & 5 Killarney

Head west from Kilkenny to Killarney, Ireland's most visited town (3.5 hours).

A short diversion on the way to Killarney will allow you to take in both Cahir Castle and the very impressive Rock of Cashel, both in County Tipperary.

Killarney lies on the edge of the astoundingly beautiful Killarney National Park with its three magnificent lakes and the spectacular MacGillycuddy Reeks mountain range. The park is also home to Muckross House and Gardens. Killarney is a wonderful base for all manner of activities including angling and water sports, golf, riding, orienteering, hiking, cycling, and canoeing. The town itself is quite small but full of charm as you will soon see as you walk down the brick footpaths and pass curious old-style shop fronts. Killarney is well known for its excellent shops, restaurants and cosmopolitan appeal. It is also renowned for its evening entertainment including many singing pubs, cabarets, dancing venues, and banquets. Traditional Irish music can also be heard in many of the local pubs.

Killarney is also the usual starting point for people completing the Ring of Kerry, Ireland's best-known touring route. It is 110 miles (176 km) long and circles the Iveragh Peninsula through mountain passes, forests, bogs, skirting rivers, lakes and beautiful unspoilt beaches. The scenery is truly wonderful and there is much of interest along the route. 

Day 5 Optional Activities:
Guided Walk in Killarney National Park
Horseback Riding in Killarney

Day 6 Doolin

Leave the Kingdom of Kerry and travel north to Doolin on the Clare coast (3.5 hours).

There are two possible routes you can take from Killarney to Doolin. The first sticks to major roads and takes you through Limerick City and Ennis. The second involves taking a car ferry across the Shannon estuary from Tarbert in County Limerick to Killimer in County Clare. This latter route is shorter and more scenic, but can often take longer. The roads are narrow and winding and since the ferry only goes every 30 minutes (60 minutes from October to March), you will probably spend some time waiting for the next one. But if you have plenty of time and are happy to travel at a leisurely pace, this is the route to take.

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, which are only a few miles from Doolin. But the real reason people flock to Doolin from all over the world is the traditional music in the local pubs. Until recently Doolin had only three pubs. There are now some new establishments on the scene but we recommend sticking to the old reliables: McGann’s, McDermots and O’Connor’s. Even at that you will be spoilt for choice. Each pub is full most nights with musicians and music lovers alike. Be sure to check out all three!

Day 6 Optional Activity (activity to happen on the morning after your stay in Doolin)
Guided Walk in the Burren

Day 7 Galway

Proceed north along the spectacular Clare coast around Galway Bay to Galway City (1.5 hours).

In a recent nationwide survey the people of Galway were found to be Ireland's happiest! And visiting Galway City, the capital of their county it is not hard to see why. It 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 centre 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 8 Boyne Valley

Head east from Galway City to the Boyne Valley just outside Dublin (3 hours).

The Boyne Valley, located on the east coast of Ireland in County Meath, contains the largest and most decorated megalithic sites in all of Ireland and has been described as "the largest and most important expression of prehistoric megalithic art in Europe". The large Megalithic sites were built over 5000 years ago between 3800 and 3200 BC, built before both Stonehenge in England and the great pyramids in Egypt. Within a three square mile radius in the Boyne Valley are grouped more than 30 prehistoric monuments including the great passage tombs and their satellite structures, standing stones, barrows and other enclosures. The great sites of the Boyne Valley include Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Loughcrew, Fourknocks and the Hill of Tara. Neolithic communities built these sites over earlier sacred spots and it is suspected that they were used for a combination of different purposes, including use as burial tombs, sacred temples and astronomical observatories. The nearby towns of Slane, Trim or Navan make ideal bases from which to explore the area.

Day 8 Optional Activities:
Ancient Boyne Valley Private Tour

Day 9 Depart Dublin

Transfer to Dublin airport to catch your departing flight (1 hour).

Food, Folk and Fairies (Day 1 or 2) 3 - 4 hours

An evening of good food and the finest storytelling. Discover how Irish people lived in times past while enjoying a traditional candlelit dinner in Dublin's oldest pub dating back from 1198.  Let us take you back in time to the fascinating world of Ireland long ago when the culture was one of the mind, spirit and imagination and where the unseen world was never far away. More>>

Dublin Literary Pub Crawl (Day 1 or 2) 2.5 hours

No city is as rich in pubs and poetry as Dublin, and Dublin’s literary pub crawl is a genius amalgam of both - a 2½ hour walking tour with Wilde, Joyce, Behan and Beckett. This is an award-winning show that crawls from pub to pub with professional actors performing the works of Dublin's most famous writers - Joyce, Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Behan and many more. More>>

Historical Walking Tour of Dublin (Day 1 or 2) 2 hours

Few cities are as steeped in history as Dublin, and a guided walk through the Capital’s streets is without doubt the best introduction to its many delights and stories. History graduates of Trinity College conduct these entertaining historical walking tours of Dublin, exploring the main features of the city's history and visiting its greatest historic sites - Trinity College, Dublin Castle, Old Parliament House, Temple Bar and much more. More>>

Guided Walk in Killarney National Park (Day 5) 2 hours

This is a fantastic guided walk through the idyllic Killarney National Park, where the emphasis is most definitely on fun and relaxation. The walk begins every morning at the same time and place, at a very reasonable cost. The walk takes you through woodland and parkland, along the lake shore and river bank. Beautiful scenery abounds – including the highest mountain range in Ireland. More>>

Horseback Riding in Killarney (Day 7) 2 - 3 hours

The majestic beauty of The Killarney National Park is the backdrop for horseback rides organized by Killarney Riding Stables. Situated in South-West Ireland, Killarney boasts some of the finest scenery in the world. The National Park has been an inspiration for poets and artists for centuries - high mountain ranges, woods, lakes, waterfalls, and of course the ever-changing drama of the skies. Parties of all sizes are catered for and guided rides are offered lasting for either 2 or 3 hours. More>>