6-Day Small Group Full Package Southern Ireland Tour from Dublin

Day 1 · Guinness Lake, Saint Kevin at Glendalough, over the Wicklow mountains to Kilkenny castle, Smithwick’s Experience

1. 1

   Guinness Lake

   30 min Admission included

   Lough Tay, known as ‘The Guinness Lake’, this is one of the most scenic and photographed locations in Wicklow. The shape of the lake with the white sand at the top makes it look like a pint of Guinness hence the name.

2. 2

   Glendalough Monastic Settlement

   one hour Admission included

   home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland.

   Despite attacks by Vikings over the years most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Glendalough is one of the top attractions on Ireland’s Ancient East.

3. 3

   Kilkenny Castle

   one hour Admission included

   Kilkenny Castle, this 12th century castle, steeped in history. Walk in the footsteps of Earls, Strongbow and the ‘bogey-man’ of Irish history, Oliver Cromwell and let your imagination bring to life a Norman invasion, you will be fascinated by this remarkable site.

Overnight in Kilkenny will be in a centrally located hotel in the medieval city. Loads of evening entertainment.

Day 2 · We visit the Rock of Cashel, onto Cobh last port of call for the Titanic. Than Kiss the Blarney Stone.

1. 1

   Rock of Cashel

   one hour Admission included

   The Rock of Cashel, Iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of historic buildings. Originally the seat of the Kings of Munster. It is said Saint Patrick himself converted King Aenghus to Christianity.

2. 2

   Cobh

   2 hours

   Visiting Cobh, the last port of call for The Titanic which left in 1912 and where two and a half million Irish people immigrated to USA, Canada, Australia and all over the world. You can visit The Titanic Experience and do the tour if you wish while in Cobh, it is reasonably priced and you receive your ticket with one of the actual passenger’s names on it as a souvenir, are you brave enough to see what your fate would have been had you stepped on board the Titanic……Also you can see in the distance Spike Island, which was once the largest prison in the world housing 2,300 prisoners, now a heritage site.

3. 3

   Midleton Distillery Experience

   2 hours Admission included

   Full tour at the home of Jamison, the tour takes you back in time to discover all the variations of whiskey produced by the Middleton Distillery, including Jamison, Redbreast, Middleton rares etc...

Overnight in a centrally located Hotel in Cork city. Great choice of restaurants and bars.

Day 3 · Gougane Barra, ‘Irish Riviera’, Glengarriff, the Caha pass, Kenmare, Highlights of The Ring of Kerry. National Park.

1. 1

   Gougane Barra

   one hour

   Leaving Cork we set off to first explore Gougane Barra, this is surrounded by mystery and folklore, here St Finbarr and a fire breathing, slimy creature with ferocious claws called

   Luiwee had an epic battle which lasted for 5 days and 5 nights until Finbarr finally won the day. Luiwee left the lake and slid down the Lee Valley gouging out the two river channels visible to this very day. St Finbarr decided to settle in the area, founded a monastery and Cork was born. Soak up the scenery in this haven of peace and tranquillity, in the middle of the lake there is an island with a nineteenth century oratory and the ruins of an ancient monastic

   site dating back to the 6th century.

2. 2

   Kenmare

   1 h 30 min

   Kenmare is a colourful town, on the ring of Kerry and situated under the MacGillycuddy Reeks, a colourful town full off restaurants and bars, a great lunch stop.

3. 3

   Killarney National Park

   1 h 30 min Admission included

   Highlights of The Ring of Kerry including Moll’s Gap, Ladies View where you will first see the spectacular three lakes of Killarney and then onto Torc Waterfall. Take your time to soak in the views at each of these historic and breath-taking locations. For those interested we can arrange a Jarvey ride traveling in a horse drawn jaunting car, a unique way to see Killarney’s National Park, quintessentially Ireland! After a day of saints, mythical creatures, famine and awe-inspiring scenery you will arrive at your hotel that evening where you can relax and unwind in Killarney the number one tourist town in Ireland where ‘a cead mile failte’ awaits you!

4. 4

   Healy Pass

   one hour Admission included

   Travel up over the mountain road between Cork and Kerry, travel under the tunnels through the mountains, looking back at Bantry Bay.

5. 5

   Blarney Castle & Gardens

   2 hours Admission included

   Test your nerve and climb to the top of Blarney castle, kiss the Blarney stone to gain "the gift of the gab" and explore the wonderful award winning gardens, take time to explore the biggest Irish shop in the world at the Blarney woollen mills.

Your overnight is in a centrally located hotel in Killarney, Killarney is the hub of entertainment in Ireland.

Day 4 · Put your watch back 5000 years and today we visit Dingle, Inch Beach, Slea Head drive, stunning scenery.

1. 1

   Inch Beach

   one hour

   One of the most spectacular beaches in Ireland, endless sandy beaches, maybe its time to get out the swimming costumes and dip tour feet in the Atlantic ocean.

2. 2

   Dingle

   1 h 30 min

   Dingle is a ‘chocolate box’ town with many colourful shops

   to entice you in for a visit. They have the most unusual locally sourced crafts on offer and a great opportunity to pick up some truly unique souvenirs or maybe even something to treat yourself to whist in Dingle. Dingle is also home to Fungi the Dolphin and no visit is complete without calling to Murphy’s ice cream parlour to send your taste buds into overdrive with the most unusual flavours you are ever to experience!

3. 3

   Slea Head Drive

   2 hours Admission included

   To explore the craggy and ancient history of the Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive. See the beehive huts dating back to 2,500 BC, look out at Skellig Michael the famous dwelling place of the Skellig Monks and more recently it was a movie location for Star Wars and one of Lonely Planet’s picks for top destinations in the world to visit! and we also get the opportunity to hold a baby lamb! you know you want to.

Your accommodation will be a centrally located hotel in Killarney.

Day 5 · Beautiful village of Adare, The Cliffs of Moher, The Burren taking a coastal drive along the Atlantic coast to Galway.

1. 1

   Adare

   30 min

   Colourful town heading towards the west of Ireland, famous for its thatched cottages which line the streets, great photo opportunity, and maybe an Irish coffee to get us on our way.

2. 2

   Cliffs of Moher Visitor Centre

   2 hours Admission included

   Spend your afternoon at the Cliffs of Moher, testaments to the power of nature towering more than 700 feet (213 meters) above the Atlantic Ocean. This is undoubtedly a site that must be seen to be fully appreciated, your driver/guide can arrange a boat trip locally for you to see the Cliffs from yet another angle. This can be paid locally.

3. 3

   Doolin

   one hour

   A visit to Doolin is a must, this little fishing village is a hive of activity, bursting with hospitality and a local brew, ‘Dooliner’ would for educational purposes be a treat to sample! After a leisurely lunch and day touring head on to Galway

4. 4

   The Burren National Park

   1 h 30 min Admission included

   Heading to Galway for our last night we take the coastal route along the Atlantic, this Lunar landscape is very unusual and has matured over 50 million years, and matured to be like a coral reef raised up out of the ocean, a natural rock garden.

Your accommodation will be a centrally located hotel in Galway city. The music capital of the west.

Day 6 · Joe Joyce’s sheep farm for a demo, lunch in Athlone, home to Sean’s bar then Kilbeggan Distillery for a tasting

1. 1

   Joyce Country Sheepdogs

   1 h 30 min Admission included

   Leaving Galway we first visit Joe Joyce’s sheep farm for one of the best sheep dog demonstrations in the country, a beautiful part of Connemara, Joe is famous for the sheep road block in the movie ‘Marley and Me’ his claim to fame.

2. 2

   Sean's Bar

   1 h 30 min

   We then travel to Sean’s bar in Athlone, Ireland’s oldest pub and listed in both ’25 of the Most Incredible Bars in The World’ and ’50 Bars to Blow Your Mind’ by Lonely Planet, this is a ‘must see’ site to have maybe an Irish Coffee or two and warm you up before having munch in the village.

3. 3

   Cong

   one hour

   Fabulous village of Cong for lunch, home to the 1950's movie the Quiet Man, and the village hasn't changed a lot since, also home to the beautiful Ashford castle a 5 star castle hotel and a magnet for celebrity's and high end weddings