9 Day Discover Ireland Tour

Day 1: Arrive in Dublin – Airport Transfer

A private luxury airport transfer vehicle will be arranged to bring you to your hotel in Dublin City for some rest and relaxation after your flight. Ireland’s capital has a fascinating history stretching back over 1,000 years. It also has a buzzing night life combined with a vibrant live music scene. Suggested highlights include a visit to see the Book of Kells at Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse. Your chauffeur-guide will then take you on a guided tour of Dublin’s historic landmarks and book you in for a dinner at a restauarant of your choice from my personal list of recommendations.

Day 2: Dublin to Killarney

Upon departing Dublin, you will get a chance to experience the magical landscape that is the Curragh of Kildare. There will be ample time for selfies with free ranging sheep and photos of fairy trees! Your guide might even give a rendition of the iconic folk song ‘The Curragh of Kildare’! Ancient history associates St. Bridget with the area and you will get to visit a very special holy well and peace garden dedicated to her memory. Next on today’s itinerary is the spectacular medieval citadel known as the Rock of Cashel with its commanding views of the Golden Vale. Our final site visit on today’s itinerary is the world famous Blarney Castle and an opportunity to kiss the ‘Stone of Eloquence’! Next door is the equally famous Blarney Woolen Mills where you can find quality Irish made goods and gifts of all types to ship home. A scenic evening drive over the mountains of Kerry will bring us to the Town of Killarney.

Day 3: Highlights of Killarney

There are many good reasons why Killarney is such a popular tourist destination. The town lies next to Ireland’s oldest national park with its stunning mountain lakes and ancient, mossy oak woods, ringed by the dramatic McGillycuddy Reeks range. Your guide will help animate your touring experience through stories, folklore and local historical insights. As you are on a customized private tour, there will options to drive the Ring of Kerry scenic route or take a magical boat trip and jaunting car through the heart of Killarney National Park. A guided walk around the Victorian splendour of Muckross House and Gardens is also highly recommended. Queen Victoria stayed here in 1861 and there are fascinating stories surrounding her famous visit to Killarney. After dinner and free time in Killarney, you will be escorted to one of the top cultural shows in Ireland – Celtic Steps – which features some of the best Irish dancers in the world.

Day 4: Dingle Peninsula to County Clare

From Killarney, we will make our way north along the Wild Atlantic Way to Dingle – the most westerly town in Europe. Dingle is home to Fungie the dolphin and if we don’t see him in the blubber, there is an endearing sculpture dedicated to this famous dolphin in the town centre! After a surprise local experience to visit a master craftsman, we will venture out upon the spectacular Slea Head ocean drive, with ample opportunities for photos along the way. An early evening ferry will then take you across the mighty River Shannon estuary to the traditional western county of Clare. Sunsets on Ireland’s Atlantic coastline can be sublime and keep a watch out for neon-like rainbows on showery evenings.

Day 5: Discover the Burren and Cliffs of Moher

County Clare is a truly enchanting county to explore. Both the Burren and Cliffs of Moher are now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Geopark. The ancient landscape of the rocky Burren is like nowhere else on earth and a mecca for botanists from around the world. The Cliffs of Moher rise 200 metres sheer up from the Atlantic Ocean far and offer commanding views of the Aran Islands on a fine day another option to visit. You will also get a flavour of hill farming in the Burren by a local farmer with a sheepdog demonstration of herding sheep. Lisdoonvarna is always a fun stop – being the matchmaking capital of Europe! Your guide will tell you all about Willie Daly’s magic matchmaking powers and its once famous annual music festival! This evening’s destination is Galway City with Atlantic views overlooking Galway Bay.

Day 6: Galway City and Wild Connemara

A morning drive along Galway’s Salthill Promenade with scenic views of Galway Bay will bring us to our first stop. The unique community craft market called An Spiddal and nearby Standun’s iconic Irish store is a great place to pick up unique gifts and quality wears. Nearby is a pretty shingle beach to observe local fishermen and watch the world go by. You will then return into town for a visit to stunning Galway Cathedral. Yours truly will then take you on a fascinating one hour storytelling walk through Galway’s narrow, maritime streets where you will hear tales of piracy, the love story behind the Claddagh Ring and an enduring mystery surrounding Christopher Columbus’s visit to the medieval seaport. Galway City is Ireland’s Atlantic cultural capital. It is also a vibrant, romantic place, where buskers and street performers are made welcome, and in return, they compliment its bohemian atmosphere. As the sun begins to sink over the Atlantic, you will be chauffeur-guided through Connemara’s wild landscapes, where the only traffic jams are caused by sheep taking up the road! The picturesque coastal town of Clifden is your destination with its relaxing vibe, excellent restaurants, traditional pubs and craft shops

Day 7: Connemara to Donegal

No photos or travel shows can come close to actually getting out of a car and experiencing Connemara’s rugged beauty for yourself. It is a wild, unpopulated landscape of sweeping moorland plains, deep bogs, lakes and mountains. The people of Connemara are still steeped in traditional music, boat racing, singing and the Irish language. It was also once the homeland of a famous pirate queen, Grace O’Malley, which you will hear more about through stories and song! Our main visitor attraction today is the stunningly beautiful Kylemore Abbey, where you will hear a truly compelling story behind its visionary builder. Kylemore contains delightful Victorian gardens and a Downtown Abbey style house to visit. From Kylemore Abbey, you will enjoy an equallly scenic late afternoon drive through Killary Harbour and Westport before your tour swings in a North-westerly direction via Sligo towards Donegal. The mythical monolithic shaped mountains of County Sligo were inspiration for one of Ireland’s greatest poets W.B. Yeats, and in more recent times – the popular racey TV series ‘Normal People’. Your guide will recite one of Yeat’s most magical poems by the shore of Glencar Lake and share with you an epic folk tale neath the monolithic mountain of Ben Bulben. Our final stop on today’s tour will be for a panoramic ocean view looking out on Tullaghan Strand and Donegal Bay, a mecca for big wave surfers from around the world.

Day 8: Slieve League Coastal Route and Highlands of Donegal

I will be in my native county on this day, proudly showcasing the best of Donegal to you! After a surprise local experience tour, you will travel out along the spectacular coast road to marvel at Slieve League, some of the highest sea-cliffs in Europe. Our first stop will be, Killybegs, to soak up the sights and sounds of this busy Atlantic deep-sea fishing port. Will will then travel out to Gleancolmcille to experience more breathtakingly rugged scenery. Our return route via Glengesh and Ardara has its own wild beauty to marvel at, set amidst some of the most unspoilt glens in the Donegal Highlands. Back in Donegal Town, there will be a chance to do some gift shopping or visit nearby Donegal Castle. The Reel Inn is your guide’s local and a chance to experience an authentic traditional music, singing and fun recitations night!

Day 9: Donegal to the Boyne Valley, Co. Meath

On today’s final touring day you will explore the Boyne Valley in the heart of Ireland’s ‘Ancient East’. No trip to the Boyne Valley would be complete without a visit to the ancient monastic city of Monasterboice with its well preserved Round Tower and fascinating Celtic Crosses – symbols of Ireland unique Celtic Christian heritage. There will be options to visit the 5,500 year old passage graves at Newgrange or experience a private viewing of a passage tomb as your guide shares insights into society and cultural beliefs back then. Nearby is the Hill of Tara – once the spiritual, temporal and cultural capital of ancient Ireland with breathtaking views over the plains of County Meath on a fine day. Trim Castle is one of the largest and best preserved Anglo-Norman castles in all of Ireland overlooking the Boyne Valley. It served as a backdrop for the 1995 classic movie ‘Braveheart’ starring Mel Gibson, and a guided tour is highly recommended if time allows. The heritage town of Trim offers relaxed surroundings to enjoy the final night of your tour and take stock of all your photos, experiences and special memories.

Day 10: Airport Transfer

Trim in County Meath is just a 40 minute drive from Dublin Airport. Your dedicated chauffeur/guide will ensure that you enjoy a smooth direct transfer with ample time for pre check-in before your flight departs.