Let’s begin!

From undulating green pasturelands to sheer cliffs and commanding stone castles, Ireland is touched by a little something extra. Talk a walk down Dublin’s cobbled lanes or explore the bays and coves of Connemara. Traditional Irish music lures visitors to Doolin like a Siren’s song, and cruises of the nearby Cliffs of Moher keep them coming back for more. Spend a night in an Irish castle, or simply park your car by the side of the road and stare in awe at the rolling landscape. (Just don’t forget to pick up your jaw after you drop it!)

Highlights and Inclusions

• Accommodations: Dublin 1 night, B&B 4 nights, Bunratty Castle Hotel 1 night
• Breakfast daily except where noted otherwise
• 5-day automatic car rental with unlimited mileage and CDW
• Private arrival transfers
• Jameson Whiskey Distillery Tour with Comparison Tasting
• Bunratty Medieval Banquet

Dublin – 1 Night

DAY 1: Arrive in Dublim

Arrive in Dublin and collect your bags. As you exit customs, your transfer representative will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Once you’ve gotten settled, head to the Jameson Whiskey Distillery for a tour of the facility and a comparison tasting. Use the afternoon to visit Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, an illustrated Gospel manuscript book dating back to the 9th century. After dinner, grab a pint at John Mulligan’s – a Dublin institution since 1782.

JAMESON WHISKEY DISTILLERY TOUR WITH COMPARISON TASTING

The Old Jameson Distillery tour takes you on a journey into the romantic past of the art of Irish whiskey making. Although Jameson is sold all over the world today, it has its roots in this small distillery on Bow Street, founded in 1780 by John Jameson. Begin your tour with an introductory video, “The Story of Jameson.” Afterwards you are invited to participate in a comparative tasting and sample a complimentary glass of Jameson, which is growing in popularity faster than any other whiskey in the world.

Cork – 1 night

DAY 2: Arrive in Cork

In the morning, make your way back to the airport to pick up your five-day rental car. From here on out, the routes you take and the stops you make are entirely up to you. You’ll be making your way southwest to Cork, but there is plenty to see along the way. In “the marble city” of Kilkenny, take a tour of the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle, which will be guided or unguided depending on the time of year. The coastal route to Cork might be a bit more circuitous, but there are some breathtaking sights along the drive. Consider a stop at Hook Head Lighthouse in County Wexford, the oldest working lighthouse in the world. If you drive through Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, be sure to stop by the House of the Waterford Crystal and wander the medieval city center. When you arrive in Cork, check into your B&B and go for a walk to stretch your legs after a long day of driving. Treat yourself to an authentic Irish meal – bacon and cabbage, smoked salmon on soda bread, or, if you’ve got a stomach of steel, some tripe and drisheen from the English Market. Head back to your B&B so you can get some rest before your next full day of driving and sightseeing.​

Killarney – 2 nights

DAY 3: Arrive in Killarney

​Enjoy a fabulous breakfast at your B&B before heading out for another day of sightseeing. Just five miles northwest of Cork lies the town of Blarney, home to the Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone, which is said to bestow the gift of eloquence upon anyone who kisses it. In coastal Kinsale, take a barefoot walk on the beach or do some shopping in the town’s whimsically colored boutiques. Those interested in history will want to visit the Titanic Experience in Cobh, housed in the original White Star Line Ticket Office where the final 123 passengers boarded the ill-fated ocean liner. When you’ve explored the Cork area to your liking, make your way to Killarney and check into your B&B. Take a leisurely stroll through the town and have dinner. The rest of your night is yours to explore – or not! – as you see fit.

DAY 4: More in Killarney

Today is all about magnificent Irish panoramas! The 111-mile Ring of Kerry is one of the country’s most spectacular scenic displays, winding past unspoiled beaches, medieval ruins, mountains, lush green pastures, and craggy island overlooks. Highlights of this drive include Derrynane National Historic Park, the colorful town of Kenmare, Skellig Michael, and the sprawling estate of Kells Bay House and Gardens. Keep in mind that Ring of Kerry tour buses are also departing from Killarney. If you decide to drive the circuit clockwise, the same direction as the buses, you might want to give them a good head start so they don’t slow you down.

Just south of Killarney on the Ring of Kerry lies the pristine landscape of Killarney National Park. The area boasts miles of meandering trails that vary in grading from multi-access to very difficult. The 15th-century Ross Castle is one of the park’s biggest attractions, as is the Victorian Muckross House. Immerse yourself in the natural surroundings with a stop at the Torc Waterfall, a picnic at the Lakes of Killarney, or a walk through the park’s yew woodland.

After a whirlwind day of sightseeing, return to your B&B to rest and rejuvenate. For dinner, try a traditional Irish stew or boxty, a fried potato pancake. Be sure to carve out some time for a tour of Killarney and the park in a traditional jaunting car.

Galway – 1 Night

​DAY 5: Arrive in Galway

​After an early breakfast, pack up your car and head north to Tarbert, where you’ll catch the 20-minute ferry to Killimer. You won’t have any problem filling your day in County Clare, with its sheer cliffs and rock formations, quaint Irish villages, and expansive water views. Don’t miss the iconic Cliffs of Moher and the wild, windswept Loop Head Peninsula. Make a stop in Miltown Malbay for a taste of traditional Irish music, then head just a few minutes south to explore the rock pools, coves, and low cliffs of Spanish Point. Continue inland through rocky Burren National Park on your way to Galway. Check into your B&B and head into the city for dinner.

​DAY 6: Arrive in Bunratty

​The only major urban hub on the Wild Atlantic Way, Galway is a lively mix of shop-lined streets and historic pubs. It’s also a gateway to the natural wonders of County Galway. Visit the Dunguaire Castle on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay, or peruse the food and produce stalls of the centuries-old Galway Market. If you want to continue your landscape tour of Ireland, Connemara National Park lays claim to over 7,300 acres of mountains, woodlands, rivers, bogs, and heath. When you’ve seen your fill of County Galway, head south to County Clare and check into the Bunratty Castle Hotel. Depending on your itinerary for the day, you may or may not have some free time before your medieval banquet at the Bunratty Castle.

BUNRATTY MEDIEVAL BANQUET

Bunratty Castle was built in the 15th century by the Earl of Thomond, who was famous for his lavish parties and hospitality. Following this tradition, the world-renowned Bunratty Medieval Banquet is held twice nightly throughout the year. The evening will feature a four-course meal with wine, a lively reception, and entertainment by the Bunratty Singers.