TOUR 1
Authentic Western Ireland
June 17 to 27, 2023
Tour Inclusions: We reserve the right to surprise you, too!
*If you fly in early, we will designate a place to pick you up ahead of time.
**If you fill out the tour with 12 guests, more meals will be added.
Hotels
Day 1–3. The Cashel House in Connemara, County Galway
I have had clients tell me that after three nights at the Cashel House, they could go home directly, skip the rest of the tour, and be really happy and content. This large white manor home was built in the early 1800s in formal English style and added on to when it became a hotel. It is loaded with character and charm: high ceilings, open fireplaces, antique furnishings, 19th-century. paintings, chandeliers, fresh flowers, and original architectural details throughout. A large solarium surrounded by gorgeous gardens serves as the formal dining room. A spacious, comfy bar overlooks smashing flower gardens, which are softly lit at night. If you want a private spot to read, there is a handsome wee library as well.
The Cashel House has received many rewards over the years for its amazing cuisine and also for the stunning hidden garden that surrounds most of the building. It is located across the street from Cashel Bay. I always feel it is a privilege to stay here and get a peek at what luxury in 19th‑century Ireland was all about!
cashelhousehotel.ie
Day 4–5 The Lahinch Coast Hotel in Lahinch, County Clare
The Coast Hotel is located across the street from Liscannor Bay, a scenic bay on the Atlantic Ocean. This area, surprising enough, is known as the surfing capital of Ireland. The small village of Lahinch was designed by a famous architect in the late 1700s, and it hasn’t changed much since then. The Coast Hotel has been remodeled during COVID-19 and is wonderful‑great location, updated decorating, spacious bedrooms, and wonderful staff. The dining room/bar area is all new and serves great food and drinks. Lahinch is a perfect jumping-off place for the charming villages of Clare, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Dromoland Castle!
Lahinchcoasthotel.ie
Day 6–8 Benners Hotel in Dingle, An Daingaen, County Kerry
Location! Location! Location! If you have ever wanted to stay in a 19th‑century Victorian hotel in Ireland in the middle of a wee Currier & Ives village, this is your chance. Here, you will be within 3 blocks of 20 pubs, all with original décor and flavor and most with nightly Sean Nos music and singing. The hotel is charming with a small lobby and a restaurant bar adjoining. Not that you will have time, but a favorite afternoon treat involves Irish coffee, a hot scone with clotted cream, and raspberry jam served in Mrs. Benners cozy dining room. From this location, you will be able to walk to dinner, pubs, shopping, and the music concert across the narrow street, which is about as wide as your driveway. Many of my clients absolutely tear up when they leave the Dingle Peninsula because of the jaw‑dropping scenery, quaint village, pubs, music, and people!
Dinglebenners.com
Day 9 The Bunratty Courtyard in Bunratty, County Clare
I have stayed here many times and highly recommend it to others. It is the perfect place to allow us to tour much of Killarney during the day and yet get close to the airport at night. Now it won’t be a problem getting to Shannon in the morning. It is newly remodeled, has spacious rooms, and has great breakfasts.
Bunrattycourtyard.com
TOUR 2
The Unexplored Ireland
September 6 – September 15, 2023
This is a nine day/eight-night tour of Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s unexplored north, northeast, and northwest regions. You will see and experience not only exciting and sophisticated cities and charming wee villages but also the unspoiled lush, green mountains and valleys Ireland is famous for. Here sheep, winding stone walls and small stone cottages abound. When we leave Dublin, we will be travelling on the stunning coast road on the Irish Sea and then later on the rugged and gorgeous coast road of the Atlantic Ocean. (The Wild Atlantic Way). We will stop often and enjoy pubs, jaw-dropping views, and real Irish characters we meet along the way. Although our tour is well planned we are always are open to spontaneity!
September 6 – Leave Home
September 7 – Dublin
September 8 & 9 – Belfast
September 10 – Derry
September 11 & 12 – Donegal
September 13 – Sligo
September 14 - Dublin
Places We Are Staying:
Dublin: Dublin is a modern, bustling city….the capital of Ireland. Our Dublin City tour includes gorgeous Victorian architecture, the Ha’ Penney Bridge, Grafton Street, Trinity College, Molly Malone statue, the Temple Bar area, Phoenix Park, St.Stephen’s Green , the River Liffey and much more!
Hotel in Dublin: Buswells Hotel. A smashing boutique hotel created from three Victorian Townhouses. Service is excellent. Location is perfect….close to everything! Buswells.ie
Belfast: Despite its reputation of strife over the last 50 years, Belfast is a beautiful, modern city with many amenities sited on Belfast Harbour. We will take a swing through the city and its outlying areas and you will be pleasantly surprised at its beauty. Many travelers often remark that Belfast feels more English than Irish. After all, Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom and is not part of the Republic of Ireland. Here, as well as Derry, we will use the British pound as opposed to the Euro.
Hotel in Belfast:The Europa Hotel. One of the most famous hotels in Europe. The location is perfect for you to walk about town at night and explore. Our first venture out in Belfast will be to meet at the absolutely stunning Victorian pub, The Crown, across the street and down a wee bit! europahotelbelfast.com
Derry: Also known as Londonderry, this city located on the River Foyle. It is surrounded by a 17th c. high wall complete with original gates. The history of Derry is haunting and fascinating. This city is also well—known for fantastic pubs and eateries. And yes, it is the home of the popular “Derry Girls” you may have seen on line. Hotel in Derry: The City Hotel. Located on the river Foyle. Excellent location for exploring, pub crawls and sightseeing. Boasts the only rooftop bar in Derry! Cityhotelderry.com
Donegal: County Donegal is a largely Irish-speaking region bordering the Atlantic Ocean in the northwest section of Ireland. Donegal is known for its castles, rugged coastline, dense forests, lakes and boglands and mountains such as the beautiful Mount Errigal. Much of this region is untouched by development. You will see Ireland and its great beauty in its original untouched state…lush and green original state.
Hotel in Donegal is the Abbey Hotel. This hotel is renowned for its unique setting in the center of the Historic Town of Donegal…..perfectly located to enjoy the extraordinary beauty of stunning coastal drives, gorgeous beaches and the most beautiful seacliffs in Ireland. From here we join the famous Wild Atlantic Way with its breathtaking rugged coasts line. Theabbeyhoteldonegal.com
Sligo: Sligo is a lovely coastal seaport and the largest town in this region. From here we can visit Benbulben and Yeats Grave just for starters. Here, like Donegal, you will find that this area is lush, green and not as the Irish say, “spoilt” yet. We will enjoy seascapes you will not soon forget.
Hotel for Sligo is the Glasshouse. When we go to Sligo everyone says, “Stay at the Glasshouse. It has the best location.” The pubs here are very old and authentic and we are having one of our events in one of the oldest pubs we have ever been in. (Details to follow) theglasshouse.ie
Inclusions:
*Pick up & Drop off at Dublin Airport per Itinerary. If you arrive early/depart late….on own
*Eight Nights in some of Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s greatest hotels
*Professional Irish Driver Guide
*Late Model Mercedes Sprinter
*Eight Full Irish Breakfasts
*Five Private City Tours via van
*Welcome Irish Coffee & Scone at the beautiful Slieve Donard slievedonardhotel.com
*Hop On and Hop Off bus tour ticket in Dublin
*Two Musical Pub Crawls
*Whiskey Tasting
*Special Pub Events: p.e. The Crown and Shoot the Crows
*Two pub meals
*Grand Review: The Merry Ploughboys. Award Winning Review of Irish Music: Professional *Dancers, Musicians and Singers…..Plus a delicious dinner!
*AND MORE! As of August 5, 2022 we are still negotiating a few venues!
*Check out: The Crown in Belfast and Shoot the Crows in Sligo!
If you are interested please fill out registration and send in down payment asap. I have only room for 12 and there is great interest in this wonderful program!!!
NOT Included: airfare, food and drinks not outlined in itinerary. Also and very important…If your driver does a good job please consider giving them a tip of 10 Euros per day per person as recommended by the Irish Drivers Association. You will marvel at how talented, knowledgeable and entertaining some of these drivers are. They are worth this and more!
Itinerary
September 6 - Leave your home state and fly overnight to Dublin Airport. Book an early morning arrival time. We will pick you up per itinerary.
September 7 – Meet in lobby at noon for a tour of the city via the fantastic Hop On Hop Off excursion bus. (2 and ½ to 3 hours). After the tour we will enjoy a celebratory drink and a meet and greet event in our hotel or a nearby pub.. Now, its time to enjoy Dublin on your own…….. Hotel: Buswells Hotel
September 8 & 9 – We start the day with a Full Irish Breakfast. Then its on to Belfast which is about a 2 hour drive if we don’t stop. However, we will make our first stop at the beautiful Slieve Denard in Newcastle located just steps from the Irish Sea for an Irish coffee and a scone. We will continue on with a tour of Belfast City including the historic wall murals , the Peace Wall, City Hall and the beautiful Belfast Harbour. We will spend a few hours at the awesome Titantic Exhibition…..and prowl through Belfasts sidewalk cafes, authentic Old World Pubs and highly rated restaurants.
Hotel is the Europa Hotel.
September 10 – Full Irish Breakfast. We are going to see some of the most gorgeous scenery today as we drive north on the Antrim Coast. Our day will include: the Giants Causeway, the Dark Hedges, stunning wee seaport villages, Dunluce Castle and a great deal more along the way. The drive from Belfast to Derry is reputed to be one of the most beautiful road trips in the world. Hotel is the City Hotel in Derry.
September 11 & 12 Full Irish Breakfast. For the next two days we are going to be treated to spectacular scenery that most tourists do not get the chance to enjoy including: Rosses Point, Gleniff Horseshoe Valley, Glencar Waterfall, Carrowkeel, , Inishowen Peninsula and Knocknarea and much more. Hotel is the Abbey Hotel in Donegal.
September 13 - Full Irish Breakfast. One of the most awesome sights we will see today is Yeats’ grave in the Drumcliffe graveyard in the shadow of Benbulben. We will makes stops at Sligo Abbey, Mullaghmore, Carrowmoor Abbey, Cliffoney, Knocknarea and follow the gorgeous shoreline of Lough Gill. Hotel is The Glass House. Theglasshouse.orgT
September 14 – Full Irish Breakfast. Today we leave for Dublin. When we reach Dublin you will have a full day to explore, have lunch, visit Trinity College or shop. We will meet at 5:30 in the lobby for transport to our Dinner Musical Review at The Merry Ploughboys. This will take all night. Buswells
September 15 – Early morning shuttle to Dublin Airport. IF would like fly into Dublin early or leave later than the 15th call or email me Thanks.
Questions? Call Linda Rosen 612-385-6611
