An Irish Experience - the Best of the West

We board the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and continue onwards to our hotel in the Dublin area for our overnight stay.

We head across to Galway, a thriving, cosmopolitan city with the added bonus of a seaside setting. There's time for lunch at your leisure before an orientation walk with our tour manager, followed by free time to explore the city, which was named the European Capital of Culture for 2020. There is plenty to see in Galway, including the Latin Quarter with its cobblestone streets and colourful shops, Galway Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city, the lively Eyre Square and the scenic Salthill Promenade on the seafront, to name a but a few! Afterwards, we continue to County Clare and check in to the Treacy's Hotel in Ennis.

After breakfast, we make our way to the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inisheer. Known as Inis Oírr in Irish (pronounced Inish-Ear), this charming island is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches and beautiful landscapes, peppered with ancient stone forts and traditional cottages, where the Irish language is still widely spoken. We are treated to a pony and trap tour to take in the highlights of this delightful isle the old-fashioned way.

We continue to our second location of the day for a leisurely cruise along the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, enjoying the geological wonders from below, admiring the views of the Arran Islands and listening to the onboard commentary. Stretching for eight miles along County Clare’s Atlantic Coast and 214m at their highest, the cliffs offer stunning scenery and are home to one of the major colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds in Ireland.

This morning we head to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, set in 26 acres of unspoilt County Clare countryside. The most complete castle in Ireland and meticulously restored to reflect the grandeur of its past inhabitants, it's fascinating to imagine how lords and ladies once lived in this 15^th-century gem. Admire the extensive great hall, atmospheric dungeons and fairytale towers before heading to the Folk Park that surrounds the fortress, offering a glimpse into 19^th-century Irish village life with traditional cottages, rural farmhouses, little shops and characters dressed in period costumes.

We then enjoy a two-course lunch plus tea or coffee at Durty Nelly's, an atmospheric pub that dates back to 1620! Be sure to ask about the legend of Durty Nelly herself before we continue to our next location.

The afternoon is spent in historic Limerick, set on the River Shannon and overlooked by the mighty 13^th-century King John’s Castle. As Ireland's third largest city, there is plenty to discover, including a variety of cathedrals, traditional pubs, museums and art galleries such as the Hunt Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artefacts and remarkable artworks, ranging from pre-historic archaeological material to masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, Renoir and Yeats. Don't miss the Milk Market too, one of Ireland's oldest markets and full of crafts, clothes, local treats and more.

Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. There are plenty of historic sites, architectural splendours and iconic monuments to see from the oldest, Dublin Castle, to one of the newest, the Spire of Dublin. Or you may like to experience one of Dublin’s traditional pubs – there are 1,000 lining the city’s cobbled streets! We also have the option to join a locally guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.

We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore, a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.

We fly to Dublin airport and are transferred to our overnight hotel in the Dublin area.

We head across to Galway, a thriving, cosmopolitan city with the added bonus of a seaside setting. There's time for lunch at your leisure before an orientation walk with our tour manager, followed by free time to explore the city, which was named the European Capital of Culture for 2020. There is plenty to see in Galway, including the Latin Quarter with its cobblestone streets and colourful shops, Galway Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city, the lively Eyre Square and the scenic Salthill Promenade on the seafront, to name a but a few! Afterwards, we continue to County Clare and check in to the Treacy's Hotel in Ennis.

After breakfast, we make our way to the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inisheer. Known as Inis Oírr in Irish (pronounced Inish-Ear), this charming island is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches and beautiful landscapes, peppered with ancient stone forts and traditional cottages, where the Irish language is still widely spoken. We are treated to a pony and trap tour to take in the highlights of this delightful isle the old-fashioned way.

We continue to our second location of the day for a leisurely cruise along the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, enjoying the geological wonders from below, admiring the views of the Arran Islands and listening to the onboard commentary. Stretching for eight miles along County Clare’s Atlantic Coast and 214m at their highest, the cliffs offer stunning scenery and are home to one of the major colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds in Ireland.

This morning we head to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, set in 26 acres of unspoilt County Clare countryside. The most complete castle in Ireland and meticulously restored to reflect the grandeur of its past inhabitants, it's fascinating to imagine how lords and ladies once lived in this 15^th-century gem. Admire the extensive great hall, atmospheric dungeons and fairytale towers before heading to the Folk Park that surrounds the fortress, offering a glimpse into 19^th-century Irish village life with traditional cottages, rural farmhouses, little shops and characters dressed in period costumes.

We then enjoy a two-course lunch plus tea or coffee at Durty Nelly's, an atmospheric pub that dates back to 1620! Be sure to ask about the legend of Durty Nelly herself before we continue to our next location.

The afternoon is spent in historic Limerick, set on the River Shannon and overlooked by the mighty 13^th-century King John’s Castle. As Ireland's third largest city, there is plenty to discover, including a variety of cathedrals, traditional pubs, museums and art galleries such as the Hunt Museum, which houses an impressive collection of artefacts and remarkable artworks, ranging from pre-historic archaeological material to masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, Renoir and Yeats. Don't miss the Milk Market too, one of Ireland's oldest markets and full of crafts, clothes, local treats and more.

Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. There are plenty of historic sites, architectural splendours and iconic monuments to see from the oldest, Dublin Castle, to one of the newest, the Spire of Dublin. Or you may like to experience one of Dublin’s traditional pubs – there are 1,000 lining the city’s cobbled streets! We also have the option to join a locally guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.

We transfer to Dublin airport for our return flight home.