Best of Ireland
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Tour highlights (Sept 21 - Oct 03)
The Irish capital of Dublin, Sightseeing tour of Galway and Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle, Excursion to the Arran Islands. Visit a modern-day sheep farm including a typical Irish lunch. Discover Limerick and the panoramic Cliffs of Moher, Rock of Cashel, Killarney, Blarney, Cork, Waterford and much more....
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Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Day of departure
Depart on your overnight flight from Toronto or Montreal to Dublin via a European gateway.
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Day 2 - Dublin
Day of arrival in Dublin. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Cocktail followed by dinner at your hotel.
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Day 3 - Dublin
Today you will discover the delights of Dublin on your morning sightseeing tour. See statue-lined O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian Squares, St. Patrick's Cathedral where Jonathan Swift was dean for 32 years. Visit Trinity College to see the famous Book of Kells, an eighth-century gospel manuscript, and a first edition of Dante's Divine Comedy. The afternoon is at leisure to explore this beautiful city on your own. In the evening, enjoy a Typical Irish pub dinner at a local restaurant in Dublin.
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Day 4 - Dublin / Galway
After breakfast, check-out from your hotel and depart for Galway. After some free time in Galway for independent lunch, enjoy a half day guided tour. The city was originally a fishing village that by Medieval times had grown into a bustling walled town ruled by 14 merchant families whose names, Athy, Bodkin, and Fench to mention a few, can still be seen on Galway store fronts today. These families managed a flourishing international trade particularly with Spain. The city still bears the marks of this trade with the Spanish Arch, built in 1594, and Spanish Parade embellishing the old part of the town. Galway has retained much of its small town character is now home to many artists, writers, and artisans. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. This evening, you will enjoy a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle.
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Day 5 - Galway / Aran Islands
Enjoy a full day excursion to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the language of the islanders. Your tour will include a visit to the Aran Heritage Center. After a break for independent lunch, enjoy a panoramic tour of the island, ending with a visit to the clifftop Dun Aengus, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. There will be time to shop for the unique hand-knitted Arran sweaters, before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
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Day 6 - Galway / Dundrum (County Tipperary)
After breakfast, depart for the Rathbaun Farm, situated in a rural area of Southwest County Galway in Ardrahan. The Connolly family has been farming the 80 acres of land for over 200 years and Fintan Connolly continues this tradition today. The main livestock are sheep, with some cows and horses. Visitors to Rathbaun Farm will become enchanted by its thatched cottage home, turf fire, stone walls and an array of animals. Time spent here gives a glimpse into the daily workings of a sheep-farm. A typical Irish lunch is included. A wonderful setting for a wonderful experience! After lunch, depart for Dundrum, where your hotel is located. Dinner this evening will be at your hotel.
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Day 7 - Dundrum / Limerick / Cliffs of Moher
After breakfast, depart for Limerick, the oldest city in Ireland, where you will see the city’s main sights, including St. Mary’s Cathedral and King John’s Castle. In the afternoon, there will be an excursion to the Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's top Visitor attractions. They are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. Your tour will include a visit to the Atlantic Edge Visitor Center. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
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Day 8 - Dundrum / Glen of Aherlow / Rock of Cashel
Today, after a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a morning excursion to the Glen of Aherlow and a typical horse-breeding farm. In the afternoon, there will be a visit to the Rock of Cashel, a historic site in Ireland. Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, County Tipperary. The Rock of Cashel served as the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. Cashel is reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century A.D. Return to your hotel for dinner and the night.
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Day 9 - Dundrum / County Tipperary
Breakfast followed by a full day at leisure to enjoy the facilities at your hotel or a round of Golf, in the hotel's Golf Course (cost of Golf is not included). Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
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Day 10 - Dundrum / Killarney
Buffet breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Depart for Killarney. On arrival, enjoy a half day guided tour, including the lovely gardens of the Muckross Estate, followed by a boat ride on Lake Killarney. After the tour, you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and the night.
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Day 11 - Killarney / Blarney / Cork
After breakfast, depart for Blarney, where you will enjoy a tour of Blarney Castle, renowned for its Stone of Eloquence. After a tour of the Castle (and kissing the Blarney Stone!), there will be time to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts at the Blarney Woollen Mills. In the afternoon, enjoy a visit to the Old Middleton Irish Whiskey Distillery located in Cork. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Blarney.
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Day 12 - Blarney / Waterford / Wicklow
After breakfast, check-out and depart for Wicklow via Waterford. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory, learn about the art of making crystal and do some shopping. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Wicklow.
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Day 13 - Day of Return
Transfer from Wicklow to Dublin will be provided, in order to take your return flight to Toronto or Montreal.
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Contact Touringhouse
Our Tour Escorts are personable and knowledgeable. Contact us for more information on any of the travel experiences we offer.
Tour costs include:
Airfare from Toronto or Montreal to Dublin and back
11-night accommodations in First Class hotels (except in Blarney where you will stay at a good 3-star), based on double occupancy, as follows:
- 2 nights in Dublin
- 2 nights in Galway
- 4 nights in Tipperary
- 1 night in Killarney
- 1 night in Blarney
- 1 night in Wicklow
Buffet breakfast every morning
Welcome cocktail on the day of arrival
Dinner every evening (including a Typical Irish Pub dinner in Dublin and a Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle)
Deluxe chartered coach transportation throughout the tour
Sightseeing tours and excursions as follows (including applicable entrance fees):
- Half day Dublin (with a guide)
- Half day Galway (with a guide)
- Full day excursion to the Aran Islands (with a guide)
- Visit to the Rathbaum Ship Farm, including lunch (no guide)
- Half day Limerick (with a guide)
- Half day Cliffs of Moher (with a guide)
- Half day Glen of Aherlow and a horse breeding farm (with a guide)
- Visit to the Rock of Cashel (with a guide)
- Half day Killarney (with a guide)
- Half day Blarney Castle and the Blarney Woollen Mills (with a guide)
- Visit to the Middleton Whiskey Distillery in Cork (no guide)
- Visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory (no guide)
Entrance fees to the following places:
- St. Patrick's Cathedral (Dublin)
- Trinity College and Book of Kells (Dublin)
- Roundtrip ferry ride to Aran Islands
- Dun Aonghusa Fort (Aran Islands)
- Rathbaun Sheep Farm (Galway)
- King John's Castle (Limerick)
- St. Mary's Cathedral (Limerick)
- Cliffs of Moher
- Horse Breeding Farm (County Tipperary)
- Rock of Cashel (County Tipperary)
- Muckross House (Killarney)
- Boat ride on Lake Killarney (Killarney)
- Blarney Castle (Blarney)
- Middleton Scotch Distillery (Cork)
All service charges and taxes
Touringhouse Certifications
ACTA certified
Tico certified
TIDS certified
OBR certified
GST number
Offered by Touringhouse
$5,000,000.00
liability insurance