7 Day Taste Of Ireland - Tour A

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Visit a farm in the beautiful mountains of County Kerry and watch border collies hard at work as they round up sheep.
• Tour the magnificent State Apartments of Dublin Castle - once the living quarters of the viceregal court, the Apartments today are the venue for presidential inaugurations and other State ceremonies.
• Dining Experiences: 6 daily breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L) and 3 dinners (D) including a night at the Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner and a traditional show, and a medieval castle banquet

Trip Highlights:

• Blarney Castle - Built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, this stronghold has been attracting attention ever since. Millions have flocked to Blarney to kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the tower, making it one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.
• Cliffs of Moher - One of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, the cliffs are 700 feet high and extend for 5 miles over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland and one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara. The cliffs are home to major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds.
• Dublin Castle - Dublin Castle is the heart of historic Dublin and has been the site of many fortifications. The magnificent State Apartments were built as the residential quarters of the viceregal court. They are now the venue for Ireland’s Presidencies of the European Community, Presidential Inaugurations and State Functions.
• Ring of Kerry - One of Ireland’s most popular circular drives around the Iveragh Peninsula, starting and ending in Killarney. The 100-mile route of ever-changing scenery of mountains and shoreline combined with varying weather conditions ensures splendid views.
• Sheepdog Demonstration - Sheep farming is an important part of country life and watch a farmer with his working dogs control a flock of sheep. See how agile dogs obey various commands to round up sheep, especially useful in mountainous regions.
• Skellig Experience - You can experience many aspects of those offshore Skellig islands while remaining on the dry land, in a custom built, stone clad, grass roofed, prize winning building located right on the waterfront beside the Valentia Island bridge at Valentia,

Hotels 

• Clayton Hotel | Ballsbridge (2 nights) - 4* This hotel was once a Masonic School and still retains many striking original features to give it a unique charm. Standard rooms are tastefully decorated and boast a fresh and warm feeling. The Brasserie Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with fresh, seasonal and sustainable produce. Tom's Bar is a great place to relax with a drink or a snack.
• Killarney Towers Hotel | Killarney (2 nights) - 4* This modern hotel provides guests with 182 rooms that are comfortable and include satellite TV and video facilities. An excellent restaurant serves great Irish breakfasts and carvery dinners while the choice of bars offer live music most nights. Enjoy a strenuous workout or leisurely dip in the pool in the extensive leisure center. Located in the center of Killarney town within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, pubs and the Killarney National Park. Hotel parking.
• Bunratty Castle Hotel | Bunratty (1 night) - 4* This hotel is named for the famous Bunratty Castle, just across the road. Originally a Georgian mansion, the hotel offers the perfect place to relax in a traditional atmosphere and decor. All guest rooms are spacious and equipped with everything for a comfortable stay. The traditional pub is a great place for a drink or casual food. Only 8 miles from Shannon Airport, the hotel is within easy walking distance of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Durty Nelly's Pub and shops at the Bunratty Village Mills. Hotel parking.
• Academy Plaza Hotel | Dublin (1 night) - 3* A block from the city centre's vibrant O'Connell Street, this relaxed hotel is an 11-minute walk from Trinity College and a 13-minute walk from the Temple Bar nightlife district. Warm rooms feature free WiFi and flat-screen TVs, as well as work desks, laptop safes, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Some rooms add sofas.