2024 Irish Legends - 9 Days/8 Nights
Delve into Ireland and its past on this tour, which mixes in plenty of hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path sights among the tried-and-true favorites.
Authentic Local Experiences:
- Visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and discover this stronghold of traditional Irish culture and language. Youa'll visit Dun Aengus, a prehistoric fort on the edge of a 100-meter cliff.
- Explore Irish emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the vessel that carried Irish refugees to North America in the 1840s.
- Raise a glass at Sean's Bar in Athlone. Welcoming the thirsty since 900 AD, it's in the Guinness Book of Records as Europe's oldest pub.
Trip Highlights:
- Foley's Bar Dinner & Entertainment
- Cliffs of Moher
- Aran Islands Excursion
- Cobh Heritage Centre
- Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
- Sean's Bar in Athlone
- Dun Aengus Fort
- Dunbrody Famine Ship
- Irish National Stud & Gardens
- Irish Night in Dublin
Dining Experiences:
- 8 Breakfasts (B), 2 Lunches (L) and 6 Dinners (D), including a welcome dinner at Dunboyne Castle Hotel.
Hotels:
- Dunboyne Castle Hotel - Dunboyne (1)
- Newpark Hotel - Kilkenny (2)
- Killarney Towers Hotel - Killarney (2)
- Salthill Hotel - Galway (2)
- Radisson Blu Royal - Dublin (1)
Call (870) 972-5580 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18858340
- Tour Operator
- CIE Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2024
- Duration
- 9 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Dublin | Dublin Arrival - Malahide Castle : Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from Dunboyne Castle Hotel. (We strongly recommend you arrange an airport transfer when you book your tour.) Start your vacation with a visit Malahide Castle, first built in 1185 and filled with medieval artifacts. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner at your hotel. (D) |
| Day 2 | Kilkenny | National Stud - Kilkenny Walk : Visit the home of equine royalty: the Irish National Stud in Kildare, the heart of Irish horse racing. Some of the world's finest thoroughbreds live in these beautiful surroundings. Walk through the gardens before traveling on to Kilkenny, where you'll enjoy lunch in the Kilkenny Design Centre. Take a walking tour with a local guide to see the gems along the Medieval Mile, a stretch of city streets from cathedral to castle, with buildings dating back as far as the 13th century. Dine independently and explore as you wish this evening. (B, L) |
| Day 3 | Kilkenny | House of Waterford Crystal - Dunbrody Famine Ship : Visit the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner; see skilled artisans create crystal masterpieces on a factory tour. Then join a local guide for a walking tour of Waterford; discover the history of this port city, the oldest in Ireland, and its many colorful characters. Take time to explore independently. In New Ross, you'll visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of a vessel that in the 1840s brought desperate emigrants fleeing famine to new lives in North America. (B, D) |
| Day 4 | Killarney | Cobh Heritage Centre - Blarney Castle : Travel south to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic and where many places associated with the liner still exist. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration over a number of centuries from Ireland to North America. At Blarney Castle, kiss the famous stone or stroll through the spacious parklands to view Blarney House before traveling to your hotel. (Please note: Some Tuesday departures will stay in Tralee instead of Killarney on Days 4 and 5.) (B, D) |
| Day 5 | Killarney | Dingle Peninsula - South Pole Inn : Visit Moriarty's, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe. Then go to discover the glorious Dingle Peninsula as you drive along the south shore to admire views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. At the South Pole Inn, learn about Tom Crean, an early Irish explorer who braved the Antarctic. Browse around the town of Dingle and enjoy a drink, dinner and entertainment at Foley's Bar and Restaurant. (B, D) |
| Day 6 | Galway | Cliffs of Moher - Galway : Ferry across the River Shannon before driving to the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs; on a clear day you can see great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Take in a sheepdog demonstration to see highly skilled dogs work with farmers to herd their flock. Savor homemade scones with tea before heading to Galway for a panoramic city tour. (B, D) |
| Day 7 | Galway | Aran Islands - Dun Aengus : Set out on a ferry across Galway Bay for Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. The hardy islanders still speak the Irish language and maintain traditional fishing and farming methods. Visit Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs above the Atlantic. Relax with a casual lunch in Kilronan, the island's main village, followed by free time for exploring before returning by ferry. (B, L) |
| Day 8 | Dublin | Clonmacnoise - Sean's Bar : Visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD and set on the banks of the River Shannon. Marvel at elaborate high Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes, and walk around the many church ruins and two round towers. In nearby Athlone, enjoy an Irish coffee at Sean's Bar. This pub has a documented history going back to 900 AD-and is featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest pub in Europe. During renovations in 1970, ancient walls and old coins dating back centuries were discovered. In the evening, head to Dublin's Abbey Tavern for an Irish dinner and lively show. (B, D) |
| Day 9 | Dublin | Your Tour Ends After Breakfast : 9-day tour ends in Dublin after breakfast. (B) |
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