Day 1 – Overnight Flight
Today we travel to Chicago, where we board our plane for an overnight flight to Dublin, Ireland.
Day 2 – Arrive Dublin City Tour
Following arrival at Dublin Airport, our local guide will escort us to our awaiting motor coach. As introduction to Ireland, we will sit back and enjoy a Tour of Dublin, Ireland’s capital city on the banks of the River Liffey. We will see the Georgian Squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College, the Phoenix Park (the biggest town park in Europe), statue filled O’Connell Street and the fashionable Grafton Street. Next, we will visit EPIC – The Irish Emigration Museum which tells the story of the many Irish who emigrated over the centuries and how they helped to change the world. This afternoon we will check into the Camden Court Hotel for a two-night stay. Later this evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner in the hotel. (D)
Day 3 – Trinity College – St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Guinness Brewery
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel this morning, we travel to Trinity College and visit the Long Room which houses 200,000 of Trinity College’s oldest books and is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful libraries. Next, we will view a 9th-century Latin manuscript of the four Gospels written on vellum (prepared calfskin), known as the Book of Kells, one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. Then, we visit Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, an architectural and historical site which has been at the heart of Dublin history for over 800 years. No visit to Dublin would be complete without a visit to the Guinness Brewery founded in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. Here we will enjoy a self-guided tour which concludes with a leisurely pint of Guinness in the 360-degree roof top bar with spectacular views of Dublin City. The remainder of the day is free to soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant city. You may choose to explore its many lively streets and enjoy dinner in one of the cities charming pubs and restaurants. (B)
Day 4 – National Stud Farm – Kilkenny – Waterford
This morning you bid farewell to Dublin and travel south to County Kildare – the center of Ireland’s horse breeding industry where you will enjoy a guided tour of the Irish National Stud Farm. Since it bred its first winner MINORU in 1909, the stud farm at Tully has continued to produce many famous racehorses. Also on the grounds of the Stud Farm are the Japanese Gardens renowned for their symbolism of “The Life of Man” and the St. Fiacre commemorative garden. Then, we travel to Kilkenny City on the banks of the River Nore where we will enjoy the Shenanigans Kilkenny Walking Tour. Discover the hidden history and stories of the city’s breath taking landmarks with an entertaining and informative tour guide as we weave our way through the picturesque narrow city streets of this medieval city. Later we will visit Kilkenny Castle – a 12th century castle, remodeled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands. We travel from Kilkenny to Clonmel for an overnight stay in the Hotel Minella. (B, D)
Day 5 – Waterford – Cobh – Killarney
The House of Waterford Crystal is our first stop this morning, where we will have a guided tour and see highly skilled local craftsmen demonstrate crystal blowing and cutting in the new state-of-the-art visitor center. There will also be time to visit the retail shop before departing. From here, we’ll travel along the southern coastline to Dungarvan where we have a lunch stop in the Marine Bar, enjoying a short music session before continuing to Cobh, one of the main points of emigration during the great famine and also the last port of call of the Titanic. Here we will visit “The Queenstown Story” which portrays the hardship of life on board ship as it sailed to the “New World.” Annie Moore, the first emigrant to be processed on Ellis Island, departed on the Titanic from Cobh with her two brothers. We continue to Killarney for a two night stay in the Killarney Plaza Hotel. This evening you will enjoy dinner in your hotel. (B, D)
Day 6 – Dingle Peninsula
Today, we get to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of the Dingle Peninsula, once cited as “the most beautiful place on earth” by the National Geographic. We will make a stop at the Brian de Staic
studio in Dingle which specializes in Celtic jewelry, handcrafted and engraved with ancient Celtic symbols and the letters of the ogham alphabet, an ancient Irish form of writing. As we continue around Slea Head, we have some breathtaking views of the Atlantic coastline and see some beehive huts (early monastic settlements) dating back over a thousand years. Our route will take us to the most westerly point of Ireland where we can view the Blasket Islands and see the locations for such films as Ryan’s Daughter, Far and Away starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman and the more recently filmed Star Wars – The Last Jedi. Then, we visit a Sheep Farm and see the border collie dogs at work rounding up the sheep. Next, we will have some free time in Dingle for lunch before returning to Killarney. Dinner tonight is in a local pub before travelling a short distance to this evening’s show – Celtic Steps, a magical journey through Ireland’s colorful past bringing together popular Irish dance with the best of traditional Irish music. (B, D)
Day 7 – Kenmare – Mizen Head – Kinsale
This morning we bid farewell to Killarney and travel to Kenmare before continuing over the Caha Pass to Glengariff. Travelling through West Cork, festooned with little ports, bays, inlets and harbors we will have some spectacular panoramic views of what rugged & rural Ireland offers. Traveling to Mizen Head – the most southerly point of Ireland, we will visit the award winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction. You can choose to take a ten-minute walk along the path, down the 99 steps and across the Arched Bridge over the crashing waves to the Signal Station. Then, we continue the coast road to Kinsale where we check into the Actons Hotel overlooking Kinsale Harbour. Kinsale is a historic fishing town on the southern coastline of County Cork, with some old cobble stone streets and many interesting shops and pubs. It is also renowned for its restaurants and is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland. This evening we will enjoy a delicious dinner in our hotel restaurant. (B, D)
Day 8 – Blarney Castle – Kinsale Harbor Cruise
Blarney Castle
This morning we travel to Blarney where we will visit Blarney Castle where you may want to kiss the famous Blarney Stone said to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who dare. Then, enjoy some free time for shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills which carries a wide range of sweaters, tweeds, china and crystal. On returning to Kinsale, we will board The Spirit of Kinsale for a harbor cruise. We can sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning scenery, hear the history and legends in a Guided Tour of Kinsale Harbour. Following our cruise, the remainder of the afternoon is free to enjoy browsing in its many shops, enjoy Kinsale’s harbour and observe the marina activity. This evening you are free to check out some of Kinsale’s pubs and award winning restaurants. (B)
Day 9 – Adare – Dromoland Castle
This morning we depart Kinsale and travel to the luxurious Dromoland Castle for an overnight stay. The castle built in the 16th century was once the royal seat of the O’Brien clan. It was refurbished and transformed into a luxury hotel in 1962 and retains priceless reminders of the castle’s historic past. Splendid woodcarvings, stone statuary and fine antique furnishings surround us during our stay. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy some of the castles many activities which includes golf, fishing, falconry, clay pigeon shooting, tennis, archery and horseback riding. The golf course at Dromoland is regarded by many as one of the finest 18 hole parkland golf courses in the country. You may also like to try out the luxurious health spa with six treatment rooms and an outdoor hydro spa. This evening we join for a private dinner in the elegant surroundings of the castle’s Terrace Room. (B, D)
Day 10 – Cliffs of Moher – Dublin
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland, The Burren, Europe
This morning we bid farewell to Dromoland Castle and travel to the majestic Cliffs of Moher which rises to a height of 600 ft over the Atlantic Ocean. O’Brien’s Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors over hundreds of years. Following some free time to view the cliffs, our tour continues through the lunar type landscape of the Burren which takes its name from the Irish word ‘bhoireann’ meaning, ‘a stony place’ or ‘a rocky place’, which is a good description for this 135 sq. miles limestone plateau. The rough, intriguing and attractive landscape was formed 320 million years ago under a tropical sea. From here we continue across the Irish midlands to Dunboyne for an overnight stay in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner in your hotel. Overnight: Dunboyne Castle Hotel. (B, D)
Day 11 – Depart Dublin
This morning, with fond memories and newly acquired accents and many stories to relate to friends and family we will travel to Dublin Airport for our flight home. (B)
- Roundtrip Airfare from Chicago
- Roundtrip Motorcoach transportation from Paducah to Chicago Airport
- 9 nights’ hotel accommodations/luggage handling
- 15 meals: 9 breakfasts, 6 dinners
- Dublin City Tour
- Trinity College
- Book of Kells
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral
- Guinness Brewery
- Irish National Stud Farm Tour
- Kilkenny
- House of Waterford Tour
- Cobh Museum
- Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Dingle Tour
- Sheep farm with Sheep dog demonstration
- Celtic Steps Music and Dance Show
- Kenmare
- Mizen Head Light Signal Station
- Kinsale
- Blarney Castle
- Spirit of Kinsale Harbor Cruise
- Adare
- Dromoland Castle luxurious overnight stay
- Cliffs of Moher
- Local Guide for 10 days
- Guides’ gratuities
- Deluxe motorcoach transportation, driver gratuity
- Fully Escorted by Jane’s Journeys
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PRICE PER PERSON:
Double: $6,158 per person
Single: $7,298
*Single rooms limited — subject to availability
$500 deposit with reservation.
Final payment due March 9, 2025.
Optional cancellation insurance due to illness of person traveling or immediate family member, is recommended and available for purchase: $280 per person double; $332 per person single. Insurance payment due with deposit.
The overall activity level of this tour is a level 2.
You like a balanced approach to travel. Walking two to three miles over the course of a day is no problem for you. You can partake in a two-hour leisurely walking tour, covering up to two miles (with included breaks).You can handle a variety of terrains, from cobblestone streets to moderate hills with relative ease and without assistance. You can climb two flights of stairs with ease.