This Irish Gold Escorted Coach Tour Includes 8 days/7 nights and 13 meals
Highlights:
Blarney Castle
Book of Kells
Cliffs of Moher
Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
House of Waterford Crystal
Ring of Kerry Tour
Skellig Experience
Waterford’s Medieval Museum
Hotels:
Deluxe & Superior First Class
Royal Marine Hotel, Dublin (1 night)
Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway (2 nights)
The Malton Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
Granville Hotel, Waterford (1 night)
Clayton Hotel Burlington Road, Dublin (1 night)
Tour Includes:
Full daily breakfast (except Day 1)
All on-tour transportation including shuttles and ferries
Welcome get-together drink with your group
Four dinners including a traditional Irish Night in Killarney, and O’Connell’s Restaurant in Dublin.
Free Wi-Fi on coaches so you can stay connected along the way
Documents wallet and backpack to keep you organized
All local taxes, hotel service charges & handling of one suitcase per person
2020 Prices
Mar 8 – Mar 15 – €1445
Mar 22 – Mar 29 – €1405
Mar 29 – Apr 5 – €1725
Apr 5 – Apr 12 – €1485
Apr 15 – Apr 22 – €1525
Apr 19 – Apr 26 – €1845
Apr 22 – Apr 29 – €1605
Apr 26 – May 3 – €1725
May 6 – May 13 – €1885
May 10 – May 17 – €1885
May 13 – May 20 – €1885
May 17 – May 24 – €1885
May 25 – May 31 – €1925
May 27 – Jun 3 – €1925
May 31 – Jun 7 – €2245
Jun 7 – Jun 14 – €1965
Jun 10 – Jun 17 – €1965
Jun 14 – Jun 21 – €1965
Jun 24 – Jul 1 – €1965
Jun 28 – Jul 5 – €2285
Jul 5 – Jul 12 – €1965
Jul 12 – Jul 19 – €1965
Jul 15 – Jul 22 – €1965
Jul 22 – Jul 29 – €1965
Aug 2 – Aug 9 – €1925
Aug 5 – Aug 12 – €2245
Aug 9 – Aug 16 – €1965
Aug 12 Aug 19 – €1925
Aug 16 – Aug 23 – €1925
Aug 19 – Aug 26 – €1925
Aug 23 – Aug 30 – €1965
Aug 26 – Sep 2 – €1925
Aug 30 – Sep 6 – €2245
Sep 2 – Sep 9 – €1965
Sep 6 – Sep 13 – €1965
Sep 13 – Sep 20 – €1965
Sep 16 – Sep 23 – €1965
Sep 27 – Oct 4 – €1805
Sep 30 – Oct 7 – €2125
Oct 4 – Oct 11 – €1765
Oct 25 – Nov 1 – €1565
Single room supplement: €520
*All prices are per person sharing. Single Supplements apply.
Tour Itinerary:
Irish Gold 8 Days / 7 Nights
Day 1: Dublin Tour & Book of Kells
Tour begins 2:00 PM at your Dublin hotel. Head out for an introductory tour of Dublin including O’Connell Street, St Stephen’s Green, the seat of government at Leinster House, and other public buildings. Take a stroll through Trinity College’s campus in the center of the city with a student guide and view the priceless 8th century Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript of the four gospels. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group then enjoy an independent evening at one of Dublin’s many restaurants or pubs.
Day 2: Clonmacnoise Monastic Site & Galway City Tour
Journey across the rolling pastures of Ireland’s heartland to visit Clonmacnoise. This monastic settlement was founded in 545 AD and is set on the banks of the mighty River Shannon. See elaborate high Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes. Head to Galway and enjoy a guided walking tour through the city center. Enjoy free time to explore Galway on your own before dinner.
(B, D)
Day 3: Connemara Catamaran Cruise & Kylemore Abbey
Explore scenic Connemara to admire how constantly-changing cloud formations give granite hills, sparkling lakes and peat bogs an added dimension. Head to Kylemore Abbey to see elegant rooms and the charming church, set beside a tranquil lake. Visit the Victorian Walled Gardens and enjoy a casual lunch. Take a short catamaran cruise of Killary Harbour, a 9-mile fjord (Mar 18 – Oct 28 departures). Return to Galway where the evening is free to explore the city.
(B, L)
Day 4: Cliffs, Sheepdogs & Traditional Irish Night
Travel south around Galway Bay and through the Burren, a region of rounded limestone hills which has a curious lunar-like appearance. Immerse yourself in farm life and watch trained sheepdogs obey their owner as they direct sheep through various obstacles. View the Cliffs of Moher, which rise almost 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic surf. Embark on a memorable ferry across the River Shannon Estuary and head to Killarney. Head out for an Irish night featuring a lively show with dinner.
(B, D)
Day 5: Jaunting Car & Ring of Kerry
Take a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car through the Killarney National Park to scenic Ross Castle, set on the shores of Lough Leane. Head to Muckross House for a guided tour and a stroll through the gardens. Set out on Ireland’s most popular scenic drive – the Ring of Kerry – with plenty of stops for photo opportunities. Savor a light lunch and take a break in the colorful village of Sneem. Cross to Valentia Island by bridge and tour the Skellig Experience, which explains the life of early Christian monks on Skellig Michael, a rocky offshore island that was featured in the “Star Wars VII” movie. Return to Killarney for an evening on your own.
(B, L)
Day 6: Blarney Castle & Traditional Music Session
Drive through the mountains into richer farming country on the way to Blarney Castle. Kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Treat yourself to quality Irish made goods at Blarney Woollen Mills before traveling along the coast to the Marine Bar in Dungarvan for a creamy Irish coffee and traditional music. Continue to Waterford to witness the creation of crystal masterpieces during your visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.
(B, D)
Day 7: Waterford Walk & O’Connell’s Restaurant
This morning join a local guide for a walking tour through the narrow streets of the old city to discover Waterford’s long history and some of its colorful characters. Visit the nearby Medieval Museum, a modern building which incorporates a 13th century Choristers’ Hall and the 15th century Mayor’s Wine Vault. Stop in Kilkenny for a look around the compact city center and have lunch on your own. Travel to Dublin and in the evening head to the popular O’Connell’s Restaurant where a warm welcome and superb cuisine await you.
(B, D)
Day 8: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)
B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner
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.
Book of Kells 
Visitors walk through the city-center campus of Trinity College to view this world-famous 9th century gospel manuscript housed in the magnificent Old Library. See the ’Turning Darkness into Light’ exhibition, the Book of Kells and other related manuscripts in the Treasury and the magnificent 18th century Long Room.
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.
Clonmacnoise Monastic Site 
This great monastery was founded in 548 by St Ciaran and was a great centre of learning in medieval times. Many manuscripts were written there. Today see three high crosses and the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches and two round towers set on a mound beside the River Shannon.
House of Waterford Crystal 
Tour this working factory to see all stages of production from craftspeople forming molten glass to the intricate cutting and polishing. At the end of the tour view magnificent trophies and the opulent retail store housing the largest collection of Waterford Crystal in the world.
Ring of Kerry Tour 
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.
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, County Kerry!
Waterford’s Medieval Museum 
The Waterford Museum of Treasures is a museum for historical artifacts associated with the city of Waterford. There are three museums in the Viking Triangle collectively known as Waterford Museum of Treasures.
