- An Irish Journey

Your Accommodation

3 nights at the Merrion Hotel

Dublin’s most stylish 5***** hotel, located in the city centre opposite Government Buildings and created from four restored Georgian Townhouses. Many of the 143 bedrooms and suites overlook 18th century gardens.  There is a pool and a spa in the hotel, and right beside it is the large public park of  Merrion Square.  It is also where the Duke of Wellington (of Waterloo fame)  was born.

3 nights at Ashford Castle

Standing over the shores of Lough Corrib, and hidden deep in over 350 acres of wooded parkland, this 13th Century Castle is a monument to a fascinating history of a bygone age. Once the estate of the Guinness Family, the Castle opened its doors as an exclusive hotel in 1939.   While staying there you can enjoy a wide range of relaxing or exciting activities. Book a Spa treatment or Fly a Hawk in the School of Falconry, take a Picnic in the Walled Garden or catch Wild Trout or Salmon here, in one of the most famous fisheries in Ireland.  Ashford Castle is perfectly situated to welcome all ages of visitors, from every corner of the globe. It has an unsurpassed reputation for providing guests with the very finest rooms and suites. Each guest room is individually designed to provide stylish personal comforts, from the marble fittings of bathrooms to sumptuous co-ordinated fabrics and furnishings. Many of the rooms retain their original features and all are equipped with modern amenities including Broadband connectivity and Interactive TV.

3 nights at The Sheen Falls Lodge

Once the summer residence of the Marquis of Lansdowne, in its day the Sheen Falls Lodge welcomed the gentry in their pursuit of deer hunting and salmon fishing. Thankfully today the deer roam the estate and surrounding woodlands freely, and visitors from all over the world can now enjoy the luxury accommodations of the lodge and the stunning beauty of its environs. The setting of 300 acres of magical woodlands and crystal cascading waterfalls, is truly unique to Sheen Falls Lodge

Consider a villa here  

3 nights at The Castle Martyr

Located in Cork , the luxurious Capella Castlemartyr hotel consists of a grand 17th century country manor house that sits adjacent to the ruins of a 1000-year-old-castle. The 5 star hotel includes an Auriga Spa, a Ron Kirby designed links-style golf course, gourmet dining and a 24-hour fitness centre.  Guests may take carriage tours of the Castle’s 220-acre estate, which is home to a historic chapel, the tomb of a fourth Earl of Shannon and Mitchell’s Woods. The hotel’s world class facilities are the manifestation of all that the Capella Hotels and Resorts brand offers—luxurious amenities, meticulous attention to detail, a commitment to individualised service and unmatched experiences in hospitality.  The hotel’s team of personal assistants, assigned to individual parties upon arrival and always on hand to decant the wine and pump the air into bicycle tires, work hard to provide guests with a more intimate experience.   As one might expect of an upscale country hotel (especially one from Horst Schulze, who created the Ritz-Carlton brand), the guest rooms are huge, ranging from a mere 500 sq ft to a Presidential Suite of over 3,000 sq ft, and and grandly appointed, with rich drapery, oil paintings and antique-style furniture. There’s a contemporary twist, of course — the lighting and heating systems are computerized and controlled from the bedside, flat-screen televisions and iPod docking stations come standard, and wireless internet is available everywhere.  Eleven of the hotel's 109 guestrooms and suites are in the old house and the rest are in a new section alongside it which is uncompromisingly modern, yet sits surprisingly comfortably beside the elegance of the old. The Capella philosophy is to combine luxurious amenities with individualised service - how many hotels can boast a personal assistant who can arrange everything from outings with a local fisherman, to visiting a nearby beekeeper, or organising private musical performances in the gardens or readings by well known authors! 

2  nights at The Ritz Carlton

Whisk yourself away to a Palladian estate tucked back in the woodlands of County Wicklow, on Ireland’s east coast. Take an enchanting stroll amidst the gentle green hills and sparkling lakes of Powerscourt Gardens. The sumptuous surroundings of the hotel combine the luxury and tranquillity of country living with city chic. The Ritz-Carlton brings together natural beauty and dignified accommodation. Despite its seven storey height, the ostentatious Palladian style exterior (which is reminiscent of a huge royal-iced wedding cake or Citizen Kane’s Xanadu) has been cleverly designed to look all but three floors tall - the idea of the highly-respected architect Jeremy Williams, who was involved with the original project.  The hotel offers 200 guest rooms, including 124 sumptuous suites. All rooms are opulently furnished and with an average room size of 700 square feet some of the largest hotel rooms in Ireland. Many rooms will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views and terraces
Wicklow, located just 26 miles south of Dublin International Airport is known as The Garden of Ireland. The area is famed for its many beautiful formal gardens including Avondale, Powerscourt and Mount Usher, and for its stunning and epic landscape. Popular films such as Brave Heart and Excalibur were filmed in the area, which is also home to Ireland’s famous Ardmore Film Studios. The area is beloved by hikers and there are many beautiful trails of various degrees through the mountains.  With sweeping views of the Wicklow countryside, Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt invites guests to enjoy an impressive menu with impeccable service.   Situated on the 3rd floor of the hotel, the floor-to-ceiling glass fronted restaurant takes full advantage of the Sugar Loaf Mountain views whilst al fresco dining on the terrace is offered during the summer months. Chef de cuisine, Paul Carroll, presents culinary delights from best seasonal produce.

Day 1

Probably a day to rest - consider a DUK tour of Dublin - The Viking Splash.   The Park at Merrion Square is a pleasant place to relax and The Natural History Museum and The National Gallery are both opposite the hotel.  You might also consider a horse drawn carriage tour of the city centre.

Day 2

Explore further afield – Malahide Castle with its model railway and museum of toys in the morning. In the afternoon maybe a  a cruise down the Liffey or a visit to one of the gardens at Glasnevin or Rathfarnham or a cruise down the Liffey. Maybe a tour of the National Gallery or Museum with a special guide for the children.

A Tour of Dublin's Fair City

Bank of Ireland, College Green The prestigious offices of Ireland 's national bank began life as the first purpose-built parliament house in Europe . Completed in 1739 it served as Ireland 's Parliament until the Act Of Union in 1801

Trinity College Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth. Among many famous students to attend the college were playwrights Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett. Trinity's lawns and cobbled quads provide a pleasant haven in the hearth of the city. The major attractions are the Old Library and the Book of Kells, housed in the Treasury. Exit form the front of the Trinity complex and walk from College Green to Dame St and Continue west passing:

The Olympia Theatre - Dating back to the 1800s, this Victorian music hall-style theatre has a capacity of 1,300. It presents an eclectic schedule of variety shows, musicals, operettas, concerts, ballet, comedy, and drama. As a variation, for the late-night crowd, live bands are often featured after regular programs.  A brief diversion here will bring you into the trendy Temple Bar area. Across the Street is

City Hall  Erected between 1769 and 1779, and formerly the Royal Exchange. It is a square building in Corinthian style, with three fronts of Portland stone. Since 1852, however it has been the centre of the municipal government. The interior is designed as a circle within a square, with fluted columns supporting a dome shaped roof over the central hall. The building contains many items of interest, including 102 royal charters and the mace and sword of the city. Adjacent to City Hall is:

Dublin Castle Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex represents some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city, and was the centre of English power in Ireland for over seven centuries until it was taken of by the Irish Free State in 1922. Highlights include the 13th-century record tower, the largest visible fragment of the original Norman castle and the State Apartments, once the residence of English viceroys and now the focal point for government ceremonial functions, including the inauguration of Ireland 's presidents. At this point Dame St takes on the name Lord Edward St , and leads to

St. Patrick's Cathedral Ireland 's largest church was founded beside a sacred well where St. Patrick is said to have baptised converts around 450A.D. A stone slab bearing a Celtic cross and covering the well was un-earthed at the turn of the century(20th). It is now preserved in the west end of the cathedral's nave. The original building was just a wooden chapel and remained so until 1192 when Archbishop John Comyn rebuilt the cathedral in stone. Much of the present building dates back to work completed between 1254 and 1270.  Cut back to

Powerscourt Town House Centre The townhouse of a famous Georgian family. Today the building houses one of the cities nicest shopping centres. In the 1960's major restoration turned it into a centre of specialist galleries, antique shops, jewellery stalls, cafés and other shop units. Carry on to Grafton Street down the narrow Johnson Court Alley

Explore the Great Georgian Squares and Doorways.;  Visit the famous Phoenix Park, Home of our President Mary McAllesse;  See the delights of the city of Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Brendan Behan, Sean O' Casey, Oscar Wilde and Nobel Prize winners W.B Yeats, George B. Shaw and Samuel Beckett.; See Guinness Brewery, O' Connell Street;  The U2 Wall, The National Museum & Gallery

And of course Molly Malone herself "In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, through streets broad and narrow, Crying cockles and mussels, alive, alive o!"

Day 3

THROUGH ROYAL MEATH 

Guided Tour of Newgrange, a 5,000 year old passage tomb.

Battle of the Boyne Location of the first major clash in Ireland between Williamite and jacobite forces in 1690, a watershed in Irish and European history. Enjoy the Irish countryside as we travel along the banks of the river Boyne. 

Experience Monasterboice High Cross and the old monastery of St. Buite where you can see the amazing craftwork of the early Irish monks in the form of the Spectacular Muiredeach's High Cross.

Visit Mellifont Abbey, one of the first Cistercian abbeys in Ireland

Visit Slane where St. Patrick arrived in the early 5th century, He challenged the Druids authority by lighting the Pascal Flame - advancing the cause of Christianity in Ireland.

Hill of Tara Visit the ancient coronation site for Irish High Kings, where our Druid forefather ruled supremely before the arrival of Christianity. Traditionally this location was used for Pagan festivals. View 23 of Ireland's 32 counties from this vantage point.

End the day with a visit to Trim Castle, the largest Norman Castle in Ireland, where the movie Braveheart was filmed.

Day 4

By way of Larchill which was created in the mid 18th century as a 'Ferme Ornée' (Ornamental Farm) and as such is the only surviving complete garden of its type in Europe. Scenic walks through beech avenues link 10 classical and gothic follies. There is a picturesque 8 acre lake with two fairy tale island follies, a formal Walled Garden with shell lined tower and model gothic farmyard. For the kids there is a Pets Corner and Wooden Adventure Trail. Lunch in Kilbeggan. Stop at Rosserill Friary in the afternoon and visit the stone circle and carved pagan gods at The Neale before checking in to Ashford Castle. Consider dinner in the cottage here this evening.

Day 5

Start the day by exploring the estate – maybe a pony ride along through the woods; or a hawking experience at the falconry centre; or possibly a cruise on the lake; or go down into the deep cave through which legend shrouded rivers flow. Lunch in the village (be sure to see the Quiet Man movie before coming, and we will arrange for a horse drawn cart ride around the film locations). Spend the afternoon in Galway City or the harbour town of Westport.

Day 6

Explore Connemara visit Kylemore Abbey, a romantic castle with beautiful gardens. Have lunch in a private house in the heart of Connemara and hear about the wild life of the west. Collect shells on the white coral sands near Omey Island, and shop in Clifden, the capital of Connemara. On the way back to Ashford consider exploring the depths of Gowla Mine.

Day 7

Leave Ashford for Kerry. Head first for Bunratty Castle and Folk Park where the castle and restored Victorian village are fascinating. Lunch in Limerick City, beside the Castle and The Hunt Museum. In the afternoon tour through the picturesque village of Adare to Kenmare to overnight at The Sheen Falls.

Bunratty
Adare

Day 8

The Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the Iveragh Peninsula .  It is best to do it in an anti clockwise direction - Killorglin, Glenbeigh, etc.

Killorglin situated on a hill overlooking the wide and graceful River Laune, a river offering salmon and trout angling. Dominating the landscape to the south are the MacGillycuddys Reeks. It is the location of the famous "Puck Fair" festival - On the bridge into the town is a salmon smoke house called The Fishery.

The Bog Village is situated half way between Killorglin and Glenbeigh on the main Ring of Kerry route. It is a must for you to stop off and enjoy a step back in time to the early 18th century to recapture the way life would have been at that time. Peat, or turf as it is usually called in Ireland , is harvested from bogs and is still used as domestic fuel. The village is here to preserve the past for your enjoyment. This is a most worthwhile and historic visit to see the real Kerry life as it was, in the heart of Kerry's bogland. The Bog Village is adjacent to the Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant.

 Glenbeigh is a popular holiday base nestled at the foot of a well-wooded mountain and close to the head of Dingle Bay .  It is dominated by the strange ruin of Wynn's Folly, or Hedley Towers , once home of the Winns, Barons Headley. The Title dated from 1797. Wynn's Folly was burnt down in 1922. The view from 'Wynn's Folly is superb, and provides a breathtaking view of the village and surrounds of Glenbeigh.  After Glenbeigh you will pass through Kells Bay where a local shepherd gives demonstrations of working sheep dogs

From Cahirciveen you can divert to the right and take the car ferrry to Knightstown on Valentia Island .  Be sure to visit The Slate Quarry, Glanleam Gardens and The Tetrapod Trackway -   In 1993 an undergraduate geology student (Iwan Stossel) made the discovery of a lifetime. While examining rocks on the island's coast he came across a rock platform containing a set of ancient animal footprints. The tracks have since been dated to almost 400 million years ago and are regarded as among the earliest footprints known to science, and certainly the oldest known footprints in Europe .

Valentia is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breathtaking cliffs and magnificent seascapes. The island is an excellent centre for sea angling and diving in unpolluted waters. The bridge was built at Portmagee in 1970. The island, about 11km long by 3km wide is one of the most westerly points of Europe . The surface is bold and rocky, two prominent features being Geokaun Mountain 268 meters on the north and Bray head 180 metres on the south, both are splendid vantage points for the sightseer. The Skellig Experience is located here. This is where the story of the Skelligs is told. The themes include the monastic settlement, the lighthouse, the bird and underwater life.

Head on to Ballinskelligs via St Finans Bay.  In Ballinskelligs is the Cill Rialaig Centre - once a deserted and almost forgotten pre-famine village of thatched stone cottages situated on the Bolus road near Ballinskelligs, it is now an international artists' retreat .

On through Charlie Chaplin's Waterville and Cagerdaniel where, by golden beaches, stands Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Today some 120 hectares of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House, make up Derrynane National Historic Park . Plantations and garden walks were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries, principally north and west of the house. Some features of the demesne are strongly associated with Daniel O'Connell, including the old Summer House. The main area of the gardens, set inland and to the north of the house, can be reached through a tunnel under the road.

Between Waterville and Derrynane you will see a Neolithic Stone alignment on the ridge above the LHS of the road.  Outside Caherdaniel is a ruined Iron Age fort on the RHS.

At Castlecove, some distance to the left off the main road, is Staigue Fort - probably the finest example of a stone fort in Ireland , and is about 2500 years old. It is built of local stone and is almost circular, 27m in diameter. The walls are almost 4m thick at the base, and 2m thick at the top. The north side is still perfect with some of the old coping stones still in position. There are two small chambers in the wall, one on the west side and one on the north side. The stairways are probably the most interesting feature of the fort, and run inside the wall almost to the wall's full height. They lead to narrow platforms on which the fort's defenders stood.

 Through Sneem and back to Kenmare

Day 9

In the morning take an eco-safari cruise down Kenmare Bay. Then pack a picnic lunch and explore the Beara Peninsula, climbing the Healy Pass. Ponies are also available in Kenmare.  Or visit Muckross House and Gardens and maybe spend some time shopping. 

Day 10

Cruise a short distance through Bantry Bay, passing families of seals en route to the magical island of Garinish and its splendid gardens and
Martello Tower. Follow the coast of West Cork via the town of Bantry Tour Bantry House. Carry on to Drombeg stone circle and the village of
Clonakilty where you could visit the Model Village.   Overnight Cork

Day 11

From Midleton drive to Blarney Castle with its loquacious stone.  The carry on to Kinsale for the afternoon.   You could spend a week exploring the Cork area and still not have seen all the highlights. The bells of Shandon, The English Market, St Finbarre's Cathedral, The Glucksman Gallery & The Crawford Gallery are a few of the highlights of the city.  Closer to the hotel explore Fota Wild Life Park and the Cobh Heritage Centre.

Day 12

Make an expedition through the Knockmealdown Mountains  to Cashel in Tipperary Cashel is a limestone outcrop rising from the plain and crowned by the cathedral and round tower. Sheltering at its foot is Bru Boru, a entertainment of Irish music and dance. The back road to Cahir, through Golden, will bring you past the riverside ruins of Athassel Abbey and the legendary Motte of Knockgraffon. Cahir has a huge castle in a fine state of repair and a wonderful "Swiss Cottage" built as a folly in the Regency period. It is also a centre of antique shopping.

Cahir	Cashel	Lismore Castle

Day 13

To the Waterford Crystal Factory.  At Waterford Crystal tours are given of the production areas and take approximately 55 minutes. Tours leave every 15 minutes, or we can arrange a VIP tour.  In New Ross visit the sailing ship JFK Dunbrody. Dunbrody is a full scale replica of the original ship which was built in 1845 and carried thousands of emigrants from Ireland to North America.  The ship itself is a beautiful authentic recreation and visitors will experience the sights, smells and sounds of a tall ship crossing the ocean as well as meeting the captain and crew, and encountering emigrants telling their stories. Nearby, at Dunbrody Castle, there is a recently laid out maze, with a tea room.   Carry on through Enniscorthy and Gorey to Enniskerry for the night.

Day 14

Visit Powerscourt House and Gardens, located in a stunning natural setting at Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, approximately 45 minutes from Dublin city centre. A magnificent period home dating from mid 18th century, overlooking wonderful terraced gardens and an ornamental lake, Powerscourt House was partially destroyed by fire in 1974. A long restoration project ensued during which the ballroom and the garden rooms were rebuilt.  On site at Powerscourt is also Ireland's premier shopping emporium "Avoca Hand Weavers".

Explore Glendalough, follow in the footsteps of Saint Kevin, who established this spectacular 6th century monastic settlement, deep within the Wicklow Mountains, surrounded on all sides by steep mountain passes. Glendalough the valley of two lakes is one of the most spectacular locations to visit in Ireland. We will guide you through this mystical location, explore the round towers, cathedrals, high crosses, and enjoy a truly memorable stroll through the valley of two lakes.

Return to The Ritz Carlton

Day 15

Depart

ALTOUR Unique Travel Services

deborah.hyte@altour.com