Click on the crest to hear "Brennan on the Moor"

The ancestors of the Brennan family  settled in north Kilkenny soon after the time of Christ.  They are descended from Cearbhall (pronounced Carroll), King of Ossory. Through various political machinations, he ended up as king of the Vikings in Ireland in 873 A.D  Cearbhall's son, Braonan, founded the family in Idough.  The name Braonan is probably a diminutive of broan meaning ‘sorrow’. It may also come from braonáin a diminutive of bran which means ‘raven’.  Some also suggest that a king of the Vikings was more likely to name his son after Braon, the Celtic god of war.

Arrive Shannon very early!! Transfer to Limerick Castle for a welcome from a piper and a welcome Irish Coffee.  Leave Limerick and travel to The Falls Hotel, Ennistymon to check in.   Rest of day at leisure to explore the craft shops and other delights of  Ennistymon. Introductory talk on the history of  Ireland followed by dinner in the hotel.  Brunch/Dinner

October 8

After a hearty Irish breakfast set off for Blarney via Limerick. Tour Blarney Castle to get the gift of the gab! Shopping opportunities in Blarney. Return to Hotel., before leaving for dinner hosted by Lord Inchiquin, The O’Brien, direct descendant of Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, who would give a talk on the Irish clan system.   Breakfast/cocktails/dinner

October 9th

 A tour of the wild limestone plateau of The Burren (with outstanding flora and stone age treasures) up to Galway, visiting the Cliffs of Moher, and spending some time in the medieval streets of Galway City. Dinner in hotel. Breakfast/dinner

October 10th

Touring down to Killarney and taking horse drawn carts through the mountain pass known as The Gap of Dunloe. Then being rowed back up the lakes of Killarney to Ross Castle. Overnight at The Muckross Park Hotel or Carrig House on The Ring of Kerry, on the banks of Lough Caragh   Breakfast/dinner

October 11th

Tour the ring of Kerry with a visit to a sheep farm to see sheep dogs working. Pause in the little villages of Waterville, beloved by Charlie Chaplin, and Sneem. Return to Lough Caragh Breakfast/dinner

Octrober 12

Tour Along The Blackwater Valley, past the magical towers of Lismore Castle and over the Knockmealdown Mountains.    Then on to Clonmel to see the bronze statue of Jim Patterson.   Through the cider apple orchards of South Tipperary and past the fabled Slievenamon mountain

To The Hibernian Hotel in Kilkenny City, a t 3* hotel in a Victorian house in the heart of the city, opposite the castle  Drinks at Eden Vale House, Ballyragget, the somewhat ruined seat of the Brennans, Princes of Idrone. Dinner in the hotel.   Breakfast/cocktails/dinner

October 13th

A day to explore Kilkenny city with a talk on the Brennans at Rothe  House, the headquarters of the Kilkenny Archaeological and Historical Society. There would be opportunities to follow the Kilkenny Crafts Trail, visiting studios that supply stores such as Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales with Crystal, Leather Goods, Pottery and woollens. Dinner at hotel.  Breakfast/dinner

October 14th

Tour to Waterford Crystal, Possible visit to The Kennedy Homestead at Dunganstown, Co Wexford. Visit to Tintern Abbey, a splendid 13th century Cistercian abbey. Return to Kilkenny. Pub supper in one of Kilkenny's traditional bars.

October 15th

Towards Dublin, visiting The Irish National Stud, centre of Racehorse breeding in County Kildare.  Visit  The Japanese Gardens.  On to Dublin via Castletown House, the largest Palladian mansion in Ireland, built in 1722.  Finally  an overview of Dublin.  Dinner and cabaret in Jurys Burlington Hotel. Over night at Bewleys Hotel, Ballsbridge

October 16th

To Powerscourt Gardens and House for Lunch.  Then on to The lovely lonely splendour of Glendalough where St Kevin establisdhed his monastery in the 6th Century.   Retuurn to Dublin through The Wicklow Mountains    Dinner and music at the Abbey tavern or Taylor's Three Rock, a thatched pub in the Dublin mountains.   Breakfast/dinner 

Oct 17th

Start the day at The National Museum Genealogical Research Centre with genealogists on hand to guide researchers. Some may want to spend the rest of the day there. Others may prefer to start with a private cookery demonstration of traditional Irish dishes in the kitchen of a Georgian home in Ballsbridge, Dublin’s embassy belt. From 11.00 tour of the city taking in the National Museum,  St Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College and The Book of Kells, The Georgian Squares, with visits to a couple of the private houses and maybe the Masonic Hall and ending up at Dublin Castle. Literary walking tour of Dublin’s pubs and traditional dinner in an Irish pub.  Breakfast/dinner

Oct 18th

The treasures of County Meath - a visit to The Boyne Valley to see Newgrange, the oldest building in the world, dating from 3,000 BC.  Return to Dublin via Slane and The Hill of Tara, famous sites in the prehistoric epics of Irish Legend. Farewell Dinner at one of Dublin’s fine restaurants.  Breakfast/dinner

Oct 19th  Depart Dublin Airport