for
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Palefsky
August 3rd
Unless you have booked your room for the night of Aug 2nd, you will not be able to check in till after 12.00. So maybe a relaxed familiarisation tour of Dublin to start with - perhaps a stroll in the Botanic Gardens, or a visit to the Chester Beatty at Dublin Castle - relaxing places with nice coffee shops!
Aug 4th
From the Coast to the Mountains Go "completely off the beaten track"
. Discover remote Film locations – Braveheart, Excalibur, Michael Collins, Reign of
Fire, Ballykissangel, King Arthur (2003) .
County Wicklow , known as the Garden of Ireland, is 750 square miles of rolling hills, mountains, and waterfalls, there is only one way to see the real County Wicklow.
Leave the city behind for the east coast, travel along Dublin Bay to Dun
Laoghaire visiting The James Joyce Tower, passing through Dalkey home to Bono of
U2, Enya, Van Morrison, Maeve Binchey, Dalkey is also a heritage town complete with its very own historical castles.
Discover A mysterious rugged land of doomed granite, purple glens with silvery streams rushing cool and clear from Mountain and bog land to swell the rivers or dash headlong towards the sea "The Garden of Ireland"
Kilruddery
has been home to the Brabazon Family (the Earls of Meath) since 1618. Killruddery House is the most successful Elizabethan-Revival mansion in Ireland and also one of the earliest. In the 1820s the 10th Earl engaged the fashionable architects of the day - Richard Morrison and his son William - to remodel Killruddery. In the 1950s the house was greatly reduced to its present day proportions, but much of the Morrison's design and architecture still remain.
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 Dublin and overnight at The Merrion. The Pearl & Elys are two excellent restaurants within 50 yards of the Merrion, and Baggot Street has pubs known for their traditional music.
Aug 5th
Castletown House: This magnificent stately home is rated as one of the finest examples of Palladian (classical) architecture in Ireland, and makes a trip to Celbridge worthwhile. It was built in 1722 with profits from land-grabbing after the 1691 Battle of the Boyne and has recently undergone extensive restoration. The house is well endowed with the trappings of a Georgian home and the extensive gardens feature clipped yew trees and a folly obelisk.
Kildare Town: This pleasant historic town, built around the medieval cathedral of St. Brigid. A perpetual fire was kept here until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1537. There is a round tower in the graveyard which is also open to the public.
The National
Stud in the village of Tully, is the nations premier horse stud farm. It consists of 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of arable land where some of the world's finest horses are trained, is the National Stud, a testament to the perfectionism of racehorse-breeding. A museum of horseracing is the last resting place of Arkle, the legendary steeplechaser whose skeleton is on display. You don not have to be a racing fanatic to appreciate a visit here; the beautiful setting makes on its own the journey worthwhile. Next door to this are the Japanese Gardens.
Laid out in 1906 these are one of the finest of their type in Europe and through the use of trees, shrubs, rocks and water it tells the story of man’s progress through life.
There is a pleasant cafe here for lunch, or if it is too early then head on to
Matt The Threshers Bar in Birdhill.
Explore Limerick this afternoon. Limerick is a busy city and has several major attractions - the Hunt Museum in the 18th century customs house, King John's Castle, St Mary's Cathedral and the Georgian House on Pery Square.
Overnight Adare manor
Aug 6th
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The
next day I would suggest a day in Killarney - by pass the town and head straigt
for Ross Castle on the Muckross / Kenmare Road. If the weather is decent take a
boat ride here. Visit Muckross House as well - there is a farm that children
love, as well as lots of beautiful gardens for running around (the rhododendrons
will be in bloom). There are also horse drawn jaunting cars that will take them
down to the old Muckross Abbey
From Killarney they could either return to Adare up the same main road or take towards road to Mallow, possibly visiting the ancient site of The City in the Boggeragh Mountains and Kanturk Castle. Return to Adare.
Overnight Adare Manor
Aug 7th
Tour
via The Cliffs of Moher and The Burren through County Clare. Though not a
garden, the Burren District of County Clare is so unique it is a "must
visit" for those interested in flora. Home to some of the rarest of Irish
wild flowers, it is the place to see Potentilla fruitcosa, Gentiana verna,
and the Adiantum capillus-veneris. The last is unknown elsewhere in Ireland and
grows in clefts of limestone rock sheltered from the wind. From May to August
this strange landscape is a centre for botanists and gardeners from all over the
world. The Burren Display Centre in Kilfenora helps the visitor appreciate and
understand the unique features of the Burren. Just north of Lahinch, on the
coast of West Clare, are the Cliffs of Moher. Natural ramparts against the might
of the Atlantic, they rise in places to over 215m and stretch for almost 8km. It
is here that the visitor can most easily get a feel for the wildness of the
terrain over which the Celts wandered. O'Brien's Tower, constructed in the early
19th century as a viewing point for Victorian tourists, is located on Mohers
highest cliff. From its vantage point you can view the Clare coastline, the Aran
Islands and mountains as far apart as Kerry and Connemara. Return to Adare
Overnight Adare Manor
Aug 8th Depart Shannon