IRELAND

Day 1	10.00 Arrive Dublin. To the Casino at Marino, Chambers' masterpiece, then tour the Medieval and Georgian city with Simon Lincoln of the Irish Architectural Archive. Visit St Patrick's Cathedral,  Trinity College, Newman House. Overnight the Merrion Hotel. Dinner in a private Georgian house in Waterloo Road with a small party of Ireland's conservators.
Day 2	The Stately Homes of The Pale. Visit Castletown House and the Folly. Visit Headfort House, the only considerable Irish example of the work of Robert Adam. The house was completed around 1775. The exterior is by George Semple and many of Adam's designs for the interior were somewhat modified, though his   motifs abound in the principal rooms of the house.   Lunch, then on to  Beaulieu House Drogheda and St Peters Church. Beaulieu House was built by Sir Henry Titchbourne on the restoration of Charles II, King of England. It is the finest example of Irish domestic architecture to survive from the Restoration.  The present owner is direct descendant of Sir Henry. The family church in the grounds has a mid 15th-century cadaver tombstone  set against one of its walls. The present church stands on the site of an earlier wooden church, which must have been built before 1230. The present church was erected in 1753.In about 1793 the front porch and steeple, designed by Francis Johnston, were added. The interior has many excellently carved memorial tablets of 18th and 19th-centuries.   Overnight at the Merrion Hotel. Dinner at Mahaffy House in North Great Georges' Street, a grand 1770s town house restored by porcelain expert Desiree Shortt and once the home of Oscar Wilde's tutor John Pentland Mahaffy.
Day 3	Leave Dublin and head West to Tullamore to visit Charleville Forest, an 1830s castle by Francis Johnston. Private lunch with Lord Rosse in Birr Castle followed by a tour of the Castle Gardens.  Birr's collection is one of the finest in Ireland, owing much to the Old Countess of Rosse and her brother,the designer Oliver Messel.  A vist to Gloster House at Birr, designed by Vanbrugh's cousin Sir Edward Lovett Pearce in the 1720s. Through Roscrea, with Damer House and King John's Castle to Bal1yfinn House. a neo-classical mansion by Morrison with a fine Turner conservatory.  On to Durrow Castle Hotel for the night.
Day 4	The city of Kilkenny with the castle, the cathedral and especially Rothe House. In 1594 a wealthy merchant called John Rothe, built this magnificent Tudor mansions. Second and third generation houses were built around the cobbled courtyards and a well dating to 1604. The facade houses shops, one of which was John Rothe's own emporium.  A quick visit to the gardens and remains of the house at Woodstock, Inistioge.  .After lunch we are invited to visit  The Marquis of Waterford's house, Curraghmore. It has been home to his ancestors since 1170. The interior has exceptionally fine plasterwork. The superbly landscaped gardens incorporate a shell house, the interior of which was designed by Catherine, Countess of Tyrone in 1754. The front hall and the billiard room are the only remaining parts of the 12th century castle left. The estate covers about 10 square miles and in the gardens are some fine examples of Bronze statues. Through New Ross to Dunbrody House, Arthurstown. Dinner at Dunbrody House.
Day 5	To Tintern Abbey, followed by  a visit to The Browne Clayton Monument. Lunch with Countess Bernstorff's at Berkley Forest. On to Castleboro, and Coolbawn, two magnificent ruins. Return to Dunbrody, possibly by way of Kilmokea Gardens.
Day 6	To Huntington Castle, Bunclody, a house relatively untouched since it was built in the 1620s and still occupied by descendants of the original builder, Lord Esmonde.. Lunch at Russborough House,  built for Joseph Leeson, later Earl of Milltown. Building began in 1741. The architect was Richard Castle (Cassells) and it was finished by Francis Bindon. The house is built of granite and is in the Palladian style. Important features in the house include stucco ceilings by the Lafrancini brothers, marble mantelpieces, inlaid floors and lavish use of mahogany in doors, dados and staircase. Sir Alfred Beit bought Russborough in 1952 as a home for the Beit Collection of paintings. The house which is beautifully maintained also contains fine displays of silver, bronzes, porcelain and fine furniture.  Sir Alfred Beit was a Conservative MP from 1931 until 1945.  The family wealth came from gold mines and diamond dealing in South Africa, where his father had been a partner of Cecil Rhodes and a founder of de Beers .   .

Prices from $1,800.00 per person sharing to include 5 nights accommodation, 4 dinners, 2 lunches, all admissions, porterage, luxury transport within Ireland, luxury transport and a specialist guide

Country House Tourss, 71 Waterloo Road, Dublin 4, IRELAND
Tel (+353-1) 2889355    From Canada & the US 1(800) 894 5712    Fax (+353-1) 288 9282

info@irishluxury.com

Specialists in luxury hotels, country inn accommodation, & staffed and serviced or self catering luxury castles, historic homes, elegant country estate, hidden cottages, apartment and penthouse rentals and driver guides for vacations, family celebrations, weddings, alumni tours, corporate events, incentives & meetings and upscale tours of Ireland.