Ireland June 2006

 

 

 

Arrive Dublin Airport and pick up your cars.

Dublin

Dublin has long been a centre of art and culture. Stroll through the elegant Georgian streets of Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares, shop in the elegant emporiums of Grafton Street and Powerscourt Townhouse, explore the collections of the National Museum and National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and many fine small private collections. The range of art and artifacts is enormous, and you will have no problem spending many hours enthralled.. The city is over a thousand years old, and many of the towns and settlements that surround it are equally ancient. Successive centuries have left their distinctive overlays of character and architecture which means that Dublin has a wealth of historically significant and fascinating sights to explore such as Dublin Castle, where the Normans ruled from the 12^th Century, St Patrick's Cathedral, of which Jonathan Swift was Dean, and Trinity College, famous for The Book of Kells and for its alumni who include Oscar Wilde and Oliver Goldsmith. And no visit to Dublin could be complete without visiting either the Old Whiskey Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse!

Alternatively head straight for your hotel

Voted 'European Golf Resort of the Year 2005', Marriott Druids Glen Hotel & Country Club is located within the 400 acre Druids Glen resort and nestling between the Irish Sea and stunning Wicklow mountains. This relaxed, elegant hotel features de luxe accommodation and a choice of dining options and two championship 18 hole golf courses.  Although in the heart of the countryside it is only 35 minutes from the city and close to some wonderful shops - Fishers and Powerscort. 

Day 2

The second day the men could spend the morning golfing, the ladies could visit Powerscourt and Mount Usher and in the afternoon everyone can explore Dublin

Day 3

The third day the men might want to play one of the other several courses in the area - The European, Powerscourt, Wicklow, ....  

For the ladies The Wicklow gardens festival, which runs from 1 May to 14 August, offers a choice of over 40 gardens of outstanding natural beauty and diversity, each one distinctive in terms of mood and theme. In 2006 there are eight new gardens on show.  Alternatively they might light to explore some of the history of the area, such as Glendalough.  Famed for its beautiful scenery and historic monuments, Glendalough has been a centre for pilgrims and visitors for the time of the founding of its monastery by Saint Kevin in the 6th century. The monastic settlement expanded and flourished for about 600years before finally being destroyed in 1398. The present remains tell only a small part of the monastic story. The buildings which survive probably date from between the 8th and 12th centuries, the most notable being a superb Round Tower, Cathedral, stone churches and decorated crosses.

Legend has it that St Kevin of Glendalough was amongst the earliest users of a Bodhran, (pronounced bow-rawn), the ancient Irish drum. Apart from its use as a musical instrument, he may have also used it as a means to warn his fellow monks and followers of the arrival of plunderers into the Valley, enabling them to reach the safety of the round tower with their valuables.  Under cover of darkness, St Kevin and others could lower themselves from the tower and go further up the valley, as they made their way back down the valley, they beat the drums with all their might. The echo in the valley gave the impression of the arrival of a huge army and the enemy would always take flight in fear.  Even today, the sound of the bodhran can still be heard in this beautiful valley, but now it is more likely to come from The Irish Music Visitor Centre, where- on most days - they will give you a talk on the craft of Bodhran making or demonstration of some of the skills involved.

Day 4

  Head through the Wicklow Mountains to Carlow (which has a lovely course) and on to Mount Juliet . 

Day 5

The men will play Mount Juliet and the ladies could explore Kilkenny.  

Long renowned as Ireland's Medieval Capital, the city's origins date back to more than 1,500 years ago. The great building prowess of the Normans is very evident in the 11th and 12th century building they bestowed on the city. Not alone in the large "set piece" buildings, such as Saint Canice's Cathedral, the great Butler Castle and the four medieval abbeys, but also the linear streetscape, especially the attractive covered slipways.

Day 6

Everyone tours - Waterford Crystal, lunch at Dunbrody and then back to Mount Juliet via the Barrow Valley   Follow the valley of the River Nore to Bennetsbridge, with its many craftworkers studios, Thomastown with the Cistercian abbey of Jerpoint and the Jack Niclaus golf course on the rolling estate of the Earl of Carrick's mansion, Mount Juliet (now a hotel) and Inistioge with its romantic gardens surrounding the shell of Woodstock House. The adventurous could visit the Kennedy homestead at New Ross, the gardens of Kilmokea at Campile, Tintern Abbey and The Lighthouse on Hook Head and the Dunbrody, a replica sailing ship.

Day 7

Touring across the countryside to Killarney, maybe visiting some sites such as the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle ,  and Annesgrove gardens on the way to Killarney  

Killeen House is truly a charming little hotel. With only 23 rooms, it is the ideal base for touring 'God's own country', the magical Kingdom of Kerry. With their own DIY Golf Pub and Rozzers elegant dining room you are assured of a memorable experience

Day 8

The men and the ladies could explore the Ring of Kerry in the morning as far as Waterville.  Then after lunch the ladies carry on around the Ring and the men play Waterville  .   

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, which is open seven days a week.

 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.

 Ar 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 Killarney

Day 9

Tthe men might play Killarney in the morning, whilst the ladies visit Muckross House and Gardens and maybe spend some time shopping.  In the afternoon it might be pleasant to hike in the mountains.

Day 10

The men might want to play Tralee, Ballybunion or Adare, whilst the ladies explore Adare, Limerick and Bunratty.  

From Kerry head up through Limerick, passing Rathkeale and Adare, a very pretty village and well worth a stop. There are three abbeys here as well as the Desmond Castle and the Trent Jones golf course surrounding the neo-gothick Adare Manor Limerick is a busy city and has several major attractions - the Hunt Museum in the 18^th century customs house, King John's Castle, St Mary's Cathedral and the Georgian House on Pery Square. After Limerick head out towards Shannon, stopping off at Bunratty Castle and folk park on the way. You'll also see Cratloe Woods house. Dating from the 17th Century, this is the only example of an Irish longhouse which is still lived in by a family. The house is steeped in history and features works of art, curios and in the yard horse drawn farm machinery and a pets corner. The primeval Garranon Oak Wood, which provided the timbers for Westminster Hall in London, also forms part of the estate. If you take the old road into Newmarket on Fergus you will see a turn to the right just at the end of the village. When you reach the top of the hill walk up through the trees to Moohaughan Fort, the iron age seat of some great ruler.

Day 11

The men might want to play Doonbeg or Lahinch, whilst the ladies explore the cliffs of Moher and The Burren.  To explore the Burren properly you need Tim Robinson's Folding Landscape map. Be sure to see Dysert O'Dea near Corofin, the sulphur Spa at Lisdoonvarna, St Bridget's Well at the Cliffs of Moher, the Doolin Craft Gallery, the internationally renowned karst limestone habitat of the Burren, with its orchids, gentians and ragged robin, and stop for a drink in Kinvara, home of the Galway Hooker and of King Guaire the Generous, whose right arm was longer than his left from so much giving. If you stay on the main road through Gort then Coole Park with its autograph tree and Thoor Ballylee, home of the poet WB Yeats are essential stops. At Kilcolgan, where the roads rejoin, take a moment to explore the Turlough down a laneway opposite the blind poet's graveyard and then stop for refreshments at Morans of the Weir, a thatched oyster bar patronised by John Wayne & Noel Coward.

Day 12

Tour back across the country through Nenagh and Roscrea to Dublin .

Day 13

Deapart

There are lots of horse racing events in June On June 7 there is racing near Dublin,  June 25 near Kilkenny,  and June 4 & 5 near Killarney.  Greyhound racing is another unusual sport that takes place on one evening a week near Kilkenny, Dublin and Killarney