Saturday: Dublin : Morning arrival at Dublin Airport. Having cleared Irish customs we are greeted by our Celtic Tours driver/guide. Transfers from Dublin Airport are at 8:15 am and 11:15 am to our Dublin hotel. Your afternoon is free to explore Dublin on your own. Dublin offers many fine dining options, the theatre and night-life to enjoy. Overnight in Dublin.
Sunday: Dublin - Waterford - Cork : Early morning departure from our hotel, we travel south via County Kildare to Kilkenny Town where we pause to visit Kilkenny Castle, ancestral home of the Butler Clan. We continue on to the nearby Crystal City of Waterford to visit the famed Crystal Factory. Our tour continues south to Cork City for dinner and overnight.
Monday: Cork - Cobh - Blarney - Killarney : Morning visit to Cobh Heritage Center, which documents the history of Irish emigration and the story of the ill-fated superliners-the Lusitania and the Belfast-built Titanic. We continue on to Blarney for an optional visit to Blarney Castle where we have a chance to kiss the famed Blarney Stone, said to bestow eloquence on all who dare. Optional shopping for tweeds, knitwear, crystal and china at Blarney Woollen Mills. We travel over the scenic Cork and Kerry Mountains to Killarney for dinner and overnight. Tonight we have an optional visit to the lively pubs in Killarney.
Tuesday: Ring of Kerry - Killarney : "Heaven's Reflex," Killarney, we will see, is one of Ireland's loveliest districts. Poets, painters, writers and musicians have all tried to convey its beauty of mountains and lakes. A delightful day includes a drive along the coastline of the broad Iveragh Peninsula through the villages and towns of Killorglin, Cahirciveen, Waterville and Irish-speaking Sneem. Dinner and overnight in Killarney. This evening optional pub visits in Killarney.
Wednesday: Killarney - Dingle Peninsula - Limerick : Departing Killarney, we drive along the Kerry coast to the Dingle Peninsula, which offers magnificent coastal scenery. Beyond Slea Head, we see the Blasket Islands, the last outpost of Europe. We continue on to Quin village where we enjoy a medieval castle banquet at Knappogue Castle. Overnight in Limerick.
Day 7
Return Home
Thursday: Shannon - U.S. : Morning transfer to nearby Shannon Airport arriving at 6:30 a.m. Ample time allowed for duty free shopping before boarding your flight home. Arrive home the same day. Passengers on late morning or midday flights will be transferred to Shannon for arrival at 9:45 am.
