Ireland Tour Vol 2

 

Day 1

Dublin
Arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

 

Day 2

Dublin
Go on a medieval walking tour through the heart of the Liberties and St Patrick`s Cathedral and have a visit to Trinity College to see the beautifully crafted Book of Kells. Visit the National Museum of Ireland, which houses some of the most striking artifacts form Medieval Ireland and then to Dublinia, the Viking centre. Here learn of the origin of Dublin as a Viking port and later enjoy a tour of the Christchurch Cathedral. Have some free time.Visit Trinity College to see “The book of Kells” - an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. Later see St Audoen`s Church - the oldest parish church in Dublin and still used as such.  Overnight.

 

Day 3

Dublin – Glendalough (50km/1h) - Dublin
Today drive to Glendalough - a site of great historical importance. Glendalough  is a glacial valley, in County Wicklow, renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and partly destroyed in 1398 by English troops. Glendalough is one of Ireland`s most beautiful tourist destinations. Have some free time to explore the town and return to Dublin where you will have time to experience everything this gorgeous city has to offer. Overnight.

 

Day 4

Dublin – Kildare (54km/1h) – Athlone (123km/2h)
Leave Dublin behind and drive to Kildare. Rich in heritage and history, Kildare Town dates from the 5th Century, when it was the site of the original ‘Church of the Oak' and monastery founded by St. Brigid. This became one of the three most important Christian foundations in Celtic Ireland. Here you`ll also visit St Fiachra`s Garden, located in the grounds of the Irish National Stud. Afterwards  tour the Japanese Gardens – they were planned to symbolize the “Life of Man”  and are now of international renown and are acclaimed as the finest Japanese Gardens in Europe. Continue to Lemanaghan Monastic Site before driving to Athlone where you`ll stay for an overnight. 

 

Day 5

Athlone – Sligo (114km/2h)
The tour starts with a visit to Clonmacnoise - a monastery, situated in County Offaly, on the River Shannon. Clonmacnoise was founded sometime between 545 and 548. The strategic location of the monastery helped it become a major centre of religion, learning, craftsmanship and trade by the 9th century and together with Clonard it was the most famous in Ireland, visited by scholars from all over Europe. En route to Sligo, stop in Tulsk where you`ll see the abbey ruins and visit the Cruachan ai Heritage Centre. Transfer to Sligo and overnight.

 

Day 6

Sligo – Donegal (65km/1h)
Today visit the Holy Island on Inishmurray - an uninhabited island, on which are the remains of an early Irish monastic settlement. Saint Molaise founded a monastery here in the 6th century. In the afternoon continue to Country Donegal to see the historic medieval pilgrimage site of Lough Derg. Have some free time. Overnight.

 

Day 7

Donegal – Kells (183km/2h20min) – Dublin (70km/1h)
Drive to Kells – a pretty Heritage town with a big monastic history. Here see the High Crosses of Ireland and the round tower before travelling back to Dublin. Overnight.

 

Day 8

Dublin
Transfer to the airport for a final departure.