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"Live like a Lord" Castle and Manor house stay.
8
Day 7 Night Castle and Manor house stay - Self Drive
Early Bird Price: $899*
if booked and paid by February 13, 2009. $1199 if booked
after. Single supplement: $495. * Price is land only
per person based on Double Occupancy. Standard rental
car is included - Car upgrades are available upon request.
Experience a self drive tour to Castle and Manor
house accommodations while exploring Irelands
lakes, mountains and the west coastlines.
Day 1: Dublin City
(12 Km)
Welcome
to Dublin
Airport, where after picking up your
car your will travel into
Dublin
and check into your hotel. The remainder of the day can
be spent exploring this vibrant and historic city
capital city with its many historic buildings, Georgian
streets and colorful gardens. Your first night is spent
in
Clontarf
Castle, which can be
dated back to 1172.
Day 2: Dublin city
 Today why not spend the day exploring some of Dublin’s fine Museums and Galleries? Trace its
history from early Viking origins, through to the
medieval magnificence of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Visit
Dublinia at Christchurch,
which brings the turbulent history of medieval
Dublin
vividly to life, 16th Century Trinity College, founded
by Elizabeth 1, and now home to the famous
illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells. Don’t forget
about the Guinness Storehouse for a tasting of this
world famous ‘black stuff’. Return to
Clontarf
Castle
for overnight.
Day 3: Galway & Clifden (300 Km)
 Leave Dublin
this morning and travel across the rich midland
pastures. Why not visit Belvedere House, Gardens and
Park? The magnificent early 18th century stately home of
Robert Rochfort, Earl of Belvedere, stands in 160 acres
of parkland on the shores of Lough Ennell. Belvedere is
one of the finest of Ireland's
historic houses, and together with gardens and park has
been exquisitely restored. Before you cross
the River Shannon, Ireland’s longest river you can visit Clonmacnoise a 6th century Christian site. Arrive into
Galway, which has long traded with
Spain
and the Spanish influences are many in the city. Of note
is Spanish Arch, a gateway in the old city walls and the
Spanish Parade, where wealthy merchants and their
families enjoyed a stroll along the promenade. Continue
out into the wild and rugged
Connemara region, famous for the savage
beauty of its lake and mountain scenery and on to
Clifden where you shall be staying in the wonderful
Abbeyglen Castle
which has a panoramic view of Clifden and the bay
with a backdrop of the Twelve Bens.
Day 4: Connemara
Region (80Km – Based on Clifden)
 Today travel through the wild and rugged
Connemara
region, famous for the savage beauty of its lake and
mountain scenery. Visit the
Connemara
National Park, where Connemara ponies
and Irish red deer roam freely through 5,000 acres of
scenic mountains, bogs and grassland. You can also visit
the magnificent Kylemore Abbey - a beautiful mansion in
a lakeside setting against a mountainous backdrop. Irish
Benedictine nuns, with a tradition of over 300 years run
this unique Abbey set in the midst of Connemara,
overlooking Pollacapul Lake.
On your return, you can take a scenic drive through
Leenane where you have an option to board the Sea Cruise
through Killary Fjord which will reveal some of the many
hidden Coastal and Mountain Scenery of Connemara.
Another night will be spent in
Abbeyglen Castle.
Day 5: Cliffs of Moher,
Killrush and Co.Kerry
(380Km – Based on Clifden)
Leave Clifden this morning, and travel south through
Galway
and into Clare, known as the “land of castles”. Why not
visit Rathbaun Farm and see the animals being tended, or
enjoy a traditional tea and scones break? Travel on
through the strange lunar landscape of the Burren region
or visit the Cliffs of Moher a spectacular 5-mile long
cliff, which rises almost 700 feet above sea level. Stop
in the heritage town
of Kilrush, before
boarding a ferry to Tarbert in north
County
Ferry. Arriving in Tarbert
and continue through Listowel and on to Tralee to Ballyseede
Castle
for overnight.
DAY 6: The
Dingle
Peninsula (145km)
 This
morning the breathtaking landscape will unfold in front
of your eyes as you drive around the
Dingle
Peninsula before arriving in Dunquin,
on the westernmost tip of the peninsula, to visit the Blasket Islands.
This living history museum explores all the dimensions
of island-living, from the land, the sea, and the
language, to the weather and the seasons, as well as the
dstinctive character of the Blasket Islanders.
Weather permitting you can embark on a 2 to 3 hour boat
trip around the nine main
Blasket
Islands. The islands are
remote, unspoilt and unpolluted and spectacularly
beautiful and are home to an incredible number of
breading seabirds, with the surrounding seas home to
dolphins, porpoises, atlantic seals and even the
occasional whale or orca. Return to
Ballyseede
Castle
for overnight.
DAY 7:
Medieval Limerick, Rock
of Cashel & Kildare (290km)
This morning spend an hour or two in the medieval city
of Limerick, either exploring
its history and architecture or purchasing some of the
splendid crafts on offer. Why not visit the
Hunt
Museum, an exhibit of one of Ireland’s
greatest private collections of art and antiquities.
Leave
 Limerick
and travel eastwards towards Straffan in Co. Kildare.
En-route a small detour will bring you to the imposing
Rock of Cashel which rises dramatically from the flat
countryside. This site has the best set of varied
monuments in any Irish site. The rock is crowned by a
group of buildings, both ecclesiastical and royal,
including a round tower, a 13th century Romanesque
chapel and the beautifully restored Hall of the Vicar
Choral. Continue through rich pastures of
Ireland’s midlands before arriving
in Kildare for your overnight in
Barberstown
Castle,
a 13th
century castle, located in the heart of the
horse-breeding
county
of Kildare.
DAY 8: Dublin & Departure (85km)
Today travel to
Dublin
Airport for your return
flight home.
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