Romancing Ireland

Welcome to Dublin! This afternoon travel with  a Local Specialist on a private guided walking tour. Experience all the highlights of Ireland and uncover hidden gems on your vacation through this ancient yet modern city. Enjoy a visit to popular sightseeing destinations including the 400-year-old Trinity College and see the Book of Kells, not your average paperback. Later visit EPIC Ireland, the Irish Emigration Museum, and journey through centuries of rich history or even discover some hidden gems about your own ancestry.  

Journey to Ballykilcavan Farm for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience  and meet the family that have been farming here for 13 generations. Learn how they turned to brewing and use their award-winning barley to sustain their family business for future generations. Relax at the decadent and stylish Cashel Palace, dining in The Bishop’s Buttery., located in the atmospheric cellar of the main house. Soak up the history of this special and intimate dining space while savoring the freshest of ingredients sourced from the aptly named ‘Golden Vale’ pastures which surround you.

The Jameson Experience brings the stories of Jameson’s rich heritage and ongoing innovations to life during this unforgettable whiskey distillery tour. Visit the amazing buildings, hear about the hardworking craftsmen and learn about the field to glass process behind the famous Jameson taste. Afterwards, enjoy a premium whiskey tasting experience with a local whiskey expert. Continue on to the charming town of Killarney where adventure awaits.  Sip and savor some local treats in one of the colorful pubs, cafés and restaurants or stroll along the lakes right on your doorstep. 

Admire the breath-taking scenery along the famous Ring of Kerry. Fall in love with all this charming coastal setting has to offer as you view quaint villages, high cliffs and lush greenery. Exploring Killarney’s National Park, on a walk with your Local Specialist is to become open to the unexpected and to relish the extraordinary in the ordinary - magical like Ireland itself. 

Experience the Cliffs of Moher, rising up to 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves to see the most stunning views in Ireland. Next, it's on to the ‘rocky place’ Ireland’s limestone paradise known as The Burren. Meet a charming Local Specialist who will help you drink in the environment of the Burren and its amazing ecosystem full of cliffs, caves and archaeological sites.

Travel to Galway known as ‘the city of the tribes’.   A fun city, full of character,  the locals here will for sure tell you it’s one of the brightest and most intriguing jewels in our Emerald crown. Walk its cobblestone streets, see its colorful shop facades, and join in the music and laughter -  you may even be tempted to dance in the streets. Continue to Cong and prepare for your royal adventure when you enter the grand stone gates of the remarkable 800 year old Ashford Castle. 

After a luxuriant breakfast, relax or participate in some country pastimes such as horse riding or fishing. You’re free to wander the grounds as you wish, perhaps indulge in the ancient art of falconry and discover the fascinating story behind this tradition while being enthralled by the resident birds of prey. Or, if its eating indulgence you’d prefer, reserve your place for Afternoon Tea or dine in the Dungeon. Live like royalty, as active or as at leisure as you please now that you’ve joined the ranks of guests that have included Princes and Presidents. Be sure to meet the castles famous Irish Wolfhounds.

Head north to Donegal today and stop off at the Shed Distillery with its Medieval copper pots in deepest rural Ireland on the edge of a lake in Drumshanbo. Next visit the sensational Slieve League cliffs, towering high above the ocean and offering panoramic views of both the mountains and coast.

Visit Belleek Pottery, the home of world-famous Parian China original where unique pieces are made using traditional methods passed down from generation to generation. Travel to Derry~Londonderry for a walk in the city’s ancient walls with a Local Specialist.  Hear from the heart, the recent and ancient history,  and admire the iconic buildings and landmarks as you walk along the 17th-century ramparts.

Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Giant’s Causeway., See the legendary basalt columns placed against the backdrop of the Antrim Coast.  After, take a private tour of the Carrick-a-Reed rope bridge with a Local Specialist. Walk the cliff paths, listening to stories from your guide, then experience the adrenalin rush as you cross the rope bridge, suspended 100ft above sea level to the tiny island of Carrick-a-Rede. The fisherman’s cottage here has remained unchanged since the last fishermen left decades ago, leaving an open fire and secret tales behind. Later, continue to Belfast, the bustling capital of Northern Ireland

Meet a Local Specialist for a living history tour when you visit the impressive Titanic Museum. Learn about this legend’s infamous history on the very shores where she got her start. Hear about her fateful journey, from her creation, to her eventual tragedy. And if you’re a Game of Thrones enthusiast, you’re in the perfect spot to indulge your passion.

Join Tracey in her farmhouse kitchen for memorable traditional breadmaking and local food tasting. The best part of this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience? You get to take home a copy of the recipes to impress your friends back home!   Journey back towards Dublin, stopping at its doorstep for an overnight stay at the stunning Carton House.