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.  

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, savor 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. 

Travel to the Cliffs of Moher, rising up to 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves to see the most stunning views in Ireland. Follow in the footsteps of fellow travelers who have visited this breath-taking location and make memories of your own on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience..  Next, its on to the ‘rocky place’ (otherwise known as The Burren), Ireland’s limestone paradise. The Burren hedgerows have abundant plants and flowers that have been used for medicine since ancient times. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet a Local Specialist and walk along country lanes foraging for wild herbs.  

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. 

Travel to Westport and escape the bustle of urban life along the 42km Great Western Greenway. Whether you choose to cycle all the way to Achill Island, or just part way, you’ll be awe-struck by some of the most incredible scenery in all of Ireland. Back at the Ashford Estate, relax or participate in some country pastimes such as horse riding, fishing or falconry. Be sure to meet the castles famous Irish Wolfhounds, Cronan and Garvan. 

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.

First off today is a visit to 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 Londonderry and join a Local Specialist for a guided walk of the city’s ancient walls on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.  Hear from the heart, the recent and ancient history,  and admire the iconic buildings and landmarks as you walk along the 17th-century ramparts. 

At the Giant’s Causeway, see the ancient and legendary basalt columns placed against the backdrop of the Antrim Coast on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.. Here, you will meet a Local Specialist for a deep and personal insight that will take you beyond the famous Causeway  and into the legend behind this natural beauty – You can then decide for yourself whether this magical place is the work of a mythical ancient giant, or that of volcanic activity. 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 MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. The best part? 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.