Dublin

You will arrive at the Dublin airport and settle in to our luxe hotel which is well situated for exploring Dublin amidst elegant Georgian squares of the city that was built on the banks of the River Liffey.  We begin getting to know Dublin with a entertaining and lively historical  walking tour.  You can choose to sample Guiness and distinctive Irish ales as you wander amidst the history here.   Our days in Dublin will include touring Trinity College and  viewing  the remarkable eighth-century Book of Kells, a stunning example of early Irish manuscript illumination that is housed in the notable Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin.  St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, The National Art Gallery, and The Dublin Writer's Museum are all gems for you to discover. We are perched in the best location for walking to St.Stephens Green, the shops on Grafton St. and discovering the highlights of  Dublin.

County Kerry

We leave the bustle of Dublin and begin our journey southward to perch in County Kerry  and explore this stunning southern region of Ireland.  A full day of touring  we first  visit the renowned  Powerscourt Gardens and waterfall in The Wicklow Mountains before continuing on to  The Rock of Cashel ruins and  Cahir Castle. Settling in at our lovely historical  small hotel , we continue the next few days exploring  exquisite Killarney National Park , majestic Ring of Kerry, and the picturesque Beara Peninsula.  We will wander amidst the expansive grounds and colorful gardens of notable Muckross House and the traditional farms on the shores of the Lake of Killarney in the shadow of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks amidst the epic mountains;  perhaps the highest in Ireland.  You will be immersed in the pristine Killarney National Park and tour the magnificent Victorian mansion known as Muckross House, one of Ireland’s notable stately homes. The elegantly furnished rooms portray the lifestyles of the landed gentry, while downstairs in the basement one can experience the working conditions of the servants employed in the House.   The Ring of Kerry is noted for it's breathtaking landscapes and The Beara Peninsula a bit less travelled is a coastal gem locals favour.

Have your camera ready for the varied photos you will capture. Our private guide knows every back road in Ireland and you will be immersed in the magnificent landscapes of this beautiful country on our backroads journey. On some roads sheep are the only traffic we will meet.

Continuing our journey we travel towards the rugged and spellbinding Dingle Peninsula, prisitne untouched coast here.   The Dingle Peninsula is the northernmost of the peninsulae in County Kerry . The town of Dingle is a stopping place as is the shop of a notable Waterford Crystal artisan. National Geographic has referred to The Dingle Peninsula as one of the worlds outstanding settings for photographers. The drive around Slea Head is indeed memorable and breathtaking.  The town of Dingle is colorful and offers shops and a harborfront to explore and of course a stop at Murphy's for ice cream.

County Clare

We now  turn towards the north and west and to begin our wanderings of the countryside and seaside perching in County Clare south of Galway Bay and the exquisite  region called The Burren.  The Burren is a unique area of 270 sq. kilometres of limestone and green valleys.  It is rich in flora and fauna, geology, archeology, ancient settlements, and ecclesiastical sites.  Man has settled here for at least six thousand years and the area has the largest concentration of stone forts, monuments and ecclesiastical sites in Ireland. We visit  The Poulnabrone Portal Dolmen, an ancient stone tomb dating between 2,000 and 2,500 B.C. Botanists come from all over the world to study the flora here.  Uniquely Mediterranean, alpine and arctic flowers and plants grow side by side the seeds having been deposited by glacier millions of years ago. This is the mystical land of disappearing rivers and lakes, closed valleys, caves and limestone landscapes.  The wee villages of  Ballyvaughan and medieval market town of Ennis are on my list of Irish locales  for us to wander.  A small cottage in Ballyvaughan offers the heartiest soups and the desserts are sinful. The seafood is some of the freshest ever in the village of  Kinvara. We will dine around at award winning and notable Irish pubs, restaurants and cafes to sample the best of locally sourced  Irish food wherever we are. Brown bread, fresh caught fish and traditional Irish recipes abound.

Pubs & Fiddles

Not far down the coast in County Clare are the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, the most dramatic cliffs in Europe and home to a myriad of wildlife, many different species of birds, dolphins and untamed coastlands.   Wear your woolies here as the wind blows across the Atlantic and is brisk. Stopping briefly  in the village of Doolin we will look off to the Aran islands and distant Cliffs of Moher as we traverse the coastal route. Assorted woolen shops line the street of the tiny village of Doolin where the fiddle is king and at O'Connors Pub the local musicians gather and play til the wee hours. We continue on our exploration of the coast and The Burren while immersed in Ireland. Our trips are one of a kind. We provide you with an enriching Irish experience that offers you the best of Southern Ireland curated and handpicked for a delightful journey. Your dreams of Ireland come true as we explore the nooks and crannies of the Emerald Isle and meet the locals as we travel.