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Dublin and the Enchanting Emerald Isle

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
9 days From £2,395 per person
4.1 stars(38 reviews)
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Immerse yourself in Ireland's vibrant cities, legendary castles, and breathtaking landscapes.

Save up to £100pp

Save up to £100pp on selected British Isles 2024 holidays, when you book by 2nd April 2024.

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Mobility Rating 2

2024 Tour code: IRS24

About the tour

Rugged coastlines, stunning rolling hills, dramatic castles, and a culture rich in legend; the Emerald Isle is as beautiful as it is fascinating and we see the best of it on this holiday. Explore vibrant Dublin, see the iconic Blarney Stone, and admire the natural beauty of the dramatic Cliffs of Moher.

Unforgettable Experiences

Blarney Castle
Blarney Castle
Step into the realms of Irish folklore and mythology as we explore the magnificent Blarney Castle.
Cliffs of Moher
Cliffs of Moher
Sail into the wild Atlantic to view the Cliffs of Moher towering over the rugged West Clare coast.
Jaunting Car ride to Ross Castle
Jaunting Car ride to Ross Castle
Journey on Ireland’s most traditional mode of transport with a delightful Jaunting Car ride to the historic Ross Castle.
Irish Entertainment
Irish Entertainment
Experience an unforgettable evening of traditional Irish entertainment and savour delicious local cuisine.
Whiskey Tasting at Jameson Midleton Distillery
Whiskey Tasting at Jameson Midleton Distillery
Enjoy a tasting session at the prestigious Jameson Midleton Distillery, where some of the finest Irish whiskeys are made.
EPIC Museum, Dublin
EPIC Museum, Dublin
Explore lively Dublin, with an exclusive tour of the EPIC Museum and learn to pull the perfect pint at the Guinness Factory.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Lively Dublin

Our holiday begins this afternoon as we meet in Holyhead. From here we board the ferry to Dublin, where we spend the night at a hotel just outside the vibrant capital city. After checking in this evening, enjoy a welcome drink before dinner.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – Cosmopolitan Cork and a taste of Ireland at the Jameson Midleton Distillery

This morning, our coach takes us into Dublin for the train to Cork, Ireland's second-largest city. We then head to the Jameson Midleton Distillery to enjoy an authentic taste of Ireland with a tour and whiskey tasting.

After lunch, we explore Cork on a guided tour which includes a visit to Cork City Gaol. Part of the city's heritage, this magnificent building looks like a castle and once housed 19th-century prisoners. Once we've discovered more of Cork's history and architecture, we check into our hotel ahead of dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Legendary Blarney Castle and bustling Killarney

Our coach takes us to Blarney Castle today for a guided tour. One of Ireland's greatest and most well-known treasures, the impressive castle was built in 1446and there's time after the tour to explore its grounds and gardens at leisure.

Our next stop is Molly Gallivans Visitor Centre, a 200-year-oldcottage and traditional farm. We're guided around and shown the simple country lifestyle of rural Ireland before sitting down to afternoon tea and scones followed by a moonshine tasting.

We check into our hotel in Killarney ahead of dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – Dramatic landscapes at The Ring of Kerry

After breakfast, we enjoy a ride on a traditional Killarney mode of transport -a Jaunting Car, before a tour of Ross Castle. This historic fortress sits on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park and we explore its stone walls and picturesque surroundings.

We then have a chance to soak up the dramatic beauty of Ireland on a scenic drive around the Ring of Kerry. We're joined on the coach by an expert guide who narrates the area of tumultuous sea, windswept cliffs and mountains. Along the way, we see Torc Waterfall - a natural wonder, the breathtaking Moll's Gap, and Ladies View - a vantage point with amazing views.

For dinner this evening, we head to Muckross House for an Irish Night in Quills farmhouse with traditional food and entertainment.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - The magnificent Cliffs of Moher

We spend this morning visiting Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum today. The exhibition is in the lovely village of Foynes, where Irish Coffee was invented and we can enjoy a cup of the traditional drink while here.

We then board the ferry to Clare, on the far west coast of Ireland. After disembarking the ferry, our coach takes us to the village of Doolin where we experience a boat trip into the wild Atlantic Ocean to view the mighty Cliffs of Moher from below. Ireland's most iconic natural attraction and a UNESCO Global Geopark, the area is made up of towering cliffs that rise up out of the sea as waves crash against the jagged rocks below.

Our hotel tonight is in Galway where we arrive in time for dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Stunning Kylemore Abbey and the historic Connemara Railway

We start our day with a visit to Kylemore Abbey, a spectacular waterside Benedictine nunnery. Originally built in 1867, the abbey is surrounded by dramatic mountains and lakes. After exploring the abbey, we board the Connemara Railway to the coastal town of Clifden and back.

This heritage railway takes us on a scenic ride through the picturesque landscapes of western Ireland. During the nostalgic journey, we indulge in tea and scones on the dining train as we pass by wonderful countryside, rolling hills, and along the rugged Atlantic coastline.

The rest of your day is at leisure in Galway. You could stroll along the picturesque promenade of Salthill, join the coach into the centre and experience the bustling Latin Quarter, or explore the Galway City Museum. This evening there are plenty of traditional pubs and award-winning restaurants where you could enjoy dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 – Discovering dynamic Dublin

This morning we journey by rail from the rugged beauty of the West Coast returning to the vibrant cityscape of Dublin. On a coach tour of Dublin, our expert guide shares fascinating insights while we enjoy panoramic views from the windows of iconic landmarks like the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, and Dublin Castle.

Once we've checked into your hotel after the tour, you're at leisure for the rest of the day to explore more of Dublin's history, culture, and lively atmosphere.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 – Exploring the buzzing streets of Dublin and an exciting Guinness Factory tour

Our day begins with a private, pre-opening tour of EPIC The Irish Emigration museum, where we discover how the Irish have helped shape the world. A guided walking tour of Dublin is next, and we see historic architecture and famous areas of the city like the bustling Temple Bar.

This afternoon, we visit the Guinness Factory & Museum. After savouring the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of Guinness, we learn how to pour the perfect pint. For dinner, we head to one of the best traditional pubs in Dublin for an evening of Irish song and dance accompanied by a great selection of quality local food - the perfect way to end our explorations of Ireland.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 – Homeward bound

After breakfast this morning, our holiday comes to an end. We return to Holyhead by ferry, where we say goodbye to new friends and fellow travellers.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

The Metropole Hotel, Cork

The Metropole Hotel, Cork

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Castleknock Hotel, Dublin

Castleknock Hotel, Dublin

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The Camden Court Hotel

The Camden Court Hotel, Dublin

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Ardilaun Hotel, Galway

Ardilaun Hotel, Galway

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Trains

Irish Railways
The Connemara Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK rail to and from Holyhead

Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 38 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (14)
  2. 4 stars
    (17)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (4)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Miss C Leppard

4 stars

Submitted 29 Sep 2023

Wonderfull tour, well thought out, something for everyone.

Collected by Trustpilot

Brian Gleeson

5 stars

Submitted 27 Sep 2023

A great tour of Eire, seeing most of the important sights, albeit briefly. This meant many early starts which can get tiring. It was good to have the same coach driver throughout so as to establish a relationship. The two Irish music and dance shows were good but people were packed in too tightly and there was fire risk in my opinion. We only got two rail journeys and it would have been good to see some of the lesser used lines. The guide, Alan, was superb and kept up a running commentary on the countryside and the Irish way of life. Inevitably, there was a long time spent on the coach going up the Wild Atlantic Way but it was worth it. For visitors from the USA, there is no air-con in most of the hotels in the West.

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Chris Routledge

4 stars

Submitted 06 Jul 2023

Lovely country and people. Great tour manager. Most restaurants and hotels good

Collected by Trustpilot

Astrid Athen

5 stars

Submitted 30 May 2023

The rail journey to Dublin was fine without any problems. Before we boarded the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin we met our guide Ivan. During the 9 days he was always friendly, with patience and gave us the relevant historical information. Hotels bus trips and driver all was top class. I personally had a very positive experience since it was my first trip with GRJ .

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David Bentley

4 stars

Submitted 23 May 2023

A beautiful , hectic but very rewarding tour

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Andrew Brown

3 stars

Submitted 18 May 2023

The scenery was fabulous and Kay our tour leader was perfect.The holiday was too flat out for us and we were exhausted. The hotel rooms were good. The food was very disappointing. White fish or chicken every night.

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