Day 1

Dublin See the many public buildings, delightful gardens and lively shopping streets throughout the center of Dublin. View elegant Georgian townhouses with colored doors for which Dublin is famous. Explore this vibrant city and learn about Dublin's history through its monuments to prominent people. Your sightseeing tour includes a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, dating from 1213 on a site where a church has stood since the time of St. Patrick. See memorials to famous personages, including Dean Jonathan Swift, author of "Gulliver's Travels." Enter Trinity College's Old Library to see the illuminated gospel manuscript of the Book of Kells. Learn about the unique qualities of this priceless artifact. The afternoon and evening are free for further sightseeing, shopping and dining.
Accommodation: Manor House

Day 2

Glendalough & Waterford This morning drive south from Dublin through the scenic Wicklow Mountains to visit Glendalough Visitor Centre. Learn about St. Kevin's 6th century monastery, which he founded in a deep valley between two lakes. Walk through the site to see its round tower, many church ruins and Celtic crosses. Continue traveling south through the pleasant countryside to County Wexford. In New Ross visit the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship, a replica of the type of vessel that carried many people to America during the 1840s Famine. Walk around the ship to gain an insight into travel conditions before the age of steam ships. Check into your hotel in Waterford and in the evening take a short walk around the ancient town center of Waterford with a local guide.
Accommodation: Country House

Day 3

Cobh Heritage & Blarney Castle A few miles outside Waterford city tour the Waterford Crystal Factory. As you walk through the factory you will stop to watch skilled craftspeople blowing, cutting and polishing the crystal. Also view the amazing range of glassware and special trophies in the showrooms. Travel along the south coast to the port town of Cobh, which is located on the outskirts of Cork. Here visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration from Ireland to the United States. Cobh was the last port of call for many transatlantic liners on their way to the United States. Then drive to Blarney where you can walk through the grounds and climb the steps of fabled Blarney Castle to kiss the famous "Stone of Eloquence." Travel into the mountainous scenery of County Kerry to your hotel in Killarney
Accommodation: Country House

Day 4

At the western end of the peninsula cross to Valencia Island to visit the Skellig Experience, which shows how early Christian monks lived on the nearby islands. View the islands from the mainland before driving through Waterville. Stop in the attractive village of Sneem with its brightly painted houses and pause at Moll's Gap and Ladies' View for vistas of the famous lakes before returning to Killarney
Accommodation: Country House

Day 5

Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Leaving Killarney travel north to Tarbert where you take the ferry across the wide estuary of the River Shannon. Drive along the coast via Lahinch to view the Cliffs of Moher. The impressive wall of rock rises to a height of almost 700 feet above the churning Atlantic Ocean and stretches for five miles along the coast. See part of the Burren Country, a region of limestone, which breaks into flat slabs and was used locally for roofing and walls. Travel through Ennis, the chief marketing town for the region on the way to Newmarket- on-Fergus where you check into your hotel. This evening a medieval-style meal and entertainment at 15th century Bunratty Castle will conclude your tour on a high note
Accommodation: Manor House