The National Gallery of Ireland is in the heart of Georgian Dublin. It houses over 2,500 paintings and approximately 10,000 other works in different media. The Yeats museum is a special favourite, with works by Jack B Yeats, his father John Butler and other members of this artistic family. We can arrange private guided tours as well as a very special after-hours tour of the gallery.
Established in 1796, Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison in Dublin where numerous revolutionaries were locked up and executed. The guided tour of Kilmainham Gaol starts off at the prison’s chapel, where Joseph Plunkett married Grace Gifford shortly before being executed for participating in the Easter Rising. Visit the cells, still gloomy and dank and continue to the patio where the prisoners were executed. Kilmainham Gaol continues to be an iconic symbol for most of the Irish population, as a symbol of their rebellion against British domination.
Wander through the seven floors that make up the Home of the Black Stuff, and learn about its rich heritage and see how our famous drink is actually brewed. Once you reach the top you’ll get to sit back and enjoy a pint of perfection as well as an unequaled panoramic view of the city.
Love fashion and shopping? Dublin’s Grafton Street has you covered with big name favourites and an institution of Irish fashion – Brown Thomas. Let us arrange a local stylist to accompany you on your shopping trip to introduce you to Irish designers and ensure you are dressed to impressed!
Although the boat ride out to Skellig Michael from the coast of Kerry can be a rocky one, it is well worth the effort. The craggy, emerald-green island houses the remains of a 6th monastery, which you can explore after ascending a steep 600-step climb. Marvel at the beehive style huts and you might even find a brooding Luke Skywalker among the puffins.
*Due to limited availability during the season (Mid May – September), we would highly recommend that you if you would like to include this experience on your tour, please request at the time of booking.
Spaces are not released until March each year and they do fill up very quickly so booking well in advance is a must!
The Skellig Ring region just off the Ring of Kerry route has some of the best scenery seen anywhere in Ireland and Europe. It is loaded with history, tradition, religion, innovation, landmarks, pre-Christian monuments, 385-million-year-old footprints and some breathtaking scenery. Whew! It won’t disappoint.
Muckross House and Gardens is the finest Victorian Mansion and Estate in Ireland. Its position overlooking the Lakes of Killarney becomes impossibly romantic when the Rhododendrons are in full bloom. The House documents the history of all the influential families who dominated local life and politics for centuries. The estate can be walked on foot or admired from the many jaunting cars which are about.
The southernmost stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way zigzags gently, past gardens lush with sub-tropical plants. Between hedgerows thick with fuschia and monbretia. By hundreds of inlets, tiny coves, safe harbours and Blue Flag beaches, just right for long days spent in the salty air – beachcombing, island-hopping, whale-watching, learning to sail, kayaking on a saltwater lake in the moonlight, or simply enjoying a pint on the quayside while the fishing boats land their catch. Your Driver Guide will arrange it all!
At Jameson Distillery Midleton you’ll come face to face with the largest pot still in the world, see the new micro distillery in action, experience the live maturation warehouse and taste whiskeys along the way. You’ll even get the chance to make new friends at the bar. Private tours and tastings can be arranged.
Perhaps the best-known historical attraction in Kinsale, Charles Fort, is on the road just beyond Summercove. It is open all year, and regular guided tours are available. Charles Fort is one of the finest surviving examples of a 17th Century star-shaped fort, and much of the construction begun in 1678 remains. The fort has two enormous bastions overlooking the estuary, and three facing inland. Within its walls were all the barracks and ancillary facilities to support the fort’s garrison. The fort continued in military use until 1922.
Cork’s Old English Market is the most celebrated food market in Ireland. The unique covered food and artisan market dates back to the Middle Ages. The center is populated with some of Ireland’s finest gourmet restaurants and a trip to the English Market the heart of the city is a must.
Do you remember ‘The Quiet Man’? Let us arrange a private tour from the Ashford Estate and the nearby village of Cong. Cong village also has a beautiful abbey worth visiting as well as The Quiet Man Cottage and Heritage Center. The Squire Danaher’s House from the movie is on the grounds of the castle.
Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way are renowned for delicious seafood delights and DK Connemara Oysters live up to this reputation. Ballinakill Bay is a perfect location to grow rich tasty oysters. Visit this glorious setting and smell the fresh Wild Atlantic air. See the farm crew working hard in the water to grow the most perfect meaty oysters. Shuck your own oyster or take a punt at the weight of one. And of course finish your tour with a taste of a beautiful fresh oyster.
If you enjoy exploring on two wheels, let us arrange a cycling tour for a few hours south of Galway or in the wilds of Connemara. We highly recommend the electric bikes to make those hills easy!
