Sample Itinerary C

DAY 1

Group to arrive in Dublin Airport

                   Transfer to the Rock of Cashel

12.00hrs        Enjoy a guided tour of the Rock of Cashel

The 4th century Rock of Cashel once the seat of the High King of Munster is one of the most enduring images of Ireland, with its amazing collection of ancient walls, towers and halls, and an excellent multilingual audio visual presentation – a site not to be missed.

17.30hrs        Arrive Hotel in Cork x 3 nights

DAY 2

08.45hrs        Depart hotel

09.30hrs        Arrive venue for coaching session

Two hour coaching session by Munster Academy Coaches

 12.30hrs        Depart venue

14.00hrs        Arrive Charles Fort, Kinsale

Charles Fort is a classic example of a late 17th century star-shaped fort. William Robinson, architect of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, Dublin, and Superintendent of Fortifications, is credited with designing the fort. As one of the largest military installations in the country, Charles Fort has been associated with some of the most momentous events in Irish history. The most significant of these are the Williamite War 1689-91 and the Civil War 1922-23. Charles Fort was declared a National Monument in 1973. Across the estuary is James Fort designed by Paul Ive in 1602.

15.45hrs        Depart Charles Fort

16.00hrs        Arrive Kinsale

Kinsale is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland, which also has significant military history. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257, which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and when the boating fraternity arrive in large numbers.

18.00hrs        Depart Kinsale

19.15hrs        Arrive hotel and dinner

DAY 3

08.30hrs        Depart hotel

09.00hrs        Arrive Titanic Walking Tour, Cobh

We’ll walk through the streets and environs of Cobh, revealing locations and incidents directly connected to the Titanic and many other aspects Cork harbour history and Irish heritage.  Highlights include: Original buildings, streets and piers associated with Titanic, The actual pier where Titanic passengers departed from, St. Colmans Cathedral, The Lusitania Peace Memorial, The Titanic Monument, Emigrant, military and maritime history, The story of Spike Island & The Famine, Convict Transportation.

12.00hrs        Depart Cobh

12.45hrs        Arrive Highfield RFC Cork

Friendly match against Highfield

16.00hrs        Depart Highfield RFC

16.30hrs        Arrive Mahon Point – Shopping Centre

Retail therapy time.

18.00hrs        Depart Mahon Point

18.30hrs        Arrive hotel

DAY 4

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

09.15hrs        Arrive Blarney Castle 

Blarney Castle was built nearly six hundred years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention beyond Munster ever since. Over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland’s greatest treasures. Now that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of our Tower. Kiss it and you’ll never again be lost for words.

12.15hrs        Depart Blarney

14.00hrs        Arrive Bunratty Castle

The Castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland.  Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art which capture the mood of those times. Today, the castle stands peacefully in delightful grounds. The houses and cottages of the folk park spread out at the foot of its massive walls, much in the way that the cottages and crofts of old would have clustered around its base. We invite you to wander through the castle and marvel at the finest collection of medieval furniture in the country which brings to life a vital part of our Medieval past.

16.30hrs        Depart Bunratty Castle

16.45hrs         Arrive hotel in Limerick x 2 nights

DAY 5

08.45hrs        Depart hotel

10.15hrs        Arrive Cliffs of Moher & the Burren

The Burren is a karstic plateau – a stony chaos to the casual observer – with a full assemblage of the curious landforms that characterise such limestone landscapes. The region encompasses 360 km2 of gently inclined plateau with a further 200 km2 of lowland to the east of the plateau.  The limestone also has a landscape in miniature etched into exposed slabs of rock. The bare surfaces (pavements) are fretted with hollows and channels where acidic rainwater has selectively dissolved the rock. An extreme example of these micro landforms occurs on the coast.  Often described as a natural landscape, the Burren has been profoundly influenced by human activities.

The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. The Cliffs of Moher take their name from a ruined promontory fort “Mothar” which was demolished during the Napoleonic wars to make room for a signal tower.

12.30hrs        Depart The Cliffs

14.00hrs        Arrive Thomand RFC

Friendly match against Thomand RFC                       

Free-time in Limerick after the match 

18.30hrs        Arrive at the hotel and dinner.  

DAY 6

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

11.00hrs        Arrive Roundstone Musical Instruments

On an old Franciscan Monastery in Roundstone, developed by the Industrial Development Authority , Malachy Kearns, better known as Malachy Bodhrán amongst folk musicians, works at his craft of making Ireland’s oldest product the Bodhrán (Bow-Rawn). It is an 18″ one sided drum made from Goatskin treated by a traditional process.  Goatskin has unique stretch properties. The Irish word ‘Bodhar’ means deaf or haunting. The Bodhrán began as a skin tray used for drawing turf (peat) on the bogs.It stirs the spirit when played with the “tipper” or beater hitting the skin in a racing style while a hand presses the back of the skin to vary the tone. Malachy is respected as a fine Bodhrán makers for 35 years.Most of the professional folk Musicians worldwide use our Bodhráns we are the only full time makers in the world.

12.45hrs        Departing Roundstone we travel through Connemara to Spiddal and from there along Galway Bay to the city.

14.00hrs        Arrive Galway

Galway, the largest county in Connaught, is celebrated in song and story throughout the world and takes centre stage on Ireland’s western seaboard. A spectacularly beautiful county, it is a medley of contrasts – the wildest and remotest of countryside teamed with one of Europe’s most vibrant and popular cities. Drawn as if by a magnet, visitors come again and again, captivated by this most special of Irish counties.

Galway City at the mouth of Galway Bay is both a picturesque and lively city with a wonderful avant-garde culture and a fascinating mixture of locally owned speciality shops, often featuring locally made crafts. Indeed local handcrafts are a feature of the entire region.  The city has many relics of its medieval past and is worth taking time to explore. It has changed considerably over the last number of years and features a fascinating juxtaposition of new and ancient architecture. The centre of the city is conveniently compact enough to ramble around comfortably. ion including hand knits, pottery, glass, jewellery and woodwork.

Free-time in Galway City

17.00hrs        Depart Galway

18.30hrs        Arrive Hotel in Athlone

Athlone is a vibrant town located in the centre of Ireland on the banks of the River Shannon. Discover Athlone and County Westmeath in the heart of the Lakelands Region for a family holiday, weekend break, business meeting, shopping, leisure or sporting event such as the European People’s Festival or Triathlone 2010. Athlone.ie provides information and support services to visitors businesses, event organisers and people living in Athlone. We promise a warm Athlone welcome, quality service and great value for money!

DAY 7

08.30hrs        Check-out and depart hotel

10.00hrs        Arrive Causey Farm

Become Irish for a day – Causey Farm 

Over a six hour period the group will take part in a number of Irish Farm Activities such as:-

• Cutting turf
• Making a Sugan Rope
• Milking a cow
• Sheepdog demonstration
• Baking brown Bread

Or – Irish Cultural Activities such as:-

• Dancing a jig
• Playing a bodhran (Irish Drum)
• Enjoy a Traditional Irish ceili
• Play hurling

(bring old clothes / trainers for this day)

 Lunch included on-site 

16.30hrs        Depart Causey Farm

18.00hrs        Arrive Hotel in Greater Dublin area x 3 nights

DAY 8

09.00hrs        Depart hotel

City tour of Dublin including visits to the Book of Kells and St Patrick’s Cathedral.  

Welcome to the Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition – a “must see” on the itinerary of all visitors to Dublin. Located in the heart of Dublin City, a walk through the cobbled stones of Trinity College Dublin will bring visitors back to the 18th century, when the magnificent Old Library building was constructed. Inside is housed the Book of Kells – a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world.  

Built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin. The parish church of Saint Patrick on this site was granted collegiate status in 1191, and raised to cathedral status in 1224. The present building dates from 1220. The Cathedral is today the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (a church of the Anglican Communion). Today the Cathedral is open to all people as an architectural and historical site, but principally as a place of worship. Charges are made for those visiting for sightseeing and these contributions directly support the future of this holy and historic building.

Free-time in Dublin after tour        

18.00hrs        Depart Dublin

18.45hrs        Arrive hotel & dinner

DAY 9

09.00hrs        Depart hotel

09.15hrs        Arrive Castletown House

Castletown House, Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, is a Palladian country house built in 1722 for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. It formed the centrepiece of a 550-acre estate. Sold to developers in 1965, the estate is now divided between State and private ownership.  On William Conolly’s death in 1729 the Castletown estate was inherited by his nephew William James Conolly, MP for Ballyshannon. On William James’ death in 1754 it passed to his son Tom Conolly whose wife, Lady Louisa (great-granddaughter of Charles II of England and Louise de Keroualle), finished the interior decoration during the 1760s and 1770s. Lady Louisa had grown up in Carton House, a demesne to the north east of Castletown house. Much of the work on the interior was carried out to designs of William Chambers. She also did extensive work on the grounds; the paths through the forest are still in walking condition although. The drainage scheme through the woodland is ingenious, creating dry paths for walking on land that is below the watertable. The ha-ha fence is part of this intricate network.

11.30hrs        Depart Castletown House

12.00hrs        Arrive Clane RFC

Final friendly rugby game

15.30hrs        Depart Clane

16.15hrs        Arrive Liffey Valley Shopping Centre

Final opportunity for some retail therapy

18.30hrs        Depart centre

19.00hrs        Arrive hotel & dinner

DAY 10

  Return flights home.