360Private Travel- Hickey Family Ireland

Day 1 - Wednesday 9^th April - Welcome to Dublin

Arriving in Ireland today, we recommend you pick up you can rental this morning so that you can hit the road early tomorrow.  The drive into the city should take about 20/25 minutes.

Check in may not be available till later today however, you are welcome to leave secure your bags, freshen up, grab a bite to eat and head out to start exploring the city. There is no better introduction to Dublin than a walking tour with a local private guide through this vibrant capital city, with its mix of 1,000 years of architecture from the mediaeval to Georgian to modern. See the Georgian style Merrion Square, lush St. Stephen’s Green and Fitzwilliam Square, as well as O’Connell Street, the site of the ‘1916 Uprising’ that led to Ireland’s independence in 1922. Your guide is also a historian who will bring the city to life with colourful tales of life in the city in times gone by. This afternoon you are free to explore the city – Dublin is best explored on foot or using public transport such as the LUAS, our light rail system. Many of Dublin’s highlights are within walking distance and indeed you will discover it is in the act of wandering from one to another where you will soak up Dublin’s authentic atmosphere.

Overnight: Dublin | The Davenport Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe Double

Day 2 - Thursday 10^th April - Dublin to Mayo - Clonmacnoise

Leaving the city behind you today, we journey cross country, to the county of Mayo, along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
En route, we recommend a stop at the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise. St Ciarán founded his monastery on the banks of the River Shannon in the 6th Century. The monastery flourished and became a great seat of learning, a University of its time with students from all over Europe. Today the ruins include a Cathedral, two round towers, three high crosses, nine Churches and over 700 Early Christian grave slabs.

This afternoon, check into your centrally located hotel in the pretty little town of Westport. The vibrant market town of Westport lies at the edge of the Wild Nephin wilderness and on the shores of Clew Bay, known for the hundreds of tiny islands created by glaciers millennia ago. The imposing silhouette of the pilgrimage site, Croagh Patrick Mountain, dominates the surrounding countryside.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Friday 11^th April - Achill Sea Safari

Take the short drive to Achill Island this morning and meet a local boatman for a sea safari around the bay. Discover the local history, marine ecosystem, and incredible wildlife, including the chance to spot dolphins cruising alongside the boat. And don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for Clare Island Lighthouse, Achill Beg, and Ashleam Bay.

Overnight: Westport | Westport Plaza Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Saturday 12^th April - Westport to Connemara

Leaving Westport behind, feast your eyes upon the breathtaking shores of one of Ireland’s only three fjords before heading to the expanses of Connemara. Once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde, explore the wild, windswept region.

Check into Ballynahinch Castle Hotel, once owned by an Indian Raj, this traditional hunting lodge has seen presidents and dignitaries grace its halls and rooms for generations. Today, surrounded by thousands of acres of estate land and forests, Ballynahinch boasts fine dining, a traditional pub, on-site fly fishing and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Sunday 13^th April - Connemara National Park with Sheep Dog Demo

Drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord. Start the day with a visit to a local sheep farm for a private sheepdog demo in this wild and remote landscape. From there, walk an abandoned famine route along the southern shoreline of the fjord. After a pit stop at a local café for lunch, we have the option to visit Kylemore Abbey, a haven of history, beauty, and serenity and home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for the past 100 years or transfer you back to Ballynahinch Castle where you will have some free time to enjoy the estate this afternoon – go fly fishing, have a massage, or simply kick back with a book by the river.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Monday 14^th April - Galway Food Tour

You continue your exploration from Connemara to Clare, once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde. En route, we take the opportunity to stop in Galway City, a charming Medieval-era city with a thriving arts and food scene. Joining a couple of local food aficionados, you sample some of Galway’s hidden foodie gems from scones and jam to oysters, cheeses to homemade breads, before continuing into Clare.

As you pass through the Burren, we recommend stopping at Hazel Chocolate Mountain for coffee and some delicious homemade chocolate treats. Perfect for gifts to take back home.

Check into your small boutique hotel this evening in a scheduled part of the countryside with an award-winning tasting menu.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Tuesday 15^th April - 4 x 4 on the Aran Island

It’s hard to resist the allure of one of the many islands that dot the Irish coastline and today you will take to the water and ferry to The Aran Islands. The history of these islands goes back millennia and today Gaelic is still the daily spoken language of the inhabitants. The Aran islands seem to defy their size by all they have to offer: breathtaking scenery, medieval castles, cliffs and prehistoric forts are all to be found on this little group of islands. Inis Mór, the largest of the three islands, is your destination today where you will meet two brothers who offer a unique off road tour of the islands.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Wednesday 16^th April - Cliffs of Moher

Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet on-site at your hotel this morning, perhaps with lunch in the garden, or a visit into nearby Ballyvaughan village.

Use the quiet of the afternoon to visit Ireland’s famed Cliffs of Moher, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, a special region with outstanding geology. Visually stunning, the Cliffs Stand 702ft at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast. Take in the views, stop into the visitors centre, and most of all, take a family selfie for those at home.

Overnight: Ballyvaughan | Gregans Castle
Room Type: Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Thursday 17^th April - Clare to Kerry

We cross the mouth of the river Shannon today and enter ‘The kingdom’ otherwise known as Kerry. As we journey, our route takes us through lush countryside with stunning views around every corner.

Your 5-star hotel this afternoon has many amenities onsite for you to enjoy and your family will join you tomorrow when you move to a private cottage.

For this evening, make the most of the hotels and relax in the countryside surroundings.

Overnight: Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: Deluxe Double
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Friday 18^th April - Kenmare

Your daughter, son-in-law and grandchild join you today in Sheen Falls, and together you will settle into your private cottage on the grounds of this magnificent hotel.

With the little town of Kenmare on your doorstep, there are opportunities to shop for some cottage provisions and explore farther afield this afternoon or simply catch up and share your adventures so far in Ireland with your family.

Overnight: Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: 2 Bed Cottage at Sheen Falls
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 11 - Saturday 19^th April - Explore The Ring of Kerry

Today you will travel to the southern shores of the Iveragh peninsula, also known as The Ring of Kerry, where you will meet one of our favourite characters. A fisherman, foraging expert, storyteller and a true Irish gent, John, will take you on a wander along the shoreline learning about life on Ireland’s west coast all the while regaling you with tales of characters from the region, from lonely monks to 18th century civil rights activists to mythical heroes.

Take some time today to tour The Ring of Kerry stopping at picturesque bays and harbours and points of interest along the way before returning to your hotel in Kerry this evening.

Overnight: Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: 2 bed Cottage at Sheen Falls
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 12 - Sunday 20^th April - Killarney National Park

Killarney National Park is the most famous of Ireland’s national parks – and with good reason, as it is flourishing with breathtaking mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Historic manor houses and abbeys make for an interesting visit but Killarney is best explored via a private boat trip across the lake with a boatman who’s furry friends join him daily. Join Dux on a calm boat tour across the lakes of Killarney surrounded by the mountains on all sides.

Before leaving Killarney we suggest you step back into the past on Muckross Traditional Farms and visit a very different Ireland – the Ireland of the 1930s and 1940s. Then, a trip to the well was still a daily chore for the housewife and electricity had yet to be introduced to the countryside.

Overnight: Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: 2 Bed Cottage
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 13 - Monday 21^st April - Clare to Dublin

Today you leave Kerry and the wild Atlantic coastline behind you making your way back to where it all began, Dublin, the coast that is not the city.

Drive cross country to the coastal village of Portmarnock and your final night in Ireland. With so much relatively unspoilt upland, cliff, coastal and beach territory, Portmarnock is the perfect location for a final night dinner and drink overlooking the ocean.

Its proximity to the airport makes it a fantastic option for early flights tomorrow morning while extending your nature-based escape and time at the coast.

Overnight: Dublin | Portmarnock Hotel
Room Type: 1 x Deluxe & 1 x Family Room
Meals Included: None

Day 14 - Tuesday 22^nd April - Depart

Drop off car at airport to make your onward connections. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.

Meals Included: Breakfast