The Kennedy's Irish Adventure Final Information

Mitch & Jennifer

Friday 23rd May – Wednesday 4th June 2025

Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 13 Days / 12 Nights

Overview

Picturesque coastal towns and villages, green pastoral fields, soaring cliffs, wild barren landscapes, the crash of the ocean, the laugh of a local. Ireland is romantic, and authentic, a home away from home where both old and modern seem to cohabit seamlessly on a small island in the middle of the sea. Packed with history and tradition your days are spent exploring Ireland’s famous and off-the-beaten-track sites of natural, cultural, and ancient interest. A world-renowned food scene means your evenings are spent dining in style, and with the promise of a pub just around the corner, music and laughter are never far away. Your trip to Ireland will surprise and delight you, but the people of Ireland will stay with you, long after your journey has taken you home.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Friday 23rd May | Céad míle fáilte | Overnight: Dublin

Day 2 | Saturday 24th May | Ireland's Fair City | Overnight: Dublin

Day 3 | Sunday 25th May | The Wilds of Connemara | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 4 | Monday 26th May | Inishlaken & Roundstone Bay | Overnight: Connemmara

Day 5 | Tuesday 27th May | Sheepdogs & Stories on the West Coast | Overnight: Newmarket On Fergue

Day 6 | Wednesday 28th May | Hiking in The Burren | Overnight: Newmarket On Fergus

Day 7 | Thursday 29th May | Southern Explorations | Overnight: Killarney

Day 8 | Friday 30th May | Killarney National Park | Overnight: Killarney

Day 9 | Saturday 31st May | The Dingle Peninsula | Overnight: Killarney

Day 10 | Sunday 1st June | The Ring of Kerry | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 11 | Monday 2nd June | Hike Beara Peninsula with a local folklorist | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 12 | Tuesday 3rd June | Kayaking in Bantry Bay | Overnight: Kenmare

Day 13 | Wednesday 4th June | Depart

Day by Day

Day 1 - Friday 23rd May - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte, or one hundred thousand welcomes, to Ireland’s capital, Dublin! A private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you into the city to your 5-star hotel. Check-in is at 3 pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Today is open for you to explore more and 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. Enjoy a local pub lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon taking in some of Dublin’s sights.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: None

Day 1 - Transfer Details Read More +

Supplier: Dublin Chauffeurs
Pick Up Location: Dublin Airport
Phone: +353 (0)87 233 8396

Justin or one of his drivers will meet you at arrivals. They will have a sign with your name on it. Please don’t be alarmed if you are delayed as they have your flight number.

Day 1 - Day 1 - Lunch details Read More +

We recommend Bloom Brasserie, The Pig & Heifer or Shaka Poke.

Day 1 - Day 1 - Suggested stops Read More +

EPIC Museum You won’t find leprechauns or pots of gold here, but you will discover that what it means to be Irish expands far beyond the borders of Ireland through the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world.

Kilmainham Gaol For over 100 years Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of men, women and children for crimes that ranged from minor offences to being involved in some of the most momentous events in Irish history.

Dublin Castle Constructed in the early thirteenth century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of English, and later British, administration in Ireland.

Please check the opening hours for the dates you’ll be visiting.

National Gallery of Ireland At the corner of Merrion Square West and Clare Street, the recently renovated National Gallery is a treasure trove of permanent and temporary art exhibitions. Highlights include Ireland’s National Portrait Collection, the Yeats Archive and stained glass by Harry Clarke.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral As the largest cathedral and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Saint Patrick’s has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland’s history and culture for over 800 years.

Day 1 - Day 1 - Dinner Recommendations Read More +

We recommend Featherblade, or The Stag’s Head. We are happy to make concierge bookings on your behalf.

Day 1 - Pub Recommendations Read More +

For pubs, we recommend Doheny & Nesbitt’s, The Hairy Lemon or No Name.

Day 2 - Saturday 24th May - Ireland's Fair 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. Finish the day in one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants.

Overnight: Dublin | The Westbury
Room Type: x1 Westbury King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 2 - Private Walking Tour of Dublin Read More +

Activity: Private Walking Tour of Dublin
Guide Name : TBC
Start Location: The lobby of The Westbury | Start Time: 09:30 | Approx Duration: -122 hrs 1 mins

Booking Reference: Kennedy
Phone: +353 (0)87 688 9412

Meet your local guide in the lobby of your accommodation this morning. Your guide’s name will be sent to you prior to your arrival.

Day 2 - Day 2 - Lunch Details Read More +

We recommend MANI Pizza, Emer’s Kitchen, Carved.

Day 2 - Day 2 - Suggested Stops - Dublin City Read More +

Dublinia See Dublin from a new perspective as you travel back to the heart of the old city at Christchurch. Walk where Vikings walked, find out about Dublin’s rich past and even climb an original Medieval tower.

14 Henrietta Street When you enter 14 Henrietta Street you’ll experience over 300 years of city life in the walls of one address. By connecting to the personal stories of those who called 14 Henrietta Street home, the building’s hidden histories are revealed. See the house, hear its stories and discover the layers of Dublin history within its walls.

The GPO The GPO Museum is an immersive, interactive and engaging experience telling the story of the 1916 Easter Rising and Modern Irish History.

The Jeanie Johnston One million Irish people fled Ireland during the famine. 2,500 took a gruelling voyage on the Jeanie Johnston. Take a journey back in time, get an insight into life on board a Famine ship and hear the stories of the people who made the arduous voyage.

Marsh’s Library Marsh’s Library is a beautifully preserved library of the early Enlightenment. It was built with money provided by Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, an academic and book lover with a strong belief in the public utility of education and learning.

Day 2 - Day 2 - Dinner Details Read More +

We recommend The Winding Stair, Sole Seafood & Grill or The Boxty House (a modern take on traditional Irish food).

Day 3 - Sunday 25th May - The Wilds of Connemara

Meeting your private guide, David,  in the lobby of your hotel this morning, you journey cross country to the County of Galway, home to Connemara National Park along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. En route, you will visit a family-run crystal factory. Glass cutting in Ireland is part of a vibrant artistic tradition, and you will have the chance today to meet the master glass cutter as they craft a personalised item for you.. As you continue to the coastal regions, feast your eyes upon the breathtaking expanses of Connemara, once described as “a savage beauty” by author Oscar Wilde. Check into Delphi Lodge, built in the 1830s by the Marquis of Sligo in a beautiful location at the foot of Connacht’s highest mountains. Enjoy fine dining, tradition and a remote escape in the wilds of Connemara.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Luxury Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 - Guide Details - David Lawless Read More +

Name: David Lawless
Contact Number: +353 86 856 2537
Meeting Place: The Westbury | Meeting Time: 09:00

David will meet you in the lobby of your hotel.

Day 3 - Connemara Crystal Read More +

Activity: Connemara Crystal
| Start Time: 14:00

Day 4 - Monday 26th May - Inishlaken & Roundstone Bay

This morning your guide will take you to Roundstone Harbour to meet local man Damien, a fourth-generation fisherman who has been around the sea all his life. As you explore Roundstone Bay by boat, look out for the resident seals, dolphins & Basking sharks! You’ll pass by the stunning beaches of Ervallagh, Gurteen & Dog’s Bay as you make your way to the deserted Island of Inishlacken. With its panoramic views, picturesque unspoilt beaches & pristine waters, this deserted island is the perfect place to stop off for a bespoke picnic lunch! Inishlaken has long been a centre point for writers, poets & artists because of its unique setting. A once largely populated island with its own schoolhouse & lots of quaint cottages, the population dwindled & the last of the island’s residents left for the mainland. But where man has left, nature has flourished and the island is now home to a large variety of insects & birds, rabbits, resident goats, sheep & donkeys.

Overnight: Connemmara | Ballynahinch Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Luxury Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Explore Conemmara's Coast Read More +

Activity: Explore Conemmara's Coast

Start Location: Roundstone Harbour | Start Time: 12:00 | Approx Duration: 4 hrs

Day 5 - Tuesday 27th May - Sheepdogs & Stories on the West Coast

We take a drive through the windswept Twelve Bens Mountain Range to Killary, Ireland’s only fjord where we visit a local sheep farm for a private sheepdog demo in this wild and remote landscape. Watch the magnificent and intelligent collies work the sheep from mountainside to pen with only the calls and commands of its owner to follow. Enjoy some tea and cake with Tom the farmer and chat about rural life in Ireland. Later we leave behind the wilds of Connemara, making our way farther south to Clare and Dromoland Castle, your home for the next two nights.

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergue | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Private Sheep dog demo Read More +

Activity: Private Sheep dog demo

| Start Time: 10:00

Day 6 - Wednesday 28th May - Hiking in The Burren

The Burren’s rocky alien landscape is said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s world-famous Lord of the Rings trilogy – as you explore this region today you’ll see why! Transfer to the Burren – a rugged, limestone escarpment that comes alive in the spring and summer with wildflowers. Set off for a walk in the nearby Slieve Carran Nature Reserve. Its unique, striated limestone landscape was shaped by ancient seas and is famous for its Mediterranean and alpine wildflowers. The region is steeped in history as well, with over 2,500 historical monuments to be explored. Lunch will be held at a local tearoom with an option to visit the adjoining Burren Perfumery where only natural and organic ingredients are used in production. It’s the oldest working perfumery in Ireland!

Overnight: Newmarket On Fergus | Dromoland Castle Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Thursday 29th May - Southern Explorations

Tracking further south this morning, your destination is the Kingdom of Kerry. Your guide will make a day out of it and you’ll stop a couple of times before you get to your final stop. One of our favourite walks is a great beach walk along one of Kerry’s best-kept secret coastlines, and you can enjoy lunch in the quaint village of Adare, voted “Ireland’s prettiest village”. Its quaint cottages and artisan stores make it a great place to wander. Arriving in Killarney this evening, your hotel is in a prime location overlooking the spectacular world-famous Lakes of Killarney and the magnificent MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Friday 30th May - Killarney National Park

Kerry is an expanse of a rugged, mountainous country that sweeps down to the world-famous Lakes of Killarney. Here, stretching across 10,000 hectares, lies Killarney National Park, with its unforgettable combination of mountains, lakes, woodland and waterfalls. Your guide will lead you on a hike of your choosing through the verdant woodlands and along the lakeshores of Killarney, keeping an eye out for the park’s herd of red deer and taking in the gorgeous views that make this region special. Step back in time to the Middle Ages at an imposing mediaeval castle, idyllically nestled on the shores of Lough Leane.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Saturday 31st May - The Dingle Peninsula

The county of Kerry is made up of four peninsulas, The Kerry Head, The Beara, The Iveragh and probably its most well-known,  The Dingle Peninsula and your destination today. Following a relaxed Irish breakfast hit the road to explore the beautiful Dingle Peninsula. This is Gaeltacht country where the Irish language is still widely spoken as a first language and culture and traditions remain strong. Tour around the peninsula visiting a fascinating array of ancient sites including Iron Age forts, beehive huts, inscribed stones, and historical churches. The Peninsula culminates at the dramatic Slea Head—Europe’s most western point. Before leaving, meet some feather friends on an exhilarating Falconry experience. Watch as these magnificent birds of prey swoop and soar with breathtaking speed and learn all about their fascinating habits.

Overnight: Killarney | Aghadoe Heights
Room Type: x1 Garden Superior
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Sunday 1st June - The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is often used as a substitute name for the Iveragh Peninsula, but more properly it refers to the 175-kilometre road that encircles this vast, scenic leg of land on the southwest of the island. Your guide will lead you on explorations around the Peninsula today. Your first stop is the Skellig Six 18 Distillery where you’ll meet a local storyteller and discover the science and art of crafting Irish Whiskey, all while learning the history and mythology of this ancient land. After a delicious lunch in a nearby pub, you’ll take a spin out to the nearby Valentia Island, a step back in time. On the rugged and exposed elements of the southwest coast is Valentia Lighthouse, a beacon of safety to many a seaward traveller. There are even prehistoric fossilised footprints to discover.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Monday 2nd June - Hike Beara Peninsula with a local folklorist

Balanced on the edge of County Cork and County Kerry, the Beara Peninsula is the wildest of Kerry’s three peninsulas. This rugged corner of Ireland weaves a tapestry of wild mountains, pristine lakes, and meandering coastal and mountain roads. The Beara Peninsula is rich in local culture. Sparsely populated and rural, you can stumble across quiet villages and their warm and welcoming communities. Today you will head out hiking the Beara Peninsula with your guide, joined by a local folklorist, who also specialises in the archaeology of the region bringing this fascinating landscape to life. Carina from Garnish, is a member of the Beara Historical Society. A writer and storyteller, she conducts guided historical tours throughout the Beara Peninsula in South West Ireland. She aims to give the visitor an appreciation of the deep history, culture, and dramatic beauty of Beara.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12 - Tuesday 3rd June - Kayaking in Bantry Bay

Bantry Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Head out into the bay today viewing this stunning part of the Wild Atlantic Way from the water. Explore the stunning seascape to learn about the different types of fishing industries in the Bay, the local seafood culture, and the maritime history of Bantry Bay. The bay itself is surrounded by beautiful, rugged landscapes, with lush hills, dramatic cliffs, and peaceful coves dotting the coastline. The water is typically calm, especially near the shore, making it ideal for both beginners and more experienced kayakers. You’ll have the chance to paddle past uninhabited islands and wildlife —keep an eye out for seals, dolphins, and a wide variety of seabirds.

Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: x1 Superior Deluxe Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 13 - Wednesday 4th June - Depart

This morning, your guide will take you to the airport in time for your flight home. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and we look forward to welcoming you to our shores once again.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1  to Day 13
  • Meals as indicated above
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 3 to Day 13
  • Ground transportation from Day 3 to Day 13
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary, specifically;
  • Private airport arrival transfer
  • Private historical walking tour
  • Private Glass-cutting experience
  • Private island experience
  • Private sheepdog experience & farm tour
  • Private falconry experience
  • Private Distillery experience
  • Private folklorist experience
  • Private kayaking experience
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24-hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Important Contact Numbers Read More
Wilderness Ireland Office | 9:00am – 5:30pm

EU: +353 (0)71 9344650
US: 888 351 4257

Out of Office Hours | 5:30pm – 9:00am

+353 (0)86 873 7223

Emergency Services

999

Accommodation

The Westbury Hotel

Balfe Street | Dublin | Co. Dublin |
D02 CH66 | Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)1 679 1122
Web: doylecollection.com/hotels

Ballynahinch Castle Hotel

Ballinafad, Recess | Connemmara | Galway |
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)95 31006
Web: ballynahinch-castle.com

Dromoland Castle Hotel

Newmarket On Fergue | Co Clare |
Web: dromoland.ie

Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa

Lakes of Killarney | Parkavonear | Killarney |
V93 DH59 | Co. Kerry
Phone: +353 (0)64 663 1766
Web: aghadoeheights.com

Sheen Falls Lodge

Kenmare | Kerry |
V93 HR27 | Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)64 664 1600
Web: sheenfallslodge.ie

Meet Your Guide

David Lawless

Contact Number: +353 86 856 2537

Music and the outdoors are my big obsessions. I grew up in Dublin but I took every opportunity to get out into the hills. The mountains of Wicklow provided endless options for hiking and biking, leading small groups of friends in the hills since my teens.

I worked in IT for over twenty years before taking a sabbatical in 2011 to go travelling for a year. Upon returning, I quit in 2013 and moved to the west coast for a change – which turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I’ve been working as a guide since 2016, and now live in Sligo, get to cycle its back roads, walk its hills, swim at its beaches, and play music with a bunch of good friends.

Virtuoso

The Kennedy’s Irish Adventure Final Information

Friday 23rd May – Wednesday 4th June 2025