Ker & Downey
email: cathriona.o'[email protected]
tel: +353 (0)91 457 898 (9am - 5:30pm, Mon - Fri) / +353 (0)86 873 7223 (Out of Office Hours)
Monday 29th July – Monday 5th August 2024
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, 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.
Arriving in Ireland today, a private transfer will pick you up from the airport and whisk you to your 5-star hotel in the city centre. Check-in is at 3pm however feel free to leave your bags, freshen up, or have a bite to eat. Head out in the afternoon to enjoy 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 the Georgian to the 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.
Reservation number: 3943388
Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: Superior Garden King
Meals Included: None
Supplier: Dublin Chauffeurs
Pick Up Location: Dublin Airport | Pick Up Time: 11:15
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; they have your flight number.
Activity: Private Walking History Tour of Dublin
Start Location: The Merrion Hotel | Start Time: 16:00 | Approx Duration: 1.5 hrs
Phone: +353 (0)87 688 9412 | Website: https://historicaltours.ie/
We will send you your guides name before your tour.
Restaurant: The Winding Stair | Location: 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1
Reservation Time: 19:00
Phone: +353 1 872 7320 | Website: https://www.winding-stair.com/
Please pay locally.
This morning, your guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and whisk you away to Kerry – but not before stopping into Ireland’s rolling green midlands! The vibrant Kilkenny is a stronghold of Ireland’s national sport, hurling. Ireland’s eastern seaboard was Europe’s centre for scholarly learning in the middle ages, as evidenced by the plethora of ancient monasteries, abbeys and churches in this part of the country. Kilkenny’s centre piece is the 11th century castle – a centre for Norman rule that has survived centuries of invasion and turmoil. Arriving in the Kingdom of Kerry, your 5 star hotel and base for the next few nights is just outside the small town of Kenmare and this evening your guide will join you for dinner together.
Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: Estate room King
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Name:
David Lawless
Contact Number: +353 86 856 2537
Meeting Place: The Merrion Hotel | Meeting Time: 09:00
David will meet you in the lobby of your hotel.
Activity: Kilkenny Castle
| Start Time: 12:00 | Approx Duration: 1 hrs
Restaurant: The Falls | Location: Sheen Falls
Reservation Time: 19:30
Website: https://www.sheenfallslodge.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/The-Falls-Menu-19.05.2024.pdf
Dinner is included tonight and your guide will take care of the bill.
After a leisurely breakfast, head north into Killarney National Park – the jewel in the county’s crown and the largest of Ireland’s National Parks. Today the park encompasses 26,000 acres of mountains, woodlands, lakes, waterfalls and history. Your guide will help you discover some of Killarney’s most breath-taking mountains, lakes and castles as you explore the park together. Visit Torc Waterfall and take a tour of the imposing 15th century Ross Castle, before heading back to Kenmare. This evening, choose to partake in some onsite activities at Sheen Falls. You could try fishing, falconry, horse-riding, golf, or simply relax in the spa!
Overnight: Kenmare | Sheen Falls Lodge
Room Type: Estate room King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Activity: Killarney National Park
Your guide will discuss start times and activities with you the day before.
Activity: Tour of Ross Castle
| Start Time: 14:00
Restaurant: O' Donnabhain's Bar & Guesthouse | Location: Shelbourne St, Kenmare, V93 YD93
Reservation Time: 19:00
Phone: +353 (0) 64 664 2106 | Website: https://odonnabhain-kenmare.com/
Please pay locally
This morning your guide will take you further north, it’s a 3.5 hour drive to check into the 800-year-old Ashford Castle on the border of Galway and Mayo – once owned by the Guinness family. Nestled between the shores of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, Cong is renowned for its natural beauty, rich history and its connection to pop culture. The surrounding area boasts a fascinating history that stretches back centuries, and there’s no better base to explore than Ashford Castle. Spend the afternoon onsite, there are estate walks to enjoy, fishing and boating, golf, shooting and cycling. Relax and enjoy all Ashford has to offer.
Overnight: Mayo | Ashford Castle
Room Type: Junior Stateroom
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Restaurant: Cullens at The Cottage | Location: Ashford Castle
Reservation Time: 19:30
Phone: +353 (0)94 954 6003 | Website: https://ashfordcastle.com/dining-and-drinks/cullens-at-the-cottage
Please pay locally
The hills and mountains of Connemara are defined by the ocean surrounding, and this is particularly evident at the beautiful Killary Fjord. This morning you will visit a family-run shellfish farm where you can head out onto the fjord, lift a string of mussels for hauling and harvesting, and understand the lifecycle of these wonderful shellfish. After a delicious lunch, tour of the stunningly beautiful Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens. With a history spanning six centuries, Kylemore Abbey is the oldest Irish Benedictine abbey. The abbey has endured through wars, national conflict, and migration and today is both a wonderful immersive visitor attraction and the community and home to a group of Benedictine nuns. This evening, your guide will join you for a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Mayo | Ashford Castle
Room Type: Junior Stateroom
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Activity: Oyster Farm Tour
| Start Time: 10:00 | Approx Duration: 1.5 hrs
Please wear comfortable clothing and a waterproof jacket.
Activity: Kylemore Abbey
| Start Time: 14:00
Restaurant: Wildes at The Lodge | Location: Ashford Castle
Reservation Time: 19:00
Phone: +353 (0)94 954 6003 | Website: https://thelodgeac.com/dining-and-drinks/wildes-at-the-lodge
Dinner is included tonight and your guide will take care of the bill.
This morning, it’s time to check out and say goodbye to the west coast of Ireland. Your guide will drop you to your hotel in Dublin city centre and you will say farewell. This afternoon, we have booked a guided tour of Trinity College Dublin for you. Set on 46 acres of leafy squares, cobblestone walkways and historic buildings, Trinity is Ireland’s Oldest University and home to The Book of Kells – an ancient manuscript revered for its exquisite illustrations and profound religious significance. This evening, there are a host of award winning restaurants to choose from for your final night in Ireland.
Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion
Room Type: Superior Garden King
Meals Included: Breakfast
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.
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.
We recommend PI Pizzas, The Boxty House, or Tang Cafe.
Activity: Trinity College Dublin / Book of Kells
Start Location: The Bell Tower in Front Square | Start Time: 15:30 | Approx Duration: 1.5 hrs
Phone: +353 (0)1 896 1000 | Website: https://www.visittrinity.ie/book-now/
Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time.
Restaurant: Matt The Thresher Restaurant | Location: 31-32, Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, D02 Y523
Reservation Time: 19:00
Phone: +353 (0)1 676 2980 | Website: https://matts.ie/
Please pay locally.
Embarking on a day of exploration in Dublin, meander through the city’s historic streets at leisure. We recommend a stroll in St. Stephen’s Green, where the rich tapestry of Dublin’s past blends seamlessly with the present. We’ll provide plenty of other recommendations for you today away from the typical tourist trail to make your final night in Dublin a memorable one.
Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion
Room Type: Booked by clients
Meals Included: Breakfast
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’s history within its walls.
Jameson Distillery Founded by John Jameson in 1780, today the former factory stands as a monument to Irish Whiskey.
We recommend Bloom Brasserie.
We recommend Sole Seafood & Grill, Boeuf & Frites, The Church, or Agave.
For pubs, we recommend Doheny & Nesbitt’s, Toners, The Hairy Lemon, or No Name.
This morning, check out of your hotel and your private transfer will drop you to Dublin airport. We hope your time in Ireland has been memorable and wish you a safe journey home.
Meals Included: None
Supplier: Dublin Chauffeurs
Pick Up Location: The Merrion Hotel | Pick Up Time: 07:00
Phone: +353 (0)87 233 8396
Justin or one of his drivers will meet you in the lobby of your hotel.
Please see our booking terms here.
Upper Merrion Street |
Dublin |
Co. Dublin |
D02 KF79 |
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)1 603 0600
Web: merrionhotel.com
Kenmare |
Kerry |
V93 HR27 |
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)64 664 1600
Web: sheenfallslodge.ie
Cong |
Co. Mayo |
F31 CA4 |
Ireland
Phone: +353 (0)94 954 6003
Web: ashfordcastle.com
View More
View More
View More
View More
View More
View More
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.