The Head's Irish Adventure

Day 1 - Wednesday 19^th November - Céad míle fáilte

Céad míle fáilte, or one hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland! Arriving at Dublin airport this morning, a private transfer will meet us at arrivals and take us to Belfast. As this is our arrival day, and we want to have as much rest as we may need, today will be spent adjusting to the time difference and relaxing. We check into our hotel to enjoy some downtime and perhaps a quick nap before dinner.

Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Victorian
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Thursday 20^th November - The History, Traditions & Tunes of Belfast

Today, we join a local guide and explore Belfast from the comfort of a London black cab. Unpack the complicated history of The Troubles. See the city’s murals and peace walls, hear stories of life in Belfast at the height of the troubles, check out historical photographs and enjoy narration from our local guide. This evening, with two professional musicians as our guides, we walk through cobbled alleyways, past famous landmarks and on to private bars in some of the city’s oldest buildings. At each stop, we will be treated to a performance of traditional tunes, songs and stories, all of which make up our own personal ‘session’.Enjoy a local beverage while learning about the instruments, language, customs and history that make up Ireland’s vibrant musical tradition.

Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Victorian
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Friday 21^st November - Tales of the Titanic & Historic Castles

This morning, we take a taxi 30 minutes south of Belfast City for a private tour of the royal residence, Hillsborough Castle. Not only does the castle lie on 100 acres of historic gardens, but the inside is a treasure trove of artistic works, much of which is on loan from the Royal Collection. Your castle host will give you an in-depth look at the works on display, covering religion, power, mythology and contemporary politics in Northern Ireland.

Built in Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyards, the ill-fated Titanic and Belfast’s history are linked forever. Back in the city this afternoon, we visit Belfast’s Titanic Quarter to enjoy the ultimate Titanic afternoon. Our tour around the Titanic Experience takes us through the 10 galleries, taking us through the story of the ship and her final hours. We also step onto the decks of the last remaining White Star Line vessel – SS Nomadic.

Overnight: Belfast | The Merchant Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe Victorian
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Saturday 22^nd November - Ireland's Fair City

This morning, we take the train to Ireland’s Fair City, Dublin. From Connolly Station, we can grab a cab to our centrally located hotel. The rest of our day is open to explore more, and Dublin is best explored on foot or using public transport such as the LUAS, our light rail system. This evening, we enjoy a private tour of The Little Museum, which offers a charming glimpse into Dublin’s history through curated objects and engaging storytelling. This compact museum provides an intimate yet informative experience that is perfect for a short visit.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 5 - Sunday 23^rd November - County Meath

This morning, a private guide meets us in the lobby of our hotel and takes us to County Meath. Ireland has a rich history of crafting Whiskey, so where better to discover or deepen your understanding of this past than at Slane Distillery on the historical grounds of Slane Castle. They bring this rich history to life through a working distillery where we will witness whiskey making in action and savour the sounds, aromas and flavours of this ancient process. Our guide will also facilitate other stops today depending on what areas we want to explore.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Monday 24^th November - Iconic Dublin

This morning, we join a local historian for an engaging walking tour of this lively capital city. Explore some of Dublin’s best-known attractions while also enjoying the benefit of local knowledge by visiting spots hidden off the tourist trail. Our tour ends at Trinity College, where we take a tour around the campus, discovering some of the secrets and famous pupils who graced its halls and quads before we make our way to the Old Library for an audio tour of the Book of Kells with its new immersive digital experience. We finish our time in Ireland in one of Dublin’s many award-winning restaurants for dinner.

Overnight: Dublin | The Merrion Hotel
Room Type: x1 Deluxe King
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Tuesday 25^th November - Depart

This morning, a private transfer takes us to Dublin Airport for our flight home.

Meals Included: Breakfast