Elegant Ireland - South

Arrive in Dublin airport where you will pickup your car rental and  travel to the southeast of Ireland.  This region is well known for its sunny climate and its seaside resorts. Wicklow, the “Garden of Ireland”, lies to the south of Dublin. Its hills, valleys, mansions and gardens make it a county of fascinating variety and beauty. The 6th century early Christian settlement at Glendalough is of outstanding historical interest and great beauty.  Wexford was one of Ireland’s first Viking settlements. The countryside here is lovely, with gentle rolling hills, beautiful valleys and coastline. The memorial to Commodore John Barry recalls its maritime past, “Father of the American Navy".

As you approach County Tipperary, the landscape becomes even more captivating, with the majestic Rock of Cashel coming into view—a striking silhouette atop a limestone hill.

Overnight - Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel 

Cork is Ireland’s ‘capital’ of the south. Founded by St. Finbarr in the late 6th century, it was later settled by the Vikings and became a thriving port at the mouth of The River Lee. Cork is a hilly city, watched over on the north side by St. Ann’s Church, Shandon, with its magnificent chime of bells. The River Lee adds its own special enchantment, creating two islands in the centre of the city, many quaint backwaters and the excuse for lots of bridges.
 
The coastal and Blackwater Valley routes from Cork westward offers some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in Europe. Imposing green—clad hills and mountains in haphazard perfection flank the sheltered harbours and villages. Along the route are colourful villages with lyrical names like Ballydehob, Skibbereen and Glengarriff.

Overnight - Dunloe Hotel, Killarney

The Ring of Kerry, a 160 km route around the Iveragh Peninsula, is one the great scenic drives. This route, an amazing mixture of rugged mountains, winding valleys and dramatic seascapes, begins and ends in Killarney. Famed in song and story, the Lakes of Killarney live up to expectations.
 
The Dingle Peninsula is another natural wonder of this part of the world. The dramatic mountains sweep down to golden beaches and stark rocks. The green of the hills in contrast with the wildness of the scenes make Dingle an enchanted place. Dingle is a native Gaelic speaking area and the lilt of this ancient tongue adds an extra element of mystery to this hauntingly beautiful place.

Overnight - Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney

Kerry’s dramatic scenery gives way to the rich pastoral lands of the Golden Vale and the Shannon Estuary. Ireland’s prettiest village, Adare, is on the road to Limerick. Here thatched cottages line the main Street and a wayside inn offers comfort to the passerby. Limerick has had a turbulent past and the evidence of this is seen in King John’s Castle and the Treaty Stone.

Overnight - Armada Hotel, Spanish Point

In stark contrast is the county of Clare on the north bank of the River Shannon. Here the flat landscape extends west where it forms a natural wonder at the Cliffs of Moher. They stand on the edge of Ireland with the Atlantic crashing on the rocks 700 feet below. A few miles from the coast is one of the strangest landscapes in Ireland, the Burren. This windswept and stark plateau holds many secrets. There are fascinating Neolithic tombs called dolmens. Concealed in the figures of the rocks are some of the most exotic flora and fauna that lure botanists from around the world. 

The great entertainment centre of the area is at Bunratty. Here mediaeval banquets are held in the Castle and traditional evenings of food, singing and dancing are held in a thatched cottage in the Bunratty Folk Park.

Overnight - Armada Hotel, Spanish Point

The region is rich in historical and archaeological monuments and sites. There are excellent golf courses, top class equestrian centres, forest parks and interesting towns and villages. On a bend in the wide and graceful Shannon below Athlone is the haunting and calm ruin of Clonmacnois, a flourishing monastic settlement over a thousand years ago. The Celtic crosses bear witness to the past when Ireland was indeed the Island of Saints and Scholars.
 
Birr Castle, the home of the Earl and Countess of Ross, has one of the greatest gardens in Ireland laid out between two rivers and a lake. The box hedge is the tallest in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. One of Ireland’s greatest heroes was Brian Boru, High King of Ireland in the 11th century. A member of the O’Connor clan, Brian’s lineage can be traced directly to the present owner of Clonalis House, a beautiful mansion in Roscommon.
 
The villages and small towns of Co. Dublin are as charming as the city is exciting. Here, within half an hour of Dublin, you can visit stately homes and gardens, or tour the lovely Dublin hills. Watch the sun rise over majestic Killiney Bay; see the fish being landed in the villages of Howth and Skerries and share in the excitement of horse racing at lovely Leopardstown. Sailing in Dublin Bay from Dun Laoghaire, Howth or in the safe estuary of Malahide, is a thrill and you can admire the lovely bay from a sailor’s viewpoint.

Overnight - Radisson Blu Golden Lane, Dublin

Intimate as a village, sophisticated as a metropolis and friendly as a pub, the capital of Ireland is a centre of infinite interest and variety. Monuments in literature and stone mark the history, writers, poets and people of Dublin. Mediaeval, Georgian and modern architecture provide a backdrop to a friendly, bustling port which can boast literary giants such as Shaw, Joyce, Yeats, Beckett and O’Casey as native sons. Spawned by the need to ford the River Liffey, fortified by the Danes, developed by the Normans, adorned with fine buildings by the Anglo—Irish, the city has grown in stature and elegance over the centuries.

A hearty Irish breakfast in your hotel and then you are free to explore Dublin’s ‘Fair City’ on your own.  A Dublin Bus Hop on / Hop off ticket is an easy way to do this. 
 
Fine museums and galleries chronicle this long and colourful heritage. Fashion shops and boutiques rival the best in Europe. The theatres and concert halls attract prestigious national and international artists, while the pubs buzz with traditional entertainment, cabaret, jazz sessions and, of course, friendly and exuberant Dubliners.

Overnight - Radisson Blu Golden Lane, Dublin

Time to say good-bye to Ireland.  Your private chauffeur transfer will take you to Dublin airport for your return flight.