Itinerary

Day 1 Dublin

The history, charming Georgian architecture and the host of more earthy entertainment on offer will all entice you to Dublin, but it is the people that will leave the biggest impression on you.

Your trip beings with an airport transfer in a private vehicle with driver.

Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Here are a few suggestions: Pasta Fresca- 3 - 4 Chatham St. Tel.: (01) 679-2402. Il Baccaro- Meeting House Square (southeast corner), Temple bar.Tel.: (01) 671-4597. Have a wander through the Gallery of Photography (nearby on Meeting House Square) heading to dinner. Ely Bar - Ely Place (just off Lower Baggot Street) Tel.: (01) 676-8986.

A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, train tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that we deem you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

The O'Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel (3*) is ideally located at Merrion Square in the heart of the business, cultural and shopping district. Opened in 1989 and completely refurbished in 1999, the Mont Clare is popular among Dubliners and visitors alike where you are assured of a warm welcome and professional and friendly service. Guest rooms are comfortably furnished with a full range of facilities and services. Goldsmiths restaurant serves breakfast, table d'hote lunch and a la carte dinner. The Gallery Bar is well renowned for its carvery lunch and is a popular meeting place to relax after work over a pint Guinness. The Mont Clare Hotel gives you a great sense of Dublin and welcomes you into heart of the city.

Overnight at Mont Clare (3*).

Day 2 Dublin

Explore Dublin as you wish with a 2 day Dublin Pass giving you fast track and free entry to over 30 of Dublin's top attractions as well as over 25 special offers in restaurants, shops, tours, theatres and other entertainment venues.

Take the morning to discover the suburbs of Dublin. In a shared tour, you will pass the famous Abbey Theatre and head out across the north of the city to the 14th century Castle at Malahide. The Castle, which is set in magnificent gardens, has some of the finest Irish period furniture and contains famous portraits from the National Art Gallery. Continue on to the award winning village of Malahide, then trace the coastline to the fishing village of Howth. Enjoy magnificent views of Dublin Bay from Howth Head. Return to Dublin along the coast, via north city villages whose lore and legend are recounted by your guide.

Here are some suggestions for a pleasant couple of hours in Dublin: Have a stroll through the little-known Iveagh Gardens, which rival those of St. Stephen’s Green but on a lesser scale and with fewer people, then cut through St. Stephen’s Green and head toward Merrion Square. On a Sunday the square is lined with local artists’ work that you can check out before heading into The National Gallery, which overlooks this same square. Head to the art gallery of The Royal Hibernian Academy (25 Merrion Sq.) or visit 29 Merrion Square to get a glimpse of what genteel life was like in Dublin in the late 18th century; Be sure to walk through the main gates of Trinity College and stroll around Parliament Square before heading to the old library to see the Book of Kells. After a quick stop off at The Kilkenny Shop (6 Nassau St.) and The Avoca Handweavers shop (Suffolks Street), head to The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre (between South William and Clarendon streets), a beautiful 1774 building that houses various small boutiques and one-off designer stores of mostly Irish designers.

Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Here are a few suggestions: L’Ecrivain- 109a Lower Baggot St. Tel.: (01) 666-1919. Have a drink at the comfortable bar before heading upstairs to the stylish and airy restaurant, or out to the patio if weather allows. Chapter One- 18/19 Parnell Sq. Tel.: (01) 873-2330. Located in the basement of Dublin Writers Museum (the former Jameson Whiskey family home), Booking approx 3 months prior essential.Brownes Brasserie- 22 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 Tel.: (01) 638-3934 . Part of Browne’s townhouse hotel, located in St. Stephen’s Green, this restaurant oozes charm.

Overnight at Mont Clare (3*).

Day 3 Dublin

Orientate yourself with a 90 minute hop on hop off bus tour that will take you past Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Castle, St Patricks Cathedral, The Phoenix Park and the Old Jamieson Distillery. Tours depart every 8 to 15 minutes throughout the day so you will be sure to catch a bus. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours and with 25 stops at Dublins top visitor attractions there is no better way to see Dublin.

Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Here are a few suggestions: Pasta Fresca- 3 - 4 Chatham St. Tel.: (01) 679-2402. Il Baccaro- Meeting House Square (southeast corner), Temple bar.Tel.: (01) 671-4597. Have a wander through the Gallery of Photography (nearby on Meeting House Square) heading to dinner. Ely Bar - Ely Place (just off Lower Baggot Street) Tel.: (01) 676-8986.

Spend the afternoon as you wish, perhaps visiting one of the many attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse or the Jameson distillery.

Located in the heart of the St James’s Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is Ireland’s No. 1 Dublin Tourist attraction. The state of the art interactive museum and audio visual exhibition takes one on an incredible journey through the history and making of Guinness and includes some very entertaining advertisements that were used throughout the past fifty years. Finish off your discovery by sipping on a complimentary pint from the birds eye viewing room located at the top of the building and take in the panoramic views of the city and coast.

The Jameson Distillery provides a fascinating visit of its factory and introduces the visitor to the various stages that go in to the process of premium whiskey. At the end of the tour you can sit down and do a tutored vertical tasting of various whiskeys from around the world and you'll be sure to appreciate Jameson's premium whiskey all the more!

Other places of interest in the city include St Patrick's Cathedral, Christchurch and Trinity College incorporating The Book of Kells. You may also enjoy Irelands historic and cultural resourses at the world class museums on Kildare Street. There is also excellent shopping on Grafton Street and nearby Nassau Street as well as Dublin's European Style Boulevard of O'Connell Street.

Overnight at Mont Clare (3*).

Day 4 Galway

Galway, called Gailimh in Irish, with a population of over 70,000, is Ireland's fourth largest city and is a major hub for visits to West Ireland. It has long since been known as "The City of the Tribes" and this title could not be more appropriate these days, given the multicultural vibrancy of present-day Galway. Galway is a perfect base for seeing the West Ireland, but it is also worth a visit in itself. Although it has only a few typical sightseeing spots what makes it a wonderful place to stay is the atmosphere, the culture, the people, the events. The pedestrian shopping area south of Eyre Square, is a pleasant place to walk around. And if the traditional Irish rain starts, just visit the Eyre Square shopping center, where they have put a roof above parts of the old town wall and so included them into the shopping mall, a beautiful combination of old and new.

Transfer using a local taxi (available and economical).

Enjoy the train ride from Dublin to Galway . Train journey is approximately 2 hours 30 mins.

Transfer using a local taxi (available and economical).

Walk along high Street in Galway for a pleasurable way to pass an hour or two. Start at Kenny's Bookshop on High Street. The labyrinth is both an art gallery and quality bookshop with second hand and new books. All along the short cobblestoned stretch of the road, known as High street are small, interesting unique shops. Kelly's Crafts has a good range of goods, especially knits and pottery. Three Bags Full will sell you the wool to knit your own sweater or jacket. A left turn at the bottom of High Street brings you to Cross Street and The Silver Lining Gift Shop which sells glassware, China and novelty gift items. Traditions sells Aran knits, and across the road in the Curiousity Corner, the shelves are spilling over with all kinds of lovely, unusual gifts. To the right of High Street, is La Maison, a shop selling quality European made gifts. Opposite is Judy Green's Pottery Workshop selling pretty, handthrown pottery. Large items can be wrapped and posted home to you. Exclusive, very attractive designer knitwear is sold at Margaret Joyce in Quay Street directly opposite is Twice as Nice, where one can find a fine selection of vintage linen, lace and clothes. The Quay Lane Gallery is a small shop at the bottom of Quay Street which sells framed prints, as well as original work. Next door is Cobwebs, widely considered the prettiest shop in Galway with a delightful, seemingly infinite stock of pretty goods on display.

Centrally located in Galway, Harbour Hotel is near Eyre Square, Spanish Arch, and St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church. Additional nearby points of interest include Galway City Museum. Guestrooms have flat-panel televisions, complimentary wireless Internet access, and premium bedding; bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and hair dryers. Recreational amenities at this property include a steam room and a fitness facility. Other amenities include complimentary wireless Internet access, self parking, and massage and treatment rooms.

Overnight at Harbour (3*).

Day 5 Galway

Enjoy a full day shared excursion from Galway to the impressive cliffs of Moher and the Burren - a very special place of natural beauty. Taking you along Galway Bay, your first stop is at the fishing village of Kinvara to see Dungaire Castle. From here, we continue into the Burren, home to 75% of Ireland's native flora and the location of numerous ancient monuments - many of which we visit including the Gleninsheen Wedge Tomb, the 5,800 year old Poulnabrone Dolmen and Ballyalban Fairy Fort. You can also stop at Kilfenora to see the famous Celtic Crosses and then make our way to the 200 metre high and 8km's long cliffs of Moher. Enjoy stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands and take your time to soak up the natural beauty of the Cliffs of Moher. At the Cliffs you will have and a guided tour and 2 hours free to enjoy the site.

Overnight at Harbour (3*).

Day 6 Galway

Enjoy a full day shared excursion to the wild landscape of Connemara and on to the village of Cong. The first stop is at Ross Errily Friary - a hidden but atmospheric 14th century monastery. We then head to Cong Village for a guided walking tour through Cong Woods to see Ashford Castle. Entering Connemara on the Lough Nafooey route allows you to see the stark beauty of the hidden valley of Connemara before arriving at the Atlantic Ocean. The tour then continues to Kylemore Abbey and back home to Galway via the picturesque Inagh Valley.

Overnight at Harbour (3*).

Day 7 Dublin

Sit back and relax on your private transfer from Galway to Dublin.

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Depart from Dublin airport ---end of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart.

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