8 Day ‘Gems of Ireland’ Premium Guided Tour

Newgrange

Departing Dublin City in the morning we make a 45 minute journey to the ancient site of Brú Na Boinne. With its origins dating back over 5000 years and with the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must see neolithic attraction. Older than the great pyramids of Egypt, this complex also features the famous Newgrange passage tomb where the royal burial chamber is precisely aligned and illuminated on a winter solstice. There is an option to have lite lunch at the visitor center before we travel North to Belfast City.

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Titanic Belfast

Today we travel on a voyage of discovery to the birthplace of the RMS Titanic. Named as the ‘World's Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards, the Titanic exhibition expertly recounts the historic tales of the Titanic ship and her sister ships RMS Olympic and the RMS Britannic Exhibiting some of the rarest pieces of memorabilia from the most famous ship in the world, a total of nine interactive galleries trace the ship’s story from creation to its tragic sinking which tells the entire tale on an awesome scale. Here you’ll explore the stories, the people, and the relics that survived the sinking of Titanic on its maiden voyage in 1912. Expect gantry rides, poignant artifacts, and stunning cabin recreations.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Nothing takes you to the heart of a country like its food and to experience this in the midst of local Irish producers is a real gem. This afternoon we will discover Belfast, ‘one bite’ at a time. Delivered by an expert local gourmet guide, this award-winning Belfast Food Tour takes us on a short ‘off the eaten’ track walk through Belfast’s city’s narrow streets and hidden corners. On this foodie odyssey we experience the true flavours of the city starting in the historic St George’s Market where we’ll meet local traders and food producers. From here we will visit several artisan outlets and local masters who are adept at putting passion on plates. On this savoury adventure you will sample the best delicacy and cuisine topped with tempting sweet treats washed down of course with some local crafted beers and cocktails. By the journey’s end, you won’t only have a satisfied palate but also a heart full of appreciation for Belfast’s multifaceted culture.

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Glens of Antrim

“If only you knew how the lamp of the moon, Turns a blue irish bay to a silver lagoon, You'd imagine the picture of heaven it would be, Where the green glens of Antrim are calling to me” Today we make our way to The Giants Causeway via the stunning Glens of Antrim coastal route. Comprising nine glens, or valleys, that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast, each has its own stories, legend and historical sites. Flints were quarried here on a mass scale during the early stone age like a modern day factory. Oisín, an ancient Irish mythological warrior, is buried here. The children of Lir who were transformed to swans roamed it’s waters and St Patrick who as a boy was held as a slave on nearby Slemish Mountain founded the first church here. Classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), you will enjoy variations in natural landscape that includes glacial valleys, sandy beaches, vertical cliffs, tundra plateau, wooded glens, waterfalls and picturesque villages.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Giant's Causeway

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giant's Causeway is a magnificent, mysterious geological formation on the North East coast of County Antrim. The setting is a spectacular, dynamic coastal landscape of Atlantic waves, rugged cliffs, fascinating geographical antiquity, secluded bays and magnificent views. It forms a jagged headland of neatly packed columns which point towards Scotland. Visitors can walk just over 1km from the entrance to the site or avail of the shuttle bus. They say the Giant's Causeway was the stomping ground of the giant Finn McCool, who lived in these parts nearly two thousand years ago. How else can you explain the chimney stacks that mark his house? The organ he built for his musical son Oisín or the giant boot he left on the shore?

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Dunluce Castle

Occupying a dramatic and perilous position on the edge of a cliff on Antrim’s Atlantic coast, our next stop is Dunluce castle, surely the most picturesque of all Irish castles. It has featured as a set on various movies and documentaries but is best known as the ‘House of Greyjoy’ in the HBO series, Game of Thrones. Checkered with tales of a banshee and how the castle kitchens fell into the sea in 1639, these walls still hold a fascinating history which is steeped in mystery, romance, betrayal, treasures and tragedy. Built by the MacQuillan family around 1500, this site’s origins goes back even further as the castle replaced an earlier ancient round fortification on this same site. It was then seized by the ambitious MacDonnell clan in the 1550's, who set about stamping their mark on the castle under the leadership of the famous warrior chieftain Sorely Boy MacDonnell during an era of violence, intrigue and rebellion.

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Derry

In the morning we set off on the famous Derry City Walking Tour delivered by an expert guide. Derry was the last walled city to be built in Europe and has the longest, complete circuit of ramparts of any of the remaining 30 walled towns in Ireland. This historical guided tour gives an insight into the partition of Northern Ireland, the civil rights movement and it will help us experience some of the more turbulent times of the past, where community separation and segregation were encapsulated within a 1.5km, 10 meter thick circumference wall. Listen to personal accounts of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, including that of Bloody Sunday and the stories behind the large political murals. We also look at how this city in Northern Ireland found peace and harmony and how this transition has transformed it into a vibrant and beautiful place. As part of our visit to Derry, we will also visit both the Tower Museum and the stunning Guildhall.

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Grianan Of Aileach

Next we travel to county Donegal to visit one of Ireland's most impressive circular stone hilltop enclosures. Grianan an Aileach, which translates to the ‘Sun Temple of Elegance’ is strategically situated 250m above sea level where you will capture superb panoramic views of six counties on a clear day. Built by the great God Dagda, who belonged to the ‘Tuatha Dé Danann’, a group of pre-Celtic race of supernatural beings, its origins are thought to date back to 3000 BC. For many centuries, this site was the royal seat for the ruling high king which is documented to have been also visited and converted by St Patrick. Such was its significance that when the ancient Greek astronomer and geographer Ptolemy of Alexandria produced a map of the world in the 2nd century, the ringfort of Grianan an Aileach is shown as one of only five sites in Ireland.

45 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Glenveagh National Park

As we continue on our journey of discovery we travel through the vast boglands of mid Donegal until we descend on the sweeping glens of Glenveagh National Park. With its magnificent mountains, pristine lakes, waterfalls, oak woods and extensive gardens with a wide range of exotic plants and flowers, it is one of the most magical places to visit on your vacation to Ireland. Within the park is Glenveagh Castle, an iconic landmark that dates back to the 19th century. The castle, which is situated on the edge of Lough Veagh, was once home to the wealthy and infamous Irish-American businessman John Adair and his family. It was also home to Harvard Professor Arthur Kingsley Porter who mysteriously vanished in 1933 and to the millionaire philanthropist Henry McIlhenney who often entertained and hosted some of Hollywood's most famous stars. Today the park serves to protect and enhance its biodiversity for future generations whilst supporting appropriate access and enjoyment to the public.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Knockfola

The Wild Atlantic Way is a 2600 km trail described as one of the longest defined coastal routes in the world. It winds its way along the west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork. Today we travel on a small section of this which unfolds a wonder of nature, the power of the ocean and its imprint on the west coast of Ireland. Enchanting villages are nestled along the coast as well as ancient monuments. Behind every bend on this magical coastal road a new delight awaits. The wild Atlantic with its unrestrained and untameable tides and storms has continuously moulded the west coast of Ireland. With a constant meeting of water and land, a deeply indented and wild terrain has emerged with towering cliffs, mystical islands with spellbinding bays and beaches. On the edge of a continent and in isolation with the Atlantic at your doorstep it has ensured that old traditions and the native spoken language of the people have been preserved.

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Crolly Distillery

If you like real authentic liquid gold, you won’t find it in the intricate compounds that produce Irish whiskey on an industrial scale. On the banks of the river Croithlí in County Donegal, between the Atlantic Coast and the Derryveagh mountain range lies a true hidden distillery gem. On this fully guided expert tour, the Crolly distillery experience captures the essence of Donegal’s ‘Gaeltacht’ whiskey. There’s no ultra-sophisticated modern equipment here. The whiskey produced is distilled in the ‘old fashioned’ way, using authentic copper pot stills with direct fire flame, and a traditional worm screw condenser. The grain that forms the basis of its ingredients is even grown on the same farm soil as it was over two hundred years ago resulting in a powerful fruity blend with complex fragrances. Through a stunning audio-visual presentation of land and local people, the many past lives of the historic building are told while the art and science of whiskey making is expertly conveyed

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Leo's Tavern

This evening we visit and dine at Ireland’s most famous musical pub and restaurant, Leo’s Tavern. Home to world celtic music stars Enya, Moya and the Clannad band, it is known for its musical heritage and unique lively music nights. The world renowned Brennan family have collectively sold more than 100 million albums and their musical contribution has extended globally on screen and in media. Tracks and samples have been used on adverts, documentaries, tv shows, gaming platforms, blockbuster movies and by international DJ’s, where their influences have had a far reaching effect on other musical genres worldwide. Here at Leo’s Tavern you will see the ‘Wall of Fame’ where Gold and Platinum disks decorate the walls along with memorabilia and numerous photos of the family with world famous musical faces attending anything from Bafta’s to Grammy awards. Here in Leo’s you just never know you might meet as music stars often frequent and even perform here from time to time.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Glencolmcille Folk Village

This morning we travel to south west Donegal. Tucked into this rugged landscape we come to Glencolmcille, which has been a symbol of hope and success to other emigration-drained areas since the 1950s. Dedicated to entrepreneur priest Fr James McDyer who is best remembered for his incredible dedication to saving the community from being decimated by youth emigration, like many other rural villages along the coast of Ireland, he was the driving force behind various local employment initiatives helping to create much needed employment. One such project was this folk village which was restored and reconstructed to attract visitors and to showcase its tourism potential. Containing six small thatched cottages, each one showcases a different era of Irish history, from the 17th century onward. The folk village is one of Ireland’s best living rural history museums, offering a window into the daily life of Irish people over the centuries. There is also a tea room with a craft shop onsite.

1 Hours 30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Slieve League

On our next stop we will discover the wild, dramatic and majestic Slieve league cliffs. Attracting over 160,000 visitors each year, they are among Europe’s highest Sea Cliffs at 2000ft and are three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher. Here you will get a chance to absorb pure, fresh, salty Atlantic air from the viewing point and capture some awesome breathtaking seascapes where you will get possibly the best selfie in the World!! Once a place of religious pilgrimage, it is now a sightseer's heaven on earth where the racing skies can change quickly from wispy white clouds to dramatic grays at a moment’s notice. On this guided walk along the viewing points we will treat you to insights and stories about the wildlife, local customs and maritime events and mysteries. As you walk round Slieve League, don’t forget to stop every now and then to soak up the panorama of blue sky and ocean melting together: up here it’s as if you’re walking among the clouds.

1 Hours 30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Donegal Town

Man’s best friend is a dog, especially when it’s a working one! With an estimated half a million fluffy white animals freely roaming it’s mountains, Donegal has the highest concentration of sheep in all of Ireland. Today we will be captivated by a blend of tradition and old farming methods at a local sheep farm. With an exceptional bred of collie dogs working alongside their puppies, they form a dynamic team that breathe life into the pastoral landscape and play a pivotal role in the success of farming operations. Here we get to witness the extraordinary bond between humans and animals. We will see first hand on this immersive experience, where the seamless collaboration between skilled trainers and these canine companions unfolds. It’s the precision, agility, and harmony that define the combined skills of these sheepdogs against the stunning backdrop of the Bluestack mountain range. By the end of this experience you may feel enchanted to even take one home!

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Donegal Castle

Built in 1474 by the wealthy O'Donnell chieftains on the banks of the river Eske, Donegal Castle was regarded as one of the finest Gaelic castles in Ireland. It is said that the site of this castle was once the grounds of a Viking fortress which is documented to have been destroyed in 1159 – hence the moniker “Fortress of the Foreigner” which translates to Dún na nGall (Donegal). Known as the ‘Fisher King’ on the continent for his export of fish, Red Hugh O Donnell was one of the most powerful Gaelic chieftains in Ireland where his gallantry and fortitude was depicted in the 1966 Disney adventure film ‘The Fighting Prince of Donegal’. Regarded as the last chieftain of Ireland before its colonization in the 17th century, Red Hugh is buried in Valladolid Spain. The castle consists of the original keep along with the Jacobean style banquet hall which was added to later by Basil Brooke. The Castle is furnished throughout and includes Persian rugs and French tapestries.

1 Hours 30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Abbey of the Four Masters (The Abbey)

Situated aloft on the banks of the river Eske and against the backdrop of Donegal Bay are the ruins of a 15th century once magnificent Franciscan Abbey. With it's gothic arches, ornate carvings and weathered stone we contemplate the centuries of history that this site has witnessed. On this guided walking tour we learn of ancient religious customs, myths, legends and its secrets. After this you will have some free shopping time in Donegal Town to purchase that beautiful hat that you always wanted! Here you will be given the opportunity to further deplete that credit card in what is Ireland's holy grail of authentic hand woven tweed and woolen garments!

45 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Yeats's Grave

Our first stop today on-route to the Arigna Coal Mining Experience will be William Butler Yeats grave. Yeats is widely considered to be one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. Belonging to the Anglo-Irish minority of British gentry that controlled the economic, political, social, and cultural life of Ireland since at least the end of the 17th century, Yeats staunchly affirmed his Irish nationality and was a key figure in the renewed growth of Irish nationalism in the years leading up to the 1916 Rising and the subsequent War of Independence. Having received the Nobel Prize laureate for literature in 1923 as a poet, dramatist, and prose writer, he was also a senator of the Irish Free State and a founder of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Yeats is buried in the graveyard at Drumcliffe, County Sligo 'Under bare Ben Bulben's head', where his gravestone is inscribed with his own words: Cast a cold eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Arigna Mining Experience

Weaving our way through the beautiful scenery of Sligo, Leitrim and the Roscommon countryside, an impressively designed building comes into view which resembles the slag heap of a coal mining operation. Coal was mined here in the Arigna Valley from the 1700s through to 1990. With massive community and Government support, the Derreenavoggy Mine reopened as a visitor attraction in 2003. Since then, close to 400,000 people have enjoyed the Arigna Mining Experience, making this community-inspired initiative one of the most popular local attractions. Before going on tour, we explore the exhibition area with historical documents, photographs, and early mining equipment on display tracing 400 years of mining history in the area. With our helmets on we then take a short underground guided tour into a section of the mine which is delivered by a former coal miner. Here we get to see the physical operation of how the coal was extracted, while we hear fascinating stories of his own time there.

2 Hours • Admission Ticket Included

Dublin

While NOT included in the itinerary of this tour, Dublin city has a vast array of attractions within commuting distance which is ideal for extending your stay in Ireland. We can suggest and recommend an itinerary for multiple days of sightseeing and adventure including accommodation to coincide with any free days before or after the Gems of Ireland tour. Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Jail, Jameson Whiskey, the Book of Kells are all contenders and if you ‘still haven’t found what you're looking for’ - there’s a U2 Dublin tour for that too!

• Admission Ticket Free