Organized tour by: https://www.paddywagontours.com/

Day 1: Dublin – Connemara – Galway

Stop in the Connemara National park

Depart from Dublin going to the West of Ireland passing by the beautiful Connemara. On our way across the midlands of Ireland, we take a comfort stop for refreshments before arriving in the enchanting village of Cong. Famed by John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in the film Quiet Man, the village is home to Ashford castle, a regular haunt of the rich and famous and a wedding venue for a host of international stars. We have time to visit Cong Abbey before continuing our journey through the wilderness of Connemara. We enjoy the unique landscape, beautiful lakes, valleys and mountain scenery. Gaelic speaking, this area still maintains many of Ireland’s traditional ways, however it was deserted during the dreadful famine times of 1845. to 1851. We arrive in Galway mid afternoon to ensure that we get the most out of this cultural city. We have time to explore the Spanish Arch and ramble around colorful shop street with its many street performers, seafood eateries, and quaint Irish bars with wonderful musicians. A great night of real Irish entertainment is always a highlight of Ireland’s traditional music capital.

Day 2: Galway – Sligo – Derry

The beach in Strandhill

After a great night in Galway, we set off through parts of Connemara to the Museum of Country Life. Here we are introduced to the Irish way of life that has existed in this rugged and beautiful part of country since 1800s. Our lunch stop today shall be Ireland’s premier surf venue and beach at Strandhill, County Sligo. We watch some of Ireland’s finest breakers roll against our Atlantic shores before heading off through the poetic heartland of Ireland, W.B. Yeat’s country. We visit his final resting place in Drumcliff Abbey, and admire the beautiful Benbulben referenced in many of his poems. Our final stop of the day is a blast from the past, at the portal tomb of Creevykeel dating back to the pagan years in Ireland that gives us an insight to our earliest inhabitants from the stone age and their rituals and burial ceremonies. Our overnight tonight is in the 2013 European city of culture, the most historic city of Derry.

Day 3: Derry – Donegal

Panoramic views of 5 of the counties of Ulster

Begin today with an excellent in-depth walking tour of Derry’s walls (1613.) and the well known Bogside district famed in the U2 song “Bloody Sunday” after the tragic events of January 1971. Onwards to Grianan of Aileach a hilltop fort, 3000 years old with panoramic views of 5 of the counties of Ulster and legendary stories from every era of Irish history. Glenveagh National Park, Ireland’s premier National Park is our afternoon destination. Here we take the opportunity to enjoy nature with lakeside walks and a visit to Glenveagh Castle. Then back in derry for the night.

Day 4: Giants Causeway – Belfast

Giant’s Causeway

Today we cruise the beautiful North Antrim Coast. We initially with a photo-stop at Dunluce castle, once a stronghold of the McDonald clan of Scotland after we visit the Northern Ireland’s highlight the Giant’s Causeway with its 37,000 basalt columns who’s tops form stepping stones leading from Ireland to Scotland and famed in the legend of Fionn MacCool. Our next stop is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (seasonal, cross at your own risk by making a small charitable donation to the National Trust, the UK registered charity that maintains the Bridge), once a bridge used by the salmon fisherman to net their catches today it is hugely popular with international travelers and sightseers. We continue along the coastal route, with fantastic views and photo opportunities of Whitepark Bay. At the end we visit the Dark Hedges, famed by the Game of Thrones along with views of Ballintoy Harbour and after to Belfast for our final night of the tour.

Day 5: Belfast – Dublin

Group tour pic in front of the Titanic museum

We begin the day with Belfast’s number 1 visitor attraction, the Titanic Experience. Here we learn all about the ill-fated ship, from how she was built, to the people who built her, and the complete story from her inception to her tragic demise. After this wonderful experience, we take a city tour of the highlights of Belfast including City Hall, Queen’s University, Botanic Gardens and much more. You will have plenty of time for lunch, shopping and/or a Black Taxi tour of the political murals and of course the Peace Walls which divide the Catholic Republicans from the Protestant Loyalist communities. Then it’s off to Dublin where we stop en-route at Monasterboice to view the Celtic crosses and Round Towers of this early Christian site. This tour drops at Dublin airport at approx 4pm where I took the bus to Carlow where my host parents collect me.