Tour Overview

‘Excellent’

Your tour begins in Dublin where we pay a visit to the National Museum of Decorative Arts. Here you can catch a glimpse of how Irish people in the past lived through their clothing and textiles. The next day in Dublin we will have a ‘knitting with wire’ workshop and you will be introduced to Tunisian crochet with one of our expert designers. Leaving Dublin, we will head for Connemara in the West of Ireland. Connemara is characterised by coastal coves and bays, fishing villages and by its vast expanse of mountainous scenery. Before we leave Galway we will enjoy a knitting workshop with Anne O’Maille of Ó'Máilles of Galway. Established in 1938, this shop became famous in the 1950s for outfitting the entire cast of the film The Quiet Man. The next two days of your trip will be spent on Inis Oirr (Inisheer), one of the famous Aran Islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay. You will enjoy knitting and dyeing workshops and learn the traditional methods and stitches the Aran Island way! Your time on the islands will include sightseeing and even a bit of Irish music and dance! The next part of the tour takes place in the south of Ireland where we visit the famous Ring of Kerry with its stunning ocean vistas and we will enjoy a knitting workshop with Carol Feller and Liz Spillane. Return to Dublin via the famous Blarney Castle where legend has it if you kiss the stone you will never be lost for words and have as the Irish say, ‘the gift of the gab’!

Departure Dates

  • 18th September 2023
  • 15th April 2024
  • 16th September 2024

What's included

  • Transfers on arrival and departure by private coach (for arrivals prior to 10.30am on tour start date and departures on tour end date)
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary in a luxury coach with an experienced driver and licensed guide
  • Accommodation in rooms with private facilities for 10 nights
  • Irish breakfast daily
  • 5 hotel table d’hote dinners
  • 4 sit down lunches
  • 1 farewell meal in a Dublin restaurant
  • Entrance to the following attractions: National Museum of Decorative Arts and History, Christ Church Cathedral, Kylemore Abbey, Glen Keen Sheep Farm, The Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle
  • Ferry to Inis Oírr, Aran Islands
  • Inis Oírr guided tour
  • Aran Island baking & butter making demonstration
  • Ring of Kerry guided tour
  • Connemara guided tour

Workshops/Knitting Activities Included in This Tour:

  • Knitting with wire workshop with Pauline Gallagher
  • Knitting workshop with Anne O’Maille in Galway
  • Aran Island knitting workshop with Una McDonagh
  • Aran Island spinning & dyeing workshop
  • Knitting class with Carol Feller in Killarney
  • Traditional knitting with Liz Spillane
  • Basket weaving demonstration with Ciaran Hogan
  • Kerry Woollen Mills tour
  • Hedgehog Fibres Studio
  • Important Note: Attractions, Workshops and Demonstrations May Change According to Availability and Scheduling 

Tour highlights

  • Aran Islands
  • Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
  • Burren
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Cobh Heritage Centre
  • Doolin
  • Dun Aengus
  • Titanic Walk
  • Bantry House & Gardens
  • Connemara National Park
  • Desmond Castle & Wine Museum
  • Galway
  • Kinsale
  • Kylemore Abbey
  • Mizen Head Signal Station
  • Garnish Island
  • Blarney Castle

Overnights for this tour

  • Dublin 2 Nights (Camden Court Hotel (or similar)
  • Galway 3 Nights (Galway Bay Hotel or similar)
  • Inis Oirr, Galway 2 Nights (Quality en-suite B&B on Inis Oírr)
  • Killarney 2 Nights (Lake View)

Accommodation options

  • Optional pre-night packages available should you wish to spend a night or two extra in Dublin before the tour starts. Please see pricing section for details.

Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland

Arrive Shannon Airport and meet with your driver/guide who will transfer you to see one of Ireland’s natural wonders – the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs rise to over 700 feet along an 8 kilometer stretch of the Clare/Atlantic coastline. Then travel to one of Ireland’s prettiest villages, Adare. Here you can marvel at the thatched roofed cottages which are now mainly craft shops and restaurants and view the priories in this small town. After lunch (not included) travel to Killarney, one of Ireland’s most popular towns, arriving in time to sample the many pubs and restaurants after you have checked into your hotel. Overnight Killarney BB

Day 2 - Ring of Kerry

Today you will discover the wonderful scenery of Killarney as you drive around the famous Ring of Kerry. The road winds between the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Ireland's highest mountains, and the varied Atlantic coast. You will be amazed at the breathtaking views and you will stop for photos at the most dramatic scenes and the Skellig Experience. Continue through the remote villages of Cahirciveen and Waterville. On the return, pass through the colorful village of Sneem and pause at Moll's Gap to view the Three Lakes of Killarney. Stop for a stroll through the splendid Muckross Gardens on the shores of Muckross Lake. Overnight Killarney BB

Day 3 - Blarney Castle

After breakfast visit Blarney Castle where the famous Blarney Stone will be found. For those brave enough climb the ramparts of the castle and kiss the stone which is said to grant the gift of eloquence. Then travel to Cobh Heritage Centre where thousands of emigrants departed for a better life during the famine years and which was the last port of call of the Titanic. After the visit take the short journey to the Old Midleton Distillery and learn how the world famous Jameson's whiskey is distilled and of course sample the golden nectre. Overnight Killarney BB

Day 4 - Killarney - Galway

Check out of your hotel after breakfast and travel northwards stopping first at Foynes Flying Boat Museum, the major European entry point for the transatlantic flights between 1937 & 1945. It was also the place where Irish coffee was invented. Then travel into County Clare and the karst like landscape of the Burren and finally onwards to Galway. Overnight Galway BB

Day 5 - Connemara

Take a drive around the stunning Connemara region today with its unspoilt scenery. Along the way visit Kylemore Abbey with its lovely walled gardens and Connemara Celtic Crystal. Travel to Cong, where the film The Quiet Man (John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald) was filmed. Return to Galway where the remainder of the day is free to explore this vibrant city. The Quays area in the city is home to a number of lively music pubs, including the popular Quays Bar, and great choice of restaurants. Overnight Galway BB

Day 6 - Knock Shrine

After breakfast travel to Knock, where on the 21st August 1879, Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. The tour will take you through the beautifully landscaped Knock Shrine grounds visiting all places of interest including the Apparition Chapel and original Gable Wall, Papal Cross, Basilica, and Chapel of Reconciliation and the Knock Museum. After the visit, travel to the Museum of Country Life, home to the national collection of objects representing the traditional way of life in Ireland since 1850. Return to Galway where the remainder of the day will be free to explore this vibrant city. Overnight Galway BB

Day 7 - Bunratty Castle

Check out of your hotel and travel the short journey to Rathbaun Farm, a 200 year old working farm owned by the descendants of the original owners. Here you will see a demonstration of sheep herding and sheering and enjoy home baked refreshments. Onwards then to one of Ireland’s most complete castles, Bunratty Castle, resplendent with authentic furnishings. In the grounds of the castle is a recreated 19th century village complete with cottages, shops and the mandatory pub. Check into your hotel and after freshening up, return to for your farewell Bunratty Medieval Banquet. Overnight Bunratty or Limerick BB

Day 8 - Farewell to the Emerald Isle

After your final Irish breakfast depart the hotel for Shannon airport arriving in time to complete check-in formalities and that last minute duty free shopping.

Route map

 

Tour attractions

Tour Prices

  • Non-Knitter Partners & Friend

Do you have a partner or friend that doesn't knit? They are welcome to come along, ask our sales representatives about our non-knitter discount!

Cancellation Penalties:

  • Cancellation 60 days or more prior to itinerary start date – Full deposit is forfeit.
  • Cancellation 59 days – 31 days prior to itinerary start date – 50% of total paid is forfeit
  • Cancellation 30 days or less – 100% of total paid is forfeit

Postponements:

Should you wish to change your tour to one of our other available tours or to a different date, you can do so subject to availability. An amendment fee of €500 per person will apply. Within 60 days of the tour commencement date, cancellation fees will apply.

10 Night Southern Ireland Knitting Tour with the Aran Islands

Notes

Pre Tour Arrangements (Optional/Additional): 

Package A

  • 2 x Pre-Nights at Camden Court (or similar)
  • Arrival Transfer
  • 2 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Ticket
  • Per person sharing one room - €375
  • Supplement if single room is required - €125

Package B

  • 1 x Pre-Night at Camden Court (or similar)
  • Arrival Transfer
  • 1 Day Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Ticket
  • Per person sharing one room - € 233
  • Supplement if single room is required - €68

Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.

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