Irish Romance 8 Night Tour

Begin your knitting tour of Ireland with a transfer from Dublin Airport to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10:30am on start day of tour or pre-night packages). Meet with your guide and fellow travellers for an introduction and embark on your first part of the tour with a visit to the National Museum of Decorative Arts and History. Discover how Irish people lived in the past as you wander the recreated rooms showing typical furniture styles from the 17th century right through to high styles of the 19th century. The textile exhibition may be of special interest where ‘The Way We Wore’ section displays typical Irish clothing and jewellery from 1760s onwards. Our next stop is at Christ Church Cathedral for a guided tour of one of Dublin’s oldest operational buildings – over 1000 years old! The remainder of the day will be free for you to relax and refresh before your welcome dinner at your hotel. Overnight in Dublin, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.

First thing today we pay a visit to ‘This is Knit’, one of Dublin’s famous yarn stores for an informative talk on the developments in the Irish hand knitting scene over the years as well as a two hour ‘Moebius Knitting’ workshop on the stunning ‘Glenties Cowl’ pattern, designed by Lisa Sisk.  For this workshop you will be using Soft Donegal yarn from Studio Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. After your workshop we will stop at Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse for a guided tour. This museum discusses the history of Ireland's most famous export, through various interactive exhibition areas including ingredients, brewing, transport, cooperage, advertising and sponsorship. This evening dinner is not included so that you can sample one of Dublin’s many restaurants and bars at your leisure. Overnight Dublin, Bed & Breakfast Basis

After breakfast, it’s on to the coach again to travel to Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre where you will discover how Daniel E. Williams went from stable boy to distillery manager, creating the whiskey which still bears his initials today.  We will enjoy lunch here before continuing to Rossaveal in County Galway for the ferry to Inis Mór (also spelled Inishmore), the largest of the three Aran Islands. On arrival, we will meet with some Aran Island locals for an introduction to Aran life which will pay special attention to the history of Dun Aonghasa in preparation for your visit the next day. Dinner will be served at the hotel accompanied by your hosts.  After dinner, enjoy a quick traditional Irish dancing lesson or if your tired feet are not up to the task, you can watch the instructor demonstrate some simple steps! Overnight Inis Mor (Inishmore), Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

This morning, enjoy a knitting workshop where you will learn the traditional methods and stitches the way the Aran Islanders do it!  Then it’s off for a tour of Inis Mór with your local guide. The island is littered with more than 50 different monuments of Christian and pre Christian origin and you will pay a visit to the impressive cliff top fort of Dún Aonghasa. This historic fort consists of three terraced walls surrounding an inner enclosure, a platform on the edge of a three-hundred-foot high cliff. Please note that the walk to the fort is up a sharp incline and suitable footwear should be worn and is not recommended for those who may have walking difficulties. The views from Dún Aonghasa are breathtakingly spectacular. On your tour you will also visit some of the local knitwear shops on the island and enjoy a delicious meal at Teach Nan Phaidi! Overnight Inis Mor (Inishmore), Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

We begin the day with the early morning ferry back to the mainland. From here travel through Connemara to the Museum of Country Life, an informative museum which displays the way of life of rural Irish people from 1850 with a strong focus on traditional crafts and trade.  After lunch (included), enjoy a knitting workshop with Ciara Ní Reachtnín who draws inspiration from Irish and Celtic mythology in her work. She will focus on 'An Bradan Feasa' also known as 'The Salmon of Knowledge'. Finally travel the short distance to Sligo where you will check into your hotel for tonight. Overnight Sligo, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Today we travel to Donegal on Ireland’s northwest coast. First stop is a visit to the grave of W.B. Yeats at Drumcliffe Cemetery before journeying north to Donegal Yarns which is steeped in centuries of tradition of locally spun yarns. It operates a vertical production process from raw wool to a finished multi-colured fleck yarn. Next, it's onto Studio Donegal, a hand-weaving and clothing manufacturer committed to preserving traditional Irish hand-weaving. Here you will see the progression of hand-weaving from start to finish including the spinning, warping and weaving of the wool. Overnight Donegal, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Upon your arrival into Dublin Airport it’s time collect your Hertz Car Rental and start your Deluxe Castle’s and Manor Tour of Ireland. Taking into account your long overnight flight, your first day’s drive is a short one, bringing you south of Dublin City to Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland. 

Wicklow is home to many of Ireland’s most historic and majestic attractions. Take time today to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens  

First stop will be Powerscourt House & Gardens situated just beyond your hotel, an 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. On to the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley, which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement was established  by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From here, follow the signs for Avondale House. Built in 1779 Avondale House is set in the spectacular surroundings of Avondale Forest Park, now a museum to the memory of one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June, 1846. On to Avoca where you can take the Avoca Handweavers factory tour, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics. 

Upon your arrival into Dublin Airport it’s time collect your Hertz Car Rental and start your Deluxe Castle’s and Manor Tour of Ireland. Taking into account your long overnight flight, your first day’s drive is a short one, bringing you south of Dublin City to Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland. 

Wicklow is home to many of Ireland’s most historic and majestic attractions. Take time today to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens  

First stop will be Powerscourt House & Gardens situated just beyond your hotel, an 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. On to the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley, which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement was established  by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From here, follow the signs for Avondale House. Built in 1779 Avondale House is set in the spectacular surroundings of Avondale Forest Park, now a museum to the memory of one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June, 1846. On to Avoca where you can take the Avoca Handweavers factory tour, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics. 

Upon your arrival into Dublin Airport it’s time collect your Hertz Car Rental and start your Deluxe Castle’s and Manor Tour of Ireland. Taking into account your long overnight flight, your first day’s drive is a short one, bringing you south of Dublin City to Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland. 

Wicklow is home to many of Ireland’s most historic and majestic attractions. Take time today to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens  

First stop will be Powerscourt House & Gardens situated just beyond your hotel, an 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. On to the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley, which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement was established  by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From here, follow the signs for Avondale House. Built in 1779 Avondale House is set in the spectacular surroundings of Avondale Forest Park, now a museum to the memory of one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June, 1846. On to Avoca where you can take the Avoca Handweavers factory tour, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics. 

Upon your arrival into Dublin Airport it’s time collect your Hertz Car Rental and start your Deluxe Castle’s and Manor Tour of Ireland. Taking into account your long overnight flight, your first day’s drive is a short one, bringing you south of Dublin City to Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland. 

Wicklow is home to many of Ireland’s most historic and majestic attractions. Take time today to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens  

First stop will be Powerscourt House & Gardens situated just beyond your hotel, an 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. On to the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley, which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement was established  by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From here, follow the signs for Avondale House. Built in 1779 Avondale House is set in the spectacular surroundings of Avondale Forest Park, now a museum to the memory of one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June, 1846. On to Avoca where you can take the Avoca Handweavers factory tour, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics. 

Upon your arrival into Dublin Airport it’s time collect your Hertz Car Rental and start your Deluxe Castle’s and Manor Tour of Ireland. Taking into account your long overnight flight, your first day’s drive is a short one, bringing you south of Dublin City to Wicklow, the Garden County of Ireland. 

Wicklow is home to many of Ireland’s most historic and majestic attractions. Take time today to visit Powerscourt House and Gardens  

First stop will be Powerscourt House & Gardens situated just beyond your hotel, an 18th Century Palladian House in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, you will find a sublime blend of formal gardens and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks and over 200 varieties of trees and shrubs. On to the ancient monastic settlement at Glendalough. Glendalough is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley, which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. The monastic settlement was established  by St. Kevin in the 6th century. From here, follow the signs for Avondale House. Built in 1779 Avondale House is set in the spectacular surroundings of Avondale Forest Park, now a museum to the memory of one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, who was born in Avondale on 27th June, 1846. On to Avoca where you can take the Avoca Handweavers factory tour, famed worldwide for the quality of its woven fabrics.