8 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold Tour

Today travel from your arrival airport to Kilkenny. Your Irish Tourism itinerary will tell you all the best family locations to check out on route! En-Route to Kilkenny you might like to stop in the town of Kildare to visit the National Stud and Japanese Gardens. The National Stud comprises three separate attractions. The 1,000 acre Farm at Tully has been in use as a Stud Farm since 1900 when it was owned by Col. William Hall-Walker. There is a Horse Museum tracing the history of the horse in Ireland using artifacts, illustrations and text and the skeleton of the legendary steeplechaser 'Arkle'. The Japanese Gardens are situated in the grounds of the Stud Farm and were created between 1906 and 1910. Alternatively there is another longer route to Kilkenny which would give you the opportunity to take in some of Ireland's Sunny South East and visit such sites as Powerscourt House and Gardens and Glendalough.

Kilkenny is situated on both banks of the River Nore, in the province of Leinster. Kilkenny is world famous for its castle and other medieval building and the atmosphere and charm of this exceptional city makes it a great base for exploring Ireland with your family. From Kilkenny your IrishTourism itinerary will help you explore the surrounding areas of Wexford and Waterford if you would like to.  Wexford contains some of Ireland's most stunning scenery and it is easily accessed from Kilkenny.  Visit the Irish National Heritage Park features replications of Irish homesteads, burial and worship sites, and takes the visitor on a tour through 9,000 years of Irish history or take the Ring of Hook to the tip of Hook Peninsula, here you might wish to see Hook Lighthouse which dates as far back as the early 13th century and was a major achievement at the time of its creation. A short distance from Kilkenny, the city of Waterford can be found and the city has a host of exploration options; Waterford Crystal for instance exhibits one of Ireland’s most well-known exports.  Here you can take a factory tour, giving you first hand access to all areas of traditional crystal production. Other sites of interest include Bishops Palace which tells the history of Waterford from 1700 to 1970 or Reginald’s Tower; one of the oldest urban buildings in Ireland that is now home to a presentation of historic and archaeological artefacts that tell the story of Waterford's Viking past.

There are two possible routes from Kilkenny to Dingle, the most direct route takes you via Limerick City and the small scenic town of Adare. If you decide to stop off in Limerick, King John’s Castle is a fantastic attraction for families. This fortified 13th century Castle on ‘King’s Island’ in the heart of medieval Limerick. The castle overlooking the river Shannon opens an exciting window on the lives and stories of the people through political upheaval, war and famine. Adare is one of Ireland's prettiest and most picturesque villages, and is a haven for those wishing to escape and unwind taking in its medieval surroundings. Situated on the river Maigue, a tributary of the river Shannon, Adare is steeped in history dating back to 1200ad. 

Dingle town has a host of touring possibilities for you and your family to enjoy. There are numerous workshops and craft outlets where the visitor can buy locally made pottery, crystal, jewellery, sweaters, linen, and traditional Irish musical instruments. Don’t forget to bring the kids to the best shop in the town, Murphy’s Handmade Ice Cream! One of the most popular things to do  is a boat-trip to see Ireland’s most famous bottle-nosed dolphin, Fungie! Other attractions nearby include Dingle Ocean World which has been keeping the kids of Ireland and abroad amused from the early 1980’s. The centre displays all types of marine life including the newly acquired Gentoo Penguins and a selection of Loggerhead Turtles!  

The Dingle Peninsula drive which is dotted with prehistoric forts and monuments, Pre-Christian churches, sandy beaches and remarkable ocean scenery. The best part of the Dingle Peninsula drive is probably the drive around Slea Head. beginning and ending in Dingle, this route takes in a large number of attractions and spectacular views on the western part of the Dingle Peninsula. The route is clearly labelled by road signs throughout its length. If you have seen enough of Dingle you could decide to travel further afield to Killarney where the Ring of Kerry is easily accessible. The Ring of Kerry is a journey through some of the country’s most outstanding scenery around the Iveragh Peninsula. You will pass through such towns as Killorglin, home to the famous ‘Puck Fair’, Ireland’s largest and the world’s oldest market fair. The scenic beach in Glenbeigh, with 8km of golden sand and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains is Kerry's most popular. Shortly after Cahersiveen, Valentia Island comes into view. Valentia Island, a place of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breath-taking cliffs and magnificent seascapes, can be accessed via a bridge from the fishing village of Portmagee. At the point where the bridge meets the island you will find the Skellig Experience Visitor Centre. The centre interprets in a lively and non-academic way the life of the early Christian Irish monks living in the island monastery of Skellig Michael, a small island recently featured in Star Wars! 

Your IrishTourism itinerary will help you get to Dromoland Castle with sightseeing en-route. One of the finest 5 star hotels Ireland has to offer, Dromoland is equipped to offer a vast number of activities to its lodgers including their Championship Golf Course, a five star leisure centre including 17 metre swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna. Other activities include Falconry, Clay Shooting, archery and tennis and the Castle’s parkland and grounds are perfect for exploring on foot or on horseback if you wish. Horse Riding lessons are available at the nearby stables. The Castle has a number of bicycles available for guests who wish to explore the estate in this way.  Or you might even decide to explore the estate by pony and trap whilst listening to an informative guide tells the history of the castle.

Note: Some of these activities incur an additional cost and we advise that you pre-book your desired activity so as to avoid disappointment. Please ask your IrishTourism advisor for further details.

Today check out of Dromoland and make your way back to Dublin. Your Irish tourism itinerary will help you figure out what to see and do along the way and n arrival there should be time for some additional sightseeing. Dublin city centre is a compact area, with all points of interest being easily accessible on foot. As a result, you will find a large number of walking tours available, the most popular of which include the “Historical Walking Tour” and the “Literary Pub Crawl”. You may of course wish to visit many of the sights in your own time either on foot or with the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus service that stops at all of the major attractions including Dublin Castle, Trinity Castle & the Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol, the National Museum of Ireland and The Guinness Storehouse to name just a few.