8 Night Irish Castles and Manors Gold Tour

Start at Dublin Airport with a transfer to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10.30am on start day of tour). Meet with your guide at hotel reception for a brief introduction before we travel onward to the National Museum of Decorative Arts & History where you see and understand how Irish people in the past lived. Refurbished rooms show typical furniture from the 17th century through to the 19th century. Of particular interest to you may be the textile display ‘The Way We Wore’ which exhibits Irish clothing and jewellery worn from the 1760s onwards. After your visit, it’s onto Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin’s oldest building, for a guided tour. The remainder of the day will be free before meeting back at the hotel for your welcome dinner. Overnight Camden Court Hotel or similar, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis

This morning, meet Pauline Gallagher for a knitting with wire workshop. Discover the connection between knitted wire and Ireland's cultural treasures before being educated in the techniques of wire knitting. Next, travel onward towards the vibrant city of Galway, colloquially known as the 'City of Tribes' where you will check in to your city centre hotel. Galway is a harbour city on Ireland’s west coast. The city is positioned around the 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting place surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer Irish music sessions. In the city's centre you will find stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries. Overnight Galway, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Set off for a tour of Connemara this morning. Situated on the most westerly part of Ireland, Connemara is characterised by coastal coves and bays, fishing villages and by its vast expanse of mountainous scenery. Your first stop will be the Spiddal Craft & Design Centre where you will enjoy a traditional Irish willow basket weaving demonstration and an introduction to modern basket designs with experienced basket maker, Ciaran Hogan. You might also enjoy visiting other craftspeople at the centre including traditional hand weaver, Máíre Ní Thaidhg. Next we visit the famous Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Estate. The original castle was built by Mitchell Henry, a wealthy doctor from London whose family was involved in textile manufacturing. He built the castle for his wife Margaret after they visited the area on their honeymoon! To this day, the Abbey remains one of Ireland's most visited tourist attractions owing to its scenic position in front of Pollacapall Lough. Your final stop before leaving this area is Glen Keen Farm where you will enjoy a sheep herding demonstration followed by home baked scones and tea or coffee. Return to Galway where the evening is free for personal sightseeing or socialising!  You might decide to head into town and catch a traditional Irish music session in any one of Galway’s many trad music pubs or simply relax at your hotel. Overnight Galway, Bed & Breakfast Basis

This morning enjoy an intensive knitting workshop with one of Ireland’s best known Aran knitters and designers, Mrs. 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 and has done a fabulous business ever since in Irish tweeds, knitwear, and Aran knits. The remainder of the day will be free to explore Galway and its surrounding areas at your own pace. Overnight Galway, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Depart your hotel in time to get the morning ferry to Inis Oirr (Inisheer), one of the famous Aran Islands located in Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland. On arrival you will be collected by your Aran Island knitting instructor Una McDonagh and taken to Café Una where you will be welcomed with tea or coffee and scones. Enjoy an informative knitting workshop where you will learn traditional methods and stitches the Aran Island way. In your class you will learn the Sharry Chain Link Stitch. The Sharry family, like many of the island people, have a long standing connection with the sea and the women of the family celebrate that culture in their selection of stitches when they knit traditional Aran jumpers. During your time with Una, you will learn about historical Aran clothing from the tradtional Aran sweater to the Crios woven belt and heavy woollen shawls. In the afternoon, enjoy a guided tour of the island before enjoying dinner this evening. Overnight Inis Oirr, Aran Islands, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Today enjoy a baking demonstration of Aran Island brown bread and scones and learn how to make homemade butter the way the native islanders would have had to do in the past. Next participate in a spinning & dying workshop using local plants & lychens in the traditional way. This will continue into the afternoon with a lunch break before you will enjoy some local traditional music. This evening return to your B&B accommodation and after having some time to relax, you will be collected and taken for another delicious meal. Overnight Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Check out of your B&B after breakfast and take the early morning ferry directly to Doolin in County Clare. Take a scenic drive around the Burren to the Cliffs of Moher to admire the astonishing views. The Burren is a region of karst bedrock incorporating a vast cracked pavement of glacial period limestone, fossils, rock formations and other archaeological sites.  Continuing with your knitting tour we travel to Kerry via the charming town of Adare and visit Kerry Woollen Mills. This 17^th century company has been creating fine fabrics and yarn from wool for over 300 years and on your tour, you will observe skilled craftspeople at work. Check into your hotel in Killarney just in time for dinner. Overnight Lake Hotel or similar, Killarney, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

After breakfast enjoy a knitting workshop with Carol Feller, one of Ireland’s most popular designers and author of the book Contemporary Irish Knits.  After lunch (not included), the afternoon is free to relax or explore at your own pace. There is quite a lot to take in within the local area as the town and surrounding area is located in Killarney National Park, a beautiful place to explore. Why not visit Muckross House, Ross Castle and Torc Waterfall or perhaps you might prefer to head in towards town and visit Killarney House & Gardens. Overnight Lake Hotel or similar, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Travel to Bonane just outside Kenmare on the beautiful Ring of Kerry for a knitting workshop with the talented Liz Spillane. During your workshop with Liz you will experience the joy of creating your very own colourful & textured yarn for hand knitting, using locally spun 100% pure new wool yarns together with existing yarns in the studio store and some very simple techniques. You will also discover and learn some of our many traditional Aran knitting stitch structures. Then, combine the two and create a unique wearable accessory! In the afternoon, enjoy a partial tour of the Ring of Kerry which will take in sites such as Molls Gap and Ladies View. Overnight Lake Hotel or similar, Killarney, Bed & Breakfast Basis

We journey south today to visit Blarney Castle and Blarney Woollen Mills Store. This medieval castle was built nearly 600 years ago by Cormac MacCarthy, a great Irish Chieftain. Many of course want to see the Blarney Stone – known to grant the gift of eloquence if you kiss this stone! Blarney Woollen Mills was built in 1823 and originally known as O’Mahoney’s Mills. Continue to Hedgehog Fibre Studios before making your way back to Dublin.

Today it is one of Ireland’s largest Irish gift and craft stores. After lunch (included) we travel towards Dublin for your final evening in Ireland. Your farewell dinner will be at a local restaurant in Dublin. Overnight Dublin, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.

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