Irish Romance 12 Night Tour

Travelling from Shannon, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park is always a nice stop to begin your honeymoon in Ireland due to its proximity to the airport. Following this, you have two options for your journey to Cork, the direct route will take you very close to Blarney Castle, famous for its stone of eloquence which is said to grant the ‘Gift of the Gab’ to all those that kiss it! Taking a slight detour gives you the option to explore Tipperary and is famous Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle. 

Cork city is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s trendiest cites and notable city attractions include the Church of Saint Anne Shandon which from the top gives a panoramic view of the city, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral and Cork City Gaol. Cork city is noted for its ethnic restaurants, chic bars and trendy boutiques. A great starting point for your city centre explorations is Cork’s English Market. The market is located in Cork city centre with its main entrances on Grand Parade, and on Princes Street, with further smaller entrances off Oliver Plunkett Street and Patrick Street. Established in 1788 by the Protestant or ‘English’ corporation that then controlled the country, the market has been at the heart of Cork city culture since its foundation.

There are lots of things to see and do further afield from Cork City. You couldn’t possibly explore the entire county in one day but your Irish Tourism itinerary will help you decide which places that you want visit.  You might want to visit Kinsale which is a honeymoon favourite, largely due to its many romantic harbour front restaurants, cosy pubs and general charming marina setting. East of the city the town of Cobh is well worth a visit. Cobh was the last stop for the ill-fated Titanic and two museums in the town pay tribute to that. If the weather is fine, we recommend travelling south of Cobh to Fota House & Gardens and Fota Wildlife park where a few hours can easily be spent strolling around.

Your Irish Tourism itinerary will offer you a number of route options from Cork to Kerry. You might decide to travel the most direct route, giving you more time in Kerry or travel via the coast seeing such places as Mizen Head, Bantry, Garnish Island or the Beara Peninsula.  Mizen Head, Ireland’s most southerly point is cut off by a deep chasm, now spanned by a large bridge; this gives access to an old signal station, a weather station, and a lighthouse museum, all of which are set against a backdrop of stunning sea cliffs. Nearby the sandy beach at Barley Cove may be a nice spot for a romantic stroll or picnic if the weather is fine. Garnish Island is an ideal attraction to visit for honeymoon couples due to its remote location that can only be accessed by passenger ferry. On the island you will find the exotic garden amidst romantic islands walks. The Beara Peninsula is surrounded by bleak but beautiful mountains and spectacular scenery. From the tip of the peninsula a cable car can be taken across to Dursday Island, another romantic escape with a ruined castle and colonies of beautiful sea birds.

Killarney, often referred to as the gateway to the Ring of Kerry is famous for its stunning lakes which are all free to visit and very scenic. Recommended stops in and around Killarney town include Torc Waterfall where the Owengariff river falls through breath-taking wooded glens and the Gap of Dunloe where huge glaciers once carved a dramatic mountain pass through which the ‘gap’ affords remarkable views of the three striking lakes. The Ring of Kerry is a circular driving route around Kerry’s Iveragh Peninsula which you will need at least 4-5 hours to complete, it is perhaps one of Ireland’s best known routes and has been attracting visitors to Kerry for centuries! The journey takes in the towns of Killarney, Killorglin, Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare.  You will have the chance to view sites as the wonderful Skellig Islands which were featured recently in Star Wars: The Force Awakens & the quaint Valentia Island where you can drive to the top of the Geokaun Mountain and get the best views rights across the Iveragh Peninsula. 

The Dingle Peninsula is an essential stop on any Ireland Honeymoon because of its wonderfully romantic sweeping sea views and curious history. Because of the Dingle Peninsula's isolated position beside the North Atlantic Ocean there is a remarkable preservation of over 2,000 monuments.  This amazing peninsula drive is characterised by beautiful sandy beaches and towering cliffs. Inland you will find vast rolling hills and mountains, including the 952m high Mount Brandon. The locals here speak the Irish language as their first language and there is no lack of traditional music and culture. Dunmore Head, Ireland’s most eastern point, has views across to the Blasket Islands which are famous for Irish-language memoirs documenting rural life in the 1800s and 1900s.

Expect a lengthy drive today but rest assured you will see some of Ireland’s best attractions, set off early so you don’t miss anything! Your sightseeing options include the Burren region in Clare which is characterised by karst ‘lunar like’ glacial plains and is home the famous Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s most scenic tourist attractions. If you prefer a more direct route in order to get to Galway earlier, you have the option travel via the picturesque town of Adare with its quaint thatched cottages, the city of Limerick where King John’s Castle has dominated the city skyline for more than 800 years and the famous Bunratty Castle with its adjoining folk park. Bunratty Fok park offers a unique opportunity to stroll around the cottages that were once a common sight in 18^th & 19^th century rural Ireland. There is even a wonderful village street complete with a post office, school house and a 1950’s pub where you can even purchase a pint of Guinness or a shot of Irish Whiskey!  

Due to its compact size, Galway city is easily explored on foot. The redeveloped Eyre Square area encloses a pleasant courtyard and park, nearby you will find a new shopping centre leading out to shop street which is lined both sides with a mix of cafés, restaurants, traditional and modern shops.    The city comes alive during the summer months with tourists not just from overseas but also other parts of Ireland. Sites of interest include the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, the old Spanish Arch and the Claddagh, which the famous Claddagh ring is named after. Galway city is a great place to enjoy some traditional Irish music with many pubs having live music on a weekly and in some cases a daily basis. You will also find many lovely restaurants to enjoy a romantic meal, Galway has something to suit every visitor’s taste buds and pocket! If you are looking for an affordable meal, our best advice is to eat a pub lunch in the afternoons from 12-3, most pubs do a main course for €10-12, if you prefer to eat later, expect to pay a little bit more.

Your time in Connemara may well be the highlight of your honeymoon in Ireland! This wild region of Galway encompasses serene seascapes, rugged coastlines and magnificent mountains. Visit Kylemore Abbey which is often referred to as Ireland’s most romantic Castle as it was built by Mitchell Henry for his wife having fallen in love with the area whilst they visited on honeymoon!  Further west visit the town of Clifden with its colourful buildings, craft shops and lively pubs. Drive the breath-taking Sky road from Clifden passing desolate scenery and the narrow inlet at Clifden Bay, from here you could easily take the coastal route to the village of Roundstone. Your Irish Tourism itinerary will guide you with all the route options that you could possibly take. 

You can’t miss the Burren when travelling the coast road from Galway to Clare, and you will find Romance in every corner of it! Scramble over karst limestone formations where the bleak landscape and unusual plants give the area an other-worldly ambience. In the Southern area of the Burren the limestone rock gives way to the black shale and sandstone that form the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited attractions offering outstanding views. Well-worn visitor walkways lead in both directions, offering various viewing points. With tickets less than €7 per person, the Cliffs of Moher are an essential stop on any affordable honeymoon in Ireland. 

Clare has lots of lovely beaches to explore there’s Bishop’s Quarter in Ballyvaughan which has fabulous views across Galway Bay and over the Burren, Kilkee beach is quite small but has a lovely village beside it with a few nice spots to eat, Lahinch is widely considered to be one of Irelands finest beaches and is a hot spot for surfing and other water sport. You may wish to check out Aillwee Cave , a cave system in the karst landscape of the Burren .The name Aillwee is derived from the Irish Aill Bhuí which translates to "yellow cliff".  The Burren Perfumery is another lovely place to visit, they make perfumes and organic cosmetics inspired by the Burren Lanscape. During the summer season they often have impromptu talks by staff on perfume, soap-making and skincare.

At night we recommend spending a few hours in Doolin, which is often considered the traditional music capital of Ireland. You are surely to find a comfortable pub to spend the last evening of your honeymoon soaking up the lively atmosphere. On a sunny evening, join the crowds at Doolin Pier which has become famous for its stunning sunsets that somehow give the watcher a great appreciation for life and nature.