Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
Stephanie was an amazing source of help, assistance and knowledge for our first trip to Ireland. She kept us informed of the every changing covid rules as well as adapted to our many - at least three- Read more »
Staff was extremely attentive and very flexible when it came to organizing our trip. All questions were answered quickly and in great detail. When some aspects of our selected trip had to be altered d Read more »
Stephanie at Irish Tourism booked our trip- she was wonderful to work with. I am picky about my rooms - when we booked the trip I requested more spacious accommodations and paid accordingly. We had Read more »
This tour can be accessed from any of Ireland's International airports although ideally entering and departing via Dublin would be the easiest option.
This 3 Centre Tour is perfect for the traveller who prefers to explore the countryside from a number of bases rather than switch accommodations every night or two. The tour will allow the customer a greater amount of time to get to know the areas in which they are residing and of course the locals that reside in those locations.
One of the greatest advantages of the 3 Centre Tour is that you will undoubtedly feel considerably more rested at the end of the tour than someone who has taken the alternative 11 day tour where they stay in each location for just one or two nights. Your first journey will depend on your airport of arrival, whether it be Dublin, Shannon or Cork. For this itinerary, we will be using Dublin airport as the starting point.
This 10 night tour will enable you to visit Ireland’s most famous sights including Trinity College and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Powerscourt House & the Waterford Crystal Factory in the South East, Blarney Castle and the Cobh Heritage Centre in Cork, Killarney and the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the ‘Burren Landscape’ of County Clare and Ireland's most visited attraction, the ancient Megalithic Tombs at Newgrange, just 45 minutes north of Dublin.
This tour will leave the traveller with a wonderful array of memories of the diverse scenery and cultural differences that they will encounter from one side of the country to the other. While the accents and dialects of the spoken word will vary greatly while journeying from County Dublin in the East of Ireland to the western counties of Cork, Kerry and Clare, the one unchanging constant will be the level of friendliness, humour & welcome that you receive throughout your travels.
While the suggested tour itinerary clearly outlines how you will be able to visit many of Ireland’s most historical locations and attractions, make sure to take timeout to get to know the local people and their culture.
On arrival to Dublin, we begin your retreat with a transfer to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10.30 am). Your guide will meet the group at your hotel and introduce the tour. Your first visit will be to the iconic Jameson Distillery Bow Street where you will get a change to taste to the golden nectar before then moving on to the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, which is one of Ireland’s most important cultural institutions. Established in 1877, this building is the primary repository of the nation’s archaeological treasures including the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, dating from the 12th and 8th centuries respectively. The exhibits on display show connections with our pagan past and Christian culture at the time and are of major importance in early European Culture. Enjoy some time in your hotel to relax before your evening welcome dinner with your tour group.
Today your knitting retreat will take you to Kerry via the remarkable Cahir Castle, one of the largest castles in Ireland. Cahir is situated on an island on the River Suir. It was constructed in 1142 by Conor O'Brien. Given to the influential Butler family in the 14th century, the castle was renovated between the 15th and 17th centuries. The castle’s keep, tower and defensive structures remain intact. Continue to Parknasilla Resort Hotel and check in. Given its scenic location, Parknasilla is the perfect place to relax and unwind, so much so that George Bernard Shaw famously described the location as "a place of long sea views and intricate walks between ferns and fuchsias….. a part of our dream world." After checking in, meet your host Carol Feller. You will spend a lot more time with Carol over the next few days, so this evening is an informal get together and ‘get to know each other’ session with some informal knitting thrown in for good measure! Overnight Parknasilla Resort Hotel, Sneem, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis
Over the course of this knitting retreat you will work on a very special cabled hat and cowl set with Carol which you will begin today. Both of these patterns will provide a great learning experience as they are knit from side-to-side with some fantastic techniques! You’ll learn how to do a provisional cast-on, cables without a cable needle, short rows in pattern and grafting in pattern. Carol will walk you through every step of the project over the following days. Learn how to tighten up loose cables and fix cable errors. Go on a virtual tour of Irish Mills with Carol and even learn how to pick the right size garment to knit. This afternoon, enjoy a Whiskey and Chocolate Tasting Event where experienced whiskey and chocolate connoisseurs will take you through the history of Whiskey in Ireland and how to pair it with the perfect chocolate flavours. You can enjoy samples of both or either! This evening after dinner enjoy a traditional Irish music session in the hotel’s bar. Overnight Parknasilla Resort Hotel, Sneem, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis
Today you can opt to stay at Parknasilla and enjoy some of the facilities on offer. Pamper yourself at the hotel’s spa, surrounded by the natural beauty of woodlands, ocean and mountains; let your troubles drift away as you take in this awe inspiring backdrop, enjoy a round of golf at the nearby course or just relax in the wonderful surroundings. Alternatively, you can join us for a partial tour of the Ring of Kerry which will include a visit to Kenmare, Sneem, Ladies View and Molls Gap. Return to the hotel where there will be time to relax and work on your knitting projects before dinner. Overnight Parknasilla Resort Hotel, Sneem, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis
Again, today you may prefer to stay at Parknasilla or alternatively you can join us for a tour of the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in beautiful West Cork. If you do decide to tour with us, bring your knitting! Today we travel to neighbouring County Cork across the glorious Healy Pass. Often compared to Kerry’s Conor Pass, the Healy Pass is known for some of Ireland’s best scenic views. It was built in 1847 during famine times to connect Cork and Kerry and to provide relief work for the poor. Your coach driver will stop so that you can get out and enjoy the scenery. Continue to Sheep’s Head and meet Niamh and the other organisers of the annual Sheep’s Head Yarn festival. Enjoy some knitting sessions with Niamh and the gang on the topic of travel sock knitting or textured stitches depending on your preference. After the workshop and some lunch we will explore the peninsula before returning to the hotel in time for dinner. Overnight Parknasilla Resort Hotel, Sneem, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis
Today, we travel towards the city of Kilkenny, colloquially known as the ‘Marble City’, making a stop or two along the way. Firstly, we visit Zwartables Ireland to meet Suzanna and her family who breed and rear Zwartbles Sheep. Tour the farm, meet the sheep and chat with the family who will tell you all about their unique yarn which you can buy direct from the farm if you wish. Nearby we will also visit Cushendale Mill where products made on site are crafted natural-fibre textiles made with mohair, Irish wool and merino lamb’s wool. Enjoy a tour of the mill and see the spinning mule in action. You might even spot some of the wool from the sheep at Zwartables Ireland! Continue to your nearby hotel for check-in and take some time to relax before dinner. Overnight Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis
We start the day with a visit to Kilkenny Castle, a 12th century castle remodelled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands. There are ornamental gardens on the city side of the castle, and extensive land and gardens to the front. It has become one of the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. There will also be time to visit Kilkenny Design Centre across the courtyard which offers a fantastic selection of Irish handcrafted gifts including jewellery, knitwear, and pottery. Travel onward to Dublin where on arrival the remainder of the day is free to explore, shop or relax before your farewell dinner this evening. Overnight Hyatt Centric Hotel, Dublin, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Basis
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.
Book any of our wonderful self-drive vacation packages before the 15th of May 2024 to receive a 15% discount off your tour price!
This offer cannot be used in conjunction with other discounts or special event packages.
Below, you will find a price for this self drive tour including your car rental. Pricing for other accommodation and transport options is also available upon request. Please also note that all of our driving tours itineraries and sightseeing guides are available to those wishing to avail of one of our experienced driver guides.
Accommodation Type | B&B's | 3* Hotels | 4*Hotels & Manor Houses | Combination |
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Per Person Sharing | ||||
Single Supplement |
Notes
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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For customers based in North America, please note that as we are based in Ireland, we are 5 hours ahead of EST.
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