Tour Overview
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Welcome to our Ireland 7 Night Fairytales and Flowers Retreat! Our ultimate relaxation knitting experience full of the magic of Irish Folklore, flowers and that all-important Fairytale Castle stay!
On arrival we will bring you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and out to the glorious pastures of County Kildare, just outside of Dublin. Begin with a Welcome Brunch in The Silver Restaurant before a guided tour and discounted shopping at Newbridge Silverware! Immerse yourself in the costumes of a bygone era from Princess Diana to Princess Grace of Monaco, in the Museum of Style Icons.
Spend 2 nights at the fabulous ‘The Keadeen’ Hotel, nestled in award winning gardens. Meet with your Kildare host, Aoibhe Ní for a warm Welcome Reception and enjoy discovering how Irish legend, mythology and folklore entwine with Irish clothing over the millennia! Enjoy a fabulous Tunisian Crochet class (perfect for beginners) and discover to make your own stunning shawl based on Irish legends.
Take in the beauty of the world famous Japanese Gardens at the Irish National Stud before your own tour of the glorious horses. Spend an evening by candlelight being enchanted with an evening of Food, Folklore and Fairytales.
Enter the Kingdom of County Kerry and your 3-night stay at Ballyseede Castle, sitting proudly on 30 acres of magical gardens and woodlands. Meet with you host Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches over a Welcome to the Castle reception and guided castle tour. Enjoy two days of knitting with Carol creating her Spring Conneal Cowl with bluebell stitch! Enjoy a stylish Afternoon Tea, flower arranging, baking and an exquisite whiskey tasting, all without leaving the castle! Explore your stately surroundings or just sit around one of the elegant lounges and knit to your heart’s content!
On your way back east, stop in the pretty village of Adare, which will be beginning to bloom beautifully among the thatched cottages and ancient architecture. Arrive at Hushabye Farm and meet the fluffy and wonderful alpacas, before a yarn spinning class with Trish Kerr of Irish Alpaca Yarns!
Back in County Dublin; spend 2 nights at the 5 Star stately Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel, set in fabulous formal grounds. Visit the sought after coastal village of Dalkey, home to the starts including Enya and Bono. Take a Living History Tour of Dalkey Castle with costumed re-enactments before a Maeve Binchy and other Irish writers’ literary walk. Finish your day with a trip to Ériu Farm in the heart of the Garden of Ireland and discover their Fleece to Yarn experience, complete with amazing natural, vibrant yarns! A sumptuous farewell dinner completes this amazing knitting experience full of Fairytales and Flowers!
What's included
- Complimentary private transfers on arrival and departure*
- Luxury coach with an experienced driver
- Experienced Guide/Tour Manager – Anne Marie Hayes
- All your Knitting and Craft workshops including materials
- Irish breakfast daily
- 3 course dinner each night
- 5 lunches
- Welcome Brunch
- Welcome Receptions in The Keadeen Hotel and Ballyseede Castle
- Castle Afternoon Tea
- Farm to Yarn visit to Ériu with talk, river nature walk, latest yarn colour palette show and tell and special gift
- An afternoon in the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens
- 3 nights with your Castle Host, Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches
- Classes featuring Carol's Spring Conneal Cowl with Bluebell Stitches
- Aoibhe Ní show and tell on Irish Legends and Clothing through the millennia
- Tunisian crochet shawl class incorporating Irish folklore and mythology
- Baking demonstration with the Ballyseede Castle Chef
- Flower Arranging at the Castle
- Whiskey Tasting at the Castle
- Adare village visit
- Hushabye Farm Alpacas Experience
- Irish Alpacas Spinning Class
- Dalkey Castle Living History Tour
- Maeve Binchy and other Irish Writers' Dalkey Literary Walk
Workshops/Knitting Activities Included in This Tour:
- 2 days knitting with Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches!
- Discover Irish Mythology, History, St Brigid and their connections to Irish clothing through the milennia with Aoibhe Ní
- Irish Legends Shawl with Aoibhe Ní with an Introduction to Tunisian Crochet
- Spinning with Irish Alpaca Yarns
- Ériu Farm to Fleece Experience with a show and tell of their latest yarn palette and special gift
- Yarn and patterns are included in all workshops, you just need to bring your own needles, sizes will be advised
Overnights for this tour
THE KEADEEN HOTEL, NEWBRIDGE, COUNTY KILDARE
Comfort and tranquility await in this family run hotel just 40 minutes outside of Dublin City. Nestled within award winning gardens, The Keadeen is has a host of beautifully furnished common areas, include the The Atrium Lounge complete with cosy fire for those nippier days and evenings. In Spring the stunning, manicured gardens are coming to life, creating a complete oasis of of relaxatio
Residents and members can unwind or keep fit in the leisure centre – a purpose built facility which includes an 18m Indoor Heated Pool, Sauna, Steam Room, Hot Tub, Fitness/Yoga studio and a Fully Equipped Gym
Enjoy a warm, family welcome!
BALLYSEEDE CASTLE HOTEL, TRALEE, COUNTY KERRY
Welcome to Ballyseede Castle, where history and luxury intertwine amidst 30 acres of enchanting private gardens and woodland. Step back in time as you enter Rory and Marnie’s majestic castle, a sanctuary of elegance and tranquillity.
From the moment you pass through the grand entrance adorned with Doric columns, you are greeted by an exquisite oak staircase that sets the tone for the opulence that awaits. The impressive drawing rooms, with their ornate cornices and marble fireplaces, provide the perfect backdrop for a your Afternoon Tea or a delightful morning coffee.
The Castle bedrooms, each offer a unique story and unparalleled comfort. Indulge in fine dining with traditional Irish cuisine, meticulously prepared to provide a culinary experience like no other. Ballyseede Castle promises an unforgettable stay. Discover the magic of Ballyseede Castle – where every moment becomes a cherished memory.
RADISSON BLU ST HELEN’S HOTEL, NORTH COUNTY DUBLIN
Bask in contemporary grandeur with a stay at Dublin’s Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel. This Irish National Monument, with its elegant décor and well preserved architecture, is part of a historic estate, built in 1750. The hotel is close to the city center and just 18 kilometers from Dublin International Airport.
The 5 star Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel stands between Dublin City and Dun Laoghaire, nestled on 1.5 hectares of magnificent formal gardens, surrounded by established woodlands. Views span across the fine landscaping, out to Dublin Bay.
Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Day 1: Welcome to 7 days and nights of Fairytales and Flowers!
On arrival to Dublin, meet with your wonderful tour guide, Anne Marie Hayes. Journey in to the Thoroughbred Country in the County of Kildare and a stop at Newbridge Silverware.
A Welcome Brunch awaits, before a guided tour of the silver factory and exclusive discount shopping. Enter a world of elegance and beauty, in the Museum of Style Icons. Explore the costumes and clothes of some of the most famous faces in the world, including Audrey Hepburn, Princess Diana and Princess Grace Kelly.
Arrive at the tranquil family owned The Keadeen Hotel for a Welcome Reception and a meet and greet with talented crochet designer Aoibhe Ní. Aoibhe will take you on a journey across millenia, featuring legends, folklore and clothing – including the famous St. Brigid’s Cloak!
Enjoy your first night dinner and relax for the evening.
Overnight The Keadeen Hotel, County Kildare, Brunch and Dinner Included.
Day 2 - Day 2: Tunisian Crochet entwined with flowers and fairy stories!
Start today with an Introduction to Tunisian Crochet based on an Aoibe Ní Irish legend inspired design. Understand how a shawl’s colours, shape and size reelate to the ancient rules of Brehon Law.
Aoibhe uses the most basic techniques in such a way, you can carry on without assistance after the class is complete. By the end of class you'll have a small, shawl-shaped piece of fabric, and if you keep doing what you did in class, it'll grow to the size you want. Same engaging rules for every row. Stop when you decide it's done!
This afternoon enjoy lunch in the green surroundings of the Irish National Stud before a guided tour of the throughbreeds being cared for. Take your time exploring the serenity of the Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden.
Return to The Keadeen for dinner and a magical evening. We are bringing some of Dublin’s top performers to you for an evening of Folklore and Fairytales by candlelight!
Overnight The Keadeen Hotel, County Kildare, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.
Day 3 - Day 3: The Kingdom of Kerry and Ballyseede Castle!
Say goodbye to Kildare and meander towards the South-West of Ireland.
Arrive at Ballyseede Castle for a Welcome Reception with Prosecco and canapés and a meet and greet with your host, Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches.
Allow the owner of Ballyseede Castle to take you on an exclusive castle tour before enjoying dinner in your elegant surroundings. Pick up your needles, sit back and enjoy your surrounding flowers, fields, woodlands and mountain views, adding to your relaxing evening.
Overnight Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Breakfast and Dinner Included
Day 4 - Day 4: Knitting, Baking and Whiskey Tasting!
After breakfast, join Carol to begin your Spring Conneal Cowl with Bluebell Stitches class. Enjoy learning how to knit this ethereal, springtime cowl in the comfort of the castle. After lunch, the Ballyseede chef will show you the secret to baking traditional Irish Guinness Bread.
Day 5 - Day 5: More Knitting with Carol, Afternoon Tea and Flower Arranging
This morning continue your Stolen Stitches cowl project with Carol Feller, knitting your way through until the afternoon in your glamorous and historic surroundings.
Afternoon Tea will be served before an expert local grower will teach you the Cottage Garden style of flower arranging from start to finish. Enjoy more knitting with Carol into the evening before a relaxing dinner.
Overnight Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Breakfast, Afternoon Tea and Dinner Included
Day 6 - Day 6: Adare Village, Hushabye Farm Alpacas and Spinning with Irish Alpaca Yarns
Today, we bid farewell to Ballyseede Castle and begin our journey to Dublin., Stop in the village of Adare, with thatched roof cottages, blossoming gardens, castle, abbey and cute little cafes and bistros for refreshment. At Hushabye Farm, enjoy lunch before meeting the alpacas and learning about their farm life! Take a spinning class with Trish Kerr of Irish Alpaca yarns before browsing the Hushabye store!
Arrive at manor like 5 Star Radisson Blu St Helen’s and wind down after your day. Enjoy dinner and your surroundings.
Overnight Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel, County Dublin, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day 7 - Day 7: Living History Tour Dalkey Castle, Literary Walk and Fleece to Yarn at Eriú Farm!
History comes to life with costumed actors in this immersive medieval Living History Tour. Discover for yourself the history of this rare, 14th Century Medieval Castle in this famous, scenic, heritage town.
From Samuel Beckett to Bono, George Bernard Shaw, Hugh Leonard, James Joyce to Maeve Binchy and Emma Donoghue, some of Ireland’s most famous writers and artists share a connection to our charming heritage town of Dalkey. The guided literary walk combines a guided walk of Dalkey and its scenic surrounds with snippets and extracts from works by the authors in a most charming way.
Zoe and Lionel of Ériu Farm to Yarn are dedicated to working with selected breeds and blends to produce quality Irish wool as a sustainable, natural resource. They are situated in the wild Wicklow Mountains at the foot of Lugnaquilla and named after Ériu, the Irish goddess of fertility, sovereignty and abundance. The area is surrounded by fairy rings and stone circles so there is a particular magical element to this part of Ireland.
Enjoy lunch on arrival before a farm tour and Spring river walk. See the Ériu woollen mill, currently under construction and learn about their latest yarn colour palette. Come away with your own gift of an accessory pattern and a skein!
Return to your hotel for a Farewell Meal with your companions.
Overnight Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel, County Dublin, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included
Day 8 - Day 8: End of tour
It is time to bid farewell to the enchanting fairytales and flowers of Ireland.
Depart your hotel following breakfast and travel to Dublin airport in time for check-in and some last minute duty free shopping prior to departure.
Route map
Tour attractions
Tour Prices
- Non-Knitter Partners & Friend
Do you have a partner or friend that doesn't knit? They are welcome to come along, ask our sales representatives about our non-knitter discount!
Cancellation Penalties:
- Cancellation 60 days or more prior to itinerary start date – Full deposit is forfeit.
- Cancellation 59 days – 31 days prior to itinerary start date – 50% of total paid is forfeit
- Cancellation 30 days or less – 100% of total paid is forfeit
Postponements:
Should you wish to change your tour to one of our other available tours or to a different date, you can do so subject to availab
| Accommodation Type | 26 Apr 2025 |
|---|---|
| Price per person sharing | €3,799 |
| Single Occupancy | €4,798 |
Prices in other currencies are indicative only. Please note that we charge in Euro.
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