2026 Irish Legends - 9 Days/8 Nights
Day 1: Dublin Arrival & Malahide Castle
Your tour departs at 2:00 PM from Dunboyne Castle Hotel. Start your vacation with a visit Malahide Castle, first built in 1185 and filled with medieval artifacts. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2: National Stud & Kilkenny Walk
Visit the home of equine royalty: the Irish National Stud in Kildare, the heart of Irish horse racing. Some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds live in these beautiful surroundings. Walk through the gardens before traveling on to Kilkenny, where you’ll enjoy lunch in the Kilkenny Design Centre. Take a walking tour with a local guide to see the gems along the Medieval Mile, a stretch of city streets from cathedral to castle, with buildings dating back as far as the 13th century. Dine independently and explore as you wish this evening. (B, L)
Day 3: House of Waterford Crystal & Dunbrody Famine Ship
Visit the House of Waterford Crystal, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner; see skilled artisans create crystal masterpieces on a factory tour. Then join a local guide for a walking tour of Waterford; discover the history of this port city, the oldest in Ireland, and its many colorful characters. Take time to explore independently. In New Ross, you’ll visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of a vessel that in the 1840s brought desperate emigrants fleeing famine to new lives in North America. (B, D)
Day 4: Cobh Heritage Centre & Blarney Castle
Travel south to Cobh, the last port of call of the Titanic and where many places associated with the liner still exist. Visit the Cobh Heritage Centre, which traces the history of emigration over a number of centuries from Ireland to North America. At Blarney Castle, kiss the famous stone or stroll through the spacious parklands to view Blarney House before traveling to your hotel. (B, D)
Day 5: Dingle Peninsula & South Pole Inn
Visit Moriarty’s, a CIE Tours preferred shopping partner, in the beautiful Gap of Dunloe. Then discover the glorious south shore of the Dingle Peninsula with views of heathery mountains, sandy stretches of beach, and rocky headlands. At the South Pole Inn, learn about Tom Crean, an early Irish explorer who braved the Antarctic. Browse around the town of Dingle and enjoy a drink, dinner and entertainment at Foley’s Bar and Restaurant. (B, D)
Day 6: Cliffs of Moher & Galway
Ferry across the River Shannon before driving to the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above churning Atlantic swells. Walk along the top of the cliffs; on a clear day you can see great views of Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. Take in a sheepdog demonstration to see highly skilled dogs work with farmers to herd their flock. Savor homemade scones with tea before heading to Galway for a panoramic city tour. (B, D)
Day 7: Aran Islands & Dun Aengus
Set out on a ferry across Galway Bay for Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. The hardy islanders still speak the Irish language and maintain traditional fishing and farming methods. Visit Dun Aengus, a huge pre-historic fortress perched on sheer cliffs above the Atlantic. Relax with a casual lunch in Kilronan, the island’s main village, followed by free time for exploring before returning by ferry. (B, L)
Day 8: Clonmacnoise & Abbey Tavern
Visit Clonmacnoise, a monastic settlement founded in 545 AD and set on the banks of the River Shannon. Marvel at elaborate high Celtic crosses decorated with biblical scenes, and walk around the many church ruins and two round towers. Continue on to Dublin for free time before an evening at the Abbey Tavern, featuring a lively show of traditional entertainment over dinner. (B, D)
Day 9: Tour Ends in Dublin
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
Authentic Local Experiences:
- Visit Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and discover this stronghold of traditional Irish culture and language. You'll visit Dun Aengus, a prehistoric fort on the edge of a 100-meter cliff.
- Explore Irish emigration at the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of the vessel that carried Irish refugees to North America in the 1840s.
- See some of the world's finest race-horses in a visit to the Irish National Stud, and stroll through the beautiful gardens
Trip Highlights:
- Foley's Bar Dinner & Entertainment
- Cliffs of Moher
- Aran Islands Excursion
- Cobh Heritage Centre
- Clonmacnoise Monastic Site
- Dun Aengus Fort
- Dunbrody Famine Ship
- Irish National Stud & Gardens
- Irish Night in Dublin
Dining Experiences:
- 8 Breakfasts (B), 2 Lunches (L) and 6 Dinners (D), including a welcome dinner at Dunboyne Castle Hotel.
Hotels:
- Dunboyne Castle Hotel | Dunboyne (1)
- Newpark Hotel | Kilkenny (2)
- Killarney Towers Hotel (Fri Departures) | Killarney or Manor West Hotel | Tralee (Tues Departures) (2)
- Salthill Hotel | Galway (2)
- Radisson Blu Royal | Dublin (1)