2020 Irish Supreme - 9 Days/8 Nights

2020 IRISH SUPREME 9 DAYS / 8 NIGHTS / 17 MEALS

Day 1: Book of Kells & Little Museum of Dublin
Meet your tour director at 2 PM in the 5-star Shelbourne Hotel, a beloved institution that has been at the heart of Dublin for nearly 200 years. Set out for a guided walking tour of Trinity College, established in 1592. Visit the beautiful library and enjoy fast-track entry to the Book of Kells. This illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels, created in the 9th century by monks, is possibly Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure. Next, head to the Little Museum of Dublin, located in a Georgian building steps away from your hotel, for an exclusive after-hours visit. Join the museum’s director on a personal tour and nibble on canapés and sip wine or beer at a private VIP welcome reception.


Day 2: Slane Castle & Distillery
Visit Slane Castle in County Meath. Tour the castle, home to the Conyngham family since it was built in the late 18th century, and then settle in for lunch, where you will be joined by a member of the family. Lord Henry Mountcharles or his son Alex, Earl of Mountcharles, will discuss the fascinating history of the castle and its iconic role in pop culture. It has been used since 1981 as a setting for rock concerts by stars such as The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Bob Dylan, Queen, and many more. U2 took up residence there in 1984 to write and record their album The Unforgettable Fire. Next visit Slane Distillery for a tour and tasting of their signature triple casked blend, Slane Irish Whiskey; learn about the direct connection between Slane Whiskey and the iconic American whiskey maker, Jack Daniels. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and dine independently in Dublin.
(B,L)

Day 3: Ballyknocken Cookery School & Johnstown Castle
Begin the morning with a cooking class at Ballyknocken House and Cookery School, the home of Emmy-nominated television chef Catherine Fulvio. In this farm-to-table experience, your tutor will bring you to tour the herb and vegetable gardens, sort herbs and edible flowers, and then together you’ll cook up a traditional stew with Irish flowerpot bread. Next, head to Johnstown Castle for a guided tour of this 19th-century castle and see its delightful gardens; savor tea and scones in the enticing surrounds. Dinner will be at the hotel tonight.
(B,L,D)

Day 4: Ballinwillin House & Cork
Relax this morning in the stunning surrounds of Fota Island. At lunchtime, you’ll go to Ballinwillin House, a charming country house built in 1727, for a private, organic, farm-to-fork lunch of rich venison and succulent wild boar, with a wine pairing. After lunch, head back to the resort where you may choose to lounge, or take our transfers to and from the center of Cork, Ireland’s third-largest city, known for its lively cultural scene and distinctive local pride.
(B, L)

Day 5: Blarney Castle & Jaunting Car
Visit Blarney Castle. You may kiss the stone that legend says will bestow the gift of eloquence, or walk the beautiful gardens. Spend some time in Killarney where you are free to explore and lunch independently. Killarney is a lively town with many shops featuring local crafts and gifts, and your lunch options will range from casual pubs to high-end bistros and everything in between. Next take a traditional jaunting car for a visit around Ross Castle and the Kenmare Estate.
(B, D)

Day 6: Derrynane House, Ring of Kerry Highlights & Parknasilla House
Visit Derrynane House, the ancestral home of one of the greatest figures in Irish history, Daniel O’Connell, a 19th-century campaigner for Catholic emancipation and Irish independence. The house, now a museum, offers insight into the life of this important statesman. Visit the shore nearby for a seaweed discovery adventure, exploring how to forage for and identify these fresh coastal plants, as well as the many health benefits of this nutritious superfood. Continue on to see many highlights of the Ring of Kerry, then visit the beautifully situated Parknasilla Resort and Spa Hotel for lunch. You may stroll the grounds after you dine, taking in panoramic views of Kenmare Bay. The evening is free to enjoy at your leisure.
(B, L)

Day 7: John B. Keane’s Pub & Adare
Visit the family pub of one of Ireland’s most beloved playwrights, John B. Keane, who composed many of his works in a room behind the bar. Have a traditional refreshment of tea and scones before setting out for Adare, known as one of Ireland’s prettiest villages. Enjoy a private lunch in the beautifully restored courthouse dating to 1836. Travel to Dromoland Castle, where you will dine casually this evening in the Fig Tree restaurant, located in the golf club overlooking the castle’s walled garden.
(B,L, D)

Day 8: Cliffs of Moher & Chocolate Factory
Visit the cliffs of Moher, stunning sea cliffs running 8 miles along the coast and towering nearly 700 feet above the Atlantic. Then travel through the Burren, to visit one of the smallest and most remote chocolate factories in the world: Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory. Delight in a glass of cacao champagne, then discover how the bean is transformed into a chocolate bar, and savor a tasting. Next, visit a farm to watch sheepdogs demonstrate their skills at herding sheep. Tonight you’ll dine elegantly in the castle’s flagship restaurant, enjoying delicious local flavors and wonderful service.
(B, D)

Day 9: Tour Ends
Your tour ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Visit the Little Museum of Dublin for a fascinating look at the city’s history – and a CIE Tours Exclusive: after-hours entry, a VIP reception, and a personal tour by the museum’s director.
• Whip up an Irish stew in the home of Emmy-nominated TV chef Catherine Fulvio, Ballyknocken House and Cookery School.
• Have lunch at Slane Castle, and hear stories about its iconic role in pop culture – from a member of the family. Then go next door for a visit to Slane Distillery.

Dining Experiences:

• 8 breakfasts (B), 5 lunches (L), including Slane Castle and a cooking experience at Catherine Fulvio’s Ballyknocken House; and 4 dinners (D), including Dromoland Castle.

Trip Highlights:

• Blarney Castle
  
  

  Blarney Castle and the famous Blarney Stone

  Built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, this stronghold has been attracting attention ever since. Millions have flocked to Blarney to kiss the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the tower, making it one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.

• Little Museum of Dublin (CIE Tours Exclusive After-hours Visit)
  
  

  Dingle Peninsula

  The Dingle Peninsula stretches 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland’s south-west coast and is dominated by the Slieve Mish Mountains and Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest peak. The steep sea-cliffs and sandy beaches provide spectacular views.

• Ballyknocken House and Cookery School
  
  

  Cliffs of Moher

  One of Ireland’s top visitor attractions, the cliffs are 700 feet high and extend for 5 miles over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland and one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and Connemara. The cliffs are home to major colonies of cliff nesting seabirds.

• Book of Kells Fast Track Entry
• Slane Castle & Distillery
  
  

  Jaunting car ride in Killarney National Park

  Drive through part of the extensive Killarney National Park at a leisurely pace to enjoy wonderful lake and mountain views and stop for photos. All the while your driver entertains you with local folklore and history of the area.

• Ballinwillin House
• Johnstown Castle

  The House of Waterford Crystal

  Located on the Mall in the heart of the Viking Triangle in Waterford City, the House of Waterford Crystal opens the door to more than 200 years of crystal manufacturing. Be a part of the story as you witness craftsmen making crystal stemware, giftware and masterpieces before your very eyes. You will see red-hot molten crystal take shape, in a miracle of light, heat and skill. The craftsmen are meticulous and you can watch as they transform glowing balls of molten crystal into elegant shapes with skills that have made two hundred years of perfection clearly visible in every piece.
• Derrynane House
  
  

  Trinity College Walking Tour

  Visitors walk through the city-center campus of Trinity College to view this world-famous 9th century gospel manuscript housed in the magnificent Old Library. See the ’Turning Darkness into Light’ exhibition, the Book of Kells and other related manuscripts in the Treasury and the magnificent 18th century Long Room.

Hotels:

• Shelbourne Hotel | Dublin (2)
• Fota Island Hotel & Golf Resort | Cork (2)
• Aghadoe Heights Hotel | Killarney (2)
• Dromoland Castle Hotel | Dromoland, Newmarket-on-Fergus (2)