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Tour Summary
Emerald Essence is the perfect tour for your first visit to Ireland. It includes all the highlights of Ireland’s southwest – The Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher along with many other fabulous sights and activities you’ll never see on big tour. You can relax and get to know the countryside and the people, have a leisurely pint of Guinness or a cup of tea in a traditional pub, and enjoy the world-renowned scenery from the comfort of a luxury mini-touring coach. There is plenty of time for exploring and shopping, add in golf or riding if you’d like. Spend your evenings enjoying music or chat in a pub or relaxing in the comfort of boutique and castle hotels. This is the tour for the “best of the west”.
Tour Breakdown
Thursday, July 20, 2023 (Depart USA evening)
Friday, July 21, 2023 (Arrive Ireland)
As your plane breaks through the clouds on your descent into Shannon Airport, you’ll see Ireland’s’ 40 shades of green. Shannon is quick and efficient, so you’ll be quickly through immigration and straight into the baggage claim area. As you enter the Arrivals Hall, we will be there waiting, ready to whisk you away in a luxury coach to begin your magical holiday.
Our first stop will be a short stretch of the legs in Historic Limerick city to see King John’s castle, majestically perched on the banks of the mighty Shannon River. Following an optional stop for breakfast, we’ll continue on into Co. Tipperary to the scenic Glen of Aherlow where you might see a fairy or two slipping in and out of the mist.
We’ll arrive at our hotel in Cashel for a rest before our scheduled tour of the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland’s most ancient and important monastic sites. Make sure you have your camera for this! Afterwards, we’ll walk back to the hotel, have an early dinner together, and the night is your own!
Saturday, July 22, 2023
Hotels in Ireland are all B&B, so after a sumptuous “full Irish”, we’ll head off toward Blarney. But first, a quick stop in Cahir to see the charming Swiss Cottage, a cottage orné, the only one in Ireland. There is lots to do and see in Blarney, even if you prefer not to kiss that famous stone of eloquence. There are multiple stunning gardens, acres of grounds to wander, gift shops to explore, and lunch! You’ll have ample time to see it all without feeling rushed.
Our final destination for the day will be West Cork – the Wild Atlantic Way, with its scenic coastlines and charming villages.
Sunday, July 23, 2023
After breakfast, we’ll take a short coach trip to Glengarriff, where we’ll hop on a ferry out to the Ilnacullen Gardens on Garnish Island. On the short boat trip out, we’ll stop to say hello to the colony of harbor seals that inhabit the rocks in the bay. On the island, we’ll learn about the family who created the gardens, tour their home, and stroll among the various landscapes. Maybe we’ll have a snack in the café before heading back to Glengarriff. There’ll be some time for shopping and then we’ll continue into Co. Kerry by way of Kenmare to see the Ring of Kerry. You’ll be awed by the scenery at Ladies’ View, wonder at the very impressive Torc Waterfall, and step into Ireland’s medieval past at Ross Castle.
We will have to stop along the way for a Leprachaun Crossing, so be sure to have your cameras ready – they are elusive little fellows!
We’ll arrive at our hotel in Killarney and you’ll have the chance to sample the local cuisine of your choice. There is also lots of music in Killarney if you care to try out the pub scene!
Monday, July 24, 2023
The MacGilllicuddy Reeks are Ireland’s highest mountains and you’ll have a stunning view of them from Aghadoe Heights on our first stop today. Then we’ll head to Kate Kearney’s cottage to take a drive through the Black Valley, a rugged landscape carved out by glaciers during the last ice age. Here, we’ll have time to walk a bit if you like, take lots of photos and just revel in the amazing scenery.
We’ll return to Killarney in time for lunch and a bit of exploring of the town for the afternoon. But don’t eat a big lunch because tonight we have a special treat! Our dinner will be a cooking class where you’ll learn how to bake scrumptious Irish brown bread, a typical Irish Stew, and a delicious dessert. Throw in a drop of wine and lots of laughter, and it makes for a memorable evening!
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
After a few relaxing days, we have a busy day! We’ll get an early start from the hotel and head out to the Dingle Peninsula. This, if the weather permits, is one of the most amazing drives in Ireland! We’ll see the Blasket Islands, Skellig Michael of Star War’s fame, and stunning scenery at every turn. Lunch and some time for shopping in Dingle town then off again to cross the Shannon River on the ferry at Tarbert. This is a very scenic shortcut and takes us right into Co. Clare. If the weather is good, we might have a beautiful evening at the Cliffs of Moher. Then on to our wonderful Castle Hotel for dinner.
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Today we’ll spend the morning in The Burren, Ireland’s famously unique limestone landscape. We’ll stop at Poulabrone Dolman, a 5000-year-old Bronze Age burial site. Then, we will be entertained by the antics of the Caherconnell Sheep Dogs. The handlers will show how the dogs are trained to bring home the sheep from the mountains. After a coffee/snack in the award-winning café, we’ll head toward Galway for an afternoon in the famous City of Tribes.
You’ll have some free time to look at the home of the Claddagh Ring or enjoy a pint in one of the many pubs, then we’ll continue out to Clifden, the capital of Connemara where we will stay for the evening. Here you can find spectacular seafood in any of the great restaurants.
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Following breakfast in the hotel, we’ll spend our morning at Dan O’Hara’s Heritage Farm where we will learn about Irish turf or peat and how it was cut, dried, and used as a heating fuel. We’ll also learn the sad story of Dan O’Hara and his family who were evicted from their tenant farm. What became of them is recounted in story and song. And if you’re brave enough, you might even get to try a little taste of the “craythur”, the Irish poitín, that was made all over the country in local stills.
We’ll spend our afternoon at Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s premier “big houses”. Originally a manor house, it has been a convent, a school, and now a museum. Benedictine nuns still own and live here, but it a fabulous café for lunch, a wonderful gift shop, stunning gardens, a miniature gothic cathedral that shouldn’t be missed, and even Connemara ponies.
We’ll return to Clifden through the phenomenally beautiful Inagh Valley, designated as one of Europe’s most scenic roads.
Friday, July 28, 2023
We bid farewell to Connemara today, but not before a scenic drive in the Twelve Bens and out to Lenane, where you’ll see Ireland’s only fjord. On the way, we’ll see the lazy beds, the rows of potatoes that rotted in the ground and were left during the Great Hunger.
For fans of John Ford’s great film, “The Quiet Man”, we will stop in the village of Cong, where much of it was filmed. Besides the many familiar buildings from the film, there is the ruin of the great Cong Abbey to explore.
Later, we’ll head back towards Co. Limerick and arrive at our destination, the charming village of Adare.
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Adare is one of Ireland’s most scenic villages. This morning, we’ll take a tour of Desmond Castle, one of the medieval strongholds of the Earls of Desmond on the banks of the Maigue River.
Later, we can go on a walking tour of the village as there is much to see. Or, if you prefer, you can explore on your own. There are plenty of boutiques for that last-minute gift, or pubs/restaurants to pass the afternoon. This evening, we will have our farewell dinner together.
Sunday, July 30, 2023 (Depart Shannon)
Following breakfast, our coach will take us to Shannon airport for your departure for home.
