JOURNEY THROUGH CULTURE, NATURE, AND HERITAGE WITH CLOVERLEAF TRAVEL
10 DAY TOUR
Your 10-Day Irish Adventure
Itinerary
Day 1
Dublin Delights
Embark on your Irish adventure with two unforgettable days in Dublin. Explore the city's vibrant culture with visits to the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Jail, and Trinity College. Experience a comfortable driven orientation of the city with a professional guide. In the evening, indulge in delights at renowned pubs like Doheny & Nesbitts, O’Donoghues, and more.
Day 2
Dublin Continued
Continue your Dublin exploration with a visit to the Phoenix Park, one of the world’s largest enclosed city parks, housing landmarks like Áras an Uachtarán and Farmleigh House. Explore Dublin Zoo and iconic cathedrals such as St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral. Optionally, delve into historical literature at the Chester Beatty Library.
Day 3
Journey to Belfast
Venture north to Belfast, where you'll visit Titanic Centre, HMS Caroline, Belfast City Hall, and Crumlin Road Jail. Drive through Loyalist and Nationalist areas, providing insight into the region's history.
Day 4
North Coast Marvels to Derry
Discover the Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, and Bushmills Irish Whiskey Distillery. Take a scenic drive along the North Coast and make stops in Portrush and Portstewart. Explore Derry City, walk the city walls, visit the Bogside, and see the Bridge of Peace.
Day 5
Donegal Wonders
Head to Donegal, marvel at Slieve League Cliffs, and tour Donegal Castle. Explore Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle.
Day 6
Galway and Connemara Charms
Reach Galway, explore Connemara, and visit Kylemore Abbey. Enjoy Galway's vibrant restaurants and pubs.
Day 7
South to Killarney
Drive south, stopping at Kinvara, Dungaire Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher. Optionally explore Liscannor, Lahinch, and the charming villages.
Day 8
Ring of Kerry Magic
Embark on the Ring of Kerry journey, exploring Kenmare, Sneem, Torc Waterfall, and Muckross House. Experience the Gap of Dunloe and visit Ross Castle.
Day 9
Kingdom of Kerry
Enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of Kerry, including Ladies View, Molls Gap, and Ross Castle.
Day 10
Farewell and Departure
On the final day, visit Kildare Village for shopping and the National Stud with Japanese Gardens. Depart from Shannon or Dublin with fond farewells.
10 Days gives us ample opportunity to show you the best that Ireland has to offer in terms of culture, scenery, food, music and craic.
Day 1 - Dublin
We would recommend the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Jail and Trinity College as definite go-to places to visit.
Our professional driver guide can collect you from your hotel/airport and give you a comfortable driven orientation of Dublin City, bringing you directly to these memorable attractions and returning you to your hotel that evening from where you can sample the best cuisine and pub atmosphere locally. In terms of pubs there’s plenty of choice, so here’s a few to whet your whistle; Doheny & Nesbitts, O’Donoghues, McDaids, Toners, The Cobblestone, The Brazen Head, The Hole in the Wall, Bongo Ryans, The Long Hall and the Palace Bar.
Day 2 - Dublin
We will take you to the Phoenix Park, one of the world’s largest enclosed city parks. Here we have Áras an Uachtarán, built in 1754 (Residence of the President of Ireland) and also across the road we have the residence of the USA Ambassador. The park is also famous for its herd of deer, the descendants of the original herd, which have been there since 1662.
We also have Farmleigh House, beautifully restored and used to welcome dignitaries and heads of state. And of course Dublin Zoo, the world’s second oldest zoo after London.
Back in the city we have St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral, both magnificent buildings and time permitting we will perhaps visit Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library which, if you are interested in historical literature, is a must.
Day 3 - Belfast
Leaving Dublin we now head north to the second biggest city on the island, Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Here we will bring you to the fantastic Titanic Centre, location where the famous ocean liner was built and now home to a new state-of-the-art interpretative centre informing you all about the world’s largest ocean liner of its day.
Right beside the Titanic Centre) we have HMS Caroline a fully restored WW1 warship. Take a tour on board and get a real sense of what it was like to be a crew-member during that dark period of our history.
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Next we have a stop off at Belfast City Hall, dominating Donegall Square in the heart of the city, and home to Belfast City Council. This is a beautifully structured building from the Victorian era and a guided tour is highly recommended.
We head then to Crumlin Road Jail. This is an imposing building which was constructed in 1845 and it finally closed as a jail in 1996. It has many stories to tell about the turbulent and troubled history of this part of the island.
Before we leave Belfast we will drive you through local areas which today are on the one side are Loyalist and are very proud of their British heritage and want to preserve that link. Whilst living in some cases no more than 100 yards away we have areas where the local residents regard themselves as Irish Nationalists and wish to join a United Ireland. It’s a fascinating story and we can show you how people of totally different views try to co-exist.
Day 4 - North Coast to Derry
We leave Belfast and drive along the North Coast. Our first stop is the Giants Causeway. This is quite a unique coastal rock formation of about 40,000 basalt columns and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Not far from here we will next bring you to the thrilling Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. You can take a walk across the bridge to the small island opposite. Feel the sea breeze and look down, if you dare, to the ocean swelling about below.
If your nerves are a little stressed we have just the cure. We drop you off at the world famous Bushmills Irish Whiskey Distillery. Here you can see the distilling process in this historic factory and museum and of course you can taste a wee drop of the ‘quare stuff’ as we say here. Sláinte.
On route to Derry we pass the lovely seaside towns of Portrush (home of Royal Portrush Golf Club, which has hosted both the British & Irish Opens and on to Portstewart with its Victorian promenade and cafés.
Day 5 - Doire / Derry / Londonderry
Here we are in Derry now world renowned for the TV series ‘Derry Girls’.
Derry City is capital of Ireland northwest region and really typifies Ireland’s history. It was chosen by St Colmcille around 546AD as a monastic settlement. One thousand years later, the English defeat the Ulster Gaelic chieftains at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 and begin the Plantation in the northwest where they relocate loyal Protestant English and Scottish subjects to displace the local Catholic population. Fast forward to our recent history and the Troubles from 1969 to 1998 and the city of Derry was central to many of the milestone events.
To demonstrate all of this we will take you on a walk of Derry City Walls, bring you down to the Bogside with its murals and wonderful museum and then show you the Bridge of Peace that spans the River Foyle.
Day 6 - Donegal and the Northwest
We will now take you to the beautiful north-western town of Donegal from where we will go to visit the majestic Slieve League Cliffs, the second highest coastal cliffs in Ireland standing at 1970ft above sea level. You should spend a while here as it is just breathtaking.
Then we will visit Donegal Castle, rebuilt in 1623 and restored in the 1990’s. It is nestled in amongst the most fabulous scenery on the banks of the River Eske and was visited by Charles and Camilla on an official visit to Ireland. A tour here is highly recommended.
Other fantastic sights include the 170sq km Glenveagh National Park and Glenveagh Castle. The park is home to the largest herd of red deer in Ireland and also is now a new breeding ground for the Golden Eagle.
We head south towards Galway passing through the beautiful County of Sligo with its majestic Ben Bulben to watch over us as we pass by.
Day 7 - Rugged Connemara and Galway City
We are in the City of the Tribes known as Galway on Ireland’s west coast.
Today, we will take you to Connemara and the impressive sight of Kylemore Abbey, formerly a residence of Henry Mitchell MP, built in 1868 and now home to the Order of Benedictine Nuns since 1920. Take a tour of the Abbey and visit the beautiful gardens and sample some of the produce made here onsite, such as a glass of cream liquor and perhaps some delectable chocolate.
We stay in Galway City and let you sample the wonderful offerings of great restaurants and pubs that this truly Irish city has.
Day 8 - Galway to Killarney via The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher
Leaving Galway we continue south to Killarney, heading firstly to the village of Kinvara and the lovely Dungaire Castle, still in use today. Along the coast there is such an abundance of spectacular views from Ballyvaughan to Black Head, Fanore as well as the world renowned Burren landscape with its striking limestone landscape. Our day culminates with a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland’s top tourist attraction.
700ft high and 8kms long, home to 30,000 pairs of breeding birds from gannets, puffins, razorbills and cormorants. There is a top class visitor centre here and paths along the cliffs. A place you wont forget.
We might take in the villages of Liscannor and the surfing and golfing town of Lahinch too!!
Day 9 - Kingdom of Kerry
Here we are in the beautiful Kingdom of Kerry. There is so much to see here in what is the jewel of Ireland in terms of scenery.
The world famous Ring of Kerry taking in the towns of Kenmare and Sneem, Torc Waterfall, Ladies View, Molls Gap and the stunning Muckross House on the shores of Muckross Lake.
The jaunting car in the Gap of Dunloe and perhaps a visit to Ross Castle
A day to remember.
Day 10 - Farewell & Departure
Our last day and we head either to Shannon or Dublin. If heading back to Dublin we can visit Kildare Village for some gift shopping for folks back home and then on to the National Stud and Japanese Gardens.
Ireland of course is world renowned for both show-jumping and race horses. At the National Stud you can see and learn about the thoroughbred horse industry up close and also visit the Japanese Gardens one of the finest gardens in Ireland. Over 100 years old this is the perfect place for a walk to see and smell some spectacular flowers in a most beautiful setting.
All perfect vacations must come to an end and so finally we will bring you to your hotel in Dublin or Shannon before departure or direct to the airport and say a fond farewell and hope to see you back in Ireland again.
Go neirí an bother leat agus slán abhaile. (May the road rise up to meet you and safe home).
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