A Week In... Ireland

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Dromoland Castle. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle, your royal home for two nights. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner in the castle. Please note: Airline schedules and arrival airport details may fluctuate; ask at time of booking.

Make your way today through The Burren, an eerie landscape of limestone outcrops, en route to the Cliffs of Moher. Over five miles long and towering up to 660 feet, the cliffs reign unrivaled over the Atlantic Ocean coastline, offering amazing views. Sample a taste of country life during lunch in Ennis; return to Dromoland Castle for a day spent as you please.

Your travels take you to County Cork today for a two-night stay in an elegant manor house hotel and an in-depth discovery of all things Irish – including a visit to legendary Blarney Castle; get ready to pucker up for the "gift of gab" if you climb its ramparts to kiss the magical stone. After time to explore Blarney's castle and village and enjoy lunch on your own, continue on to Cork and the Hayfield Manor Hotel, your stately home for the next two nights. This evening, you're invited to a private recital at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral before returning for dinner at your hotel.

Drive to the picturesque harbor village known as Summer Cove of Kinsale harbor, for a visit to Charles Fort, a star-shaped military fortress and one of Ireland's best examples of 17th-century fortifications. Kinsale's architecture is a picturesque blend of narrow winding streets lined with colorful 18th-century buildings, reflecting its rich maritime history and creating a vibrant, photogenic townscape. Stroll through the town and enjoy lunch as you please this afternoon; it is renowned as a gourmet capital with an array of seafood restaurants, popular with food lovers. Return to Cork for a free afternoon in town; dinner tonight is at one of the hotel's restaurants.  

Drive to Waterford today for a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic House of Waterford factory, the heart of the world's luxury crystal manufacture. Discover how the intricate crystal pieces come to life as you watch master glassmakers blow and shape the molten crystal with the use of wooden moulds and hand tools - a technique that has remained unchanged throughout the centuries. Follow the process through the cutting, sculpting and engraving steps to the finished pieces. Enjoy free time to explore the city of Waterford, dating back to the Viking era, before continuing on to Dublin for a three- night stay. Dinner is at an Irish pub tonight.  

Experience an in-depth introduction to Dublin on a sightseeing tour that includes lively O'Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and beautiful parks. A local expert that takes you down O'Connell Street, and past elegant Georgian squares to 12th-century St. Patrick's Cathedral, where you will enjoy a guided tour. Then head out of the city to county Wicklow for a private cooking class and lunch at Ballyknocken House & Cookery School, "a little slice of heaven" - the childhood home of an Irish culinary celebrity, where you'll learn cooking tips and taste her award-winning recipes. Return to Dublin for a free afternoon. Enjoy the city as you wish, perhaps wandering along eclectic Grafton Street, strolling along the River Liffey, exploring St. Stephen's Green (on which your hotel is situated), or experiencing the grandeur of Merrion Square; laid back and laden with charm, Dublin is small, compact and made for walking. Dublin restaurants – of which there are many to choose from close to your hotel – and Irish cuisine have earned high marks on the European culinary scene.

Today is free to spend as you please in Dublin. Visit one of the city's many museums, check out the local historic pubs, enjoy the pleasures of Stephen's Green (right outside of your hotel) or explore Grafton Street – a pedestrianized thoroughfare known the world over as a cultural hotspot. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner, where everyone's Irish eyes will be smiling.  

Tour ends: Dublin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Shelbourne, Autograph Collection to Dublin Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.