Day 1:
Depart for Dublin, Ireland.
Day 2:
Arrive in Dublin with some free time to take in Ireland's capitol city. Included in this tour is a bus pass for an all day hop-off and hop-on Dublin City bus tour. Tonight the group will head out to the Brazen Head for a welcoming dinner. The Brazen Head was established in 1198 A.D. and is one of Dublin's most haunted pubs. Overnight in
Dublin. (D) Day 3:
This morning a drive takes you out of the city to Malahide Castle, a stunningly picturesque fortress that stands amidst a profusion of massive oaks, mighty chestnuts, and towering sycamores. First built in 1185 it is rumoured to be one of the most haunted castles in Ireland. Enjoy lunch at Kavanagh's Gravediggers Pub back in Dublin before a visit St. Michan's Church. In the dark vaults beneath the church, you will find one of the creepiest and most unique haunted locations in the whole of Ireland. In several of the chambers, coffins are stacked in untidy piles where the weight of the dead pressing upon the dead has resulted in the coffins collapsing into each other causing arms, legs or even heads to protrude from their final resting places, as if posing for some grotesque portrait. Experience a pub dinner in Dublin before taking part in a Dublin Ghost Tour. Overnight in Dublin. (B,L,D) Day 4:
On the way to Kilkenny today, a stop will be made in county Kildare at the Irish National Stud, home to some of Ireland's finest thoroughbreds. The lands around the Stud have been associated with the breeding of horses since about 1300, when it is likely that war horses were bred here for the Knights of Malta. Enjoy afternoon tea at the Kildare Courtyard Hotel before taking a trip to Browne's Hill Dolmen, which has the biggest capstone in Europe, weighing 100 tons. The stone dates back to 2000 BC. Once in Kilkenny, the rest of the afternoon is free for sightseeing, shopping, and exploring before Dinner at Kyteler's Inn, a 14th century coaching inn haunted by Dame Alice Kyteler. Overnight in Kilkenny. (B,L,D)
Day 5:
This morning some time has been set aside to investigate Ireland's loveliest inland village of Kilkenny before you visit Kilkenny Castle. Built in the 1190's, Kilkenny Castle was occupied right up to 1935. High spots of the tour include the library, the wood-paneled dining room, and the Chinese bedroom. Enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea at the Kilkenny Ormonde before a visit to Jerpoint Abbey, one of the finest Cistercian ruins in Ireland. Built in 1160, the fortified medieval complex flourished until the dissolution of the monasteries. Kilkenny is home to over 80 listed pubs and you are free this evening to sample as many as you wish. Overnight Kilkenny. (B,L) Day 6:
Today the tour takes in Waterford and the Waterford Crystal Factory. The original glass factory was founded in 1783 and visitors can follow all stages of production. This afternoon, you'll be taken on one of the loveliest coastal drives in Ireland through Tramore, Youghal, and on to Midleton for a visit to the Old Midleton Distillery, a part of the vast Irish Distillers group of Midleton. A tour of the distillery takes in the mills, maltings, still-houses, kilns, granaries, and warehouses. Then head on to the lovely village of Cobh, which was the last docking point of the Titanic before it's fateful last voyage. After dinner take the Ghost Walk of Cobh ending in Pillars Bar, the most haunted building in Cobh. Dinner and Overnight in Cobh. (B,D) Day 7:
Today's first stop is Blarney Castle in County Cork. If the gift of gab has not been bestowed on you, you may want to kiss the Blarney Stone. The castle itself sits in spectacular grounds and is well worth a visit, along with the Blarney Woollen Mills Outlet with three floors of wonderful shopping. This afternoon you'll visit Carrigaphooca Castle, a 16th century tower of four storeys sitting on Fairy Hill. This fairytale place is haunted by a malicious 'Pooca' spirit. Just a few fields away is an equally haunted Stone Circle, Burial Dolman and a Druidic Centre, where Crom, among other deities, was worshipped. Enjoy dinner and Traditional Night at Danny Mann's Music Pub. Overnight in Killarney. (B,D) Day 8:
The first stop this morning is Muchross House, an imposing Victorian Mansion that was built in 1843 and overlooks the spectacular Lakes of Killarney. Stop at The Ladies View, made famous by Queen Victoria's ladies in waiting. The drive will eventually arrive in Kenmare, which is the gourmet and lace capitol of Ireland. It is also home to the Kenmare (Shruberries) Stone Circle and other historic sites, including an ancient ruin of St Finian's in the old graveyard. Take afternoon tea at the Park Hotel and then turn toward Killarney to visit Ross Castle, one of Ireland's better known haunts. Dinner is at Moll Darcy's in Killarney. Overnight in Killarney. (B,L,D) Day 9:
Today's itinerary takes in the wilds of the Dingle Peninsula. A drive around the area reveals fascinating antiquities ranging from Iron Age stone forts to inscribed stones, early Christian oratories, and beehive huts. Stops include Dunbeg Fort, Slea Head, Ballyferriter, Kilmalkedar, and Gallarus Oratory Drystone Church. You will then take in the attractive fishing port village of Dingle before a long journey to Bunratty and Bunratty Castle. This 15th century formidable castle is the highlight of the day with a Medieval Banquet for which the castle is famous! Banquet dinner and overnight in Bunratty. (B,D)
Day 10:
Today it is off to County Tipperary and the Rock of Cashel. With its well preserved ecclesiastical remains this is one of Ireland's spectacular landmarks, rising above the surrounding plain and dominating the land route southwards. The next stop is the village of Fethard for a pub lunch at McCarthy's Pub, Restaurant, and Undertakers. The pub is known the world over as being one of the most haunted. This afternoon you'll visit Roscrea Castle, built in the 1280's with period furnished rooms and exhibitions. A tall rectangular gate tower, a portion of the curtain walls, and two D-shaped towers still survive in this well-preserved ruin. You can also visit Damer House built in the 18th century in the Queen Anne Style with a magnificent staircase and Georgian garden. Dinner is on your own on in Birr. Overnight in Birr. (B,L)
Day 11:
This morning you'll visit Leap Castle, which is believed to be the most haunted castle in Ireland. Because of its extremely bloody history Leap Castle has always had a reputation of being haunted, a reputation so strong local people avoided it at night. Later, in the afternoon, you'll visit the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise. Clonmacnoise is one of Europe's most highly regarded sites of its kind. It was founded in 545 AD by St. Ciaran. The monastic ruins are the most extensive of their kind in Ireland consisting of a cathedral, eight churches, two round towers and three high crosses. Dinner and overnight in Birr. (B,D) Day 12:
First stop today is Tullamore and Charleville Forest Castle. Charleville Forest Castle is one of the many places in Ireland with ghosts as permanent residents. Built in 1798 for the first Earl of Charleville, Charles William Bury and his family, this castle is said to be finest Gothic Revival building in Ireland. The next stop today is Kells Monastery set up by St. Columba in the 6th century. Monks fled here from Iona in the year 806 and are believed to be the ones who scribed the Book of Kells, which is now housed at Trinity College in Dublin. Take afternoon tea at Frankville House in Athboy before a visit to Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland and even said to be the largest in Europe. It is thought to have been the first stone castle as well and it is impressive by any standards. Dinner and haunted Ross Castle stay in County Cavan. (B,L)
Day 13:
Today it is off to Newgrange Megalithic Passage Tomb. Newgrange was built about 3200 BC. The kidney shaped mound covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The next stop is The Hill of Tara. Tara was the political and spiritual center of Celtic Ireland and the seat of High Kings until the 11th century. Although a castle no longer stands on the Hill of Tara, the spirits of the High Kings of the past are believed to still roam the verdant hillside. Farewell Dinner and a haunted Ross Castle stay in County Cavan. (B,D) Day 14:
This morning you are off to Dublin International for the journey home. (B) |
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