Best Of

9/6 – Arrived at the College Green Hotel in Dublin around 10 AM and to my surprise they had my room ready, beautiful room overlooking the Atrium.
I unpacked for the few days stay, had a cup of tea and walked to Christchurch for which I had bought a ticket; it has the Magna Carta written in 1215, among many other interesting items like a mummified cat and rat found inside an organ when it was refurbished.
After afternoon tea I walked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a Bon Jovi music concert for which I had purchased tickets.

9/7 – After breakfast which was excellent, I walked to Trinity University to see the Book of Kells and the library, both amazing (Tauck did not include) I was very lucky as I was the only one in the room with the book, suggest going early.
Walked to the Epic Immigration Museum, very well done and very interesting, walked back to the hotel and attended the Welcome dinner, the food was ok.

9/8 – First day of the tour, we visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Dublin Castle after which I stayed in town to visit the Chester Beatty Museum, all worth visiting. With a free night, I joined another traveler and we went to a dinner and Irish music show at the Irish House Party, surprisingly the food was good and the music and dancing excellent.

9/9 – Drove to Belfast and visited The Titanic Museum (very touching), then we took a bus tour of Belfast, arrived at The Merchant Hotel which was very nice, I have to say that for the first time in all my tours all the hotel rooms I had were excellent including the Bridal Suite at the Old Grounds Hotel.😁
We had a 5 course dinner at the hotel fashioned after the meals served to 1st class passengers in the Titanic, food was excellent.

9/10 – Drove to the countryside, with stops along the way for photo ops. Had lunch at Bushmill Inn with sticky toffee pudding for dessert and continued to Giant’s Causeway, spectacular views. Dinner on our own went to the Cloth Ear Pub, good Irish food.

9/11 – Drove to Derry with many murals depicting “the troubles”, we visited the Ulster American Folk Park which depicts life in the 1800’s, very interesting and the boat who carried 40% of immigrants to the US. Arrived at Lough Eske Castle, dinner at the hotel.

9/12 – There were 2 options drive to Donegal to visit the Bellek factory or stay at the hotel, I opted to visit the factory, beautiful porcelain after which we visited Donegal Castle.

9/13 – Long day on the bus but the scenery made up for it.
Visited Drumcliffe Monastery site with the High Cross from 547 AD and where W. B. Yeats is buried, had a scone and tea at the Yates Country Inn and continued to Connemara to visit Kylemore Abbey and gorgeous walled garden. Arrived at Ashford Castle welcomed by a gentleman playing the pipe.
Had dinner at Cullin’s at the Cottage located in the castle grounds. Have to say I never had a bad dinner, lunch or breaksfast on this tour.

9/14 – Slow day, I went to a wine tasting and a boat ride which was disappointing as it was supposed to dock at an island where it is said that St, Patrick is buried but because of bad weather all we did was go around the lake.
I went for a walk to town (Cong) where the film The Quiet Man was filmed, very small quaint town Dinner at George V tonight.

9/15 – Drove to Galway where there is a memorial to President Kennedy, visited Lynd’s Castle, walked around town and as a group we went to Fitzgerald’s Bar where we made Irish coffee.
We continued on the bus to the Cliffs of Moher, spectacular views 60 miles per hour wind, rain on and off but it worth it. Arrived at the Old Ground Hotel, had dinner with Irish music entertainment.

9/16 – Drove to Molanna to visit a dairy farm where we also had lunch, turkey, homemade potato salad and coleslaw, from there we drove to Killarney and went on a horse and buggy ride through Killarney National Park. Dinner at Rozzer’s in the Chateau Potelle as a group. Staying at Aghadoe Heights Hotel.

9/17- Drove around the Ring of Kerry a very scenic drive, stopped for Irish coffee and a demonstration of how a collie (beautiful dog) manages the sheep.
We stopped for another awesome view of the Ocean and a statute of the virgin Mary, had lunch at Adam’s Kitchen and views of the 3 lakes of Killarney, did not go to dinner as the bus ride upset my stomach.

9/18 – Driving to Kilkenny today, stopped in Middleton for a tour of Jameson’s factory and a whiskey tasting.
Had lunch at The Park Hotel and visited Jerpoint Abbey a medieval Cistercian Abbey with Romanesque to Gothic Architecture founded in the 12th Century, it’s been declared a National Monument, with the tombs of many past Bishops. Arrived at Lyrath State Hotel and Spa.

9/19 – We toured Kilkenny and visited Candice Church, free time to walk around town and after we visited Kilkenny Castle. We returned to the hotel and had a lesson on falconry for me one of the best if not the best highlight of the tour. Got ready for our farewell dinner.

Our tour director was Noelle Kierse, born in Ireland, one the best tour directors I’ve had, she was sensitive, informative, communicated by email prior to the tour and was always available to help. Quite a few people were sick on the trip with a stomach flu and she hired a van which took them directly to the hotel one day.

Not counting the GOT day all dinners were included except for 2.