10-Nights Southern Ireland Foodie Tour with Private Driver/Guide — CALL
CIE Tours
OFFER ID 1633733
Experience Ireland your way with our most personalized style of travel for up to 9 guests. Enjoy your own private car with a driver who knows the local history and has plenty of insider stories to share. Perfect for heritage seekers, multi-generational families, and milestone celebrations.
10 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
Dublin Arrival
Private Transfer to Dublin Hotel
Welcome to Ireland! After landing at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. A private transfer will escort you and your luggage to the hotel.
Hop On Hop Off Dublin (Day 1)
The Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows you to experience all the history and culture of Dublin easily. This two day pass will take you around a loop to different stops and will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Feel free to get off and explore at any of Dublin’s most popular attractions! Stops include places like Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells in Trinity College, and Dublin Castle. Your native guide will provide live commentary along the way, pointing out all the famous points of interest, along with where famous Dubliners like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett spent their time. Included in your pass is a free Walking Tour of Dublin that departs from the Dublin Bus Head Office multiple times a day, and free entrance to the Little Museum of Dublin.
Irish Whiskey Museum
Enjoy this guided tour and interactive experience at the Irish Whiskey Museum. Learn about the origins of Irish whiskey, its rise and fall, and sample several different kinds.
2-Night Stay: The College Green Hotel, Dublin
Experience an idyllic city centre sanctuary at The College Green Hotel Dublin, Autograph Collection. Enjoy a unique location, overlooking Trinity College and Dublin City with shopping, entertainment and many attractions on our doorstep. The Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin Docklands and the International Financial Service Centre are a short walk away. The hotel delivers a warm Irish welcome with an international level of service inviting guests to unwind and recharge.
Hop On Hop Off Day 2 & Dublin Tasting Trail
Hop On Hop Off Dublin (Day 2)
The Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass allows you to experience all the history and culture of Dublin easily. This two day pass will take you around a loop to different stops and will take approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. Feel free to get off and explore at any of Dublin’s most popular attractions! Stops include places like Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells in Trinity College, and Dublin Castle. Your native guide will provide live commentary along the way, pointing out all the famous points of interest, along with where famous Dubliners like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett spent their time. Included in your pass is a free Walking Tour of Dublin that departs from the Dublin Bus Head Office multiple times a day, and free entrance to the Little Museum of Dublin.
Dublin Tasting Trail
Visit six to seven different places, all independently owned, tasting in each place and meeting the purveyors or makers. The tastings reflect the current food scene, bringing new international and contemporary tastes to the Irish table and all using great Irish produce. As you enjoy the food, you’ll also learn a little about the culture and history of the lively and charming Dublin from your local guide.
EPIC Ireland
Next visit EPIC Ireland, which celebrates the dramatic story of the spread of Irish culture around the globe, and how Ireland has changed throughout the years.
Private Driver Services Begin
Meet Private Driver
Today your private driver services start. Meet your private driver in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 AM this morning. Enjoy your comfortable ride with your knowledgeable driver who will guide you through the popular and hidden gems of Ireland.
Wicklow Mountains Drive
Drive south of Dublin to see the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains. This mountain range runs north to south across County Wicklow with its highest peak, Lugnaquilla, at 3039 feet. The entire mountain region is frequented, especially on weekends, by Dubliners, for its scenery and outdoor recreation.
Ballyknocken Cooking Class
Experience this state of the art award winning cookery school. Nestled between lush herb, vegetable and soft fruit gardens, Ballyknocken Cookery School is owned and managed by Irish Celebrity Chef Catherine Fulvio. You will learn how to create dishes packed with flavours for a truly spectacular meal.
2-Night Stay: Lyrath Estate Hotel & Spa, Kilkenny
Stay in this luxurious 17th century manor home. Surrounded by 170 acres of parkland with lakes and gardens, this hotel provides the ultimate escape in Kilkenny. Lyrath Estate exudes elegance and provides a mix of traditional with restored architecture and new with its contemporary interior design.
Kilkenny Craft & Design Center & Afternoon Tea
Kilkenny Craft & Design Center
Be sure to visit the Kilkenny Craft & Design Center, Ireland's leading center for contemporary craft and design. Explore the space admiring the various artisan stalls.
The Castle Yard, The Parade
Afternoon Tea at Lyrath Castle
Experience savoury delicacies, intricate pastry creations, and delightful sips from your choice of botanical teas to experience the reminiscence of Lady Charlotte Wheeler-Cuffe love for botanicals and art.
Suggested Dining: The Grill & Bar, Lyrath Estate (Yew Restaurant)
Located on the mezzanine level at Lyrath Estate, The Grill offers stunning views of both the Atrium foyer and the expansive estate parklands. At The Grill you will partake in a unique and incomparable dining experience. Discover bold flavors from signature dishes prepared in a Charcoal Grill and choose from delicious starters with an extensive choice of sauces and sides.
Midleton Distillery & Cobh Village
Midleton Distillery Experience
Stop for the Midleton Distillery Experience. Here, you can walk through the old buildings to see the largest pot still in the world while your guide explains how whiskey is made. At the end of your tour, enjoy a sampling of the finished product.
Cobh Village
Travel to Cobh, where you can enjoy some free time to exploring this picturesque waterside town that was known as the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic voyage in 1912.
Suggested Dining: Fishy Fishy Restaurant
Dine at Fishy Fishy Restaurant, located right on the doorstep of the harbour and supplied with only the best of fresh fish from the waters off the south coast of Ireland.
2 Night Stay: Actons Hotel, Kinsale
This 73-bedroom hotel is a two-minute walk from the center of Kinsale, overlooking the scenic harbor. The Captains Table Restaurant specializes in local seafood, while the comfortable Lounge and the Waterfront Bar and Bistro serve delicious snacks for you to enjoy
Kinsale Food Tours & Kinsale at Leisure
Kinsale Food Tours
Sharing the stories, scenery, seafood, and other tasty treats is what Kinsale Food Tours is all about. Taste the town on this 2-hour tour, stopping at various eateries, while meeting some of the local characters and producers who are passionate about their culinary creations.
Kinsale at Leisure
Enjoy some time in the charming seaside town of Kinsale. Originally a Georgian garrison town and harbor, it is a popular yachting center today. Roam around the steep streets with brightly-painted houses and flowers. In the town center you may like to view the Old Courthouse, now a regional museum. Or you can travel a few miles outside the town you could see Charles Fort, built in the 1670s to protect the area against naval attack from the Continent.
Old English Market & King John's Castle
Old English Market
Visit the Old English Market, which first opened in 1788. The market allows consumers to explore and sample a variety of produce from all corners of the globe.
King John's Castle
Visit the 13th century King John's Castle in the center of Limerick. This imposing fortress with its massive walls and towers has guarded the River Shannon crossing for the past 700 years.
Overnight: Limerick Strand Hotel, Limerick
184 hotel bedrooms are contemporary in style, generous in size, with many amenities. The River Restaurant and Terrace Café-Bar offer a special dining experience with the finest quality of Irish and International cuisine enhanced by views of the River Shannon and Limerick.
Caherconnell Sheepdog Trial & Galway Food Tour
Caherconnell Farm Sheepdog Trial
Stop to visit Caherconnell Farm, where you get the opportunity to experience farm life and see sheepdogs, working in their natural environment. Come and see the captivating collies, showcase their skills in daily demonstrations.
Galway Food Tour
Galway Food Tour is a wonderful culinary walking tour of Galway bringing people to try produce from oysters to cheese; Sushi to Crab and Doughnuts to Strawberry tarts, local beers and much more. Galway’s famous food culture is explored by taking in some of the city’s best known and secret food haunts.
2 Night Stay: The Galmont, Galway
The Galmont overlooks Galway Bay and is just 200 meters from Eyre Square. At this stylish waterfront hotel, guests have an option to dine at a high-end seafood restaurant, Marinas Grill serves or at the Atrium Bar & Lounge. The spa center includes a gym, a sauna and a swimming pool, and offers spa treatments.
Connemara Sightseeing & Oyster Farm
Connemara Sightseeing
Travel through Connemara Region to admire the sweeping views of boglands and misty mountains. As you drive along you will see many sheep that graze freely and also tracts of bogland where some people hand-cut peat for home heating. Follow the scenic Sky Road to the attractive village of Clifden.
Dk Connemara Oyster Farm
Visit one of the oldest oyster farms in Ireland. Oysters from Ballinakill Bay are served in local hotels and restaurants as well as exported worldwide. In this farm tour you will see how oysters are grown over a three-year period from seed to plate. As part of the tour enjoy the taste of a Connemara Oyster fresh from the waters of Ballinakill Bay.
Newbridge Silverware Tour & Afternoon Tea
Newbridge Silverware Tour
Embark on a tour of the Newbridge Silverware Factory, gaining excess to behind-the-scenes views of their craftsmen and women creating cutlery, jewelry, and more, all while diving into the history of the craft and of the company.
Afternoon Tea at Carton House
While enjoying afternoon tea, you are seated in the rooms that originally would have entertained aristocratic visitors to Carton House, Fairmont. As you gaze up at the gilded ceiling of the Gold Salon, the exquisite coving of the Drawing Room, or out into the floral abundance of the Rose Garden beyond, these are the same views that have captivated visitors for over 200 years.
Enjoy the aroma of specialty Jing Tea, the finest tea sourced from artisan tea gardens across Asia. Take a sip from your bespoke bone china cup and be transported to days gone by, when tea was a ritual to be truly savoured, a special occasion to be shared with those closest to you. Here, we recapture and reinterpret that sense of ceremony for you.
Overnight: Carton House Hotel, Maynooth
Carton House Hotel is set in an 18th century restored manor house, and mixes contemporary design with stately charm. Set on over 1,000 acres of land, the hotel features two golf courses, a spa, and outdoor activities such as tennis, hiking, and fishing. Dining options include an elegant Irish restaurant, a chic bar, and a golf course bistro.
Private Driver Services Conclude
Your private driver services will conclude at the end of the day. Ask your driver to reconfirm your return airport transfer, if applicable, before parting ways.
Dublin Departure
Private Transfer to Dublin Airport
Your vacation ends after breakfast with a private transfer to Dublin Airport. We hope you had a fantastic time and wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.
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To-day Limerick is a proud, progressive and thriving City with a charter older than that of London. Its castles, ancient walls and museums are testament to its dramatic past. Particularly worth viewing is Limerick's Emblem 'the Treaty Stone" and King John's Castle in its Heritage precinct as well as the magnificent Hunt Museum in Limerick's Custom House. This museum houses an internationally important collection of some 2,000 original works including pieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Renoir and Picasso.
Limerick City is the Capital of the Shannon Region and is an excellent centre for shopping. It is also rapidly building a reputation for dining and the City has its own 'Good Food Circle' of restaurants. The City is also considered to be the sporting capital of Ireland with excellent facilities and passionate followers of all sporting activities. Limerick is an excellent holiday base, is just 30 minutes from Shannon Airport, and less than 20 minutes from attractions such as world-famous Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
The county town of Kildare, Ireland, is set in the heart of the Curragh, the huge, grassy limestone plain 30 mi/48 km southwest of Dublin where Ireland's famous racehorses are bred. Its main attraction is the Irish National Stud on the outskirts of town, where in 1900 Colonel William Hall-Walker used astrology and other unusual theories to produce a string of winners. He gave the facilities and horses to the state in 1943, and today owners from around the world breed and train their horses there. On the adjacent grounds (accessible with the same ticket) are the lovely Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra's Garden.
In Kildare town, you can climb the round tower next to St. Brigid's Cathedral.
Galway Bay, immortalised in song, its beauty unchanging. Scenic Gaeltacht areas including the Aran Islands. Connemara, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital. Mountains, castles and stone walls, banks of turf, long sandy beaches, clear lakes, joyful leaping streams and flowing rivers. The mighty Shannon, delightful countryside punctuated by pretty villages, traditional pubs.
Photo used with permission
from Joe Desbonnet, www.galway.net
Excursions
Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day
Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day
On the very edge of Europe, is an Island rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early Christians. This is an island of great peace and tranquility, but it is also an island of great fun and activity. A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and a welcoming island people.
This morning we will depart from Galway and take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands, the other islands being Inishmaan and Inisheer. The Islands are located off the West Coast of Galway about 18km out from Rossaveal Harbour in Connemara. Inishmore is approx. 13km long, and contains 3,092 ha. with a native population of about 900. Kilronan the chief center and port.
Landing in Kilronan on Inishmore, you are met by your driver in a horse drawn buggy for a guided tour of the Island and visiting one of its more impressive stone forts called Dun Aonghasa. It is semi-circular structure, resting on the edge of a perpendicular cliff rising 100 meters out of the ocean. The fort consists of an inner court 50 meters across surrounded by a wall six meters high and five meters thick at the base.
Visit the Aran Islands Interpretative Centre which highlights the unique history, spirit and landscapes of the Aran Islands. The center details the geology, history and present lifestyle of the islands. See how the legendary currachs, those open-topped, often tar-coated, boats that skim over the waves, are made. Also on display are details of the fish species off the islands and how the islanders have long used seaweed to create patches of soil that could be cultivated for crops, in between the dry stone walls that crisscross the islands and divide its tiny fields. The islands' other craft traditions, including weaving of the famous Aran sweaters, are also documented.
Duration: 8 hours
Included:
Enjoy a pub lunch on Inishmore
Departing the island by ferry you return to Galway City.
Note: it is also possible to fly to Inishmore.
Pricing: Please inquire
The city s characterised by many beautifully restored buildings and winding slipways - it is small and compact enough to explore on foot, yet full of fascinating historical buildings and contemporary shops, design galleries and restaurants.
The ancient city of Kilkenny was named after a 6th century monk St Canice.His memory lives on in the beautifully restored St Canices Cathedral built overlooking the city in the thirtheenth century. The Normans arrived in the 12th century and their legacy remains in the beautifully restored Kilkenny Castle
Excursions
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours
Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.
Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.
Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.
Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.
Highlights:
- Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
- Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
- Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
- Supplement for public holidays
- Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour
Upon arrival in Dublin Port, you will meet with your private driver/guide and transfer directly to Powerscourt House & Gardens in Co. Wicklow
This stunning 18th Century Stately home comprises 
extensive gardens, which are open to the public; as is the Main House. There is a lovely restaurant in the house, overlooking the gardens and Wicklow Mountains, which offers the finest in Irish artisan, home cooked cuisine. The 34,000 acres of this estate extend along both shores of the River Dargle . Powerscourt is one of the finest properties in Europe, designed and laid out by Daniel Robertson between 1745 and 1767. This property is filled with splendid Greek and Italian-inspired statuary, decorative ironwork, a petrified-moss grotto, lovely herbaceous borders, a Japanese garden, a circular pond and fountain with statues of winged horses, and an occasional herd of deer. Opportunity for shopping at Avoca Handweavers now located in Powerscourt House. Enjoy lunch here at Powerscourt or at a traditional Irish pub in the city centre.
Upon your return from Powerscourt Estate, your private driver guide will take you on your tour of Dublin City.
Whilst Dublin is a vibrant and bustling city, by European standards it is a small city with a population of just over 1 million people. Much of Dublin’s streetscapes are adorned with beautiful 18th century townhouses and a
number of city parks, such as St. Stephen’s Green and indeed Merrion Square. The highlights of any tour in Dublin may include a visit to Trinity College, the Guinness Storehouse… and –if time permits –St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Following the city tour, your driver will return you to your ship.
Inclusions
- Private Driver Guide
- Entrance to Powerscourt House & Gardens
- Lunch
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours
Disembark for a city adventure this morning accompanied by your expert guide and driver. Your tour of Dublin begins with the impressive Trinity College; Ireland's oldest university. Explore the Old Library, which houses 200,000 antiquarian texts and the oldest surviving harp in Ireland. Here you will see the world-famous Book of Kells; a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination. Hand-crafted by monks, it contains the four gospels and has been resident at Trinity College since the 17th century. Continue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland, where you have the opportunity to see a memorial to Jonathan Swift, the author of 'Gulliver's Travels', who became Dean of St. Patrick's in 1713. Afterwards you are transferred back to port.
Highlights:
- See the world-famous Book of Kells, a fabulous example of early Irish manuscript illumination
- Continue to St Patrick’s Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and home of a memorial to the writer Jonathan Swift
Tour Can Operate: Morning/ Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information
Physical Activity Level: Light
Inclusions:
- Private transport by luxury car or minivan
- An expert local driver-guide for 4 hours
- Entrance fees to all sights and museums
- All taxes
- All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
- Gratuities
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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