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This group vacation of Ireland takes you on a tour that includes some of Ireland's most wonderful gardens. Each has a story to tell!
Don't forget that group organizers travel free with groups of 20 or more.
Day 1 Arrive in Dublin
Arrive to Dublin Airport where you will be met by your private driver/guide and escorted to your hotel for baggage drop off. Take a guided tour of the City before checking into the Hotel.
This afternoon you will travel to Ranelagh for a guided tour of Helen Dillon’s Garden.This is located in the centre of the city and owned by one of Ireland’s most knowledgeable gardeners. A dominant feature in the garden is a canal set in Irish limestone, bordered on each side by superb borders - one mainly in red and the other in shades of dreamy blue. Behind the borders pathways lead into garden rooms. A recent addition is a gravel garden planted mainly with exotically-leaved members of the Araliaceae family. Enjoy a guided tour followed by tea/coffee and biscuits in the house along with a talk from Helen herself. Overnight in Davenport Hotel.
Day 2 Tour of Dublin and National Botanic Gardens
Today enjoy the sights of Dublin as your coach driver takes you on a journey through the streets of Dublin City. The tour includes stops at some of Dublins most renowned sites, such as St Patricks Cathedral and the Book of Kells housed in Trinity College.
St Patricks Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the country. The cathedral was badly damaged during the Cromwellian invasion in Ireland and was eventually re-furbished by the Guinness family in the 19th century. Jonathan Swift, author of Gullivers’ Travellers was dean of the cathedral for 32 years and his remains are buried within the cathedral.
Trinity College is located in the heart of Dublin City and the Library houses the famous Book Of Kells.The book is a magnificently illustrated, in Celtic design, a version of the Gospels designed by unknown hands in the monastery of Kells in Meath about 800. It was presented to Trinity College in the mid-17th Century in order to save it from Cromwells army.
In the afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the National Botanic Gardens. These gardens span a total area of 19.5 hectares, part of which is the natural flood plain of the river Tolka. The gardens contain a large plant collection which includes approximately 20,000 species and cultivars. There are four ranges of glasshouses including the recently restored Curvilinear Range. Notable features include herbaceous displays, rose garden, rockery, vegetable garden, arboretum, extensive shrub borders and wall plants. Gardens are accessible for people with disabilities but there are some steep gradients. Overnight in Davenport Hotel.
Day 3 Wicklow - Mount Usher Gardens and Powerscourt Gardens
Today you will travel to county Wicklow known as the ‘Garden of Ireland’.
Visit Mount Usher Gardens where you will have a guided tour. Laid out along the banks of the River Vartry, Mount Usher has been designed in the Robinsonian style. Trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants have been introduced from all parts of the globe and are planted in harmony with woodland and shade loving plants.
In addition to the Gardens, Mount Usher offers a comprehensive home produced menu in the Avoca Garden Cafe, as well as a Shopping Courtyard which is open all year round.
In the afternoon visit Powerscourt House and Gardens.
Enjoy the gardens which first began to take shape over two and a half centuries ago. The charming walled garden, the striking terraces, fine statuary and varied trees are linked by carefully designed walks and set in the magnificent surroundings of the Wicklow mountains. Continue on your journey to Co Waterford where you will overnight at the Granville Hotel.
Day 4 Waterford - Cork
Before departing Waterford visit the nearby Waterford Crystal factory and see how the crystal is made by the team of skilled workers. Continue on your journey to Cork. Stopping at Mount Congreve Gardens en route.
Mount Congreve represents gardening on a very grand scale and in late spring and early summer the 100 acre demesne is one of the wonders of the floral world to be ranked alongside sights like the flower carpets of Namaqualand. At that time of the year one of the largest rhododendron collections in the world, the culmination of Ambrose Congreve’s lifetime passion, reach their peak . There are over 300 different types of rhododendron, more than 600 types of camellia, 250 types of Japanese maple and 300 varieties of magnolia. Additionally there are also wonderful displays of prunus and euchryphia. Inspired by the Rothschilds’ garden at Exbury Congreve’s interest began at an early age and, where most of us plant by ones and twos, planting at Mount Congreve is done by the score. The result is to produce spectacular seas of blossom and banks of colour with wonderful contrasts between the foliage and forms of different genera.
Overnight in Kinsale, Trident Hotel Co Cork .
Day 5 Cobh Heritage Centre- Ballymaloe Gardens
This morning drive to East Cork and take a guided tour of Ballymaloe Gardens. Managed by the Allen family who also manage the famous Ballymaloe Cookery School feature a herb garden set among beech hedges, with a large variety of herbs laid out in a formal parterre edged with box hedging. There is also a formal fruit garden with a wide selection of fruit trees and soft fruit. The vegetable garden is beautifully laid out in diamonds and squares with herringbone paths of old brick.
In the afternoon you travel to Cobh Heritage Centre. Cobh Heritage Centre which commemorates mass emigration from Ireland to the USA during famine times..The center also offers exhibits that re-create the age of luxury-liner travel and events such as the sinking of the Titanic and Lusitania. Overnight in Kinsale
Day 6 Cork – Killarney
Before departing county Cork in the morning visit Blarney Castle and Woollen Mills. One of Ireland’s quintessential attractions, a visit to Blarney Castle and kissing the Blarney Stone is high on most people’s list of things to do in Ireland. Blarney Castle was built in the 15th Century though its history goes back much further as the stronghold of the MacCarthy Chieftains of Munster. For many years people have climbed to the very top turret of this picturesque castle to kiss the Blarney Stone and be bestowed with the ‘gift of the gab’, that talent for eloquence that the Irish famously possess. One kiss and you’ll go away with something new to talk about - with an extra touch of Blarney!
Continue to Co Kerry and on to Killarney for overnight at Malton. Free time in the afternoon to enjoy a stroll around town.
Day 7 Ring of Kerry
Today tour the famous Ring of Kerry, which takes you through spectacular coastal and mountainous scenery along the base of the highest mountain range in Ireland, the MacGillycuddy Reeks. Trvavel through towns and villages giving you a glimpe of what rural life in Ireland is like. Return to Killarney and take a guided tour of the Gardens at Muckross House. The Gardens at Muckross House are renowned world-wide for their beauty. In particular they are noted for their fine collections of azaleas and rhododendrons, an extensive water garden, and an outstanding rock garden hewn out of natural limestone. Muckross House is also home to a number of skilled craft workers who can be viewed using traditional skills in the crafts of weaving, bookbinding and pottery. Overnight in Killarney Malton.
DAY 8 Kerry - Clare
Depart from Killarney and traevel to Co Clare. Stop en route and visit the world renowned Cliffs of Moher. Continue to Bunratty and overnight at Bunartty Castle Hotel. Visit to Bunratty Castle Folk Park and Gardens.
DAY 9 Depart
This morning, transfer from Hotel to Shannon Airport for departure home
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Testimonials
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"It has been a pleasure working with you and your company. I really appreciate your professionalism, tourism expertise, and your patience and willingness in helping me enjoy a great vacation. Rest assured, when I visit Ireland again (and I will), you will be the first person I call. I will also refer you to people I know who may travel the same path." -- Mak |
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