This original and distinctive trip covers a multitude of the very best of Ireland.  It is unique in its experiential nature. A once in a lifetime opportunity to delve deeply into Ireland and Irish crafts with like-minded travellers.

Highlights

On this exclusive visit to Ireland, you’re going to bake Irish soda bread and learn some Irish knitting patterns. You’ll make your very own glass jewellery and learn to weave baskets. As a bonus, you’ll be able to take home your very own creations.  To 'crown' it all, you'll have dinner and an overnight stay in an Irish castle.

In addition, you’ll experience iconic Irish landmarks like the Giant’s Causeway and the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe, Sliabh Liag. Compare contemporary Irish life in the cities of Dublin and Galway and engage with locals in the small towns and villages.. 

We've ‘baked’ this tour to perfection, ‘weaving’ the itinerary so that each day ‘knits’ seamlessly together.  You'll also experience Irish history and culture and learn what makes the Irish such a warm and welcoming nation.  This tour is guaranteed to create warm memories for life.

Arrive Dublin - Transfer from airport (included in tour price)

Check-in to hotel (we will try and arrange early check-in)

Free time to either recover from travel or visit some of the recommended attractions

Evening - Meet and greet for tour overview and dinner(included in tour price)

Accommodation - Buswells Hotel in the heart of the City

Free time to explore Dublin at your leisure..  You can visit big ticket items such as Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness or the Book of Kells/Trinity Library.  

Or, avail of free entry to some fabulous National Museums and Galleries outlined below, all of which are located in the vicinity of the city centre.  For example, Trinity Library, the National Archaeology Museum and the National Gallery are all within 15 mins walk of each other.

• Decorative Arts and History 
• Archaeology - contains artefacts (and bodies!) thousands of year
• The National Gallery, also free entry - 
• Why not take a free guided walking tour or a ‘Hop-on/Hop-off tour’ as a great and fun way to explore the city (€25-30).  

It’s time to leave the city, get away from the crowds and head north. Leaving Dublin, we’ll experience the stone carving skills of Irish monks at 10th century Monasterboice High Cross (the tallest in Ireland).

Irish brown soda bread is famous the world over and we’re going to delve right in with a visit to Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen in Northern Ireland.  Time to roll up your sleeves and make your own delicious bread.

We’ll meander northwards to Ballintoy, a small coastal village where we’ll spend the next two nights. This is the ideal location to set us up for the following days.  The area is known as the Causeway Coast - home to UNESCO site, the- Giant’s Causeway.  It’s a simply stunning area of natural beauty.

‘Gems’ is the word of the day - we’ll be crafting our own jewellery, pendants or sun catchers under the expert tutelage of local artist Andrea Spencer (included in tour price).  Today, we’ll split the group (max 5 per session)- half will spend the morning in the workshop while the others will visit Ballintoy Harbour and take in the coastal views across towards Scotland.

We’ll be ahead of the crowds heading to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway (included in tour price)

Saying farewell to the Causeway Coast, we head towards Derry/Londonderry - and we might have a little surprise along the way.  

Derry is one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe and we’ll have a gentle guided stroll along atop these walls(included in tour price).

You’ll have plenty of time later to stroll around - maybe walk across the Peace Bridge that straddles the River Foyle, which traditionally divided the two communities.  

In the evening take time for a meal in one of the local restaurants and check out some of the local hostelries for music and song.

We go back across the border and into County Donegal.  First up this morning is a visit to the Grianán of Aileach - an Iron Age stone fort with stunning 360° views of the surrounding countryside.  It overlooks Lough Swilly, from which began the 17th century journey of the ‘Flight of the Earls’. This was an event which played a major role in shaping the political landscape of the island of Ireland to this day.

Our main event this morning is a knitting workshop, so be prepared to learn from an Irish expert, Edel McBride (included in tour price).

After our workshop it’s just a short drive to our overnight accommodation in Donegal town, where we spend the next two nights.  You’ll see loads more examples of Irish knitwear here.  

A tour of Hannah’s Hats  in the morning.  Then, we strike out for the majestic Sliabh Liag Cliffs. These are the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe. The road less travelled will take us on one of our favourite scenic drives, over the ‘Granny Pass’ to a secluded waterfall. 

We’ll pay a visit to the workshop of a good friend of Anam Croí Tours, one of the very few remaining master hand weavers in Ireland. It’s an amazing experience to witness the seamless co-ordination of hands and feet as he works his loom like a concert pianist. Then it's back to Donegal town for the night.

Our first stop today will be for a tour of Belleek Pottery. This iconic institution has been producing hand-crafted pottery for over 160 years.

After our tour (and maybe early lunch) we have another great Irish craft lesson. On the banks of Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon, lies tiny Leitrim village.  It’s here that basket weaver Helena Golden will teach you the skill of willow basket weaving (included in tour price).

When you’ve mastered the art of basket weaving we’ve less than 15 minutes drive to tonight’s location - the luxurious Kilronan Castle Hotel.   - dating from the 18th century.  Your second inclusive dinner will be here at the castle.

You’ll have a relaxed morning to enjoy the ambience and grounds of Kilronan.

Moving towards the town of Westport (where we’ll stay two nights), we visit Foxford Woollen Mills founded by an Irish nun in the 19th century. 

We’ll likely take lunch in Foxford and then it’s onto the National Museum of Country Life - an fascinating insight into life in rural Ireland up to the mid-20th century.

Afterwards, it’s a short hop to our next overnight - the wonderful town of Westport, where we’ll stay for two nights.   

Westport has great restaurants and pubs with great music - one of its most renowned is owned by Matt Molly, flute player with The Chieftains, winners of six Grammy awards, and credited with bringing Irish traditional music to a global audience over six decades.  

Accommodation: The Wyatt Hotel, in the centre of town.

Today we explore the ‘savage beauty’ of Connemara.  We visit the striking Kylemore Abbey (included in tour price) 

Before arriving back into Westport we’ll stop at our National Famine Monument. It’s at the foot of Ireland’s holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick, where it’s said that for every step you take on it, a sin is forgiven. On return, relax or explore the town.

P.S. - Did we mention a visit to a working sheep farm, to experience the wonderful bond between shepherd and dog?

It may happen today, it might have been yesterday or it might be tomorrow - you’ll never know in this tour when we’re going to surprise you.

Overnight again the Wyatt Hotel

First stop today will be Galway, known as the ‘City of the Tribes’. It’s a cosmopolitan, bohemian, buzzing university town yet retains its sense of rural identity.  It’s also the birthplace of the Claddagh ring and smooth-bodied ‘Hookers’ (careful….…...it’s all very innocent, and we’ll explain and demonstrate when we get there!)

Then it's time to make our way back towards Dublin and overnight again in Buswell's Hotel

This morning, you'll make your way to the airport in your own time for your flights home.  Unfortunately it’s time to say slán to Ireland.  

But you'll have had a vacation full of new experiences, and made new friends and memories for life.  And, not to mention the new craft skills you've acquired.