[10am] After a delicious breakfast and a leisurely morning. We’ll take a relaxing ‘Jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park, the local traditional horse & carriage experience for 150 years.“When in Venice, one takes a Gondola; in Killarney, it’s a Jaunting Car” - Stephen McPhilemy. Hear stories and tales from your always entertaining ‘Jarvey’ (carriage driver) and enjoy the blissful lakeside views from Ross Castle, ancestral home of the O’Donoghue clan. Always a highlight for our Tour-Guests

[10.30am] We’ll enjoy one of our trademark ‘Mini Ring of Kerry’ Tours stopping at Torc waterfall and visiting picturesque Kenmare and visiting it’s ancient stone circle, built by our ancient pre-Celtic ancestors even before the Celtic Druids got the credit! A place of strong spiritual energy.

[2pm] Stop up at Molls gap on the Ring of Kerry and take in the breathtaking scenery, a real highlight.

[2.30pm] Visit the Kissane Family Sheep-Farm (subject to availability), in a landscape filled with sheep this is always one of our most popular stops. We’ll meet the Kissane brothers and their super-smart Sheepdogs round up a herd of sheep in one of the most impressive natural amphitheatres anywhere, the black Valley in County Kerry. We will also experience a Sheep shearing and maybe even adopt a wee lamb!

[4pm] Enjoy a stroll though the gardens of Muckross House. You’ll enjoy free time in the lakeside lawns before and have time to tour the beautiful stately home.
[5pm] Back in bustling Killarney with the evening free to to dine, dance, sing, shop or relax!

[9.30am] After a spectacular breakfast we'll depart Killarney for the one hour scenic drive to magical Dingle. 

[11am] Arrive in Dingle and after an orientaion tour by bus we’ll break for an artisan coffee or maybe a Murphys Ice-Cream.

[11.30am] We'll enjoy the famous ‘Historic Dingle Walking Tour’ with excellent loca-guide, born and bred in Dingle, taking in all the history of this charming seaside village and meeting its great local characters

[2.30pm] We'll visit Sean Daly, a good friend of ‘Essential Ireland Tours’ and the former Master-Cutter at Waterford Crystal, a chance to get up close and personal with a renowned craftsman.

[3.30pm] Dingle Falconry Experience! Hold and fly majestic Birds of Prey in this once in a lifetime experience. ‘Essential Ireland Tours’ has our very own Falconry School and we offer our Tour Guests a unique opportunity to experience the ancient Irish art of Falconry, which came to prominence in 12th Century Ireland with ancient Norman clans like the Fitzgeralds and Fitzmaurices.

We have our very own School of Falconry with 50 birds of prey and a Master Falconer and 2 other full-time falconers who will introduce you to a wide range of Birds of Prey as you slip on a long leather glove (very medieval!) and hold and fly Hawks, Falcons, Owls and Orla (our majestic Golden Eagle). All on the beautiful backdrop of Dingle Harbour, a great photo opportunity but an even greater travel experience…

[5.30pm] Checkin at Milltown House, our exclusive luxury waterfront Guesthouse and former home of Hollywood actor Robert Mitchum (in town to film Oscar winning ‘Ryans Daughter’ in 1969), now home Seamus & Ogie, our Gentle-Giant Irish Wolfhounds. Check in here is always a special event, with a remarkable warm hospitality that ‘Essential Ireland’ and all our team are renowned for.

[6.00pm] Complimentary Dingle Gin & Tonic cocktails in our very own ‘Robert Mitchum Bar & library’. 

Enjoy a home-cooked dinner.

During and after dinner we will have a private gala performance, with some of  finest traditional musicians in Dingle coming to entertain us, including a world champion Irish dancer (subject to him being in town, hes often on tour globally these days, fingers crossed we'll meet him!) We are excited to introduce them to you.  

This Dingle food and music evening is always a holiday highlight for many Tour-Guests.

[9.30 am] After our home-made breakfast in the waterfront glass conservatory at Milltown House, we will load up our luxury ‘Essential Ireland’ Tour Bus and head ‘back-west’ to enjoy a guided tour of scenic Slea Head and the coastline of the Dingle Peninsula (now even more famous since it became the set for Star Wars!) The finest scenery in Ireland? You’ll decide.  

We will take our time, relax and enjoy the beauty and make lots of stops, including Gallarus Oratory (the oldest free-standing Church in the world!), a short-hike to Slea Head and discover Kilmalkedar church with its Celtic carvings and spiritual beauty. Visit Cuminole beach  (a delightful sheltered cove) and enjoy some complimentary wine or craft beer, and some fine Irish cheese. The higlight of today is always the Blasket Island Interprative centre, presenting the rich Gaelic culture of the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula and it's islands.

Afterwards some Tour-Guests may consider joining an optional hike to nearby Esk Tower, unreal views over Dingle and overlooks the ‘Star Wars Island’ Skellig Michael, a monastic icon and UNESCO world heritage site.

[4pm] A Dingle craft-beer  tasting session, including the first beer in Ireland made by a female brewer, always a treat.

[6pm] Free time to explore this quintessential Irish village.

Free time in Dingle. Evening free for dinner, but we offer the famous Dingle Musical Pub Crawl, which  Tour-Guests  enjoy immensely due to our subtle small-group size, a great chance to meet the locals.

[8am - 10am] Enjoy a delicious home-cooked and leisurely Irish breakfast.

[10am] Free day in Dingle to enjoy a host of possible activities, or just relax and update your travel journal before our fun evening ahead.

Some guests enjoy a tour of the Dingle whiskey distillery or weather-permitting a Dingle Sea Safari. And some just prefer a day of shopping, snacking and trying out a few more of Dingle's 56 pubs!

5pm: Gather in our very own library-bar for a Dingle whiskey tasting.

[6pm] A home-cooked meal by our private chef, wine inclued. All ingredients sourced within 10 miles of Dingle. Such an enjoyable experience.

[7 pm] A gala private concert of brilliant music and dance, one of the consistent highlights for all tour-guests.

Farewell to Dingle 

[8am] Depart Dingle after an early breakfast. (note: this is the only morning we will begin the touring day before 9am)

[10am] Cross the estuary of the river Shannon by Ferry and hopefully spot some dolphins!

12 noon: Relax and enjoy the scenic coastal drive past some of Ireland's best surfing and golf courses before our lunchtime visit to the Cliffs of Moher, plenty of time to stroll and enjoy the blockbuster attraction on Irelands West Coast!

[2.30pm] We have the pleasure of introducing you to the idyllic village of Cong, gorgeous in every detail and once the setting for the Hollywood Classic - ‘The Quiet Man’ with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Perhaps enjoy the gardens of Ashford Castle, former summer-home of the Guinness Family.
(note: On the occasional event there is a VIP wedding by an international celebrity or royalty, we will have to respect the privacy requirements of the Castle and host tea in another of Ireland’s fine Castles or beauty spots)

[3pm] Visit Cong Abbey, the 12th Century resting place of the last High-King of Ireland, Rory O’Connor. Then Free-time to wander in the forests and quaint streets Cong.

[4pm] We’ll take a scenic drive through Connemara, stopping to bounce on the Peat-bogs (yes, bounce!) 

[5pm]: Return to Galway. Free for dinner. Your 'Essential Ireland' Guide will offer a dinner meet-up  in one of the funky and fun oubs in the latin-quarter.

[10.30am] We will have a late-morning departure to give you some strolling and shopping time in Galway city-centre.

[11am] Departure for Dublin via Clonmacnoise. Drive across the midlands of Ireland to the bogland of County Offaly. Our Chief-Guide, Stephen, is a judge in the ‘Best Place in Ireland to Holiday’ competition for the National newspaper, the Irish Times, and recently lamented that travel in Ireland was a like a donut, all sweet around the outside with nothing in the middle. We will prove that theory wrong today with a visit to the ancient monastic city of Clonmacnoise perched on the banks of the epic River Shannon.

[12noon] Guided tour and afterwards ensure you have ample free time to explore the Celtic crosses and Round Towers and see where Pope John Paul II said Mass here in 1979.

Free for lunch.

[2pm] Depart for the Capital City.

[3.30pm] Arrive in Dublin around 4pm for our grand finale - a visit to one of the most famous Brewery’s in the world, learn the history of this iconic Irish institution enjoy the all-glass Gravity Bar on the top floor. We’ll see all of Dublin from the comfort this 360 degree vantage point. A fitting, historic and all-weather venue for us to say goodbye as a group.

[5.30pm] We’ll say our farewells in the environs of The Guinness Storehouse and then drop you off at your desired location in Dublin city-centre, (we can also help you arrange a taxi or a drop-off at Dublin Airport or to an airport hotel, after 6 pm approximately).

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat, may the road rise to meet you.