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Itinerary
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
We board the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin and continue onwards to our hotel in the Dublin area for our overnight stay.
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
We head across to Galway, a thriving, cosmopolitan city with the added bonus of a seaside setting and named as the European Capital of Culture for 2020. There is plenty to see on our free afternoon here, including the Latin Quarter with its cobblestone streets and colourful shops, Galway Cathedral, one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city, the lively Eyre Square and the scenic Salthill Promenade on the seafront, to name a but a few! Afterwards, we continue to County Clare and check in to the Treacy’s Hotel in Ennis.
Half Day
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
After breakfast, we make our way to the smallest of the Aran Islands, Inisheer. Known as Inis Oírr in Irish (pronounced Inish-Ear), this charming island is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches and beautiful landscapes, peppered with ancient stone forts and traditional cottages, where the Irish language is still widely spoken. We are treated to a pony and trap tour to take in the highlights of this delightful isle the old-fashioned way before some time to explore and enjoy lunch at your leisure.
We continue to our second location of the day for a leisurely cruise along the magnificent Cliffs of Moher, enjoying the geological wonders from below, admiring the views of the Aran Islands and listening to the onboard commentary. Stretching for eight miles along County Clare’s Atlantic Coast and 214m at their highest, the cliffs offer stunning scenery and are home to one of the major colonies of cliff-nesting seabirds in Ireland.
On the way back to the hotel, we take a scenic drive through the distinctive limestone landscapes of The Burren, including a short stop at Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic portal tomb and one of Ireland’s most recognisable archaeological monuments.
Full Day
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
This morning we head to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, set in 26 acres of unspoilt County Clare countryside. The most complete castle in Ireland and meticulously restored to reflect the grandeur of its past inhabitants, it’s fascinating to imagine how lords and ladies once lived in this 15th-century gem. Admire the extensive great hall, atmospheric dungeons and fairytale towers before heading to the Folk Park that surrounds the fortress, offering a glimpse into 19th-century Irish village life with traditional cottages, rural farmhouses, little shops and characters dressed in period costumes.
We then enjoy a two-course lunch plus tea or coffee at Durty Nelly’s, an atmospheric pub that dates back to 1620! Be sure to ask about the legend of Durty Nelly herself before we return to Ennis and our hotel.
The afternoon is spent at leisure in Ennis, the charming county town of County Clare. The town’s narrow, winding streets are perfect for exploring, with a variety of boutique shops, cafés and pubs, with jigs and ballads drifting through the air thanks to its rich traditional music heritage. Another highlight is Ennis Friary, a 13th-century Franciscan friary that offers a fascinating glimpse into medieval Ireland.
Full Day
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
Checking out of our hotel, we travel to Dublin where we spend an afternoon at leisure. There are plenty of historic sites, architectural splendours and iconic monuments to see from the oldest, Dublin Castle, to one of the newest, the Spire of Dublin. Or you may like to experience one of Dublin’s traditional pubs – there are 1,000 lining the city’s cobbled streets! We also have the option to join a guided tour of the city before spending the night in our hotel in the Dublin area.
An Irish Experience – Best of the West
We check out of our hotel very early to catch the ferry back to Holyhead; therefore, a voucher will be provided to enjoy breakfast on board. On arrival in Holyhead, we continue our journey home.
Traditional Live Music Evenings at Treacy’s West County Hotel
Settle in for traditional live music at Treacy’s West County Hotel, where local players trade reels and jigs and ballads in the bar. Foot-tapping rhythms, friendly banter and a cosy, wood-panelled setting capture County Clare’s music heritage at the day’s end.
During selected evenings, enjoy a free bar on chosen drinks in the early evening (typically 6:30–8:30pm), available exclusively at this hotel. It’s a warm, social way to swap stories with fellow travellers and feel the hospitality that defines Ireland’s west.
Dublin Guided City Tour
Join a guided panoramic tour of Dublin to see Trinity College, elegant Georgian squares and the literary haunts around St Patrick’s Cathedral. Cross the River Liffey by the Ha’penny Bridge and hear tales of Vikings, revolutionaries and writers shaping the capital.
This optional experience is at additional cost (£19pp) and bookable on tour. It offers helpful orientation across districts from O’Connell Street to Temple Bar, with local insight pointing out landmarks, cafés and museums you may wish to revisit during your independent time.
Cliffs of Moher Coastal Cruise
Cruise Ireland’s wild Atlantic fringe beneath the Cliffs of Moher, gazing up at sea-carved buttresses and towering 214m faces. From the water, watch for puffins and guillemots on the ledges and feel salt spray as swells echo through caves and arches.
An onboard commentary brings geology and lore to life within the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark. Look up to O’Brien’s Tower crowning the headland and appreciate perspectives only the sea affords, where cliff strata and seabird colonies reveal their grand scale.
The Burren Scenic Drive & Poulnabrone Dolmen
Journey across The Burren, a stark sweep of limestone pavements laced with drystone walls and wildflowers. Windows frame loughs, hazy hills and Atlantic inlets as you traverse this otherworldly karst, stopping to pause for photos and reflection amid its quiet, wind-scoured beauty.
Visit the iconic Poulnabrone Dolmen, a Neolithic portal tomb thought to date to c. 4200–2900 BC. Its slender capstone and upright orthostats speak to ancient ritual on the Burren’s limestone table, a timeless silhouette set against big skies and open moor.
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park with Lunch at Durty Nelly’s
Step inside Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, exploring the restored 15th-century tower house, its Great Hall, and battlements before wandering a period-costumed village of thatched cottages, schoolhouse and shops. Hear turf fires crackle and trace everyday life in rural County Clare.
Afterwards, savour a two-course lunch at Durty Nelly’s (est. 1620) beside the castle. Tuck into hearty Irish fare with tea or coffee as staff share the pub’s toll-keeper legend, peat-smoke ambience and centuries as a favourite stop for travellers.
Galway City Visit: Latin Quarter, Eyre Square & Salthill Promenade
Explore Galway’s bohemian heart, strolling the Latin Quarter of cobbles, buskers and colourful shopfronts before people-watching on Eyre Square. Follow the River Corrib towards the waterfront and breathe Atlantic air along the Salthill Promenade with views to the Aran Islands.
Spot the honeyed stone of Galway Cathedral, trace medieval trade at the Spanish Arch and recall the city’s role as European Capital of Culture 2020. Lively pubs and cafés spill into the streets, giving time to sample music, craft boutiques and easygoing west-coast charm.
Inisheer Pony & Trap Island Tour
Explore the smallest Aran Island on a guided pony and trap tour, tracing stone-walled lanes on Inisheer (Inis Oírr). Pass ivory beaches, whitewashed cottages and the ruins of O’Brien’s Castle, with Atlantic views sweeping towards County Clare.
This gentle, traditional ride offers insight into Gaeltacht life, where the Irish language is still widely spoken. Hear local place-names and folklore from your driver and see how farming and fishing anchor island traditions in a landscape shaped by sea and stone.
