classic southern ireland, the emerald isle explorer

CLASSIC SOUTHERN IRELAND
The Emerald Isle Explorer
4 days / 3 nights - Saturday to Tuesday

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP
DAY ONE - SATURDAY
First, to the medieval town of Kilkenny. This is one of the oldest and most interesting towns of Ireland. It has been called 'the marble city' from the fine and long-quarried limestone in the area. Two of the most impressive local buildings are the ancient castle, dating back to 1192 and having connections with the Norman conqueror, Strongbow, and the magnificent Cathedral of St. Candice which, despite the damage done by Cromwell's troops, is one of the finest unruined churches in the country. Next, to the awe inspiring Cashel. This was the ancient capital of the Kings of Munster and long famous ecclesiastical centre. The Rock of Cashel, rising above the town, is crowned by the ruins of a cathedral, beside which shelters an outstanding example of Irish Romanesque architecture, Cormac's Chapel.	Cork region
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
We call this one of our 'slow-down days' (though none of our tours are designed to be rushed). As on all of our tours, participants will also have an input into how the day unfolds and which of the sites and attractions are given time preference. Our day of discovery includes the city of Cork and the nearby Blarney. Yes, you'll 'kiss the Blarney stone'! The well preserved village square is also impressive. In Tudor style, the village has developed around the square. A stone's throw away is Cobh, known historically as Queenstown. Poignant reminders are everywhere of the hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish who left from here to build a new life, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Today it is a pleasant town; its streets climb the steep slope of a hill, the top of which is crowned by St. Coleman's Cathedral. On the quayside there is a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery. The ship was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an action which was responsible for bringing the USA into the Great War. Another unhappy association is with the Titanic, 'the safest liner in the world'. Queenstown was her last port of call on her fateful maiden voyage. Kinsale begs our attention. This pretty town, nestling between the hills and the shoreline, boasts a maze of narrow streets, none far from the water and little changed in many hundreds of years. Amongst buildings of later periods are those of another age with historical links to the French, Spanish, British and Americans. Highlights of our visit are Charles Fort and Desmond Castle, (French Prison). Desmond Castle has had a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence.	Cork, as above
DAY THREE - MONDAY
Today's itinerary takes us across to the fabled west Cork where we find some of the most beautiful Atlantic seaboard scenery. We follow the coast road to Skibbereen. This lively, cosmopolitan town is regarded as the hub of the tourism area that spreads out in many directions from it. It is noted for its shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as being home of the West Cork Arts Centre, where many artists who inhabit the area show their work. Thence to Mizen head, Ireland's most south-westerly point, and home of some breathtaking scenery and an award winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction. This authentic all-weather experience is a must-see with its spectacular location on high cliffs with swirling Atlantic Ocean tides. From the car park and Visitor Centre, the Signal Station is a ten minute walk along the path, down the 99 steps and across the Arched Bridge. The Mizen is famous for its wildflowers and sightings of wildlife, dolphins, whales, seals, gannets, kittiwakes, choughs – the bird migration north-south flight path is just a mile off shore. South, the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, Ireland’s Teardrop, was the last landfall seen by many emigrants to America and one of Marconi’s first telegraph stations. spectacular scenery and Famed in, Bantry Bay, our final feature of the day, is of legendary beauty. Bantry, at the head of the bay, is a busy market town and fishing port. Bantry House is spectacularly situated and exuberantly furnished. It is one of Ireland's most attractive Great Houses, full of treasures collected by various generations of Earls of Bantry. The French Armada Exhibition Centre features the ill-fated French Armada invasion of December, 1796. Also, depending on time, we may find the opportunity of visiting the gardens on garnish Island.	Cork, as above
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
We take the scenic route (is there any other in Ireland?) through Wicklow to Glendalough. "The glen of the two lakes" is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. Once the monastic capital of Europe, Glendalough features the ruins of no less than seven churches and the 6th century round tower. It owes its origin to St. Kevin, the hermit who founded the monastic city and who lived in a cave - St. Kevin's Bed - overlooking the Upper Lake. The famous Round Tower, about 34m high and 16m in circumference at the base, is still in near perfect condition even though it is almost 1,000 years old. The excellent Glendalough Visitor Centre provides regular exhibitions, informative guided tours of the monastic site as well as an audio-visual show about the rich heritage of the area. We return to Dublin where you're dropped at our centrally located hotel (not included in the tour price), or at the airport if going on to join another of our tours. This tour can be combined with our 3-day Snowdonia/Wales tour and is one of the modules that make up our 11-day Ireland tour.	Dublin, own account
Note: you can add another of our three-day or four-days tour to this. Immediately following this tour are one of the following, depending on the date of travel: the 3-day Irish Literary tour, the Irish Homes & Gardens tour, the Dublin Extension package, or the North Wales Celtic Connection tour of Anglesey and Snowdonia.
This tour also combines with UK tour Red Dragon, South Wales, from London, our Derbyshire Peaks tour from Manchester, and our tour of Scotland's Royal Fife departing from Glasgow. Participants would fly to London Heathrow, Glasgow or Manchester from Dublin.