Below you will find a more detailed summary of what will happen on your adventure with us. Hold onto your seat!:
- 6: 50 am
We depart at the crack of dawn from the Suffolk Street Tourist Office. Now, to avoid the confusion, this is the government tourist office that is located on Suffolk Street. It is a big stone church. It is not the excellent tourism office on College Green in front of Trinity College! Your guide will do a quick introduction of the tour and will make sure that everybody is happy and ready to go.
From the onset, we will tell you more about the sights that we pass in the city centre, introduce you to each other and maybe advise on the weather you can expect for the day. As we leave Dublin behind, the urban landscape changes to that of the rolling hills and constant hedges of the Irish countryside. You will pass the Viking part of Dublin and also the Guinness factory, smelling the hops as you go by. About an hour into the journey we'll pass an area called The Curragh in County Kildare. This area is ideal for training horses, due to the sandy soil that creates excellent drainage, making it an ideal spot for horse racing. Not surprisingly, the Curragh race track is situated nearby. Opposite the track is one of Ireland's main army bases, the army who love watching the horse racing. County Kildare is also well known for horse breeding and vast tracks of lands today are owned by the likes of the Agha Khan and Sheik Mohammed. Close to Kildare Town, you will find the National Stud Farm, world famous for its horse breeding, coupled with the lovely Japanese Gardens. On your left hand side down the road you will also see the famous, although not publicised Rock of Dunamase. Start seeing the real green grass of Ireland through the midlands. Unfortunately the midlands of Ireland are driven through mostly to get to the west coast or south coast of Ireland. It is a beautiful region with numerous lakes and castles. However, we will be driving straight through it today! - 8:45
After a short stop over to stretch our legs, we pass the Knockmealdown Mountains, made famous by the folk song "Kitty Borne O'Brien". This song is a lover's lament for a young woman who emigrates from Ireland to Canada.
Further along the way, we will see the Galtee Mountains, Ireland's highest inland mountain range, with its stony scree-covered summit- but more on the Galtee's under our "Of special interest" section. We will be leaving the motorway at Mitchelstown, lovely cheese on your toast made here. We will meander our way over the small roads towards Kildorrery where there is an excellent view back over the Galtees. Stop for a short break in the wonderful petrol station and see how far our sophistication and taste has come in coffee brewing! This road is a wonderful to drive on with lovely views either side. We will eventually arrive in Mallow town and we are now close to the famous Blarney Castle. - 10:30
We arrive at Blarney Castle and half the day's driving is already done! Blarney Castle, famous for its Blarney Stone, also has lovely wooded walks and "Rock Close"- a garden filled with Druidic rock formations, believed to be dating back to pre-historic times. The price of entry is included in the tour price. To kiss the stone, you have to bend backwards when on the parrifits of the castle, holding onto iron railings- basically hanging upside down. The reward for your efforts: to be bestowed with the so-called "Gift of the gab". One thing to be aware of here is that there is so much on show inside the castle grounds than the Rock. Kiss the rock and then walk around the gardens. Make a wish on the witches' steps and just take your time walking around these wonderfully manicured gardens. After, you will have a chance to shop inside the Woolen Mills. - 12:30
We arrive in Cork City, where we have 2 hours to maybe grab some lunch at the English Market (now with a very international flavour), go marvel at the Gothic St. Finbar's Cathedral, or even ring the bells of Shandon at St. Anne's Church for a small fee. Cork is home to Murphy's Ale and the Ford Tractor factory, but more on that in our "Of special interest". You will be dropped right in the city centre and you can walk around and maybe get your lunch in the English market. See if you can understand the interesting folk of Cork. We will be leaving Cork city around 14:30 pm to visit the rock of Cashel. Two rocks you've seen today on your trip with us and both hopefully going to bring you just as much pleasure! - 15:30
At the Rock of Cashel, we visit this great Celtic Cathedral, which include the Hall of Vicars, Cormack's Chapel, which has one of Ireland's oldest Romanesque wall paintings and the Round tower, all perched on a solid rock ringed by a curtain wall. This entry fee is also included in the price of your tour. Aren't we the best? This Rock of Cashel, is the seat of the archbishop of the diocese of Cashel and is the sight where the historical synod of Cashel. It dates back from before there Anglo-Norman conquerors and contains an amazing collection of architecture, history and Romanesque art.
- 16:45
We depart from the Rock of Cashel and return to Dublin, maybe listening to some Irish music and reflecting on the day's experiences. - 19:00
We approximately arrive back in Dublin and say our goodbyes. Thanks for joining us!