2019 The Irish Pub Tour – 9 Days/8 Nights CIE09TIPT

Tour starts 2:00 pm at your Dublin hotel. Set out on an introductory tour of central Dublin. Cross the River Liffey to drive along the wide O’Connell Street and view the General Post Office where the 1916 Uprising started. Visit the Guinness Storehouse to learn about Ireland’s most famous brew and after pulling your own pint enjoy views of Dublin from the rooftop bar. Enjoy a welcome drink and dinner with your group at The Church Café Bar and Restaurant. (D)

Explore Glasnevin Cemetery Museum, Ireland’s national necropolis, which is a who’s who of modern Irish history. Head to Kilkenny for a walking tour through Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile to view merchants’ houses and a stop at one of its historic pubs. Visit Smithwick’s Experience brewery for a tour and enjoy a sample. Spend some free time browsing the charming city before dinner. (B, D)

Visit the Dungarvan Brewing Company and learn about their bottle-conditioned beers. Next, stop by the Seanachai Pub, a quaint thatched-roof pub. Travel on to visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence” or explore the tranquil gardens. Treat yourself to quality Irish-made goods at the Blarney Woollen Mills. Pass through County Cork to Killarney where you’ll have free time to explore some lively pubs. (B, D)

Head to the glorious Dingle Peninsula, made famous by two movies, “Ryan’s Daughter” and “Far & Away,” which showcased the wonderful scenery. Visit the South Pole Inn for an Irish coffee and learn about Tom Crean, an explorer who bravely journeyed to the South Pole. Immerse yourself in farm life and watch skilled dogs herd sheep. Enjoy some time and lunch on your own in the town of Dingle. In the evening, head to the Irish Whiskey Experience for a tasting, chocolate pairing and dinner. (B, D)

Embark on a ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Take in the spectacular beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, soaring 700 feet above the Atlantic surf. Walk along the top of the cliffs for views across Galway Bay to Connemara and the Aran Islands. A short drive will bring you into Doolin for lunch at McGann’s Pub. Travel to Spanish Point, named after the ships of the 1588 Spanish Armada that were wrecked there. Enjoy a drink at Johnny Burke’s and dinner at your hotel. (B, L, D)

Drive around the shores of Galway Bay and stop in Galway for some leisure time to explore independently. Continue through Connemara with its hills, lakes, and open country where sheep roam freely. Stop in Leenane, where the movie “The Field” was made. Continue to Westport and enjoy a pub walking tour of this attractive estate town built in 1780, with buildings steeped in history and traditional pubs, many with live music. (B, D)

Enjoy the scenery of central Ireland as you head to Dublin on the east coast. Visit Teelings Distillery in the heart of the city, and sample the aged whiskey and CIE Tours’ signature drink. Head to the Brazen Head Pub, Dublin’s oldest, dating back to 1198 for an evening of “Food, Folk and Fairies” where storytelling will reveal the myths and beliefs of times past. (B, D)

Enjoy an independent Dublin open-top bus tour and a visit to one of Dublin’s top attractions -- EPIC Ireland, the GPO Museum or the Book of Kells. (B)

Your program ends after breakfast. (B)