BELFAST & DERRY
Start your tour in the City Centre, then move through the Shipyards and see where HMS Titanic was built and launched from. See the political districts, which have bore the brunt of conflict over the last thirty years before seeing the elegant University Quarter and Museum district.
Visit the Titanic Quarter for a guided tour of Titanic’s Dock and Pump-House. Discover the story behind Belfast’s maritime magic at the site of the Thompson Dry-Dock and Pump-House, once the beating heart of Harland & Wolff during the construction of the great White Star Liners – the Britannic, Olympic and most famously, the Titanic.
Alternatively, enjoy a ride at the Belfast Wheel, Belfast version of the London Eye. Located at the east side of Belfast City Hall, the structure offers spectacular views across the city from a height of 200 feet.
Visit W5 Interactive Discovery Centre, the Ireland’s award-winning science and discovery centre at Odyssey in Belfast. With nearly 200 amazing interactive exhibits in four incredible exhibition areas, W5 provides a unique experience as well as fantastic fun for visitors of all ages. In addition to permanent exhibits, W5 also presents a changing programme of large and small-scale temporary exhibitions and events.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
Traditionally fishermen erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede Island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge! The rope bridge originally consisted of a single rope handrail which has been replaced by a two hand railed bridge by the National Trust. Sheep Island View Hostel displays a collection of old photographs of people doing stunts on the bridge
The Giant’s Causeway
The Giant’s Causeway is Northern Ireland’s most famous landmark and has been an official UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Formed between 50 and 60 million years ago, the ‘causeway’ takes its name from the legends of Finn MacCool and draws people from far and wide to this corner of North Antrim. Visit the Giants Causeway Visitor Centre.
Derry
See the historic walls of the city, St Columb’s Cathedral & Tower Museum. The historic walled city of Derry, also known as Londonderry, came into existence in 546 AD, when St Columba founded a monastery beside the River Foyle. It is the fourth largest city in Ireland, and the only one whose ancient walls survive intact. Stroll along the walls and visit the Tower Museum, which charts the history of the city from its beginnings right up to the 1970s.
Historic Walls of Derry
Derry is the only remaining completely walled city in Ireland and one of the finest examples of Walled Cities in Europe. The Walls were built during the period 1613-1618 by the honorable, the Irish Society as defenses for early seventeenth century settlers from England and Scotland.
St Columb’s Cathedral
St Columb’s Cathedral stands on a prominent site within the historic “Derry’s Walls” and is the city’s oldest building, being completed in 1633 in the Planter’s Gothic stylehaving. The Cathedral is a landmark, which speaks to citizen and visitor alike of much in the history of the City and represents a commodity of infinite spiritual value in the development of the area.
Tower Museum
The Tower Museum is located within the City’s historic walls and has won four major awards since it’s opening in October 1992. The Tower Museum houses two permanent exhibitions. “The Story of Derry” tells the colourful and dramatic history of the city from earliest prehistory to the present.
Visit the Museum of Free Derry, housed in the recently renovated flats at the southern end of Glenfada Park, is an archive focussing on the civil rights era of the 1960s and the Free Derry/early troubles era of the 1970s.
The Bogside Artists’ Murals Tour (the People’s Gallery), the most comprehensive tour of the famous murals of the Bogside in Derry. The Bogside Artists, the three renowned muralists who painted the murals are the soul creators of the World Famous Peoples Gallery. The twelve large scale murals are a main visitor attraction.
DUBLIN
Visit some of the city’s main attractions including Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol, the Christ Church Cathedral and Dublin’s vibrant city centre where you will have the opportunity to shop on the well known Grafton and Henry Streets.
Dublinia
Experience the Viking & Medieval Dublin in Dublinia, a heritage centre, located in central Dublin, at the heart of the medieval city. The exhibitions at Dublinia explore life as it was in the medieval city and the world of the Vikings.
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol, one of the largest unoccupied jails in Europe. As such, it gives the visitor a dramatic and realistic insight into what is was like to have been confined in one of these forbidding bastions of punishment and correction between 1796 when it opened and 1924 when it closed and offers a panoramic insight into some of the most profound, disturbing and inspirational themes of modern Irish history
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, the elder of the city’s two medieval cathedrals, the other being St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is officially claimed as the seat of both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin.
Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle, set on 250 acres of parkland in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, was both a fortress and a private home for nearly eight hundred years. The Talbot family lived here from 1185 to 1973, when the last Lord Talbot died.
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle built between 1208 and 1220 and representing some of the oldest surviving architecture in the city, and was the centre of English power in Ireland for over seven centuries until it was taken of by the Irish Free State in 1922.
Chester Beatty Library
Chester Beatty Library whose exhibits open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. The rich collection includes manuscripts, prints, icons, miniature paintings, early printed books and objects d’art from countries across Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was built in honour of Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral stands adjacent to the famous well where tradition has it Saint Patrick baptized converts on his visit to Dublin.
Viking Splash Tour
Viking Splash Tour which is a great way to see the sights of Dublin – both on land and water! Traveling on board our Amphibious World War II vehicles (DUKWs) you are taken on a spellbinding tour of Dublin. The climax of the tour sees our Viking DUKWs splash into the water at the newly developed Grand Canal Docklands where the recording studio of U2 and much more are explored.
Trinity College
Trinity is Ireland’s oldest and most famous college. Stopping by the atmospheric campus is a must, so you can walk in the footsteps of some of the college’s noted alumni — among them Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker, and Samuel Beckett — and see the famous Book of Kells.
Croke Park Museum
Croke Park Museum which a must for anyone interested in the history and development of Ireland’s national games of hurling and Gaelic football.
MID & SOUTH WEST OF IRELAND
King John’s Castle
Visit King John’s Castle. This is a 13th century Castle on ‘Kings Island’. The Castle overlooks the majestic River Shannon offering wonderful views of Limerick City. Discover history at its best, magnificent views and life in Norman times. Explore 800 years of history brought to life in the imaginative historical exhibition, excavated pre-Norman houses, fortifications, siege mines and the battlement walks.
Thomand Park Stadium
Take a guided tour of Thomand Park Stadium which takes you to places that are only accessible by the players and officials on match days, so from a walk down the tunnel to a seat in the dressing room, the stadium tour gives you the unique opportunity to experience how the Munster players feel on big match days. A visit to the museum is also included. This interactive museum showcases the proud history and heritage of Munster Rugby including an impressive range of memorabilia such as the match ball from the famous victory against the All Blacks in 1978 and the actual Heineken Cup trophy itself.
Bunratty Castle
The group can spend the afternoon exploring Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Built in 1425, the majestic Castle was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendour. It now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries and works of art, which capture the mood of the times. You can marvel at the finest collection of medieval furniture in the country, which brings to life a vital part of the Celtic past and the heritage of Co Clare. A restored village street complete with pub, post office, school, doctor’s house, hardware shop, printers, drapery shop, pawn shop and village hotel provides the main focal point for the park which will enchant and mesmerise both young and old.
Cliffs of Moher & the Burren
The Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland’s top Visitor attractions. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs.
From the Cliffs one can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. A unique experience is always encountered at the Cliffs, including stunning views of the dramatic Atlantic coastline along 600 metres of pathways and a viewing of Ireland’s largest mainland seabird colony including Puffins from April to July.
Lahinch
Lahinch is a village on Liscannor Bay, on the northwest coast of County Clare, Ireland. The village is a widely known seaside resort and is home to the world famous Lahinch Golf Club. There is also a 1.6 km (1 mi) sandy beach at Lahinch. Lahinch has long been a popular destination for golfers, but in recent times, has also become a popular resort for surfing.
Lahinch Surf School is based at the beach hut on Lahinch promenade in Lahinch County Clare on the west coast of Ireland and provides a friendly, safe and fun introduction to the exhilarating art of surfing.
Westport
Strokestown Park House in Roscommon is an 18th century mansion that retains its original furnishings and sits in a 4 acre walled garden. It contains the Famine Museum, which documents the history of the Great Irish Famine. The Museum has a strong educational focus and seeks to create a greater awareness of the horrors of contemporary famine by demonstrating the link between the causes of the Great Irish Famine of the 1840′s and the ongoing spectacle of famine in the developing world today.
Delphi
There is a large range of activities available for groups in Delphi, including surfing, kayaking, canoeing, raft building, rope courses, orienteering, zip lining and climbing.
Kylemore Abbey and Gardens.
The Abbey was built in 1868 and is one of the great baronial style castles remaining in Ireland and its six acre Victorian walled garden, created by Mitchel Henry in tandem with the building of Kylemore Castle, is one of Ireland’s finest gardens. In 1920, the castle was turned into an abbey when the Irish Benedictine nuns purchased it.
You will stop in the town of Clifden the ‘capital’ of Connemara. The Great Famine of the 1840′s retarded the town’s growth, but it has now become a most popular tourist centre.
Aran Islands
Inis Mór is the largest of the three Aran Islands just a short ferry trip from Galway.
Inis Mór is steeped in history and resembles an outdoor museum with over 50 different monuments of Christian, pre Christian and Celtic mythological heritage. Visit Dún Aonghas fortress, built 2,500 years ago. The fortress stands 300ft above sea level with views of the Cliffs of Moher and the Atlantic Ocean and has been described as one of the most magnificent of its kind in Europe.
Galway
Explore Galway City and stroll through Eyre Square, the Claddagh District, Shop Street and the Spanish Arch. Visit the Galway Cathedral and the Galway City Museum where you can learn about the history and heritage of Galway city.
