Kylemore Abbey & Diamond Hill National Park

Kylemore Abbey is one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and is located in the Connemara countryside! Originally a castle in the late 1800s, it is now owned and run by the Benedictine community. While visiting Kylemore Abbey, students will enjoy walking around the lake and beautiful walled garden, and learning about the romance and history of Ireland’s most intriguing estate. After visiting Kylemore Abbey, we will then travel to Diamond Hill National Park. We will walk on gravel paths, a boardwalk, and steps in order to climb up the slopes of Diamond Hill. The views are truly spectacular and you can see the Connemara coastline all the way to the islands off of Galway, the Twelve Ben Mountains, and down to Kylemore Abbey. It is truly a breathtaking view!

Killary Sheep Farm & Killary Fjord

Killary Sheep Farm is located in a beautiful picturesque area overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara. This farm has over 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely on their land. While visiting this incredible farm, students will watch a sheep dog demonstration in which they will learn about how these hardworking dogs are trained. Students will also get to bottle feed some of these adorable little lambs. In addition, students will learn about bog cutting using a traditional tool called a sleán. In the past, Irish people relied on heating their homes using turf taken from a bog. After the farm visit, we will make our way to Killary Fjord for a wonderful walk with stunning views! Killary Fjord is one of just three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland and it is over 16km long.

Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, and Aran Islands

Our first stop will be at Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction, The Cliffs of Moher. Our tour of the cliffs will explore their 350 million year history and you will have the opportunity to see for yourself why the cliffs are Ireland’s favourite tourist destination. From the cliffs, we will travel the short distance to the quaint village of Doolin, world-renowned for its traditional Irish music scene. In Doolin, we will visit the Doolin Caves which is a dramatic underground experience like no other! Finally, from Doolin we will take a short ferry trip across the water to the largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mór. We will stay overnight on the island, renting bikes and exploring this incredible green island.

Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry is a tourist trail and part of the mystical & unspoilt region of Ireland that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. Its spectacular beauty is beyond question and it is a natural centre for outdoor pursuits that include golf, water sports, cycling, walking, running, riding and the very best fishing in freshwater rivers. Above all, the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland and takes in some of the most spectacular landscapes of Ireland’s Southwest.

There is a huge variety in the excursion including incredible scenery, historical and archaeological sites of national importance, Ceilí dancing, traditional music, Gaelic football, meeting local people, visiting a Gaelic speaking area and learning about local traditions & the way of life. Students get to experience life in Kerry and visit places most tourists never see. It’s always great fun or ‘great craic’ – an experience not to be missed!

The Cliffs of Moher & Aillwee Caves

The Cliffs of Moher & The Burren are at the heart of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, which is Ireland's rugged West Coast, and one of its most dramatic landscapes. This is Ireland at its most panoramic, with its cliff top walks, quintessential Irish Villages, friendly country vibes…all surrounded with jaw dropping views! It’s an adventure never to be forgotten! Students will also travel through The Burren, which gets its name from the Gaelic word 'bhoireann' (meaning 'a stony or Rocky place'), which formed over 320 million years ago under what was a tropical sea. This unusual landscape has an intriguing underworld area that is best understood by a visit to the famous Aillwee Caves, which are about 1.5 million years old, and boast some of the most spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in Ireland.

Limerick City, Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park

Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle and the surrounding Folk Park grounds shine a light on the daily lives of its 15th- and 16th-century inhabitants. In the 1640s the castle and grounds were abandoned and left to ruin for centuries. However, in the 1950s the process of restoring it to its former grandeur began. Open to the public, it is a labyrinth of staircases and rooms that one can wander and explore while imagining a life long ago. Bunratty Folk Park recreates rural and urban life in 19th-century Victorian Ireland. There is an extensive array of vernacular buildings, indicative of all of the social strata from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House, a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry.

Students will also get to enjoy the Medieval city of Limerick where we will sample the local cuisine at the Limerick Milk Market. The market has been selling food and goods since 1852 and is the heart of the city. Then we will explore the city centre by taking part in a walking tour full of Limerick’s medieval history.

Cork City, Blarney Castle, Cobh & Kinsale

Blarney castle tends to be top of most bucket lists, and for very good reasons! You’ve heard if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you’ll get the gift of the gab for 7 years, right? Well if you are hot on becoming a storyteller after all your adventures, this is certainly the thing to do, and you also get to check out a pretty awesome Castle & Gardens at the same time! What’s not to like? In addition to Blarney Castle, our stops will include: picturesque towns of Kinsale & Cobh, and a Cork City walking tour.

Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry (or Iveragh Peninsula, to give it its correct name) is a tourist trail and part of the mystical and unspoiled region of Ireland that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. Its spectacular beauty is beyond question and it is home to some of Europe’s finest beaches. Above all, the Ring of Kerry provides an amazing insight into the ancient heritage of Ireland, containing Iron Age forts, Ogham Stones, old monasteries and a landscape carved out of rock by the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago. Kerry is one of Ireland’s must visits, and one of the best weekend getaways!!

Kylemore Abbey & Diamond Hill National Park

Kylemore Abbey is one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions and is located in the Connemara countryside! Originally a castle in the late 1800s, it is now owned and run by the Benedictine community. While visiting Kylemore Abbey, students will enjoy walking around the lake and beautiful walled garden, and learning about the romance and history of Ireland’s most intriguing estate. After visiting Kylemore Abbey, we will then travel to Diamond Hill National Park. We will walk on gravel paths, a boardwalk, and steps in order to climb up the slopes of Diamond Hill. The views are truly spectacular and you can see the Connemara coastline all the way to the islands off of Galway, the Twelve Ben Mountains, and down to Kylemore Abbey. It is truly a breathtaking view!

Killary Sheep Farm & Killary Fjord

Killary Sheep Farm is located in a beautiful picturesque area overlooking Killary Fjord, on the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara. This farm has over 200 ewes and lambs roaming freely on their land. While visiting this incredible farm, students will watch a sheep dog demonstration in which they will learn about how these hardworking dogs are trained. Students will also get to bottle feed some of these adorable little lambs. In addition, students will learn about bog cutting using a traditional tool called a sleán. In the past, Irish people relied on heating their homes using turf taken from a bog. After the farm visit, we will make our way to Killary Fjord for a wonderful walk with stunning views! Killary Fjord is one of just three glacial fjords that exist in Ireland and it is over 16km long.

The Cliffs of Moher & Aillwee Caves

The Cliffs of Moher & The Burren are at the heart of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, which is Ireland's rugged West Coast, and one of its most dramatic landscapes. This is Ireland at its most panoramic, with its cliff top walks, quintessential Irish Villages, friendly country vibes…all surrounded with jaw dropping views! It’s an adventure never to be forgotten! Students will also travel through The Burren, which gets its name from the Gaelic word 'bhoireann' (meaning 'a stony or Rocky place'), which formed over 320 million years ago under what was a tropical sea. This unusual landscape has an intriguing underworld area that is best understood by a visit to the famous Aillwee Caves, which are about 1.5 million years old, and boast some of the most spectacular stalactites and stalagmites in Ireland.

Limerick City, Bunratty Castle, and Folk Park

Built in 1425, Bunratty Castle and the surrounding Folk Park grounds shine a light on the daily lives of its 15th- and 16th-century inhabitants. In the 1640s the castle and grounds were abandoned and left to ruin for centuries. However, in the 1950s the process of restoring it to its former grandeur began. Open to the public, it is a labyrinth of staircases and rooms that one can wander and explore while imagining a life long ago. Bunratty Folk Park recreates rural and urban life in 19th-century Victorian Ireland. There is an extensive array of vernacular buildings, indicative of all of the social strata from the poorest one roomed dwelling to Bunratty House, a fine example of a Georgian residence for the gentry.

Students will also get to enjoy the Medieval city of Limerick where we will sample the local cuisine at the Limerick Milk Market. The market has been selling food and goods since 1852 and is the heart of the city. Then we will explore the city centre by taking part in a walking tour full of Limerick’s medieval history.

Cork City, Blarney Castle, Cobh & Kinsale

Blarney castle tends to be top of most bucket lists, and for very good reasons! You’ve heard if you kiss the Blarney Stone, you’ll get the gift of the gab for 7 years, right? Well if you are hot on becoming a storyteller after all your adventures, this is certainly the thing to do, and you also get to check out a pretty awesome Castle & Gardens at the same time! What’s not to like? In addition to Blarney Castle, our stops will include: picturesque towns of Kinsale & Cobh, and a Cork City walking tour.