From CAD $3,946 Was CAD $4,385
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(8 reviews)
Experience Overview
Let the luck of the Irish be with you on this guided tour celebrating Ireland’s nature and history. Dine inside Dublin’s Irish Emigration Museum, indulge your curiosities at Kylemore Abbey and stand atop the towering Cliffs of Moher. A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience seaweed foraging walk reveals a landscape that has inspired artists and writers while visits to iconic Blarney Castle and Kilkenny Castle gets you up close and personal with Ireland’s history.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner (D)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts. Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
Authentic Dining
- Killarney: Choose from a fine selection of local restaurants on your Dine-Around evening.
- Dublin: Cross the River Liffey and venture to a local restaurant to toast your unforgettable travels over dinner. Sláinte!
Brendan Choice
- Blarney: Your up close and personal encounter with the lush gardens of the Blarney Castle estate is brought to life on a guided tour with a senior gardener. On your stroll enhanced by your expert’s insights, learn about the arboretum’s rare trees, mystical Druid rock formations and the Bog Garden boasting three 600-year-old yew trees.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. But to do so, you must dangle from the ramparts. Visit Blarney Castle and see the famous Stone of Eloquence.
Brendan Experiences
- Kilkenny: Visit Kilkenny Castle to learn the history of this magnificent castle and that of the powerful Ormonde family that came to call it home for so many centuries. Amble through the Picture Gallery, library, drawing room, nursery and bedrooms decorated in 1830s splendor as well as the rolling parkland formal terraced rose garden, woodlands and man-made lake.
Iconic Experience
- Cliffs of Moher: Towering cliffs and the dramatic sea, the Cliffs of Moher has inspired countless travelers. Visit the Exhibition Center and look out over the Wild Atlantic Way from these majestic cliffs that rise over 700 feet high. Gain insights from your Travel Director into the cliffs’ geology, history and the species that find sanctuary in its nooks and crannies.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Ring of Kerry: Meet John, a seaweed advocate and educator for a seaweed foraging walk at Atlantic Irish Seaweed. Stroll along the shore learning about how they work to protect the fragile ecosystem of the wild Atlantic Irish coasts through their educational courses and passion for the local environment. Irish Atlantic Seaweed's environmental policy is to respect, enjoy and protect the natural wonders that surround them, and promote the sustainable use of Ireland's fragile marine ecosystems. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.
Top Rated Highlights
- Dublin: Embark on an interactive discovery of the 70 million people who claim Irish ancestry at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum. Throughout 20 rooms divided per topic, learn about the Irish experience and the timeline of Ireland’s history told through the personal stories of emigrants. The sights and insights range from learning a special Irish dance to reading the letters of past emigrants, to tracing your family name going back generations.
- Dublin: See Dublin's elegant Georgian squares, O'Connell Street and the Custom House with a Local Expert
- Strokestown: This Palladian mansion of Strokestown Park House will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. This time capsule reveals an atmosphere of grandeur from its original art collections to its gardens and woodlands where exotic plants and architectural gems delight garden-lovers. Learn how this Georgian style house served as the family home to the Mahons, a well-known military family, from the 1600s until 1981.
- Westport: Explore of the town of Westport in a remote area of Ireland full of rugged beauty. Highlights of your walk may include Westport House - a heritage home museum celebrating 300 years of Irish heritage, a quaint stone bridge, Rockfleet Castle and Burrishoole Abbey tied to the 16th-century pirate queen Grace O’ Malley.
- Kylemore: With a striking Victorian Walled Garden and turreted church, Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey is a sight to behold. Dig into the Abbey’s history, discovering how it was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
- Shannon: Cross the Shannon Estuary by ferry, passing sites linked to smuggling and 19th-century emigration.
- Ring of Kerry: Venture into a world of towering cliffs, lush lakelands, beaches, fields dotted with sheep, rocky coastline, remote villages and historical sites, as you journey the magical Ring of Kerry. This 111-mile circular route is the best place to admire Ireland's scenic beauty and truly one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
What's Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Ferry across the Shannon estuary
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Trip Details
Product Code: 20889
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Supplier Code: 29.52A
Starts: Dublin, Ireland
Finishes: Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3946 (CAD $493 /day)
Itinerary
A modern multi-cultural city that embraces its past and exudes an enduring sense of fun, the 'Emerald Isle' has lured the most curious of travelers for centuries. Your Local Expert reveals the best of the city on a guided tour past the Georgian Squares and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Delicious cuisine and history merge this evening over drinks and canapes at EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum where you’ll discover the stories of Irish emigrants who became scientists, politicians, poets, artists and even outlaws all over the world.
Accommodation: Camden Court, Dublin
The beauty of an Irish country house springs to life at Strokestown Park House and Gardens. After soaking in its beauty, go from grand homes to history visiting the onsite Irish Famine Museum to delve into the stories of the 1840s famine with a Local Expert. Learn the history behind the Irish Potato Famine, the most catastrophic event in Ireland and one of the worst famines in history. View rare 19th-century photographs, witness accounts, sketches, newspapers and maps before continuing to Sligo. In the afternoon, consider an optional cruise on the River Shannon and admire the rolling countryside of the emerald isle.
Accommodation: Sligo Park
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The seaside town of Westport on Ireland’s west coast will charm any traveler. Your Local Expert leads you on a walk to learn about the town's heritage – from its settlement 5,000 years ago to today. Continue to indulge your curiosity at Kylemore Abbey, a treasure trove of picture-perfect scenery and the oldest of the Irish Benedictine Abbeys. You could enhance your day with an Optional Experience, a Galway walking tour featuring the Lynch Memorial Window, Church of St. Nicholas, Spanish Arch and Eyre Square, dedicated to the late U.S. President, John F. Kennedy. You’ll love hearing intriguing stories of this bustling medieval port.
Accommodation: Connemara Coast, Galway
Meals: Breakfast
Embark on an up close and personal encounter with Ireland's nature at the towering Cliffs of Moher. Perched at 214 m (702 ft), take in views of the Clare Coast and the pounding Atlantic. Gain insights into the cliffs’ geology and history before crossing the Shannon Estuary by ferry from Killimer to Tarbet. Head to Killarney where you’ll relive the highlights of the day over a Dine-Around evening of local cuisine. You also have your pick of Optional Experiences including a Celtic Steps performance or a Gaelic Roots show of song and dance.
Accommodation: Great Southern Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Famous for its 'forty shades of green,' the Irish nature at the Ring of Kerry has inspired writers and poets for centuries. Drink in the beauty of the coastal drive lined with beaches, colorful seaside villages and views of the Atlantic Ocean. On an insightful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet John, a seaweed advocate and educator for a seaweed foraging walk. Embrace the landscape that has inspired poets, artists and writers.
Accommodation: Great Southern Killarney
Meals: Breakfast
With Brendan Choice choose to explore one of the icons of Ireland, Blarney Castle, the Witch's Kitchen and Wishing Steps gardens and, of course, the infamous stone – said to bestow the 'gift of the gab' upon whoever kisses it. Or, don’t miss your chance to amble the 1,500-acre grounds including the raised board walk, surrounded by water loving plants and waterfalls. The Carnivorous Courtyard features plants that with colorful, fluid-filled leaves while the Fern Garden features trees brought from the other side of the world that are survivors of the Jurassic period.
Accommodation: Hotel Kilkenny
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
12th-century Kilkenny Castle is full of curiosities dating back to when it was the principal seat of the butlers, earls, marquesses and dukes of Ormond. On your exploration of its vast parkland, learn how the castle was remodelled in the Victorian style and restored and updated several times before being formally taken over by the Irish State in 1969. Return to Dublin and finish your incredible tour with a memorable dinner at a traditional Irish pub.
Accommodation: Camden Court, Dublin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s time to close the chapter on an unforgettable tour of the Emerald Isle. We bid our newfound friends and Travel Director a fond farewell.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Brendan Vacations (CA)
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Tabitha - Traveled, July 2022
DO NOT travel with Brendan Vacation. We will schedule to travel 17 to 24 July 2022. On 14 July, I was diagnosed as Covid positive so contacted Brendan to see if possible to reschedule. The answer was and our trip would be considered as cancel thus the cancellation policy kick it. Not that I don’t want to travel but it is only being responsible not to do so. I’m surprised they made no exception for such Covid positive situation. Not only they do not offer reschedule, they will only pay me back based on their cancellation policy (10% of the trip) In short, they just took all my money without providing me the service.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/14/2022
Lynette B. - Traveled, June 2025
Ireland has amazing scenery, the Ring of Kerry was just lovely, spectacular. Galway Bay and Kilkenny were also highlights as was Dublin. The hotels included in the tour were sometimes a way out of the towns, sometimes good but if you’re not joining in on optional experiences you can be left away from the highlights. But nothing can detract from the history and the countryside, the mansions and castles plus the village experiences
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2025
Kevin D. - Traveled, June 2025
It was perfect. Our tour guide was awesome. Very knowledgeable about the history of Ireland. She and our driver were top notch. Both had wonderful personalities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Amy J. - Traveled, May 2025
If Sligo were removed and replaced with an overnight in Westport, it would have been a 5 star review. Be prepared to be on a bus with others for half of each day. I don’t believe any of my party really expected as much time on the coach. But, the host/driver/and other guests were all wonderful, thankfully. Each preset menu in each town was almost exactly the same. A little more dining variety would have been so incredibly appreciated especially since sitting so much. Less starch and more fresh fruits/vegetables would have been a better addition. It is hard to please all and overall this was a wonderful way to see Ireland and experience the beauty of the country.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/23/2025
Yvette A, - Traveled, May 2025
It was a great mix and it flowed well.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/02/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Great itinerary that covered a lot ground in an efficient manner. However, some stops felt rushed. We could have used more time at places like Kylemore Abbey, Westlake, and Blarney Castle. The optional excursions were worth the prices charged. My 2 biggest issues were that the seaweed lecture seemed to have nothing to do with Ireland (would have preferred something more historic or cultural) and the bus we were on was a bait and switch from an Insights bus to a Brenden bus. Everything we saw before we received the note from our TA said Insight, but then it changed to Brenden. While the hotels, venues, and personnel were top-notch, once we saw and heard what a true Insights bus was like, we did feel slighted.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/30/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
The bus was a standard bus, we were expecting a bus with less seats and more room.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
Full, exciting itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/21/2025
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