+353 872449446 | niallmcleary@gmail.com | niall@bestofirelandtours.ie | Co. Clare
Castle Tours
Ireland has some of the most luxurious, magical, and historic castles on this Great Emerald Isle. Why not live like a King or a Queen for a week and travel on a five-star, eight-day tour in a luxury vehicle driven by a specialist driver guide to some of the most elegant castles in Ireland?!
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Your Best of Ireland Tours driver guide will meet your group or family in the lobby of your hotel accommodation or at the airport arrivals for a meet and greet. Travel in a Best of Ireland Tours luxury vehicle to Blarney Castle in Co. Cork built in the 14th century by Dermot McCarthy. You will have the opportunity to kiss the famous Blarney Stone and receive the gift of eloquence. Stroll through the lush, 60 acres of beautiful trees and flowers. You can choose to walk on the Woodland, Lake or Riverside walk followed by an Irish Coffee or a pint of Guinness in a local pub along Blarney Village main street. Continue to the five-star Sheen Falls hotel in Kenmare, Co. Kerry for a relaxing stay in luxury. Once you arrive on the grounds your mind will wander in awe at the rapid waterfalls and the splendid views over Kenmare Bay. Delight in some fine dining at the Falls restaurant and the Stables brasseries. Rejuvenate after a long drive in the Easanna Wellness & Spa.
Cork Castles
Clare Castles
Your family or group will depart Sheen Falls luxury hotel and transfer to County Clare on the West coast of Ireland along the Wild Atlantic Way. Clare is home to Brian Boru, Biddy Early, Cormac McCarthy and President Michael D Higgins. The first castle your group will visit and stay overnight is the five-star Dromoland Castle which hosted the Women’s Irish Open Golf twice in the last five years. Dromoland Castle dates to the 16th century, once the home to the O’Brien’s of Dromoland. Dine in the flagship restaurant known as the Earl of Thomond for some palate-pleasing dishes. Enjoy a horse & carriage ride on the 500-acre estate, a round of golf on the world-class golf course or experience the fantastic Hawk walk on the grounds. Our specialist driver guide will also transfer your group to the 15th-century Bunratty Castle in Bunratty village. You will be treated to a Medieval Banquet like nothing you ever experienced in your life. Imagine the setting of a Medieval dance with musicians, singers and dancers all dressed in Medieval costumes. The waiters dressed in magical outfits will serve your group a four-course meal with some fine ale in the historic Bunratty Castle. Your driver guide will pick up your family or group at Dromoland Castle and travel along the Wild Atlantic Way to the 700-foot Cliffs of Moher. Walk by the cliff viewing point and smell the sea air as you feel the wind from the Atlantic Ocean blow through your hair. Climb the Liscannor flagstone steps to the historic O’Brien round tower built by the statesman and politician Cornelius O’Brien in 1835 to promote tourism in Co. Clare. Watch the puffins nesting on the cliff edge with their orange beaks picking in the grass. Look out in awe at the vast Wild Atlantic Sea and view the 12 Bens in Connemara to the North and Co. Kerry to the South. Stroll through the visitor centre, listen to the audio, and view the visuals displaying the fascinating history at the Cliffs of Moher. You may even hear some sweet Irish tunes as a musician plays his finely tuned fiddle. Enjoy some Wild Atlantic Sea platter at a local pub in Doolin village, the home of traditional Irish music. Your driver guide will travel across the 350-million-year-old Burren where you view bare limestone rock in conical-shaped mountains and disappearing lakes called Turloughs. The next stage of your Burren tour will be Caherconnell sheepdog demonstration where the owner John Davoren a local farmer and sheep herder for 30 years shows off his skills herding his sheep with four very clever border collies. You will have the opportunity to sit with these beautiful dogs and take some photos. The final stop on the Burren tour will be the most well-known portal tomb in Ireland called Poulnabrone Dolmen hidden in the karst limestone. After a photo stop at Poulnabrone, return to the splendid Dromoland Castle for some Irish coffee and excellent cuisine.
Discover the rich history and cultural significance of Dublin Castle with Best of Ireland Tours. Nestled in the heart of Ireland's capital city, this iconic landmark offers a glimpse into centuries of Irish heritage. Originally built in the 13th century as a defensive fortress, Dublin Castle has evolved over the years, serving as a royal residence, military garrison, and now a symbol of Irish independence. Explore its majestic architecture, intricate interiors, and lush gardens as our expert guides unveil tales of kings, rebels, and statesmen. A visit to Dublin Castle promises an immersive journey through Ireland's past, making it a must-see destination for travellers seeking to uncover the essence of the Emerald Isle.
Dublin Castles
Kerry Castles
Your expert driver guide will drive along the Ring of Kerry and show you some historic, religious, cultural, and rural sites including the Kerry Bog Village, Skellig Michael, Daniel O’ Connel church and Skellig chocolate factory. Meet the powerful and loveable wolfhounds at Kerry Bog village for a quick photo before enjoying an Irish coffee in the Red Fox Inn next door. Let your taste buds savour the salt from the Wild Atlantic Sea blended through the Skellig chocolate in this newly designed factory on the Skellig Ring. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Kerry cliffs and St.Finians Bay. Taste some delicious seafood at a recommended restaurant in Portmagee village. Travel out West with your driver guide to the magical village of Dingle where time seems to stand Still. Dingle is full of mystery from small pubs with wise storytellers and log fires, to a tour along the peninsula where the locals speak fluent Irish. It feels like a different planet when you walk through the famine cottages and hear the family history from your tour guide. Feel your heart lift when you travel to Dunmore Head where some of the Star Wars movies were filmed and view the waves crashing against the rocks as the seagulls’ dive into the Wild Atlantic Ocean. Your group will stop for some photos along the south-west coast and breathe in the Wild Atlantic Sea air before your driver guide travels to the €2.6 million state-of-the-art Blasket Visitor Centre. Step back in time to the 1950s as you listen to the audio and study the fantastic visuals depicting the life and times of ex-residents on the Blasket Islands including Peig Sayers. The final stop on this inspiring, spiritual, historic, and cultural tour is a visit to one of the oldest and most well-preserved churches in Ireland known as Gallarus Oratory dating to the 12th century. Your group will walk the path many pilgrims passed looking for peace in their souls before you enter this finely cut stone building. Mingle with the locals at Kruger's pub overlooking The Blasket Islands and have a pint of Guinness with delicious fresh fish & chips.
Your driver guide will pick up your group at Dromoland Castle and travel to the Medieval Galway city also known as the city of the tribes. Galway is referred to as the city of arts and culture where you see gifted musicians on Shop street entertaining spectators, a poet sharing celtic poems or Irish dancers dancing like Michael Flatley on the cobble stone streets. You will visit Galway cathedral built in 1965 and ex Irish President Eamon De Valera was the first to light a sanctuary candle in this remarkable building. Following the viewing inside Galway cathedral, your taste buds will delight in a 2.5 hour private foodie tour, visiting some bespoke restaurants on Shop street tasting delicious food from the best Artisan producers. This high end tour will also involve craft beer tasting and whiskey tasting for those who love Irish beers and whiskey. The next stop will be Kylemore Abbey built as a castle in 1868 and has strong connections with Notre Dame University. Stroll through the abbey which is now a museum and view the Victorian costumes worn by Mitchel Henry, the son of a wealthy, English cotton merchant and his wife Margaret. Learn the history of the Benedictine nuns who fled from Flanders to set up a new home at Kylemore which became a boarding school until 2010. Walk through the colourful and inspiring six acres of rich, Victorian Walled gardens. Return to the five-star Ashford Castle for a hot whiskey in front of the log fire.
Galway Castles
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Mayo Castles
The five star Ashford castle in Cong, Co.Mayo, a hidden gem on the West coast of Ireland built in the 13th century. You will be treated like royalty from the minute your group arrive at the main gate. This luxury 5 star castle is located on 350 acres overlooking the picturesque Lough Corrib. Step on a private cruise around Lough Corrib and listen to the skipper share the history of the Guinness family, previous owners of Ashford Castle for over sixty years. Taste some fine dining in the Geoge V dining room, where you will experience culinary excellence. Explore the quaint Cong village where you have the opportunity to visit some of the sites where “ The Quietman” film starring John Wayne and Maureen O’ Hara was filmed in 1952. Walk through Cong Abbey built in 1135 by Turlough Mor O’Connor and the Quietman museum for a photo stop. Your driver guide will travel with your family or group through the Maumturk mountains which stand at over 700 metres in height by Killary Fjord, the longest Fjord in Ireland at 16km.