The Pulse of Ireland

Day 1 – Arrival	Arrival at Dublin airport. Onto the city of Dublin for a short sightseeing tour through Dublin’s elegant Georgian streets and squares. Visit Trinity College in the city centre to view one of Ireland’s greatest treasures, the Book of Kells. Visit also the Dublin Writer’s Museum to find out more about our famous writers who were either born or lived here. Among this elite group are four winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature; George Bernard Shaw, William Butler Yeats, Samuel Beckett and Seamus Heaney. Transfer to your Dublin hotel for dinner and overnight
Day 2 – Dublin / Donegal	Travel via the Boyne Valley which is at the heart of Celtic Ireland. You will visit the Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre designed to interpret the archaeological heritage of the area and then you will visit the burial chamber of either Newgrange or Knowth which predate the Egyptian pyramids. See also the Celtic Cross of Monasterboice before continuing your journey to County Donegal. Transfer to your Donegal hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – The Donegal Gaeltacht	We visit today Ionad Cois Locha, a small rural community in the Gaelic speaking area of Donegal, which lies in unique scenery at the foot of Mount Errigal. Many people came to visit the homestead of Manus Ferry, a renowned weaver and his brother, a shepherd, in order to purchase their tweed in the beginning of the last century. Manus’ home has been restored to give a full flavour of life in Donegal in the early 20th century. Continue to Glenveagh National Park, one of Ireland's hidden treasures. Its 10,000 hectares are there to be explored as well as Glenveagh Castle and the splendid gardens which surround it. Return to your Donegal hotel for dinner after which you shall enjoy an evening of Donegal fiddle music in the local pub.
Day 4 – Donegal / Westport	Depart Donegal and travel through Sligo to Ballina. Visit the Ceide Fields – the most extensive stone age monument in the world with field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs of 5,000 years ago. Arrive at the lively town of Westport for dinner and overnight. The evening is free to explore the town with its wide selection of pubs renowned for their impromptu music sessions.
Day 5 – Connemara	Full day excursion in the natural and unspoilt environment of Connemara. Remote and isolated, this region is populated largely by sheep and will surprise you with breathtaking views of mountains and lakes between Lough Corrib and the sea. Enjoy a stroll around Clifden, the region's main town, located against the dramatic backdrop of the Twelve Bens mountain range. Call into the workshop of Malachy Kearns in Roundstone and see how bodhrans are crafted. A bodhran is an 18 inch one-sided drum made from goatskin which features prominently in many traditional music performances. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 6 – Aran Islands Tour	Take the ferry today to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands, located off the Galway coast. Here there are awe inspiring stretches of limestone pavement, miles of stone walls and wonderful cliff and coastal walks. Of the numerous ecclesiastic ruins and prehistoric forts, DunAengus fort, balancing on a sheer cliff edge 90 metres above the Atlantic, is probably the most impressive bronze age fort in Europe. Gaelic is the spoken language although all the islanders are bilingual and despite the slow, easy pace of life, the ‘craic’ is good. This trip will surely be one of the highlights of your visit. Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 7 – Galway / Dublin	Travel across the midlands with two interesting stops on the way. Clonmacnoise, situated on the River Shannon, is an important and striking monastic site from the 6th century founded by St. Kieran. The remarkably well preserved ruins include high crosses, round towers and the remains of six churches. Afterwards continue to Lockes Distillery to sample some Irish Whiskey and see how it’s made. Arrive in Dublin for overnight. Optional evening visit to a pub at the foot of the Dublin mountains, for dinner and entertainment in traditional surroundings – your final fling!
Day 8 – Departure	Transfer to Dublin airport for departure.