7-Nights Ireland at Leisure from $4,075

Brendan Vacations

OFFER ID 1695160

Ireland At Leisure
Uncover Ireland’s layered history and striking geography on a curated 8-day Small Group journey through cities, countryside and coastline. Explore Dublin’s political and literary heritage, walk medieval lanes in Kilkenny and trace Gaelic traditions through the Connemara region. Visit sites of historical and cultural significance, from the Cliffs of Moher to Kylemore Abbey, and travel through landscapes shaped by Atlantic weather, glaciation and ancient settlement.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)
7 Breakfast (B)
2 Lunch (L)

Authentic Dining

Taste craft spirits at Ahascragh Distillery, native edible botanicals with a forager, The famous stout at Guinness Storehouse
Killarney: Enjoy a traditional Irish evening at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, set at the entrance to the Gap of Dunloe. Dine on regional dishes and take in live music and Irish dancing in a 19th-century building that has long served as a gathering place for locals and visitors in County Kerry.
Dublin: Cross the River Liffey and venture to a local pub to toast your unforgettable travels over lunch. Sláinte!

Brendan Experiences

Killarney: Settle into a traditional horse-drawn jaunting car and explore Killarney with one of the local jarveys who know these lanes by heart.
Ring of Kerry: Travel around the Iveragh Peninsula on the Ring of Kerry, a 179-kilometer circuit of Atlantic views, mountain passes and lake-dotted valleys. Pause at scenic viewpoints, traditional farm settings and coastal villages such as Waterville and Sneem, gaining a clearer picture of life along Ireland’s south-west coast and why this landscape has long drawn visitors from around the world.

Iconic Experience

Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares, O’Connell Street and the Custom House.
Kylemore: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
Kilkenny: Discover Kilkenny’s medieval streets on a guided walking tour that weaves together local history, architecture and folklore. Led by your Local Specialist, you’ll learn about the city’s Norman foundations, historic buildings and notable characters, revealing the layers of story behind one of Ireland’s best-preserved heritage towns.
Kilkenny: Visit Rothe House and Gardens, a rare example of an intact 17th-century merchant’s townhouse in the heart of Kilkenny. Explore the series of period rooms, original architecture and a reconstructed Tudor garden that reflects the domestic life of the era. The house offers a detailed view into urban life in Ireland during the late Tudor and early Stuart periods.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Cliffs of Moher: Take a guided hike along the coastal trail from Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher for a different perspective on one of Ireland’s most iconic landmarks. Walk through limestone landscapes with views of the Atlantic, Aran Islands and cliff edge. Along the way, learn about the region’s geology, ecology and folklore before finishing at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Must-see Highlights

Explore the heart of Dublin, Killarney National Park on a jaunting car
Visit the EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum, Galway, the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle, St. Patrick's Cathredral
Scenic Drives Relax and admire the views as you travel along the Ring of Kerry.
See the Rock of Cashel

Top Rated Highlights

Dublin: History and famous figures. St. Patrick’s Cathedral is one of the few buildings left from medieval Dublin. It is also on this site where St. Patrick reputedly baptized the local Celtic chieftains in the 5th century. The cathedral was later built between 1191 and 1270 and has come to be famous for its choir, also Ireland’s oldest. The cathedral’s burial site of author Jonathan Swift is one of approximately 700 burials on the site.
Ahascragh: Ahascragh Distillery is Ireland’s first zero-emissions distillery. Built within a revived 19th-century mill, it is an authentic destination for whiskey and gin enthusiasts, as well as anyone interested in history, tradition and craftsmanship.
Dublin: Visit the Guinness Storehouse to see how the world’s most famous stout is created, then enjoy the distinctive taste of a perfectly chilled pint of Guinness.
Dublin: Travel in March and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin with VIP grandstand seating for the city’s annual parade - a tradition dating back to 1931 that now features performers from across Ireland and beyond. Take in the color and energy of the day, then enjoy a three-course lunch with live music.

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)

7 nights from $4,075 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Brendan Vacations: Ireland at Leisure

Day 1 - Fáilte to Ireland
Begin in Dublin with a guided tour led by your Local Specialist, exploring key landmarks that reflect the city’s layered history — from its medieval origins to its Georgian architecture and political milestones. Visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, built in 1191 and still one of the most important places of worship in Ireland. Learn about its connection to Jonathan Swift and its role in Dublin’s religious and civic life. In the evening, meet your group over dinner and get to know the people you’ll be traveling with over the next eight days.
Accommodations: Clayton, Cardiff Lane
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Onwards to Galway
After breakfast, travel west across Ireland’s central plains, passing farmland, peatlands and market towns en route to Galway. Known as the “City of the Tribes”, Galway has long been a hub of trade, culture and independent spirit. En route, visit Ahascragh Distillery — Ireland’s first zero energy emissions distillery. Housed in a restored 19th-century mill, the site blends heritage with innovation. Learn about sustainable distilling methods and trace the production process of whiskey and gin from raw ingredients to final pour.
Accommodations: Ardilaun
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Kylemore Abbey and Connemara
Travel through Connemara, a region known for its rugged coastline, bogland and Irish-speaking communities that preserve Gaelic language and traditions. Stop at Kylemore Abbey, built in the 1860s as a private estate and later home to a Benedictine order who established a boarding school and maintained the site for over a century. Visit the restored chapel, explore the Victorian walled garden and learn how the abbey has evolved into a center for heritage and craft. Return to Galway in the afternoon, with time to explore the city at your own pace. You may choose to walk along the River Corrib or find a local spot for dinner.
Accommodations: Ardilaun
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 - Admire the Cliffs of Moher and on to Killarney
Head into County Clare and visit the must-see Cliffs of Moher towering over 700 feet above the Atlantic. Today on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, join energetic Local Specialist Ollie for a hike through coastal trails from the nearby town of Doolin to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center. Take in panoramic views and learn about the natural history of the area on your walk. After, onwards to Killarney and discover the National Park on a jaunting car ride – a traditional horse drawn carriage. This evening, enjoy a traditional Irish dinner with live music and dancing at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, a historic venue near the Gap of Dunloe.
Accommodations: Killarney Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5 - A Day on the Ring of Kerry
Travel the Ring of Kerry, one of Ireland’s most scenic routes. Learn about the history, geology and stories connected to this winding coastal drive as you pass rugged cliffs, sandy coves and remote villages. Stop at key viewpoints along the way, with time to take in the changing landscapes. Return to Killarney in the late afternoon, where you might choose to explore the town center, visit Muckross Abbey or take a short lakeside walk in the National Park.
Accommodations: Killarney Royal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6 - Journey to Kilkenny
Explore Kilkenny, one of Ireland’s best-preserved historic cities. Join your Local Specialist for a walking tour through its medieval streets and laneways, where stories of merchants, bishops and builders reveal how the city evolved from Norman stronghold to trading center. Visit Rothe House and Gardens, built by a wealthy merchant family in the early 1600s. Walk through the house and the reconstructed Tudor garden, which reflects the layout and planting of the period. End the day with dinner at the Pembroke Hotel, located in the heart of the city. From here, you’re well placed to enjoy views of Kilkenny Castle or take a short evening stroll through the historic quarter.
Accommodations: Pembroke Kilkenny
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7 - Return to Dublin
Return to Dublin for a final experience at the Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s most visited attraction. Step inside the historic St. James’s Gate site and follow the story of Guinness through immersive exhibits spanning over 250 years of brewing. Learn about its ingredients, discover the art of pouring the perfect pint and take in panoramic views of the city from the Gravity Bar. Afterwards, gather at a local pub for a farewell lunch — a final moment to reflect on your journey across Ireland. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore more of the city before settling in for your final night in Dublin.VIP tickets to the St Patrick's Day Parade including lunch are included on our March departure.
Accommodations: Clayton, Cardiff Lane
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - Farewell Ireland
Time to bid farewell to your newfound friends as your trip comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations

Kilkenny

Killarney

Galway

Galway is a city, a county, and an experience to be savoured and remembered. The historic city of the tribes dances to a beat uniquely it's own. There is a certain chemistry and vibrancy to this friendly university city, which many delight in, and few forget. Music, festivals, horse racing, pubs, restaurants, shops, theatres and most of all -Galway people, combine to create this atmospheric medieval city of culture. From this pulsating heart the rest of the county flows.

Galway Bay, immortalised in song, its beauty unchanging. Scenic Gaeltacht areas including the Aran Islands. Connemara, with the picturesque town of Clifden as its capital. Mountains, castles and stone walls, banks of turf, long sandy beaches, clear lakes, joyful leaping streams and flowing rivers. The mighty Shannon, delightful countryside punctuated by pretty villages, traditional pubs.

Photo used with permission
from Joe Desbonnet, www.galway.net

Excursions

Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day

On the very edge of Europe, is an Island rich in the language, culture and heritage of Ireland, unique in its geology and archaeology and in its long tradition of gentle hospitality. Here is a place to sense the spirit of Gaelic Ireland, to touch the past, but with all the comforts and facilities of the present. Aran will take you back to an Ireland of Celts and Early Christians. This is an island of great peace and tranquility, but it is also an island of great fun and activity. A timeless land in an endless sea, weathered monuments on awesome cliffs, great labyrinths of limestone, meandering walls, patchwork fields, quiet beaches and a welcoming island people.

This morning we will depart from Galway and take a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three islands, the other islands being Inishmaan and Inisheer. The Islands are located off the West Coast of Galway about 18km out from Rossaveal Harbour in Connemara. Inishmore is approx. 13km long, and contains 3,092 ha. with a native population of about 900. Kilronan the chief center and port.
Landing in Kilronan on Inishmore, you are met by your driver in a horse drawn buggy for a guided tour of the Island and visiting one of its more impressive stone forts called Dun Aonghasa. It is semi-circular structure, resting on the edge of a perpendicular cliff rising 100 meters out of the ocean. The fort consists of an inner court 50 meters across surrounded by a wall six meters high and five meters thick at the base.

Visit the Aran Islands Interpretative Centre which highlights the unique history, spirit and landscapes of the Aran Islands. The center details the geology, history and present lifestyle of the islands. See how the legendary currachs, those open-topped, often tar-coated, boats that skim over the waves, are made. Also on display are details of the fish species off the islands and how the islanders have long used seaweed to create patches of soil that could be cultivated for crops, in between the dry stone walls that crisscross the islands and divide its tiny fields. The islands' other craft traditions, including weaving of the famous Aran sweaters, are also documented.

Duration: 8 hours

Included:
Enjoy a pub lunch on Inishmore

Departing the island by ferry you return to Galway City.
Note: it is also possible to fly to Inishmore.

Pricing: Please inquire

Dublin

Dublin enjoys one of the loveliest natural settings in Europe. Dublin attracts visitors from around the world with its old world charm and friendly atmosphere. Most of the architecture dates from the 18th century, when Dublin enjoyed great prominence and prosperity. Also of interest are stately Georgian houses which front Merrion Square. O'Connell Street is considered the commercial center of Dublin. Perhaps the most memorable feature of Dublin is the traditional pub, where visitors can enjoy conversation over fine Irish brew. The city also offers many fine parks, including St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park. National Gallery's renowned collection includes works by such famous masters as Rembrandt and Monet. Trinity College's Old Library is home to the most cherished treasure, the Book of Kells, a manuscript of the Gospels. Admire Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Enjoy the exhibits in impressive National Museum. Self-guided walking tours include Old City Trail, Georgian Heritage Trail and the Cultural Trail.

Excursions

Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours

Ireland, known affectionately as the “the Emerald Isle” is renowned for its excellent hospitality and you can be assured of a warm welcome by your guide and driver, who will meet you at the port. Discover the history, literary heritage and culture that lies behind Dublin’s elegant Georgian architecture and famous landmarks, during your full-day tour.

Founded in the 16th-century, Trinity College is Ireland's oldest university and holds the Book of Kells, a greatly treasured example of early Irish manuscript illumination. History lovers may opt to visit the nearby Treasury of the National Museum or EPIC - the interactive museum commemorating the emigration of 10 million Irish. For those interested in art, the National Gallery houses a superb collection.

Afterwards make a lunchtime pit stop at the Guinness Storehouse, where you learn how a pint of the world-famous Guinness is created. The heart of the building is modelled on a giant pint glass, which would hold approximately 14 million pints of Guinness beer if filled! Enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, which boast 360-degree views of the capital.

Complete your touring this afternoon, with a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels. Here, take a guided tour of the impressive staterooms which are a longtime symbol of British rule in Ireland, before being transferred back to your ship.

Highlights:

Admire the grandeur of St Patrick's Cathedral, the largest church in Ireland and final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's Travels
Pour yourself a pint of Ireland’s finest at the Guinness Storehouse to discover the country’s most famous export

Tour Duration: 8 hours

Wheelchair Accessible: Please enquire for more information

Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

Private transport by Mercedes E-class or similar for 1 and 2 passengers, VW Caravelle (7 passenger seats) or similar for 3 and 4 passengers and 12-seater or similar for 5 and 6 passengers.
Expert local guide for 8 hours of sightseeing in Dublin
Entrance fees to all sights and museums
All taxes

Exclusions

All cruise travel, personal items, meals and associated costs
Gratuities
Supplement for public holidays
Anything not specifically mentioned in the "inclusions" list above

Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour

Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

11/13/2027 - 12/11/2027

from $4,075 per person

03/11/2028 - 03/18/2028

from $4,095 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $4,075 per person

Length

7 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1695160

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7-Nights Ireland at Leisure from $4,075

Itinerary Details

Excursions

Inishmore, Aran Islands - 8 hours Full Day

Excursions

Dublin: Highlights of Dublin City - 8 hours

Dublin - Dublin City & Powerscourt - Full Day Tour

Dublin: An Introduction to Dublin - 4 hours

Vacation Details

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