BACK ROADS - IRELAND
The Emerald Isle - 2008
Truly a back-roads experience, combining the best-known icons of the south and west coast with the lesser-known but fascinating midlands, and complemented by a taste of Ulster. There couldn't be a better way of seeing this made-for-tourism destination.
You'll get fabulous scenery from the Cliffs of Moher to the Giant's Causeway. You'll see history spanning the Stone Age and the contemporary. You'll experience the riches of the Celtic past and present. You'll tour gardens, country houses, museums and folk parks. There'll be music, story telling and naturally a glass or two of Guinness!
But perhaps, most important of all, you'll enjoy what the Irish refer to a 'the craic' - that very special and unique welcome and ambience that the Emerald Isle is justly famed for.
And, of course, travelling with Back-Roads Touring Co. there will be flexibility and a leisurely pace to help you meeting the people and get behind the tourist façade.
THE JOURNEY !
This program begins and ends in Dublin
Day One - Saturday
We depart our centrally located Dublin hotel at 08.30. Tour participants who are not staying at our base hotel the night prior have to make their way there independently.
Our route across the Ireland's midlands takes us past a range of interesting and historic sites including the Rock of Dunamase where an Iron age hillfort and remains of a mediaeval castle loom dramatically above the plains of Portaoise. We then drive across the dramatic landscape of the Slieve Bloom mountains. Next on our voyage of discovery is Birr. Set in Ely O'Carrol country (ancestral home of any who bear the O'Carrol name), the town of Birr is not one normally found on tour itineraries which tend to neglect this region, yet it is one of Ireland's gems. The town boasts approaching 2000 years of inhabitation, and today its famed for its authentic Georgian street layout, traditional shop fronts and the 'Steffin Stone'. This is said to be the "Navel of Ireland", supposedly marking the centre of Ireland. What Birr is perhaps most famed for, however, is Birr Castle where, in magnificently landscaped gardens, we'll discover the famed Birr telescope.
Continuing our journey westward, our next stop will be at the historic town of Athenry, one of Europe's walled towns. The heritage centre here maps out both the local and national history and is a fascinating visit.
Overnight : Galway or nearby Athenry
Day Two - Sunday
This is a day of choice with tour participants deciding what you'd most enjoy doing. Always remember; a Back-Roads touring Co. tour is a flexible tour. You have a say in your holiday.
Either you may spend a very special day with a boat trip out to the Aran Isle of Inishmore. The islands, are renowned for a way of life that has changed little for generations. Irish is the traditional language and the islanders have a rich fund of stories and legends. Amongst today's highlights are the 2000 year old Celtic fort of Dun Aengus, the early Christian monastic remains of St. Enda, cliffs and sandy beaches and quiet walks to discover local birds, wild flowers and plants.
Alternatively, there will be a day's explorations of the wilds of Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, the pretty harbour town of Westport.
This evening we'll be together again to enjoy the Galway City nightlife. This compact but busy university city is an intriguing place with its narrow streets crammed with interesting sites, pubs and shopping opportunities! Some participants may wish to spend an evening at of the local theatres. On some tours we may use Atherney as our base and we'll enjoy evening in this historic town.
Overnight : as above .
Day Three - Monday
We've a wonderful day planned today with a typical Back-Roads Touring Co. mix of 'must-see' icons and sights and a range of additional attractions that are not always visited by the tourist masses. As ever, we'll be taking you behind the tourist façade but we'll begin our day with a visit to the world-famed Cliffs of Moher. En route, you'll probably see some turf-cutters and perhaps a stop at the commemorative Great Famine site will prove interesting. Then we tour through the lunar-landscape of the Burren with stops at the Aillwee Cave and some incredible prehistoric burial sites. Following the coast road, we'll visit some Galway Bay harbours before enjoying another evening in Galway City itself.
Overnight : as above.
Day Four - Tuesday
Our return across central Ireland takes us though the county of Westmeath. This is a region that abounds with Celtic myths, magic, perhaps explaining its more contemporary literary connections. On our day we have many choices, according to weather and group interests, from historic sites including abbeys, churches, castles and stately homes, to the two historic towns of Athlone and Mullingar. Whatever is chosen, it will a memorable day's touring.
Our first stop will be Shannonbridge. Firstly, we'll take a tour by pint-sized train across the bogs for a fascinating insight into the history and development of the bogs and peat gathering. The small lakes that punctuate the bogs are a paradise for wetland birds and there's distinctive flora to admire.
Then to Clonmacnoise to explore the impressive remains of a 6th century monastery. Many kings of Tara and Connaught are buried here and there was reputedly a direct chariot route to Tara! If we've time, and the group express an interst, we'll build on the them of the ancients later at Fore Abbey - the largest group of Benedictine remains in Ireland and marvel at the Seven Wonders of Fore which include the Water That Flows Uphill, the Tree that won't burn and the Monastery Built in a Bog!
Next to Athlone, (Ath Luain - the Ford of Luan), situated on the principal fording point of the middle Shannon is most famed for its thousand year old castle with a unique museum of military uniforms through the ages.
Finally, a visit to the Emerald Isle would not be complete without acknowledging whiskey and we'll visit either the Tullamore Dew distillery or Locke's distillery which is believed to be the oldest licensed pot still distillery in the world. The distillery has made pot still Irish Malt Whiskey for almost 200 years.
Overnight : Drogheda
Day Five - Wednesday
Our touring programme takes us first to the site of the Battle of the Boyne. This marks one of defining events in Ireland history. Next to the Hills of Tara, the foremost spiritual and political centre of Ireland for 1000 years and the seat of power until the coming of St Patrick. Thence to the amazing prehistoric site at Newgrange (entry to the tomb itself conditional on availability). Here we step back into the mists of time, to the time almost at the very start of history. These New Stone Age Passage Graves are regarded as among the most impressive prehistoric monuments in Europe. Newgrange is dated to around 3200 BC and predates Stonehenge, Mycenae and indeed the pyramids of Egypt. Nearby Knowth dates back to 3000 BC. No visit to Drogheda and the lower Boyne Valley area is complete without a visit to the interpretative centre.
As we progress northward we'll enjoy an introduction to Armagh. Armagh was the seat of the High Kings of Ulster. Saint Patrick built his first stone church here and with its twin Cathedrals the city is rich in cultural heritage graceful architecture and ancient legend.
Overnight : Omagh
Day Six - Thursday
We've a day of choices - the day that can be decided upon according to group interests, weather and time of year you'll travelling. Our first visit of the day can either be at the Ulster-American Folk Park or the Famine Village near Innishowen. The Folk Park is probably the best of its kind in the world, the park examines why two million people left Ulster of America and Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries. It has more than 30 historic buildings bough alive by costumed guides. There's even a reconstructed emigrant ship and Pennsylvania farmstead and smoke room.
Next, to Londonderry. Here you'll enjoy a fascinating walk of the 'walls' and here the story of how the shutting of this walled town's gates to a King of England led to over 300 years of 'Troubles'.
This afternoon we see the Northern Island coast line, stopping at the Victorian seaside resort of Portstewart, and the famed Giant's Causeway. The sheer strangeness of this place and the bizarre regularity of its 37,000 basalt columns has made it the subject of numerous legends.
If there's time before we turn back to Omagh, we'll tour Old Bushmills Distillery where they've been producing whiskey since 1608! Tonight, we enjoy an evening in one of the town's many musical pubs. Overnight : as above.
Day Seven - Friday
An early start, with our touring programme today takes us alongside Lough Neagh to Belfast.Here we'll enjoy a tour of this tremendous Victorian city, currently enjoying a cultural and economic resurgence thanks to the end of the 'Troubles'. Our Belfast discovery will include a panoramic tour taking you into both sides of this divided sectarian city. The trip up the Falls Road and down the Shankill, seeing the famed political wall murals (which are fast disappearing as the communities learn to live side-by-side), is just one of the memorable and unique experiences we'll have.
Finally we head south with our two hour touring drive taking us beside the Mountains of Mourne, Dundalk and to see the Monasterboice Tower and High Crosses. Theses historic ruins are of an early Christian settlement situated north of Drogheda. Founded in 520 AD by St.Buite, the ruins include the 35 metre high Round Tower (built for the monks as a safe haven against the attack of the Vikings) and, most famous the three High Crosses. These crosses date back to the 10th Century.
Rathcoole - this was the village of Nobel Prize literature prize-winner, Christy Brown (author of 'My Left Foot').
Overnight : Rathcoole
Day Eight - Saturday
First, to the medieval town of Kilkenny. This is one of the oldest and most interesting towns of Ireland. It has been called 'the marble city' from the fine and long-quarried limestone in the area. Two of the most impressive local buildings are the ancient castle, dating back to 1192 and having connections with the Norman conqueror, Strongbow, and the magnificent Cathedral of St. Candice which, despite the damage done by Cromwell's troops, is one of the finest unruined churches in the country. Next, to the awe inspiring Cashel. This was the ancient capital of the Kings of Munster and long famous ecclesiastical centre. The Rock of Cashel, rising above the town, is crowned by the ruins of a cathedral, beside which shelters an outstanding example of Irish Romanesque architecture, Cormac's Chapel.
Overnight : Cork area
Day Nine - Sunday
Today's itinerary takes us across to the fabled west Cork where we find some of the most beautiful Atlantic seaboard scenery.
We follow the coast road to Skibbereen. This lively, cosmopolitan town is regarded as the hub of the tourism area that spreads out in many directions from it. It is noted for its shops, pubs and restaurants, as well as being home of the West Cork Arts Centre, where many artists who inhabit the area show their work.
Thence to Mizen head, Ireland's most south-westerly point, and home of some breathtaking scenery and an award winning Maritime Museum and Heritage Attraction. This authentic all-weather experience is a must-see with its spectacular location on high cliffs with swirling Atlantic Ocean tides. From the car park and Visitor Centre, the Signal Station is a ten minute walk along the path, down the 99 steps and across the Arched Bridge. The Mizen is famous for its wildflowers and sightings of wildlife, dolphins, whales, seals, gannets, kittiwakes, choughs the bird migration north-south flight path is just a mile off shore.
South, the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse, Irelands Teardrop, was the last landfall seen by many emigrants to America and one of Marconis first telegraph stations. Spectacular scenery.
Famed in, Bantry Bay, our final feature of the day, is of legendary beauty. Bantry, at the head of the bay, is a busy market town and fishing port. Bantry House is spectacularly situated and exuberantly furnished. It is one of Ireland's most attractive Great Houses, full of treasures collected by various generations of Earls of Bantry. The French Armada Exhibition Centre features the ill-fated French Armada invasion of December, 1796. Also, depending on time, we may find the opportunity of visiting the gardens on garnish Island.
Overnight: as above.
Day Ten - Monday
We call this one of our 'slow-down days' (though none of our tours are designed to be rushed). As on all of our tours, participants will also have an input into how the day unfolds and which of the sites and attractions are given time preference.
Our day of discovery includes the city of Cork and the nearby Blarney. Yes, you'll 'kiss the Blarney stone'! The well preserved village square is also impressive. In Tudor style, the village has developed around the square.
A stone's throw away is Cobh, known historically as Queenstown. Poignant reminders are everywhere of the hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless Irish who left from here to build a new life, especially in the Famine years of 1844-48. Today it is a pleasant town; its streets climb the steep slope of a hill, the top of which is crowned by St. Coleman's Cathedral. On the quayside there is a memorial to the victims of the Lusitania, many of whom are buried in the old church cemetery. The ship was sunk off Kinsale in 1915 by a German submarine, an action which was responsible for bringing the USA into the Great War. Another unhappy association is with the Titanic, 'the safest liner in the world'. Queenstown was her last port of call on her fateful maiden voyage.
Kinsale begs our attention. This pretty town, nestling between the hills and the shoreline, boasts a maze of narrow streets, none far from the water and little changed in many hundreds of years. Amongst buildings of later periods are those of another age with historical links to the French, Spanish, British and Americans. Highlights of our visit are Charles Fort and Desmond Castle, (French Prison). Desmond Castle has had a colourful history, ranging from Spanish occupation in 1601 to use as a prison for captured American sailors during the American War of Independence.
Overnight : as above
Day Eleven - Tuesday
We take the scenic route (is there any other in Ireland?) through Wicklow to Glendalough. "The glen of the two lakes" is a truly spellbinding place - an ancient monastic settlement and two clear water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deep valley which was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age. Once the monastic capital of Europe, Glendalough features the ruins of no less than seven churches and the 6th century round tower. It owes its origin to St. Kevin, the hermit who founded the monastic city and who lived in a cave - St. Kevin's Bed - overlooking the Upper Lake. The famous Round Tower, about 34m high and 16m in circumference at the base, is still in near perfect condition even though it is almost 1,000 years old. The excellent Glendalough Visitor Centre provides regular exhibitions, informative guided tours of the monastic site as well as an audio-visual show about the rich heritage of the area.
We return to Dublin. ACCOMMODATION IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE FOR THIS EVENING BUT CAN BE ARRANGED.
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