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Irish Music Trail
7 night Pre Booked Driving Tour

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Dublin City (12km)

Welcome to Dublin. After you pick up your car, transfer to your city centre hotel. In the afternoon you can explore this capital city with its many historic buildings, Georgian streets and colourful gardens. Take the opportunity to visit some of its many attractions such as the GAA Museum and Croke Park. A visit to the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) Museum is a must for those interested in Irish history and culture and in the development of Ireland’s national games of hurling and football. You can also visit one of the other famous Irish institutions, the Guinness Storehouse, where a tour will be followed by the opportunity to sample the world famous stout in the Gravity Bar, which overlooks Dublin City. This evening why not join the Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl is led by two professional musicians who perform tunes and songs while telling the story of Irish Music and its influences on contemporary world music.
Overnight :Sandymount Hotel or similar

Day 2: Galway City (285km)

This morning, you travel west from Dublin City and across the central plains of Ireland to Galway, called the “City of the Tribes” after the fourteen most prominent families in this area. En-route to Galway and before you cross the River Shannon, Ireland’s longest river you can visit Clonmacnoise a 6th century Christian site. Arrive into Galway, which has long traded with Spain and the Spanish influences are many in the city. Of note is Spanish Arch, a gateway in the old city walls and the Spanish Parade, where wealthy merchants and their families enjoyed a stroll along the promenade. Following time to explore some of the many pubs and restaurants this University City has to offer, and in particular around Quay Street and Shop Street, continue to your overnight accommodation in the Galway area. Overnight: Bed & Breakfast Accommodation - in Galway area

Day 3: Bunratty Folk Park & Glór –The Irish Music Centre (100km)

Today you will have an opportunity to tour County Clare. In Ennis you can visit Glór –The Irish Music Centre, the national centre of excellence for the performance of Irish music. The state-of-the-art centre provides a forum for musicians and artists to showcase their work to audiences in an environment, which respects and supports the traditions and evolution of Irish music. You can also visit the nearby Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and explore the beautifully restored Castle rooms, the traditional thatched cottages in the Folk Park and reconstruction of a typical turn of the century village, complete with schoolhouse, hotel and pub, potters, millers, weavers, print shop, post office, portrait studio and doctors house. This evening why not return to Bunratty to attend a Traditional Irish night at the Corn Barn. The Corn Barn in Bunratty Folk Park is the perfect setting for a celebration of all the best traditions of Ireland today. You are invited to enjoy Irish Music in the company of the finest singers, dancers and musicians of the local villages and experience the homeliness, friendship and warmth of a true traditional Irish evening. Enjoy good home cooked food, excellent wine and join in the song & dance.......you might even learn a step or two!
Overnight: Queens Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare or similar

Day 4: The Aran Islands – Wednesday (85km)

Today, why not visit Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. The Island is accessible by ferry from Doolin in the heart of Clare and is still largely Gaelic speaking, and maintain much of the traditional Irish Island customs, which reflect the harshness of the island life. See some local ladies hand knit the traditional Aran sweater. Take your time to explore the island either on foot, by bicycle or by mini-coach. Visit the mystic fort of Dun Aengus, a 2000-year-old fort with its imposing position overlooking the Atlantic. Return to Doolin and time permitting visit the Cliffs of Moher an impressive range of cliffs which rise to a height of 200m above the sea and stretch for a distance of about 5 miles along the coast. Return to Ennis for overnight. This evening you can relax and enjoy some of the many nightly Irish music sessions Ennis has to offer.
Overnight: Queens Hotel, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare or similar

DAY 5: County Kerry (150km)

Depart Ennis and continue south into County Kerry. En route, you could stop in the medieval city of Limerick and perhaps visit King John’s Castle which was built between 1200 and 1210 and has been at the centre of Limerick’s turbulent history. Leaving Limerick, you can head into north Kerry and visit the Foynes Flying Boat Museum which tells the story of the port of Foynes and its association with flying boats during the period from 1939-1945. You can also sample an Irish coffee where Chef Joe Sheridan made the first Irish Coffee to warm up some damp miserable passengers in 1942. Continue on to Tralee, the principal town of Kerry and perhaps visit “Kerry the Kingdom”. This includes a photographic exhibition, a collection of artefacts of Kerry origin and “Geraldine Tralee” which tells the story of Tralee and the Kerry area. This evening you can attend a performance at Siamsa Tire – the national Folk Theatre of Ireland for a performance featuring Irish music, dance and folklore.
Overnight in Bed & Breakfast Accommodation – in Tralee/Dingle area.

DAY 6: Dingle Peninsula (125km)

Today you can set off to tour the Dingle Peninsula with its dramatic scenery, including Dunquin, on the westernmost tip of the peninsula, to visit the Blasket Centre. Here you will discover what life was like on the remote Blasket Islands. This living Islanders. Return to Dingle where a visit to the Celtic Garden Café is a must. Here (and subject to availability) Benny O’Carroll, the well known Irish musician who has travelled extensively with his “Sessions from the Hearth” group performs a lunchtime concert. This evening you can relax and enjoy some of the many nightly Irish music sessions Tralee or Ennis has to offer.
Overnight in Bed & Breakfast Accommodation – in Tralee/Dingle area.

DAY 7: Dublin (350km)

This morning, we depart Tralee and head towards Dublin. En-route, why not visit the Rock of Cashel, which rises dramatically from the flat countryside. This site has the best set of varied monuments in any Irish site. The rock is crowned by a group of buildings, both ecclesiastical and royal, including a round tower, a 13th century Romanesque chapel and the beautifully restored Hall of the Vicar Choral. At the foot of the Rock of Cashel is Bru Boru, a cultural village and home to the study and celebration of native Irish music, song, dance, theatre and Celtic Studies. “Sounds of History” recounts the stout of Ireland’s history.Continue on to Dublin and to your hotel located in Killiney in the suburbs of Dublin and overlooking Dublin Bay.This evening, why not take in the dinner and Irish music show at Taylors Three Rock Pub. Entertainment is by Dublin’s top ballad group, the Merry Ploughboys and the Taylors Three Rock dancers.
Overnight : Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel or similar

DAY 8: Depart from Dublin Airport (50km)

Departure from Dublin Airport.

Price Includes:
• 4 night accommodation in a 3 star hotel, 3 nights in Bed & Breakfast (Town & Country Homes/Farmhouse) Accommodation and 1 night accommodation in a Castle based on per person sharing a twin/double room with bath/shower inclusive of service charges.
7day Manual Group B Car
• Heritage Island Touring Guide and discount card
• All prices quoted in Canadian Dollars

**based on 1 child under 12y/o, sharing with 2 adult