
Ancient Ireland
Sunday, July 5 – Saturday, July 11, 2026
Sunday, July 12 – Saturday, July 18, 2026
Sunday
Welcome! You will be met by our private driver at a convenient meeting place in Dublin and transported to your private Castle. Here you will spend the next 7 days and 6 nights with us living it up like Kings and Queens and exploring the many wonders that Ancient Ireland has to offer.
Once you have arrived at the Castle we will meet you for an introduction and tour to the historic castle, we will present special hors d’oeurves and a refreshing beverage in the Castle drawing room before settling into your luxurious surroundings and recuperating after your flight.
You will then enjoy a gourmet multicourse meal prepared by Le Cordon Bleu Paris Alum-Chef Walter and the AGA staff in the formal dining room.
Monday
Into the West: Today you are heading for Bunratty Castle and folk park and the spectacular west coast of Ireland to visit the world famous cliffs of Moher, accompanied by Kim.
You’ll break up the journey with your first stop at Bunratty Castle and Folkpark, Bunratty castle is the most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland. Built in 1425 it was restored in 1954 to its former medieval splendor and now contains mainly 15th and 16th century furnishings, tapestries, and works of art, which capture the mood of those times. Within the grounds of Bunratty Castle is Bunratty Folk Park where 19th century life is vividly recreated. Set on 26 acres, the impressive park features over 30 buildings in a ‘living’ village and rural setting. The famous Durty Nelly’s Pub and The Blarney Woolen Mills shop is next door, you can enjoy lunch* and a have look around the shop before heading on to the Cliffs of Moher.
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions and are a designated UNESCO Geo Park. The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometers over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare. O’Brien’s Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs. From the Cliffs, on a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, the Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and Loop Head to the South. There are long walks along the cliffs ideal for stretching the legs and panoramic views out over the Atlantic ocean.
Upon arriving back to your Castle, you will enjoy hors d’oeurves and a refreshing beverage in the Castle drawing room and then a gourmet meal prepared by Le Cordon Bleu Paris Alum-Chef Walter and the AGA staff in the formal dining room.
Tuesday
After a delicious breakfast, your first stop will be the focal point of the city, Kilkenny Castle to take the tour of this 12th century castle and explore the magnificent grounds. Medieval Kilkenny City of Kilkenny or ‘The Marble City’ (as it’s affectionately known!) Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning “cell or church of Cainnech”) is a beautiful city with a tremendous sense of character, history and culture. You have the rest of the afternoon to explore the quaint and bustling city center or hop on the tourist mini-train, where you are sure to find lots to interest you including shops, pubs and great places to eat*.
Directly across the street from Castle is the famous Kilkenny Design Craft Centre. The Kilkenny Design Centre is situated in what were once the stables of Kilkenny Castle and is fittingly located adjacent to the National Craft Gallery one of Ireland’s most exciting artistic venues. The Centre’s unequalled supplier list, drawn from Ireland’s most eminent craftspeople and designers, gives visitors a uniquely special shopping experience. A world-renowned selection of jewelry, knitwear, Celtic gifts, china & crystal, pottery & glass, home & fashion accessories and one off contemporary design pieces are available. Visitors from outside of the EU can avail of highly attractive tax-free shopping.
You will meet carry on a short drive to enjoy a visit and tasting at the Ballykeefe Distillery. Makers of fine Irish whiskey, Vodka, Gin and Poitín. Ballykeefe is an entirely independent, artisan, family-owned Single Estate Whiskey Distillery, which was built in 2016 to diversify a working family farm for successor generations. All of the Whiskey is triple distilled from barley sown, grown and harvested on the family farm. This makes it a uniquely 100% ‘field to glass “Single Estate” Whiskey distillery’ and marks a revival of a century’s lost tradition of family farm distilling. Ballykeefe on the label means 100% Ballykeefe distilled spirit made from 100% Ballykeefe Irish barley, in the bottle. Delicious!
Wednesday
Today you will head south west, accompanied by Kim, to the amazing seaside town of Kinsale. Kinsale ‘head of the brine’ is a historic port and fishing town in County Cork, Ireland. Located approximately 16 miles south of Cork City on the southeast coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon,
As an historically strategic port town, Kinsale’s notable buildings include Desmond Castle, also known as the French Prison, of c. 1500, the 17th-century pentagonal bastion fort Castlepark peninsula, and Charles Fort, a partly restored star fort of 1677 in nearby Summercove. Other historic buildings include the Church of St Multose (Church of Ireland) of 1190, St John the Baptist (Catholic) of 1839, and the Market House of c. 1600.
The colorful buildings, boutique shops and amazing restaurants will charm you. Wander around, buy authentic Aran Irish sweaters, Irish products, take a leisurely lunch* (suggestions given) and watch the world go by!
After our day out you will return to the castle to relax and enjoy hors d’oeurves in the Castle drawing room and a refreshing beverage before our gourmet dinner.
You will then be heading out to the Monks Pub (O’Gorman’s) for a traditional Irish music session. Every Wednesday, a group of local musicians gather in O’Gorman’s pub, enjoying the craic and playing traditional music into the early hours of the morning. Some nights can see up to 14 musicians gather, guaranteeing ‘craic agus ceoil’ (fun and music) to be had by all, not to mention the plentiful creamy pints of Guinness you may enjoy while chatting with the locals. It’s fantastic!
Thursday
After breakfast, today you are heading south east to Waterford County accompanied by Kim. You will stop at the famous Waterford Crystal factory for a wonderful tour of the factory to learn how crystal is fired, shaped and finished into a perfect product.
You will then head on to the Dunmore East Fishing Village to have lunch* and enjoy the seaside. We will then return to our Castle for a relaxing evening of hors d’oeurves and a refreshing beverage in the Castle drawing room before our gourmet dinner by Le Cordon Bleu Paris Alum Chef Walter and the AGA staff in the formal dining room.