The Emerald Isle Jaunt from Ruddick Tours

Ireland is a land of breathtaking scenery. A place of rich and often dramatic history. Combine those experiences with the chance to meet and mingle with your friendly hosts and you'll begin to understand what makes the unique atmosphere of the Emerald Isle unlike anywhere on earth.

The Irish have a term - 'the craic', which means 'good fellowship', or 'a good time', and its pursuit often seems to be their only aim. On my 'Emerald Isle Jaunt' it's our aim too ... and my great-grandma O'Brien would certainly approve!

You'll get a big, friendly greeting at Dublin International Airport then I'll speedily transfer you to your comfortable Dublin City hotel to check-in and freshen up before we head off to explore Ireland's Capital City - and there's plenty to see and experience.

Today's highlights: Trinity College, Kilmainham Gaol, The National Museum of Ireland, The National Gallery of Ireland, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral, Old Jameson Distillery, The Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar, and lots of 'craic'

Heading North from Dublin an hour's drive brings us to one of Ireland's most spiritual places, Tara with its' stories of the ancient Kingdom. We'll take a walk around the site with an explanation of some of Ireland's ancient origins. We're talking pre-Viking/pre-Norman-English domination, and it should help you to understand why the long yearning for independence burned so fiercely within the Irish soul for more than a millenia.

Leaving Tara, we'll journey a short distance to the mysterious prehistoric burial site of Newgrange, a Megalithic Passage Tomb built about 3200 BC. The 97 kerbstones, some finely decorated, enclose a kidney shaped mound which contains an inner passage leading to a cruciform (cross shaped) chamber with a corbelled roof. Archeologists estimate that its construction would have taken a work force of 300 at least 20 years to construct. The passage and chamber of Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise when a shaft of sunlight shines through an aperture over the entrance and penetrates the passage to light up the chamber. The excellent audio-visual display and museum add to the understanding of these ancient ancestors. The experience culminates in an exciting guided tour of the chamber's interior.

It's mid-day now, so we'll sample the hospitality of a local pub before making a couple of hours drive over the border into Northern Ireland - still part of the UK - and on to Ulster's fine capital city of Belfast.

A short walking tour of Belfast's city centre is followed by a drive through some of the 'Troubles' areas. This brief insight brings Ireland's troubled history sharply into focus, where you'll see the passion of members of both sides of the community expressed in their street art. The murals and pavement decoration have become quite an attraction for visitors, but finally the people of this region can begin to hope for real peace as over the last few years we've witnessed an increasing realisation by politicians and the people on both sides of the divide that their 'adversaries' have some legitimacy and their views should be counted. Although the scars of the conflict will take many years to heal, the process has undoubtedly begun in earnest. Not before time.

We're staying in the charming small village of Bushmills tonight, and a chance to experience some Northern Irish hospitality, just like their 'cousins' in the South they won't disappoint!

First enjoy a good early Irish breakfast because we've a big day today. Then we'll take a bracing walk over the quite unique phenomenon of The Giant's Causeway. If the group votes for it, we'll also take an interesting tour of Bushmills Distillery, Ireland's oldest, before heading west. Our journey takes us via the attractive walled City of Derry before leaving the United Kingdom and re-entering the Republic of Ireland at Donegal. We'll pause here to admire the views and take some lunch, a little time to stroll the town and shop, or take a glass of Guinness? Alternatively, if you've decided on a picnic lunch we'll enjoy it with some of the finest coastal views in the World. We'll end the day with a picturesque drive through Connemara finally arriving at Galway City, our home for the next couple of days, by mid-evening.

Today's Highlights: The Giant's Causeway; Bushmills Distillery; Derry; Donegal; A Connemara Drive ..

This morning we've a different treat in store - we'll drive to a local port where a pleasant forty minute boat trip carries us to the fascinating Isle of Inishmore in the Aran Islands. A relaxing whole day on the Island will slow down the pace of our tour and more importantly, allow Ireland's soul to work its charm.

We'll see the Island by bike if you're reasonably fit, or for those who prefer a more sedate method, our means of transportation will be by pony and cart or by minibus. Inishmór - the big island - is actually only around sixteen square miles in size, but contains all that is special about these Aran Islands. There's beautiful scenery, some rich archaeological sites, 437 varieties of wild flowers, thatched roofed traditional Irish stone cottages dotted around the landscape, many miles of stone walls, dramatic cliff and coastal walks with panoramic views of the Connemara coastline and on the clearest days right down to the Southlands and highest peaks in County Kerry. Add to that a community living the Celtic traditions of generations gone by and still speaking the original Irish tongue and you have a truly special place.

It's no surprise to hear that Inishmore continues to inspire writers, poets and artists. Although our pace will be leisurely, the island still has many superb sites to visit. The most spectacular is Dún Aengus, an ancient cliff top fort, plus Clochan na Carraige, the last remaining ancient dwelling to be found on the islands, and Teampall Bheanain, named after the saint of that name and one of the smallest churches in the world. Other highlights include Dun Dubchathair located on the southern cliffs and probably the oldest of the Aran Island forts, and Airkins castle, built during the 16th century, and occupied by Cromwell's troops when they arrived here. Lunch is at an Island pub, or we'll take a picnic if seeing the Island by bike, it's your choice. We return to Galway around 6pm.

We'll be leaving this lively little city in the morning so why not enjoy the local craic for a last time tonight?

First we visit The Burren and take a look at a limestone landscape which is quite unique, almost as if it was planted here by aliens. Despite the inhospitable terrain, we know it was more fertile once upon a time and those early dwellers have certainly left their mark. We'll take a close-up look at the evidence for this and admire some of the Dolmen stones. Dolmens (also known as Cromlechs, Hünengräber, Hunebedden and Quoits) are megalithic tombs constructed from large stones (megalith from the Greek - Mega - big, and lithos - stone). They were set in formation and originally covered with earth or smaller stones. In many cases the covering has been weathered away leaving only the stone 'skeleton' of the monument. They are normally a 'single-chamber' type of megalithic tomb.

Paulnabrone Dolmen, more than 5,000 years old, is a striking portal tomb in the middle of the limestone plain. It's an impressive sight, especially at dawn or sunset. The tomb was excavated in 1989, and urns were found containing the remains of a number of people, together with pottery and jewellery.

Nearby, the Cliffs of Moher will also greatly impress! A brief stroll gives some good photo opportunities, but don't get too close to the edge, it's a very long drop!

We take lunch at a Doolin pub, later followed by a visit to Bunratty Castle and the reconstructed medieval village. This interlude will please the shoppers in our group as they will discover a veritable feast of Irish products to tempt. The rest of us can seize the chance to buy postcards to send to those unfortunate friends and family back home!

It's a two hour scenic drive to our base for the next two nights, Dingle. This small fishing town has some excellent seafood restaurants (not to mention the ubiquitous pubs) so we'll enjoy a lively night with the locals.

Today's Highlights: The Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Paulnabrone Dolmen, Bunratty Castle

Finish that wonderful Irish breakfast, because we're going to time-travel through 6,000 years today! That is, we'll explore Corca Dhuibhne – The Dingle Peninsula. It's believed that the first settlers here were nomadic hunters and gatherers who foraged on the coast for their food almost 6,000 years ago. They were followed by Stone Age then Bronze Age man who built their tombs, raised their standing stones, and worked the land for the first time. Around 200 BC the Celts settled here and brought their ancestoral goddess "Duibhne", after which the Dingle Peninsula has been named in Gaelic: Corca Dhuibhne, the seed (or tribe) of Duibhne. In the centuries that followed the Vikings, Normans and English all left their mark.

The Dingle Peninsula is one of the richest areas in archaeological remains on the entire west coast of Europe, with almost 2,000 sites. There's the largest collection in the world of clocháns or beehive huts, of the stones with the unique ogham writing, and of dúnta or ring forts. These remains, including the Oratory at Gallarus and the cross stone of Reasc, give evidence of a sophisticated society who could practise skilled craftsmanship. But we must also mention the wonderful views; from Slea Head to the hills and mountains behind, you'll get some great photos.

Later, we'll include a good pub lunch, and a stroll on one of Ireland's loveliest beaches, ending the day a little earlier so that you can explore the charming little town of Dingle and enjoy some relaxing free time.

Today's Highlights: The Dingle Peninsula - a micro-cosm of Ireland's history

Day 7: Cork, some old Blarney, Cobh and some rather fine crystal ....

We continue in a southerly direction leaving the Dingle peninsula for another, that of Iveragh or Kerry, and the pretty city of Killarney makes a good choice for a coffee stop, perhaps a short stroll, before we climb up and away to take in one or two of the fine Ring of Kerry views.

Blarney Castle is our lunch spot, and kissing the famous stone will be a must for some of you, I'm sure! It may not give you the instant gift of eloquent speech but you will certainly feel a rush of blood to the brain. Or is that something to do with hanging upside down 80 feet in the air! Either way it's a good interlude and an opportunity to get some of those embarassing photographs we don't want our friends to see.

The port of Cobh (meaning Cove) saw hundreds of thousands of mostly hungry and penniless men and women leave Ireland to build a new life, especially during the Famine years of 1844-1848. Some thrived and prospered in the New World, you may be descendants of theirs, but many died on the journey in the terrible travelling conditions of the time. We'll pause to appreciate this pleasant town, once called Queenstown, whose streets climb the steep slope of a hill, crowned by St Coleman's Cathedral.

Cobh is situated on one of the three large islands in Cork harbour, all now connected by roads and bridges. The harbour is one of the largest and safest anywhere, capable of taking the largest ships. The great Transatlantic liners used to berth here up to the 1950s. Cobh quayside has a memorial to those who died when the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine in 1915, the survivors having been landed here. This event hastened America's involvement in The Great War, as many of the victims were US citizens.

Another unhappy association is with the Titanic, 'the safest liner in the world'. Queenstown was her last port of call on her tragic maiden voyage.

If desired, we can end this full day with a brief visit to the famous Waterford Crystal Factory, before arriving at our guest house for tonight and tomorrow night.

Today's Highlights: Killarney, Blarney Castle, Cork, Cobh, Waterford Crystal Factory

Overnight: Two nights in the Central area.

''There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet as that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet...'' The words of a song by Thomas Moore in 1807, confirm the charm of the area we'll visit today and describe two 'meetings' in the Vale. The famous one is where the Avonmore meets the Avonbeg – their names translate from the Irish as ‘Big River’ and ‘Small river’. The second Meeting is beside the pretty hamlet of Woodenbridge, where the Aughrim River meets the Avoca River.

The Vale of Avoca, has enjoyed two hundred years of fame, and became even greater when, in the 1990s, it became the location for the internationally acclaimed TV soap Ballykissangel. No visit to the village would be complete without a stroll along familiar-looking streets and a look at the world famous Avoca Handweavers Mill where unusual cloths, throws and scarves are woven in a myriad of wonderful colours and natural fibres.

Leaving Avoca we'll make our way through the Wicklow Mountains National Park, and take in some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world. If fine weather we'll enjoy a good picnic lunch in a wonderful setting.

Our final port of call today is the attractive town of Cashel, once seat of the Kings of Munster. The town lies below the famous Rock of Cashel which rises dramatically out of Tipperary’s Golden Vale. The Heritage Centre has a model of Cashel in the 1640’s and a multimedia presentation worth seeing. Then the rest of the afternoon is yours to stroll or relax and discover Cashel for yourself.

Overnight: Our last night in the Central Area and sadly, our final night in the Emerald Isle ...

After a final Irish breakfast it's sadly time to depart for Dublin airport to catch your flight home and to say ''Goodbye, until the next time ...''

Total tour cost is £4600, which covers the cost of your A/C Minivan carrying up to 8 persons, with full driver-guide's service, parking, fuel and all miles driven. Complimentary drinks and occasional snacks are provided along the way. The tour cost includes my hotel/subsistence/expenses, but not your own. I can arrange guest house/inn/hotel accommodations from £80 per twin or double room, £100 a family room per night including breakfast. If luxury is your thing - Ireland is blessed with some of Europe's finest hotels - when I have some idea of the group's nightly accommodation budget I'll recommend a list of accommodations for each stop of the tour - then it's up to your group to decide which suit your tastes and budgets, let me know and I'll get them booked for you. Alternatively, if you prefer you can go on-line and choose and book the accommodations yourselves.

Please note that meals, entry fees to the sites visited and gratuities (discretionary) are not included.

IMPORTANT! Before trying to book an AWAY tour with me please first check availability with my online diary, then email me to have your tour dates, details and prices confirmed. If you then wish to proceed with your tour you will need to pay the booking deposit. After payment of your deposit I work with you to arrange and book accommodations and finalize your tour itinerary.

Photo Credits: Seafood Platter/Slieve League courtesy of PDPhoto.org The Dolmen/Moher Cliffs courtesy of Wikipedia.com Remainder by Ray Ruddick

RAY RUDDICK TOURS 'Great Tours of Britain & Ireland'

IRELAND The Emerald Isle Jaunt (8 nights - 9 days)

RAY RUDDICK TOURS 'Great Tours of Britain & Ireland' Javascript DHTML Drop Down Menu Powered by dhtml-menu-builder.com

IRELAND The Emerald Isle Jaunt (8 nights - 9 days)

RAY RUDDICK TOURS 'Great Tours of Britain & Ireland'