Irish Experience
Experience Overview
Explore all the best the Emerald Isle has to offer on your trip filled with tales of mythical creatures and the troubled history of an island split in two. Beyond soul-stirring landscapes, there’s time with a local ‘Cabbie’ who’ll guide you through Belfast.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 10 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- Ballycastle: Join your hosts, the Cole family, at their home, Broughgammon Farm near Ballycastle, where you'll enjoy farm life and a delicious meal of local favorites.
Brendan Experiences
- Londonderry: With a Local Specialist explore inside the city walls. See the Gothic Guildhall and the Georgian houses of Shipquay Street.
Dive into Culture
- Belfast: Experience Belfast from the comfort of your dedicated Black Cab with expert 'Cabbie' commentary.
- Belfast: Discover the full story of the Titanic at the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction in Belfast.
- Belleek: See traditional craftsmen at work at the Belleek Pottery Visitor Center, one of the oldest working potteries in the world.
- Waterford: Learn how crystal is crafted at the House of Waterford Crystal during a workshop tour.
- New Ross: Explore the tragic history of Ireland's famine emigration with a Local Specialist at the Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience, a replica of one of the original ships used in the 1800s.
Iconic Experience
- Dublin: A Local Specialist will show you Dublin’s elegant Georgian squares, O’Connell Street and the Custom House.
- Bushmills: In Northern Ireland you'll discover the legend of the Giant's Causeway as you explore and learn about this iconic natural landmark.
- Kylemore: Visit the turreted Neo-Gothic Kylemore Abbey. This monastery was founded in 1920 for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
- Galway: Explore the historic heart of Galway. See landmarks such as the Spanish Arch and the cathedral or perhaps admire the distinctive Claddagh rings.
- Blarney: It is said that those who kiss the Blarney Stone, the famous stone of eloquence, are bestowed with the power to persuade, flatter and coax. Take your turn at giving it a peck knowing that the stone was sourced from 330-million-year-old limestone.
- New Ross: Visit the port town of New Ross. On the quayside, perhaps see the Dunbrody replica famine ship and statue of John F. Kennedy.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Lahinch: Gain a deeper understanding of the Cliffs of Moher on a guided walk with a Local Specialist in conservation. Learn how wildflowers support rare bird species like the red-billed chough and explore the cultural ties between the land and local communities. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Dublin, Belfast and Londonderry with a Local Specialist
- Discover Galway and Waterford
- Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast, the UNESCO World Heritage site at the Giant's Causeway, Belleek to see how the famous pottery is made, Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle to kiss the stone and gain the 'gift of the gab', the Crystal Showroom at Waterford and the Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross
- View Belfast City Hall, the City Walls and Murals of Londonderry and Trinity College in Dublin
- See Galway Cathedral
- Scenic Cruise cross the Shannon Estuary
- Scenic Drive through Connemara and along the Ring of Kerry
Top Rated Highlights
- Ring of Kerry: Admire Ireland's enduring scenic beauty on one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
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)
- Ferry across the Shannon estuary
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Trip Details
Product Code: 19501
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Brendan Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 12.18A
Starts: Dublin, Ireland
Finishes: Dublin, Ireland
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4795 ($436 /day)
Itinerary
Embrace your playful side and discover the allure of the lively Irish capital - a small city with a lot of heart and yours to explore before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers this afternoon for a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist. See the stately Georgian Squares and Trinity College before enjoying a whiskey tasting at a local distillery.The excitement will build this evening over drinks, good food and great company as your Travel Director gives you a taste of what’s to come.
Accommodation: Clayton Ballsbridge, Dublin, Sandymount Hotel, Dublin
Meals: Dinner
Leaving the cosmopolitan streets of Dublin behind, we travel to Northern Ireland and the bustling city of Belfast, where you will have some free time to enjoy a spud for lunch or perhaps an Irish stew. Later, we meet our Local Specialist 'Cabbie' for an insider view of the city’s living history during a journey through its vibrant streets in a real taxi. We spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure, or perhaps join an Optional Experience.
Accommodation: AC by Marriott, Belfast, DoubleTree by Hilton Belfast Templepatrick
Meals: Breakfast
Dive into Culture during a visit to the award-winning Titanic Belfast Experience. Gain insights into the tragic story of the Titanic and its passengers who lost their lives in the icy Atlantic. Leave the city behind, traveling to your Be My Guest experience near Ballycastle for lunch. Then onto the Giant's Causeway as we walk in the footsteps of Finn McCool. Our visit will help to conserve this iconic natural landmark. Take some time to admire the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns before continuing to Derry/Londonderry, our home for the next two nights.
Accommodation: City Hotel Derry, Waterfoot Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Join your Local Specialist for a walk along the 17th-century city walls and see the formerly turbulent Bogside neighborhood, with its street murals depicting the history of the 'Troubles'. Spend a free afternoon walking along the pretty Foyle River or consider joining an Optional Experience to Inishowen Peninsula, with its rich history. This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Accommodation: City Hotel Derry, Waterfoot Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey through the lush countryside to Belleek, where you'll Dive into Culture and witness talented pottery crafters create the exquisite collectables. Arrive in Galway for an orientation of town with your Travel Director.
Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Oranmore, Galway
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
The rugged beauty of Connemara was captured in the film 'The Quiet Man' with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Its loughs and mountains are yours to explore today during a scenic drive. Arrive at Kylemore Abbey later to visit the country's most romantic castle and ramble through the hidden nooks of its Victorian walled garden. Returning to Galway, enjoy some free time to explore its imposing stone Cathedral or stroll through Eyre Square, which John F. Kennedy visited in 1963.
Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Oranmore, Galway
Meals: Breakfast
Marvel at the towering Cliffs of Moher as they rise over 200 m (650 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean. Take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, gaining a deeper understanding of this UNESCO-listed landscape with your Local Specialist. At the ‘Atlantic Edge’ exhibition, discover how thousands of years of wind and sea shaped the cliffs, and enjoy views from the perspective of nesting seabirds who call this place home. Continue your journey along the Wild Atlantic Way, soaking up more coastal views before crossing the waters of the Shannon Estuary. Arrive in Killarney, where your evening is free to explore or you can opt in for a traditional Irish ceilidh, full of music, dance and craic.
Accommodation: Killarney Towers Hotel , Hotel Killarney
Meals: Breakfast
The soul-stirring landscapes of Iveragh Peninsula provide a mesmerizing backdrop for our scenic coastal drive around the Ring of Kerry – an unimaginably beautiful natural setting. En route we will see Killorglin, famous for its annual 'Puck Fair', as well as Daniel O'Connell's Cahirciveen, the fishing village of Waterville, the Black Valley and Moll's Gap.
Accommodation: Killarney Towers Hotel , Hotel Killarney
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today you might acquire the 'gift of the gab', bending over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone before you travel to Waterford. Admire the delicate creations of fine crystal during a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal where you will Dive into Culture and witness a demonstration by master crafters. This evening, arrive in Kilkenny with its imposing 12th-century castle, once the seat of the Butlers of Ormonde.
Accommodation: Hotel Kilkenny
Meals: Breakfast
After a morning exploration of Kilkenny, depart for New Ross where you'll see the monument to John F. Kennedy, who visited his ancestral family hometown in 1963. Dive into Culture and gain insights into the tragic plight of Irish emigrants during the potato famine of the 1800s on your visit to the nearby three-masted Dunbrody Famine Ship. Journey through the lush Irish countryside of County Wicklow, the 'Garden of Ireland', and back to Dublin where you’ll spend your final evening with travel companions sharing stories of your memorable journey through Ireland at dinner.
Accommodation: Clayton Leopardstown, Sandymount Hotel, Dublin
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s time to say a fond farewell to Ireland and newfound friends as you prepare to end your wonderful Irish experience.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Brendan Vacations (CA)
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Jennifer Allen - Traveled, June 2025
great tour, everything worked, everything worked on the tour, the accommodation was varied and the excursions were excellent. Many showed a different side of Ireland to what we perceived. fabulous tour, we loved it and were surprised how much we truly enjoyed the travel. having 2 nights regularly in a hotel gave us a chance to rest up and enjoy the day trips and rest those sore feet, a wonderful tour guide "Allie" and Michael the champion bus driver made the world of difference.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/22/2025
Timothy Smith - Traveled, May 2025
Travel arrangements were very easy. Our Travel Director *Personal information removed by Feefo* and our driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* was first class . Not only did the scheduled itinerary provide "The Irish Experience", I truly felt that our Travel Director *Personal information removed by Feefo* endeavored to provide us with places & experiences that went "outside" of the itinerary and certainly felt unique to what any other tour company was providing. It was obvious *Personal information removed by Feefo* loves what she does and those we encountered along the way had a genuine affection towards her - whether a quick stop to meet a roadside vendor weaving St Brigid's cross, to having a pint (or two) with the proprietor and local musicians of a small family owned pub, I felt we were meeting "the people" of Ireland. *Personal information removed by Feefo* our driver was a consumate professional & lock step with *Personal information removed by Feefo* to make this a memorable experience for all.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Excellent tour guide and bus driver with all the luggage service. The hotels and meals were all wonderful, the tour director had an amazing knowledge and love of her country, every experience went off without issue. June was a good month as the country was beautiful and crowds were not too bad yet. We had an amazing Irish tour and the best tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo*, and also a very skilled bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo*. We enjoyed the scenic routes the tour took as well as the bigger cities. We learned a lot about Northern Ireland and were happy this tour included the journey through Northern Ireland. We saw things we never would have found on our own with the comfort of a beautiful coach and being spoiled along the way. We highly recommend this tour of Ireland.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Very good. Efficient routines. The trip was a wonderful experience. *Personal information removed by Feefo*, our tour director, was excellent. The tour gets 4 stars from me because hotels were frequently inconveniently located so as to require extensive walking or hiring taxis to make use of independent time. The itinerary was great. Loved all the optional activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Gayle Russell - Traveled, June 2025
Knowledgeable staff *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* helped us understand the people of Ireland, the politics the import and export products. The hotels were top of the line with porter service and breakfasts and some dinners! It was jammed packed of things to see and do. Loved the 8:30 starts with porter service. *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* were professional, warm and knowledgeable. Doing the Ireland tour was a learning experience. Read less
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, June 2025
Great so organised and we were kept well informed. Absolutely magnificent group of travellers. *Personal information removed by Feefo* bus driver and *Personal information removed by Feefo*tour director were great. Could not fault the experience and would book Trafalgar again. It was my second trip with them.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Andrea Hall - Traveled, June 2025
This was an excellent tour. Our tour director *Personal information removed by Feefo* and bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo* did an amazing job and we got to see the usual tourist sights but many additional excellent options made it a great adventure. *Personal information removed by Feefo* and *Personal information removed by Feefo* knowledge of Ireland and its history was exemplary and *Personal information removed by Feefo* organisational skills outstanding and everything ran smoothly. The 11 day length of this tour was perfect for us. We met some wonderful people from all over the world. The itinerary allowed plenty of time to enjoy all the sights comfortably. We would thoroughly recommend this Trafalgar Irish Experience tour to family and friends. Andrea & Kevin Hall.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/15/2025
Jeff and Janice Taylor - Traveled, May 2025
Trafalgar's services was on point and very easy to follow. Any questions we had before our trip started was answered professionally and with courtesy. The bus departures was explained with great detail by our tour director and my wife and I had no problem with his instructions. If we did have question of uncertainty, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was always available to answer our questions. All around great trip, packed with historical, natural and scenic history. Our tour guide, *Personal information removed by Feefo* was very likeable and personable and also had a good sense of humor. Our bus driver *Personal information removed by Feefo** was very professional and drove all of us around safely, even in some tight spots.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/12/2025
Margaret Alexander - Traveled, June 2025
Everything was above and beyond my expectations. All details were meticulously planned and performed professionally but with a very personal touch. For my first visit to Ireland, this tour was an excellent overview of a very beautiful and complicated country. I was not expecting to learn so much history and it was excellent. Our director, *Personal information removed by Feefo*, brought in so many personal experiences I felt like I really saw the "inside" of the places we went.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, May 2025
*Personal information removed by Feefo* was a great guide, loved that the locals had so much history of the country.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/12/2025
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