Dublin

A day in Dublin at your leisure. Visit Dublin Castle, St. Paul’s Cathedral or EPIC - The Irish Emigration Museum to take a deep dive into Ireland’s emigration story. Or stroll and shop along Grafton Street and pop into award winning Kehoe’s pub for a pint. Enjoy dinner this evening out on the town at one of Dublin’s many fine restaurants.  

The Shelbourne Hotel (B)

Drive to Ashford Castle

En route to Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo, we will stop at a Cookery School run by former restaurant owner Kate Wright who will teach us the secrets of baking traditional Irish soda bread and scones. She will prepare a hearty Irish stew to enjoy alongside our freshly baked  breads for a delicious and filling lunch. Afterwards we will arrive at the imagestic and award-winning Ashford Castle. Dinner this evening will be on property at The Dungeon, a warm and relaxed bistro style restaurant. 

Ashford Castle (B,D)

Ashford Castle

This morning we will take a relaxing boat cruise on the serene and beautiful Lough Corrib where we will learn the history of Ashford Castle and the surrounding area. After lunch at your leisure, we will meet again in the afternoon at Ireland’s oldest school of falconry to take Ashford Castle’s resident Harris hawks for a walk around the magnificent grounds of this 350-acre estate. This is a completely immersive and interactive experience that will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder at these small but incredibly intelligent and powerful birds. And near to the falconry school, movie buffs won’t want to miss a visit to the cottage that was featured in John Wayne’s iconic film, The Quiet Man, which was filmed on the Ashford estate and the nearby village of Cong in the early 1950’s.  Dinner this evening will be on property at Cullen’s in The Cottage, a charming thatched cottage that offers a relaxed and cozy dining experience.

Ashford Castle (B,D)

Ashford Castle or farther afield

This day is completely at your leisure. Ride on horseback or take a guided walk with the resident Irish wolfhounds around the estate; cycle along the river bank or into the village of Cong; try your luck at fishing or clay pigeon shooting; play a round of golf or pamper yourself in the luxurious spa. The choice is yours! This evening we will say farewell to each other and this amazing country over dinner at George V, an elegant fine dining restaurant, built for and named after its most distinguished guest.

Ashford Castle (B,D)

Depart for US

Transfer to Dublin airport for flights to the US