Elegant Northern Ireland Tour

USA-Ireland
Depart from USA for overnight flight to Ireland.

Day 2
Dublin
Morning arrival at Dublin Airport. After clearing customs, we transfer on own (10-minute taxi ride- taxi stand outside of baggage claim) to our five-star city centered hotel. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the sites of this 1000+ year old city. Overnight Dublin. Hammond will select the five-star hotels from the following: Westbury Shelbourne, Fitzwilliam, Intercontinental or Westin Hotel.

Dublin
After a hearty Irish breakfast we meet out driver guide in the lobby. We take a half day panoramic view of Dublin. We enjoy a visit to Guinness Storehouse. Your driver will drop you off at Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin where you can enjoy lunch in one of the many pubs or restaurants. As you walk along, you’re bound to find yourself mesmerized by the dozen or so street performers and musicians hoping to entertain you. You may want to venture to Temple Bar; the neighborhood is Dublin’s famous party hub for a Guinness. Overnight Dublin. Hammond will select the five-star hotels from the following: Westbury, Shelbourne, Fitzwilliam, Intercontinental or Westin Hotel.

Dublin-Monasterboice-Belfast.
After a hearty breakfast we meet our Driver Guide in the lobby of the hotel. We travel north via Drogheda to Monasterboice. This former monastic settlement dates to 923AD and is the home of the largest collection of carved stone high crosses in all of Europe. We then travel through Dundalk and on to Belfast. We take time to tour the new Titanic Museum. This is truly one of the best museum experiences you will ever have. We then enjoy a panoramic tour of Belfast. Then onto our home for the next 2 nights, the magnificent hasting’s Culloden Hotel. These 5 stars 19th century “Scottish baronial Estate” which offers al modern amenities, including an indoor pool, leisure center and beauty salon. Overnight at The Culloden Hotel.

Belfast-Glens of Antrim-Giant’s Causeway-Belfast.
Today we travel The Coast Road, which takes us through the Nine Glens of Antrim; this journey is considered one of the most beautiful views in all of Ireland, which offers wonderful views of mountains, valleys, and the coastline. On a clear day you can see Scotland. Our first stop is the oldest licensed distillery in the world, Bushmills, where we savor a sample of this renowned amber liquid. We then travel the coast to visit the Giant’s Causeway. This impressive area of hexagonal columns was formed over 60 million years ago by cooling lava. We then return to Belfast via Ballymena. Overnight at The Culloden

Belfast-Armagh-Enniskillen-Donegal
After a hearty Irish breakfast, we depart for Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. It Is here that St. Patrick founded a church, and the town has remained a religious center. We continue our journey west through Enniskillen, the capital of County Fermanagh, where the town center sits on an island between the upper and lower Lough Erne. Next, on to the famous Belleek Pottery, this has been in existence since 1857. Belleek produces Irish Fine Parian china, sold worldwide for generations. An Irish tradition is to give a newlywed couple a piece of this china, so they will be blessed with lasting happiness. Dinner and Overnight at Solis Lough Eske Hotel. The Hotel is located on a secluded lakeside estate dating back to the 1400’s.

Donegal-Sligo-Cong
 After breakfast today, we visit Drumcliffe, the burial site of William Butler Yeats. Our journey continues through the northern end of Lough Corrib to the tiny town of Cong, where much of the John Houston classic The Quiet Man was filmed. We arrive at Ashford Castle, a five-star hotel and one of the Leading Hotels of the World. This 13th-century fairy-tale castle overlooks a picturesque lake and is one of the most luxurious castle hotels in all of Ireland. Once on the grounds of the estate, you will feel transported back in time. Ashford was once home to the world-famous Guinness family, renowned for their brewing expertise. Perhaps you will choose to walk among the 3 million species of shrubs, trees, and flowers that the spectacular gardens have to offer. Ashford Castle also offers an equestrian center, a spa and a 9-hole golf course. Tonight, we enjoy a gourmet dinner in the George V dining room. Sleep like a king or queen this evening. Dinner and Overnight at Ashford Castle.

Cong-Connemara-Galway-Cliffs of Moher-Limerick-Adare
After enjoying a gourmet breakfast, we depart from Ashford Castle and begin our journey on the northern edge of Lough Corrib and on to the Connemara region, one of the most scenic and unspoiled areas in the country. Next a pit stop in Galway. We continue our drive to the Cliffs of Moher. This majestic site climbs some 700 feet above the unforgiving Atlantic Coastline. We then continue to Limerick where we enjoy a panoramic tour. We then continue to Limerick where we enjoy a panoramic tour. Dinner and Overnight at a Five Star Property Hammond will select the five-star hotels from the following: Dromoland Castle, Adare Manor, Savoy Limerick.

Day 9
Shannon Airport
Transfer on own via taxi to Shannon Airport.