Join Our State as we immerse ourselves in the culture, mystique, and soul-stirring scenery of the Emerald Isle, from the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry in the south to the Titanic Museum and Hillsborough Castle in the north.
May 12-20, 2025
Package Includes:
- Round-trip airfare from Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- Seven nights’ accommodations
- 13 meals: eight breakfasts, five dinners
- Overnight stay in Dromoland Castle
- Deluxe motor coach transportation for the tour
- Full-time professional guide
- Our State host
- Transfers to and from European airport
- All sightseeing and admissions per itinerary
- All tips and taxes (except for motor coach driver and tour manager)
- Baggage handling
Itinerary Highlights:
- Belfast living history tour
- Titanic Museum
- Giant’s Causeway
- Hillsborough Castle
- Guinness Storehouse
- Dublin city tour, including Trinity College’s library and the Book of Kells
- Blarney Castle
- Irish Night at Kate Kearney’s Cottage
- Ring of Kerry
- Irish coffee demonstration
- Kissane Sheep Farm
- Wild Atlantic Way
- Cliffs of Moher
- Dromoland Castle
Accommodations:
- Two nights in Belfast: Europa Belfast or similar
- Two nights in Dublin: The Mont Hotel or similar
- Two nights in Killarney: The Great Southern Hotel or similar
- One night in Newmarket-on-Fergus: Dromoland Castle
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Depart U.S. — Overnight Flight
Monday, May 12, 2025
Day 2: Arrive in Dublin • Belfast
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Welcome to Ireland! You are met at the airport by your driver and guide. Stop at a local restaurant for a full Irish breakfast. Upon arrival in Belfast, meet a local guide for a living history tour, which takes you through the landmarks that have played their part in the city’s colorful development — from its great industrial triumphs to the civil unrest. During the tour, you will see many well-known features of the city, including City Hall, Queens University, the Ulster Museum, the Botanic Gardens, and the Albert Clock. End your tour at the impressive Titanic Museum, which extends over nine galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibits drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale constructions, and interactive features to explore the Titanic story in a fresh and insightful way — from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her infamous maiden voyage and catastrophic demise. Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: Europa Belfast or similar
Day 3: The Giant’s Causeway
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Travel to the Antrim Coast this morning, where you’ll be constantly delighted as pretty fishing villages and dramatic headlands come into view around each bend in the road. Your journey continues to the Giant’s Causeway, where centuries of visitors have marveled at its majesty and mystery. The unique rock formations have stood as a natural rampart for millions of years against the unbridled ferocity of the Atlantic storms, and the rugged symmetry of the columns never fails to intrigue and inspire. Return to Belfast and enjoy dinner at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: Europa Belfast or similar
Day 4: Belfast • Dublin
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Visit Hillsborough Castle, the late Georgian mansion built in the 1770s by Wills Hill, the first Marquis of Downshire, and later remodeled in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it is a working royal palace functioning as the official residence of the Royal Family when they are in Northern Ireland, and it has been the home of the Secretary of State since the 1970s. A tour of the house will guide you through the elegant State Rooms, still in use today, including the majestic Throne Room and the graceful Drawing Room. Wander through 100 acres of beautiful gardens developed from the 1760s onwards, offering a contrast of ornamental grounds, peaceful woodlands, meandering waterways, and trimmed lawns. Look out for the statue of Ossian outside the main entrance, Lady Alice’s Temple, the Quaker Burial Ground, and the Ice House. Enjoy morning tea or coffee with scones served in one of the grand and elegant State Rooms.
Then travel on to Dublin for the true Guinness experience, where we will enjoy a visit to the Guinness Storehouse. The journey begins at the bottom of the world’s largest pint glass and continues up through seven floors filled with interactive experiences that tell the dramatic story that began more than 250 years ago. As you walk through the Storehouse museum, you’ll learn what goes into making the “Black Stuff” — the ingredients, the process, the passion. And at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a pint of perfection in the world-famous rooftop Gravity Bar. Enjoy a dinner at your hotel tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: The Mont Hotel or similar in Dublin
Day 5: Dublin
Friday, May 16, 2025
Meet a local guide this morning for a city sightseeing tour. Dublin offers a fine introduction to Georgian mansions, with side streets and spacious squares. You’ll pass the Custom House on the north bank of the River Liffey and many mid-18th century public buildings back in Dublin’s Southside, including Trinity College, where you will visit the library that holds the famous Book of Kells – a hand-illuminated manuscript of the Gospels. You will pass Dublin Castle, City Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral — the latter founded in 1190 and best known for its association with Jonathan Swift, who was Dean there from 1713 to 1745.
Spend the balance of your afternoon at leisure exploring Dublin’s fair city. Dinner tonight is at the Hairy Lemon pub within walking distance of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: The Mont Hotel or similar in Dublin
Day 6: Blarney Castle • Killarney
Saturday, May 17, 2025
This morning, travel to Cork and visit Blarney Castle, built nearly 600 years ago by one of Ireland’s greatest chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy. At the top of the castle is the Blarney Stone, which, according to legend, imparts the gift of eloquence to those who kiss it. Blarney is also home to the famous Blarney Woollen Mills, a building that dates back to 1793. Here, you will have time to enjoy and browse through the wide range of Irish clothing, crystal, linen, and handcrafts. Enjoy lunch on your own before continuing to Killarney. This evening, enjoy Irish Night at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, which includes a traditional Irish dinner and entertainment, featuring a lively performance of the very best Irish music, song, and dance.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: The Great Southern Hotel or similar in Killarney
Day 7: Ring of Kerry
Sunday, May 18, 2025
This morning, you are picked up by your driver for a full-day excursion. Travel the road that winds around the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, better known as the Ring of Kerry. It is undoubtedly one of the most magical places in all of Ireland. Here, mountains, valleys, lakes, and sea blend into a landscape that is often breathtaking beyond words. Enjoy an Irish coffee demo. Later visit Kissane Sheep Farm, a traditional working sheep farm with approximately 1,000 sheep. You can clearly see the dogs and the shepherd at work during the sheep dog demonstration. Dinner is on your own this evening in Killarney, which is known for its lively pubs and open, cheerful atmosphere and is full of what the Irish call craic!
Meals: Breakfast
Overnight: The Great Southern Hotel or similar in Killarney
Day 8: Cliffs of Moher
Monday, May 19, 2025
Following breakfast, we will be on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. Enjoy a short ferry ride across the Shannon Estuary. Experience the rugged nature of the land and sea as you breathe in the fresh sea air of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. Then, travel to the Cliffs of Moher, rising approximately 700 feet above the pounding Atlantic waves and stretching eight kilometers. Visit the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, a huge domed cave at the center of the building that contains images, exhibits, displays, and experiences that will delight young and old alike. There’s time to explore the center or perhaps eat lunch on your own. Continue to Newmarket-on-Fergus and Dromoland Castle. The castle offers deluxe accommodations, breathtaking scenery, absolute luxury, and exceptional service. It is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at the castle.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (recommended attire for dinner is dressy casual/cocktail attire for ladies and jacket and dress shirt for men)
Overnight: Dromoland Castle in Newmarket-on-Fergus
Day 9: Departure
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Breakfast is at the hotel depending upon flight departure times. You will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Tour Rates:
Regular rate: $6,199 per person based on double occupancy
Single rate: $7,689
For Reservations & More Information:
AAA Travel
Beth Rackham
(919) 832-0543, ext. 16012
barackham@acg.aaa.com
For more information on physical requirements and what to expect on an Our State trip, click here.
