Day 1 - Travel via short sea crossing to Ireland for an overnight stop in the Waterford area.
Day 2 - Waterford Crystal and the Jameson Heritage Centre
Start
today with a visit and tour of the Waterford Crystal Factory, where you will
see for yourself the skill and patience required to produce each and every
piece, it takes an apprenticeship of some 30 years to become an engraver. From
here you journey on via Youghal to Middleton for a visit to the Jameson Heritage
Centre. Irish Whiskey is world renowned and it's history can be traced here
where the tour commences with an informative audio- visual presentation. Guests
then follow the Old Distillery Trail through the various historic and architecturally
unique buildings - Mills, Malting Houses, Corn Stores, Stillhouses, old Offices
and atmospheric Warehouses. Each visit culminates in the Jameson Bar with the
Irish Whiskey tasting session when you may have the opportunity of becoming
a qualified Irish Whiskey Taster with a presentation diploma! Finally it’s
on to Cork and the hotel which is to be the base for your next three nights.
Day
3 - Blarney, Cork and the Cobh Heritage Centre
Today begins with a visit to
Blarney with its village green and craft shops. You can also take the opportunity
to visit either the Woollen Mills or Blarney Castle. Follow this with an afternoon
visit to Cork and the Cobh Heritage Centre where you can explore the history
of Irish emigration. When from 1848 - 1950 over 6 million adults and children
emigrated from Ireland with over 2.5 million having departed from Cobh, making
it the single most important port of emigration. Largely the result of poverty,
crop failures, the land system and a lack of opportunity the Irish emigration
reached unprecedented proportions during the famine as people fled from hunger
and disease.
Day 4 - Kinsale
A full days excursion to Kinsale, one of the most
picturesque fishing villages in Ireland, it is famous for its gourmet food
and boasts many fine restaurants. From here you can journey back to the hotel
via Clonakilty and Bandon.
Day 5 - Wexford, Cahir and Cashel
Depart Cork and make your way back to Wexford stopping on the way at Cahir
and Cashel, where you can visit the Rock of Cashel, one of the most spectacular
archeological sites in Ireland.
Day 6 - Return journey home.