MEDIEVAL KILKENNY TOUR
FULL DAY
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Kilkenny City is the best example of a medieval town in Ireland and is attractively situated on the River Nore, which forms the moat of its magnificently restored 13th century castle. The name Kilkenny comes from the Gaelic for "Canice's Church", which nowadays is the splendid St Canice's Cathedral, with its ancient stone tower and imposing Gothic interior. You will enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Anglo-Norman stone castle, which was the former principal Irish residence of the powerful Butler family (Marquesses and Dukes of Ormonde) for almost 600 years. Enjoy lunch at the 14th century Kyteler's Inn, named after the infamous Dame Alice Kyteler who was burned at the stake for the alleged poisoning of four of her husbands. The remainder of the afternoon is free to shop or sightsee. Opposite Kilkenny Castle are the elegant former castle stables, home to a number of local craftspeople and the Kilkenny Design Centre, where you can find all manner of quality Irish crafts and artwork for sale. Also a must is a visit to St. Canices Cathedral - famous for its beautiful wooden hand-carved ceiling as well as effigies of the Butler Family and other famous families. |
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Inclusions |
Coach transportation, admission to Kilkenny Castle, bottled water, two-course lunch, qualified guide |
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Price (per person) |
EUR70.00 |
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Dates |
Friday 19th , Saturday 27th August |
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Min Numbers |
35 |
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Max numbers |
No set |
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Duration |
9½ hours (approximately) |
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Dress Code |
Casual (including a jacket/coat) |
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Note |
Drinks during lunch are at an additional cost. |
POWERSCOURT & GLENDALOUGH TOUR
FULL DAY
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Stunning scenery, a glimpse of Ireland’s monastic and aristocratic past and some excellent shopping for good measure. Powerscourt House and Gardens is one of Europe’s great treasures and Ireland’s most famous estate. Gracing the foothills of the Wicklow mountains, the 18th century mansion was partially destroyed by fire in 1974. A long restoration project ensued and an exhibition now brings its rich history to life. Also onsite is Ireland’s premier shopping emporium, Avoca Handweavers. Begun in the 1740s, 47 acres of gardens are remarkable for their grandeur of scale and comprise a sublime blend of formal gardens, sweeping terraces, splendid statuary and ornamental lakes together with secret hollows, rambling walks, walled gardens and an extensive variety of trees and shrubs. A stop will be made en route to Glendalough for lunch at Wicklow Heather Restaurant. Founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, Glendalough (meaning glen of two lakes) is a former glacial valley renowned for its early medieval monastic settlement. Destroyed in 1398 by English troops, the present remains tell only a small part of its story. On the return drive to Dublin, you will pass through the two charming seaside villages of Dalkey and Killiney, home to celebrities such as Maeve Binchey, Bono, Enya and Van Morrison. |
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Inclusions |
Coach transportation, admission to Powerscourt House & Gardens, two-course lunch, qualified guide |
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Price (per person) |
EUR70.00 |
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Dates |
Saturday 20th, Sunday 28th August |
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Min numbers |
35 |
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Max numbers |
No set |
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Duration |
8½ hours (approximately) |
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Dress Code |
Casual (including a jacket/coat) |
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Note |
Drinks are at an additional cost. |
