A Tauck Bridges Family Tour
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Irresistibly Irish, one of Tauck’s favorite family tours of Ireland journeys from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher. Travel by a World War II amphibious vehicle… take a cooking class at a world-famous cooking school… discover the story of the Titanic… learn a bit of Irish step dancing… and immerse in Emerald Isle fun.
Hands-on family fun has everyone’s eyes a-smiling… learn how to Irish Step Dance… explore Dublin by land and water and go on a treasure hunt back in time, from the Viking age to the Middle Ages… ride aboard a train through emerald landscapes… learn the real story of the Titanic… make pottery, Celtic jewelry and a home-grown Irish dinner… explore the wild Atlantic Way and stay seaside… step back centuries at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park… and learn all things Irish during a family trip to Ireland.
Highlights
- A farm-fresh cooking demonstration and dinner with entertainment at the acclaimed Ballymaloe Cookery School, set in a 100-acre organic farm
- Private farewell barbecue at a seaside Irish resort
- Pottery making and Celtic jewelry design in Kinsale with a local artisan
- All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides, and drivers
- Private sightseeing in Dublin aboard a World War II amphibious vehicle
- Scavenger treasure hunt in old Dublin from Stephen's Green to Trinity College
- A visit to the living museum at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park with lunch in the castle
- Irish step dancing lessons
- Visit Titanic Experience Cobh and emigration exhibits
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure as noted
- 18 meals; service charges, taxes, and porterage
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Dublin – Vikings, Irish dancing & more
Tour begins: 3:30 PM, Conrad Dublin. A transfer is included from Dublin Airport to the Conrad Dublin hotel, centrally located in the heart of the Irish capital steps from St. Stephen’s Green. With a bustling city center and the River Liffey running through the middle of it, the best way to explore Dublin is by land and water! You’ll get a great introduction aboard a “Viking Splash Tour”… see all sides of the city while traveling aboard a World War II amphibious vehicle – its medieval core and Georgian squares… Trinity College… St. Patrick’s Cathedral and much more. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight, where we kick off a week of fun on your Tauck Bridges Ireland vacation with Celtic music and Irish step dancing lessons!
Meals Included: Dinner
Accommodation: Conrad Dublin
Day 2
A scavenger hunt in Dublin
The city of Dublin dates back to the 9th century, when seafaring Vikings founded a settlement here. This morning, you’ll hunt for clues to its ancient history – and meet some costumed characters of days past – as you go on a scavenger hunt in the city’s very old streets that ends in Trinity College with a look at the Book of Kells, dating back to the 9th century. Following lunch at a traditional Irish pub in a centuries-old setting, the rest of the day is free to explore as you please.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Conrad Dublin
Day 3
Drive to County Cork, explore Titanic Experience Cobh, and meet an Irish storyteller at a barbecue
Continue your Ireland vacation adventure as you travel from Dublin through the Irish countryside to the southern tip of the Emerald Isle. There, in County Cork, you’ll visit the port city of Cobh to visit Titanic Experience Cobh and emigration exhibits. Titanic Experience Cobh is located in the former offices of the White Star Line ticket office, the departure point for many White Star passengers – and your family engages in an interactive journey unlike any other, discovering the story of the ill-fated 1912 ship. After a fitting welcome at Castlemartyr Resort, where you’ll spend the next three nights, Irish eloquence of another kind will be yours to enjoy at tonight’s private barbecue, featuring an Irish storyteller.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Castlemartyr Resort
Day 4
Pottery and Celtic jewelry making in Kinsale
Enjoy a leisurely morning on the grounds of your Irish home-away-from-home before heading to the Kinsale Pottery and Art Centre for a tour and an artful, hands-on afternoon spent making colorful ceramic pottery and traditional Celtic jewelry. Local artisans show you how to make traditional pottery, helping you hand-build and paint your sculpted piece. You’ll also get to try your hand at Celtic jewelry making using a range of skills covered in today’s class – from design to threading, knotting, fitting crimps and finishing – all in a workshop in the converted stables of the home farm for Ballinacurra House, which dates from the late 1700s. You’ll have some free time to explore the town of Kinsale prior to returning to your resort for a free afternoon before dinner tonight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Castlemartyr Resort
Day 5
Resort fun & Ballymaloe Cookery School
Have fun working up an appetite for a home-cooked Irish dinner tonight by enjoying a variety of outdoor activities at your resort this morning – including golf, hurling, archery*, and pony trap* rides. After lunch, head out to Ballymaloe, the only cookery school in the world located in the middle of its own 100-acre organic farm. Join your culinary hosts for a guided tour of the gardens and the working farm, experience a cooking demonstration by expert chefs… then show what you’ve learned when you pair up and cook your own authentically Irish dinner! After you’ve enjoyed the fruits of your culinary efforts, the fun continues when an Irish musician performs for your group tonight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Castlemartyr Resort
Day 6
Enchanting Ennis
Say goodbye to Castlemartyr and continue your Ireland family vacation through lovely, lush landscapes. Say hello to the townsfolk during lunch in Ennis, then depart for beautiful County Clare and Doonbeg, where your family enjoys two nights at a luxury five-star resort with sweeping views of the sea.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Trump International Golf Links® and Hotel Doonbeg
Day 7
The Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle & an Irish farewell
Keep your camera at the ready today as you travel to the County Clare coast to visit one of the world’s most photographed natural wonders. Some five miles long, the Cliffs of Moher soar 659 feet over the crashing Atlantic Ocean waves below, providing you with amazing bird’s-eye views of the craggy Irish coast… can’t wait to see the pictures! Discover Irish cultural heritage on a visit to Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, then join us this evening at the resort for a farewell barbecue overlooking the sea. It’s the perfect way to end your family’s perfect Ireland vacation adventure!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Trump International Golf Links® and Hotel Doonbeg
Day 8
Journey home
Tour ends: Newmarket-on-Fergus. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Shannon Airport from Hotel Doonbeg. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
Conrad Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
The Conrad Dublin, located in the heart of “Dublin’s fair city” opposite the gardens of famous St. Stephen’s Green, is a grand place to begin your family’s exploration of “The Emerald Isle.” Your guest room welcomes you with all the comforts of home, like a 37-inch LED flat screen TV with premium channels, an iHome Bluetooth docking station, a clock radio with MP3 connection, air conditioning, bathrobes and slippers, mineral water, cable TV, CD player, minibar, in-room safe and more… even a hair dryer and iron/ironing board. If you’re after some exercise, head to the well-equipped Fitness Center with hi-tech cardiovascular equipment and weights or ask the hotel staff for maps of good jogging routes close by. The hotel’s dining options include contemporary cuisine at their all day brasserie, The Coburg Restaurant and more casual dining at Alfie’s Bar and Grill, which opens out onto Earlsfort Terrace. The Conrad Dublin is a winner of the prestigious Fáilte Ireland 5-Star Quality Award.
Castlemartyr Resort
Castlemartyr, Ireland
Part ancient castle ruins originally built by The Knights Templar in 1210, part 18th-century manor house and part contemporary hotel, this is a totally cool place to spend a few days. The Castlemartyr Resort is set on 220 acres of parkland with its own meandering stream and a tranquil lake, offering wonderful opportunities for outdoor family fun like pony and trap riding, golfing, archery, hurling (an ancient Irish sport) and more, as well as good times inside at the indoor swimming pool. After being greeted by Earl and Countess, the resident Irish setters who would love to go for a walk with you later, you’ll find that your guest room has everything you need to rest and relax after all that fun, such as a flat-screen LCD TV with satellite channels, air conditioning, in-room refrigerator with complimentary mineral water, bathrobes and slippers and more. The Knight’s Bar is a good choice for a light, informal meal or snack, or you might enjoy a light lunch or afternoon tea on the terrace as you look out over the gardens. Don’t forget that Countess and Earl are probably still looking forward to that walk with you!
Trump International Golf Links® and Hotel Doonbeg
Doonbeg, Ireland
Close to the village of Doonbeg, out on the water’s edge, sits one of Europe’s most distinguished 5-star destinations, Trump International Golf Links® & Hotel Doonbeg (formerly the Lodge at Doonbeg). Named the #2 Resort in Europe by Condé Nast Traveler, the hotel boasts spacious accommodations, fine amenities and discreet service. A trip to Doonbeg is an unparalleled opportunity to experience luxury accommodations set against a magnificent backdrop of rugged landscape, rolling waves and sand dunes with thousands of years of stories hidden within them. Guest rooms are uniquely crafted to ensure space, comfort and privacy; guests enjoy the utmost in Old World luxury and refinement in rooms beautifully appointed with curated furnishings, art, and antiques. Recreation is a distinct pleasure, with a variety of activities to choose from including an early morning relaxing stroll or jog along 1.5 miles of coastline overlooked by the hotel, horseback riding, hill walking, nature adventures, coastal cycle rides etc. Dining is a palate pleasing experience, ranging from the hearty fare served at the namesake Trump’s Bar & Restaurant to the cutting-edge fine cuisine offered by the Ocean View Restaurant – and of course afternoon in the beautiful tea room overlooking the Atlantic Ocean affords an opportunity to relax in the cozy atmosphere as you enjoy a delicious assortment of pastries and cakes freshly prepared.
