10 Day Culinary Ireland (Southern Regions)
Day 1 - DEPART USA: Meet at the international airport three hours before departure. Dinner and breakfast served during flight.
Day 2 - WELCOME TO IRELAND:
Arrive at Dublin Airport and be met by your guide.
Board your modern motor-coach and travel to central Dublin.
Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour of Dublin
Here you will discover the north and south sides of the River Liffey. The north side offers great striking monuments such as the GPO (General Post Office) on the city main thoroughfare, O'Connell Street, or the Custom House along the quays, as well as the Phoenix Park, the largest public park in Europe. The south side appears more sophisticated with its vast Georgian squares, such as Merrion Square, where Oscar Wilde’s House can still be found (today owned by an American College), its colourful doors, along with Grafton Street and its quality shops. Not so far from St. Stephen’s Green, in Kildare St., you will see the house of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula. This part of the city is also dominated by the students of Trinity College, where the famous book of Kells is permanently exhibited in its library. The university is facing the medieval district where Dublin Castle and the two Anglican Cathedrals can be found.
Visit Guinness Storehouse
The Guinness Brewery in Dublin is Europe's largest stout producing brewery and home to the Guinness Storehouse. Opened in 1904, the Storehouse was an operational plant for fermenting and storing Guinness. Today it houses a very fine exhibition dedicated to the Guinness story. Visitors will discover what goes into the making a pint of Guinness - the ingredients, the brewing process, the time, the craft and the passion. The exhibition shows how the brew has been marketed and how it is today sold in over 150 countries. Once the tour has finished, the guest is invited to the Gravity Bar to enjoy their pint of Guinness. Regular demonstrations on the art of pulling a pint of Guinness also take place in the Storehouse. Launched on the fifth floor in 2011, “Five” at Guinness Storehouse, includes a small replica authentic Irish Bar, an 18th Century inspired Brewers Dining Hall, and a restaurant named Gilroy’s where guests enjoy a Guinness gastronomical experience driven entirely by the Irish tradition of wholesome local produce. Menus include local foods such as Ardsallagh goat’s cheese, Irish mussels from Carlingford and the Waterford Blaas bread supplied by MD Bakery in Waterford. This area will host from time to time live cooking demonstrations using Guinness in the recipe and it includes an interactive recipe sharing bank that allows visitors to take Guinness recipe cards home.
Check in to your hotel
In the evening enjoy welcome dinner at a local pub/restaurant
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Dublin or area
DAY 03 - WICKLOW:
This morning enjoy journey throughout Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains National Park covers much of upland Wicklow, and contains an area of nearly 20,000 hectares. The National Park provides protection for landscapes and wildlife. Important habitats include native woodland, such as the oakwoods at Glendalough, and large areas of blanket bog, including the Lugnaquila and Liffey Head Bog complexes. The Information Office for the National Park, and the Education Centre are both located in Glendalough near the Upper Lake. The Education Centre focuses on nature awareness, conservation, and ecology. The National Park is a protected area and visitors are urged to follow Leave No Trace principles.
Visit the Orchard Centre for farm visit and Baileys tasting
Located in the beautiful Wicklow countryside about 2 hours south of Dublin, the Orchard Centre is a specialist provider to companies and organisations who require a dedicated venue for Team Building, Training, Conferences, Incentives and Special Events. Set in a 200 acre private playground it has capacity to hold large outdoor events such as the Irish Olympics and human sheep herding. Furthermore it has 1000m2 of all-weather activity area including the flagship Dome facility providing 500m2 of activity, catering and exhibition space. The centre also offer guided farm visits to Hayden's Family Farm where their 140 cow dairy herd produces milk for Baileys Irish Cream. They offer a Baileys Talk and Tasting as an extra option with the visit. They also offer many traditional activity options such as Bodhran playing, hurling demonstrations and Irish dancing workshops. Various lunch and dinner options are also available.
Visit Glendalough
This early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. The Visitor Centre has an interesting exhibition on Glendalough detailing the history, archaeology and wildlife of this area of Wicklow and includes an audio-visual show . French, Italian and Spanish guided tours are available all year by advance booking. While the visitor centre is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities, access to the monastic site is very difficult for wheelchair users.
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Dublin or area
DAY 04 - DUBLIN TO CORK:
This morning journey to Cork
En-route visit Blarney Castle
Attracting visitors from all over the world, Blarney Castle is situated in Blarney village, 8 km from Cork city. An ancient stronghold of the McCarthy's, Lords of Muskerry, it is one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, and one of the strongest fortresses in Munster. Built in 1446, Blarney Castle is famous for its Blarney stone, the Stone of Eloquence, which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it. Many legends tell the story of the Stone, but why not kiss it and find out the truth behind the legend. The Castle gardens covering 60 acres of land are under constant change and over the past few years, a water garden, fern garden and poison garden have been developed and are all open to visitors.
Spend free time for shopping at Blarney Woollen Mills
Originally established in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills now houses a large selection of Irish products. With a wide selection of sweaters and woollens, crystal and china, gifts and souvenirs for all the family, this famous store has something for everyone. With five locations across Ireland, Blarney Woollen Mills offers an essential Irish shopping experience.
Check in to your hotel
In the evening enjoy tasting and pizza at the Franciscan Well microbrewery
The Franciscan Well Brewery was founded in 1998 on the North Mall in Cork city and is built on the site of an old Franciscan Monastery and Well, dating back to the year 1219. Legend has it that the water from the well has miraculous and curative properties and people would come from afar to drink from it. The Brewery has combined modern technology with old age tradition in forming classic beer styles including lager, ale, stout and wheat beer. From grain to glass the Franciscan Well Brewery relies on traditional methods in its brewing techniques. The brew pub houses three serving vessels located directly behind the bar which dispense the beer to the taps. The tanks, which hold 300gl each, offer the beer drinker a unique setting in which to enjoy the craft brewed beer. Their product range includes Shandon Stout: a creamy Cork-style dry stout with all the roasted malt character that defines this classic style; Blarney Blonde: a lightly fruity straw coloured ale brewed in the style of a German "Kolsch" beer; Rebel Lager: an all malt premium lager with "Noble" hop character imparted by German, Perle and Czech Saaz hops; and Rebel Red: a malt driven Irish style red ale balance by the hop varieties Fuggles and East Kent Goulding. A claim to fame from this small outfit is that their barrels were the originals used to create Jameson Caskmates.
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Cork or area.
DAY 05 - CORK TO KILLARNEY:
This morning journey to Killarney
Upon Arrival enjoy Ring of Kerry Highlights tour
On this orientation route, you will start in Killarney. Pass through the beauty of Killarney National Park. The park is famous for its native natural habitats and species including oak holly woods, yew woods and red deer. to the beautiful town of Kenmare. Ceann Mara is the Irish name for Kenmare, its literal meaning being Head of the Sea – to indicate its location at the head of Kenmare Bay. En-route to Kenmare, stop at the breathtaking Ladies View and the equally stunning Molls Gap.
Enjoy a tour and tasting of a smoked salmon factory
This tour will take you through the key stages, preparing the fish and the actual smoking, followed by the after-smoking process. Then the guests will get to sample the smoked salmon in the restaurant and hear about the life cycle of the King of fish. Star Seafoods was established over 40 years ago by local man, Danny McCarthy. It began as a one-man operation and Danny would purchase boxes of fish from Castletownbere port before filleting each one and hitting the road when he had sold the lot. Gradually the business expanded to what you see today. They currently employ a team of 30 people and process all types of fish and shell fish. Smoked salmon is a very important part of their business as it is a premium product and commands a higher price. The majority of the salmon used here is organic salmon using sustainable foods and natural colouring pigmentation.
Check in to your hotel
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Killarney or area
DAY 06 - DINGLE PENINSULA:
Today enjoy exploring Dingle Peninsula
Some of the finest coastal scenery to be seen in Ireland can be found in West Kerry, on the Dingle Peninsula, the most northern of the Kerry Peninsulas. This peninsula is famous for its Celtic, pre-Christian monuments and Christian churches. It is also a ‘Gaeltacht' (Irish speaking) area, where the Irish language and traditional ways of life are preserved. Dingle town itself is a thriving fishing town and offers plenty of opportunity for shopping or simply savouring the atmosphere of a typical country Irish town with its plentiful pubs, narrow streets and busy harbour. The road around the Peninsula is truly spectacular. It passes through a chain of Mountains, called Slieve Mish. From Inch, a long beach bordered by dunes and made famous by David Lean’s movie “Ryan’s daughter,” admire the Iveragh Peninsula and Rossbeigh Beach. From Dingle, drive around the coast to Slea Head. Here the blue of the marine landscape surrounds the Blaskets Islands, deserted since 1953. In the distance are the two rocky Blasket islands, where the ruins of an early Christian Monastery can be found. The Dingle Peninsula will charm you with its villages painted in bright colours and will bewitch you with the dramatic beauty of its landscapes.
Enjoy ice cream tasting from Murphy’s Ice Cream Shop
Sean and Kieran Murphy started Murphy's Ice Cream in Dingle, Co. Kerry in 2000, with the goal of making the best ice cream in the world. They now have shops all over Ireland but this is where it started.
Visit Dingle Distillery
The Dingle Whiskey Distillery was crafted and conceived by three independent spirits: Oliver Hughes; Liam LaHart and Peter Mosley. Oliver, Liam and Peter are the people behind Porterhouse Brewing Company; one of the pioneers of craft brewing in Ireland in 1996. Craft beer in Ireland in the mid-1990s was not appealing to the masses. The idea was radical to some, simply mad to the rest. The refined pallets of the then youthful Oliver, Liam and Peter had seen a love for beer. As their pallets became more and more experienced to the taste of Earth’s natural ingredients, the attention turned to whiskey.This gave the three guys another idea; an artisan distillery. Could it work? Distillation in Ireland was controlled by three major brands. How would a small, independent distillery fit into the mix? In 1996, Oliver and Liam had the stomach to take on the challenge of the big boys; to do something different. Would they have the desire to go again? You bet they did!
Return back to your hotel
Enjoy dinner at a local pub/restaurant
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Killarney or area
DAY 07 - KILLARNEY TO LIMERICK:
This morning enjoy Jaunting Car Tour of Killarney National Parklands & Ross Castle
Killarney Jaunting Cars is a family-run business and has been operated and managed for over 220 years. Today the business is operated by Michael Tangney Senior and his children. Michael Senior and his two sons along with a team of drivers continue to welcome people from all over the world onto their jaunting cars. The company caters for both the individual traveller to large groups, and offers a variety of tour options to choose from.
After journey to Limerick
En-route visit Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum with Irish Coffee demonstration
From 1939 to 1945 Foynes was the centre of the aviation world for air traffic between the United States and Europe. Located 35 km west of Limerick city on the Shannon estuary, the Foynes Museum recalls this era with a comprehensive range of exhibits and graphic illustrations. The museum features the original Terminal Building including the authentic 1940's cinema; the Radio and Weather Rooms, complete with transmitters, receivers and Morse code equipment. The exhibits feature an introduction to the first transatlantic passenger service from Foynes during the war years and the only full sized replica B314 flying boat. Irish Coffee was invented in Foynes. Chef Joe Sheridan made the first in 1942 to warm up some damp and miserable passengers. Since then Irish Coffee has become one the most popular welcoming drinks in the world. The Brendan O'Regan Restaurant sells biscuits & snacks, coffee and tea and of course Irish Coffee!
Enjoy an Afternoon Tea in a café or hotel in Adare
OPTIONAL: enjoy Medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle or similar
Bunratty Castle, was built in the 15th century by the Earl of Thomond and stands on the banks of the Rathy River. For over 40 years the ladies of the Castle, aided and abetted by the Earl's Butler, have welcomed guests from all over the world to join them at The Earl's Banquet. The evening begins with a mead reception in the Great Hall of the castle, then downstairs to enjoy a four course meal with red & white wine. This is followed by entertainment by the world renowned Bunratty Castle Entertainers accompanied by harp and violin. The banquet is held twice nightly during the high season.
Continue to Limerick and check in to your hotel
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Limerick or area
DAY 08 - LIMERICK TO GALWAY:
This morning journey to Galway
En-route visit St. Tola’s Goat Farm
St Tolas is goat farm of 65 acres located in North County Clare near the Burren and 30 minutes from the famous Cliffs of Moher. Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith took over the farm in 1999 and 2 years later, St.Tola became a registered organic cheese producer. Siobhan has developed the business from a local industry to an internationally recognised and award winning brand but the cheese is still hand made in small batches as the artisanal quality of their cheese is paramount. Guided tours of the farm are offered where the group is taken into the sheds where the goats live for the winter months (and also in the summer if the weather is not good). If the weather is good and the animals are outside, guests will be taken to the fields. The tour is then a talk on sustainable farming, feeding, breeding and milking and the benefits of goat milk products. They give a history of Cheesemaking in Ireland and then the visitors get to see the milking parlour. Next a cheese making demonstration is given to the group and everyone will get to taste the full range of cheeses.
*Opens Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays only
ALTERNATIVE VISIT: Visit AiIlwee Caves cheese tasting
Although one of the oldest in Ireland, Aillwee Cave is still a fairly recent discovery. Located near Ballyvaughan, the Aillwee Cave is easily accessible for visitors and features great caverns, stalactites and subterranean rivers. The Aillwee Cave is basically a single tunnel burrowing a kilometre into the Aillwee Hill. The original show cave consists of three chambers, Bear Haven, Mud Hall and the Cascade Chamber. Beyond the tunnel in to the new cave the passages become much larger. The show-cave ends where the floor falls steeply at the beginning of the Highway, a straight passage 90m long and 20m high - one of the largest caverns in the Burren. This passage leads to the river cavern, which although buried deep in the Ailwee Mountain, its sound can be heard from considerable distances.
Visit Cliffs of Moher
Situated on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering the Burren region, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. Standing 230 metres above the ground at their highest point and 8km long, the Cliffs boast one of the most amazing views in Ireland. On a clear day, the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay as well as the valleys and hills of Connemara. The cliffs reach their highest point just north of O' Brien's Tower built by Cornelius O’ Brien, a descendant of Brian Boru, to entertain his lady friends. A visit of the tower is also possible. The sweeping view across the Atlantic has recently been ranked the best 'cliff-view' on the planet by Conde Nast Traveler. The respected travel publication has voted the world-famous landmark at the top of a new chart of ' Nine Gorgeous Cliff Views That Rival The Grand Canyon'.
Visit Hazel Mountain Chocolate Factory
Hazel Mountain Chocolate is a boutique bean to bar chocolate factory and shop in the Burren, County Clare and is one of the smallest and most remote chocolate factories in the world. Chocolate is made in very small batches, using rare Trinitario cacao beans and raw cane sugar for the dark chocolate, and Irish milk from grass-fed cows for the milk chocolate, delivering the finest, purest chocolate. The team of chocolate makers begin by hand roasting, cracking and winnowing cacao beans before stone grinding it for 40 hours. The chocolate is then aged for a further 3 weeks before the chocolatiers create the range of bean to bar chocolates. Since opening in February 2014, Hazel Mountain Chocolate has won several awards. A 45 minute guided tour with one of the head chocolate makers will take visitors through all the stages of chocolate making, followed by a tasting session.
Continue to Galway and check in to hotel
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Galway or area
DAY 09 - GALWAY TO DUBLIN:
This morning enjoy food tour of Galway
Discover traditional & modern Irish food in the company of local Galway guides. Join this food tour to explore Galway’s most popular and hidden Irish restaurants. Become immersed in Irish culture on this fun, social and exciting walking tour of Galway City.
After journey to Dublin
Check in to your hotel
In the evening enjoy a cookery class at Howth Castle Cookery School
Learn a new skill and have fun sharing an amazing new experience with your workmates and colleagues. For a team building event in the Cookery School, you work together to get the food prepared under the guidance of our Chefs. The class offerings are designed together with each client to ensure that they get the best opportunity to learn, relax and have fun working in teams. To wrap up each 'Hands On' class everyone sits down with a glass of wine in the stunning recently refurbished Butler's Room to savour all they have created. Making this one of Ireland's most unique, informative and fun cooking and dining experiences.
Overnight, bed and breakfast at your hotel in Dublin or area
DAY 10 - RETURN TO USA: After a hearty Irish breakfast, it is sadly time to bid farewell as you drive to the airport for your transatlantic flight home – the end of a most enjoyable journey.