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Highlights of the Tour
Dublin | Waterford | Kinsale
Visit Ireland's Ancient East and learn about Viking heritage and where it all started. This tour is all about enjoying the holiday season, being in good company with good people and good food, and connecting with the world around you.
This will be a small group tour focused on celebrating the New Year in Ireland, taking in some sights, and enjoying the season. It is the holidays on the Emerald Isle and a very special time to spend with family and friends.
This year, our tour will be focused on castles, fine food, history, and craic. What is "Craic", you say? (/kræk/ KRACK), or "crack" is a term for fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation, and is the quintessential Irish way of comradery and enjoyment - we will find plenty of that in the many quaint pubs and restaurants we will visit in Ireland. Come and enjoy the New Year, it will be one to remember!
COVID-related note: We have planned and booked the tour as outlined below. Due to the unknowns of the ongoing global pandemic, there is a chance that certain venues or bookings would need to be changed or swapped for other, similar activities as we get into the fall months of 2021. If this tour would need to cancel due to Covid, your deposits and payments will be fully refundable, or you can apply them to a future trip.
9 Day Ireland Tour for the Holidays...
- 9-Day Viking City Tours of Southeast Ireland
- 3 Cities + towns in between – Dublin, Waterford, and Kinsale
- Breakfast Daily (except on arrival day)
- 4-Star Hotel Accommodation (including a castle stay)
- 6 Dinners are included, including two castle dining rooms
- Entertainment & Music Venues included
- New Year’s Eve Dinner and Gala Celebration at the Waterford Golf Club with panoramic views of Waterford City
- All museum entries/events listed are inclusive
- All Transportation and Luggage Handling are included for your comfort
CAstles, history, Music, and holidays, oh my!
Monday December 27th, 2021
Depart the USA for Ireland
Leave the remainder of the holiday leftovers with your family and depart for your Ireland flight. Flights from the USA to Ireland are late afternoon/overnight flights.
Tuesday December 28th
Dublin Arrival
Land at Dublin Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities before meeting your tour driver/guide, who will welcome you to Ireland. Transfer to your nearby hotel and check-in for your overnight stay. You will have some time to relax prior to our group meeting at 2:00 pm.
Your hotel will be in the heart of Dublin City, and easily walkable to many Dublin must-sees like Grafton Street and Trinity College.
We will take a tour of some of the local scenery this afternoon, before returning to the hotel for our group welcome dinner.
Included: Dinner and overnight at The Alex Hotel, Dublin
Wednesday December 29th
Dublin City, and a Dinner Show
The sights and sounds of Dublin at Christmas-time are wonderful! What a beautiful city to explore at this festive time of the year. From the beautifully decorated streets, shopping districts, and bars/pubs of Dublin, the action is all around.
You will have time to explore the city on your own today, as well as have some escorted activities with the group if you chose. Tonight, we will enjoy dinner and a show in Dublin city with the lively entertainment of the evening: Food, Folklore, and Fairies.
Included: Dinner, entertainment, and overnight at The Alex Hotel, Dublin City
Thursday December 30th
Waterford City
Today we will make our way south to the oldest city in Ireland - Waterford, and the original home of your tour guides, the Healy Family. This ancient Viking city has many nooks and crannies to explore, and we will plan a fun day in the Ancient East.
Enjoy the music of The Whiskey Stillers, the resident band of Healy Tours, with a traditional Irish music session held locally.
Included: Overnight and entertainment at the Waterford Tower Hotel, Waterford
Friday December 31st
New Year Gala at the Waterford Golf Resort
Tonight, we celebrate with a wonderful Gala New Year’s Eve event taking place at the Waterford Golf Course. Feast on a 3 course meal, dance, enjoy music, and ring in the New Year in style! (No official dress code, but dressy casual is great - bring your dancing shoes!)
With excellent food and panoramic views of the city of Waterford below, it will surely be an evening to remember!
Included: Dinner, Entertainment, and overnight at the Tower Hotel, Waterford City
Saturday January 1st
Waterford Castle and dinner in the Munster Dining Room
Rest in today, we will have a later start, as late nights do not make for early mornings.
We will enjoy some local sights around the city of Waterford today, and plan some activities for those who are still full of energy. For those who want to take it easy, there are plenty of activities within walking distance of the hotel or take some time to rest and rejuvenate.
We have a special evening planned to celebrate the first day of the New Year, as we venture to the Little Island just outside of Waterford City that houses Waterford Castle, built by the Fitzgerald family dating back to the Viking days. The castle and private island are a beautiful sight, and dinner in the Muster Dining room of the castle will be a treat!
Included: Fine dining at the Waterford Castle, and overnight at the Waterford Tower Hotel
Sunday January 2nd
Jameson Distillery, Co Cork
This morning we will travel westbound to County Cork and stop for a tour of the original Jameson distillery located in Midleton. Arrive in Cork in time for an independent lunch, then enjoy a great tour and history of whiskey distilling that can be enjoyed by all.
After your visit to Jameson, we will continue traveling west to the quant seaside fishing village of Kinsale.
Included: Jameson Tour, dinner, and overnight at The Trident Hotel, Kinsale
Monday January 3rd
The Charming Sights and Sounds of Kinsale Ireland
Today we will start the day with a short drive to James Fort, where we can stretch our legs and enjoy the sea air and walk the historic sight on an outcrop of land in Kinsale. Enjoy the views and the ancient history at this site.
We will also have time to enjoy the town of Kinsale today, visit the shops, the crafters, and the pubs that make up this colorful town by the sea. Enjoy dinner independently at one of the many pubs and restaurants in Kinsale.
Included: Day tours and overnight at the Trident Hotel, Kinsale
Tuesday January 4th
Blarney Castle and Woolen Mills
Set out this morning to tour the famous and imposing Blarney Castle and take a tour of the castle and grounds. We will stop at the Blarney Woolen Mills, often termed "The largest Irish store anywhere", where genuine Irish products from crystal to Aran sweaters, to the finest in Irish crafts are proudly on display.
We will stay at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale tonight.
Included: Admission to Blarney Castle, overnight at the Trident Hotel in Kinsale
Wednesday January 5th
We will set out on the road back to Dublin this morning and enjoy our final day in Ireland together.
We will pull into our last castle of the journey, Clontarf Castle, where we will dine like Lords and Ladies in the castle dining room for our departing dinner.
Included: Dinner and Overnight at Clontarf Castle
Thursday January 6th
Departures for the airport begin in the morning. You will be escorted to the airport by group departures, based on the flight times of our passengers.
Or if you have more time, we are happy to help you plan an extension to your trip.
