day visitor tours

DISCOVER THE HIDDEN SECRETS OF DUBLIN – half day walking tour of Dublin

Half Day Walking Tour of Dublin: EUR 43.00 per person

Did you know there is a hidden air raid shelter and underground tunnels in Merrion Square? Did you know that The river Poddle still today runs under the Olympia Theatre? Did you know that you can still see the site of Dubh Linn or 'Black Pool', the ancient anchorage for the Viking Long ships in the gardens of Dublin Castle?
There are many more fascinating facts and hidden secrets to discover in the Walking Tour of Dublin This tour is designed to be interactive and engaging while providing a mix of information on Irish history, popular culture, architecture and current affairs.

The tour takes in Viking and Medieval Dublin, passing by Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Temple Bar and the River Liffey. The tour reveals a treasury throve of little- known facts, wonderful stories and anecdotes relating to the history of the sites.

In Viking and Medieval Dublin explore the sites where Dublin began while tracing the existence of Viking streets and discovering medieval walls and towers.

Available: 20th and 24th August, depart RDS 9.30am - 12.30pm. Book this tour now.

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THE WILD ROVER TOUR – visit a Brewery and a Distillery!

Half Day Wild Rover Tour: EUR 72.00 per person

Guinness Storehouse:

Often described as Ireland’s national pastime, drinking to the average Irish person is not a life or death issue – it’s much more important than that! Today we bring you to Guinness Storehouse, a historical and cultural landmark in Dublin city. Visit the Guinness Storehouse where you will learn how the famous brew is made, discover the secrets of Guinness as well as sample it!

The Guinness Storehouse is the visitor centre of the Guinness Brewery, which opened to the public in December 2000. A warehouse of the original brewery founded in 1759 has been transformed into a high-tech visitor centre covering 6 floors. Containing 3 bars, the visit culminates with a pint of the ‘black stuff’ in the Gravity Bar on the 6th floor of the centre – which is Dublin’s highest pub - and from where you can also enjoy stunning 360-degree views of the city.

The Old Jameson Distillery:

Nestling in the heart of old Dublin and just one minute's walk north of the River Liffey lies the old Jameson Distillery on the site of the original Jameson Distillery with its origins dating back to the year 1780.

Tours at the Old Jameson Distillery are hosted by professional guides and give guests a true sense of the taste and history of John Jameson’s Irish whiskey (that’s whiskey with an ‘e’ as it is always spelt in Ireland). Guests are guided through the malting, milling, mashing, fermenting, distilling, maturing and not to forget - tasting! - of this world renowned tipple.

Available: 21st August, depart RDS 2pm - 5.30pm. Book this tour now.

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DISCOVER DUBLIN – Half-day city tour with visits

Half Day City Tour: EUR 52.00 per person

Let us take you back 1,000 years to the origins of this intriguing city which has played host to Vikings, Normans and Anglo-Saxons without allowing its native Celtic spirit to be even vaguely diluted.

Enjoy visits to the following important sites:

St Patrick’s Cathedral – founded by the Normans in the late 12th century on a site directly linked with St Patrick, this cathedral is a magnificent example of hiberno-gothic architecture, or “gothic on a small scale”. Don’t miss the spectacular stained glass windows and the Swift connection. And make sure you ask your TD to explain the expression “chancing one’s arm”.

Kilmainham Gaol- The building of Kilmainham Gaol was inspired by the fear of French revolutionary ideals spreading to these shores. This was a perfectly reasonable fear which ultimately found expression in the Rising of 1798. The leaders of the United Irishmen and the participants in the insurrection soon filled the dank solitary confinement and punishment cells. They were followed in quick succession by the losers in the revolts of 1803, 1848 and 1867.

The repression of the prison was brought into sharper focus during the events of the early part of this century. The leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed by firing squad in the stone breaking yard and this single act did more than anything else to swing the population against the continuance of British rule. The War of Independence and the subsequent Civil War kept the jailers and executioners busy until the release of the final prisoner, Eamon de Valera, future President of Ireland, on 16th July 1924.

A tour around the dungeons, corridors and cells can still evoke a shudder and a sense of the building's tragic history.

Available: 21st and 23rd August, depart RDS 9.30am - 1.30pm (with optional drop off in city centre). Book this tour now.

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WICKLOW – A full day tour of the ‘Garden of Ireland’

Full Day Wicklow Tour: EUR 83.00 per person (includes Lunch)

The Irish name for Wicklow is Cill Mhantáin, situated on the East Coast of Ireland. County Wicklow - known as the "Garden of Ireland" - is a paradise for lovers of the outdoor life with its rolling hills, deep valleys, domed granite mountains, bogland, forest and farmland. For people with an interest in maritime activities, Wicklow is blessed with some of the finest beaches in Ireland.

Depart Dublin city centre by coach for Powerscourt House and Gardens enjoying the stunning avenue of ancient beech trees on the final approach to the house. Powerscourt is a magnificent example of an aristocratic garden with Italian and Japanese themes, herbaceous borders, ornamental lakes, splendid statuary, decorative ironwork, a pets’ cemetery and an extensive tree collection. Laid out in the 1840’s with flair, knowledge and imagination, it is probably the last garden of its size and quality ever to have been created.
A magnificent period home dating from mid 18th century, overlooking wonderful terraced gardens and an ornamental lake, Powerscourt House was partially destroyed by fire in 1974. A long restoration project ensued during which the ballroom and the garden rooms were rebuilt.

 

Glendalough – from the Irish Gleann Dá Loch meaning the ‘ Glen of Two Lakes’ is the village located at the site of a monaster founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest. It remained one of the most important monastic sites in the world until its destruction by English troops in 1398.The location was sought out as a peaceful retreat by Saint Kevin because of its remoteness and serenity, but several men who wished to follow his teachings built a temporary place of churches and living quarters in the valley below the site of his house. This soon grew and became an important school. The remains of the monastery are located beside the Lower Lake and the Upper Lake.

Available: 23rd August, depart RDS 9.30am - 5.30pm. Book this tour now.

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MALAHIDE CASTLE AND NORTH DUBLIN COASTAL TOUR

Full Day Malahide Tour: EUR 81.00 per person (includes Lunch)

Drive to Malahide via the North Dublin coast road taking in picturesque views of Howth surrounding areas. The Howth peninsula is situated at the north end of Dublin bay, 15kms from the city centre. The name Howth is derived from the Danish word 'hoven', which means “head” and it is a picturesque fishing village with an abundance of pubs and restaurants and plenty of places to stroll.

Malahide Castle, set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty coastal town of Malahide, was both a fortress and a private home for nearly eight hundred years. The Talbot family lived here from 1185 to 1973, when the last Lord Talbot died.
The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery. The history of the Talbot family is recorded in the Great Hall, with portraits of generations of the family telling their own story of Ireland's stormy history. One of the more poignant legends concerns the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when fourteen members of the family breakfasted together in this room - never to return - as by nightfall all had been killed.

Available: 24th August, depart RDS 9.30am - 5.00pm. Book this tour now.

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KILKENNY – MEDIEVAL CAPITAL OF IRELAND

Full Day Kilkenny Tour: EUR 81.00 per person (includes Lunch)

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 castle. The name Kilkenny comes from the Irish for “Canice’s church”, which nowadays refers to the splendid 13th century St Canice’s Cathedral, with its ancient stone tower and imposing Gothic interior.

Visit Kilkenny Castle, home of the Butler family for centuries. This 13th century castle has been restored to 18th-style and grandeur and is well worth a visit. Famous for its beautiful wooden hand-carved ceiling, the cathedral houses the effigies of the Butler Family along with other famous families from the Kingdom of Ossory.

Available: 22nd August, depart RDS 8.30am - 5.30pm, Book this tour now.

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