Custom Tour of St. Patrick's Day in Dublin, and Ireland's North & South by Rising Road Tours

Ireland North and South - A Tour of Irish History

10 days - contact us for dates
Booking Info or Contact Us

Rooftops of Dublin photo No, this is not an "across the pond" Civil War Heritage Tour. On this Irish adventure, the tour visits important sites in Irish history, both ancient and modern. We visit the World Heritage site at the Giant's Causeway in Bushmills (with a side trip to the Bushmills Distillery); we spend a few days in Derry, home of the Irish Civil Rights movement; on our way down to Dublin from Northern Ireland, we stop at the ancient passage tomb, Newgrange; in Dublin, our excursions take us to the Guinness Brewery, the Jameson Distillery and Kilmainham Gaol. The centerpiece of the spring North & South tour of Ireland is an exciting St. Patrick's Day in Dublin.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Dublin
Our group arrives in Dublin and is met by guide Dr. Sam Couch. We travel northwest from Dublin to Derry, stopping in Armagh to view Franciscan Friary ruins; the ecclesiastical sees of both the Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches in Ireland; and Emain Macha, seat of the High Kings of Ulster. From Armagh, our journey takes us to Derry/Londonderry. In Derry we stay with Joan and Peter Pyne at The Old Saddler's House on Great James Street near Bogside and the City Centre.

Our first day will be spent exploring one of the last remaining mediaeval walls in Europe, which surrounds the city centre. We learn of the Irish Civil Rights Movement, which started in this city, during our visit to the Tower Museum inside the city walls. From the city center, we will travel to the Bogside to view "Free Derry" and the famous graffiti art in this former Catholic ghetto. A visit to the spectacular Guildhall with its remarkable stained glass will crown this day.

Day 2 - 3: Grianan, Omagh, and Ulster American Folk Park
On our second day in the city, we travel along Lough Foyle to Grianan Ailech, a reconstructed ring fort that overlooks Cos. Donegal and Derry. From Grianan, we will travel to Omagh for a visit to the Ulster American Folk Park, which recounts the journey of Irish men and women to North America.

Day 4 - 5: North Antrim Coast, an Historic Distillery, and Giant's Causeway
Day four finds us traveling along the North Antrim Coast with stops at the Downhill Demesne, site of Mussenden Temple; Dunluce Castle; and through the university town of Coleraine. Our goal this day is Bushmills, where we will stay with Hilary Taggart at Montalto House. Day five begins with a tour of the world's oldest licensed distillery, which has been making Bushmills Whiskey since 1608. From the distillery, our journey takes us to the natural wonders of the Giant's Causeway, a World Heritage site. After wandering around on the basaltic pedestals, we head further east to the Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge.

Day 6 - Back to Dublin (with stops along the way)
After five days in Northern Ireland, we change our sterling for Euros and head back into the Republic. We transit Belfast and travel south through Newry toward Drogheda. As we enter the Boyne Valley, we stop at another World Heritage site visiting the Bru na Boinne complex with its most famous passage tomb, Newgrange. If time permits, our excursions may include Old Mellifont Abbey and Monasterboice. That night we will bed down in Dublin.

Day 7 - 9: St. Patrick's Day in Dublin (and a welcome day off afterwards) Spring Tour Only
In Dublin, we will find whatever mischief we can in the preparations for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations. Between pub crawls and the parade, we will visit the Guinness Brewery at St. James Gate, and the Jameson Distillery. Other points of interest include Kilmainham Gaol, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, and the newly-refurbished Docklands. These and many other historic Dublin sites will be on the itinerary for our four days and five nights in Dublin. (Dr. Couch even has scheduled a day off for the group on March 18 to rest up from the gaiety of March 17.)

Day 10 - Return to the U.S.
On the morning of March 20, the group will be transported to the Dublin Airport for the return home with fond memories of a springtime Irish adventure with saints and leprechauns.

"Ireland is remarkably fascinating place to visit. No matter if your interests are in the culture, history, music, language or people, you will find something of interest in every corner of the country. I greatly enjoyed my time rambling across Ireland with Sam. Sam was a very perceptive guide with a diverse knowledge of Ireland and was able to seamlessly make a mid tour alteration to county Donegal, which was a highlight. Our tour took us from rural and historical Ireland in the north and west to a Pub "hijacking" in Derry and St. Patrick's day in Dublin."

Keith Merriam, Flin Flon, Manitoba - March 2007

Rising Road Tours
828-648-8893 (Tel) ~ 888-648-8893 (Toll-free) ~ 888-371-8895 (fax)
sam@risingroadtours.com

P.O.Box 9322, Moscow, ID 83843 USA