Ireland Tours in Summer

The Irish people are so very nice. The sites and sounds in history of Ireland were made clear by our tour manager. I went with family and that was great family time. The Cliffs of Moher are beautiful. It was a great tour.

The tour was fantastic! I have already recommended it to friends. Our guide, Denis, was a bounty of knowledge, humor and craic. Our driver, Mike, is skilled beyond belief with the coach, and I felt safe in his hands (I'm typically a BAD, anxiety-ridden passenger). Assigned seats changed daily so as to have a different vantage point - liked that a lot. Daily updates were provided so we knew what to expect, and what to bring or prepare for. Dublin - amazing. Great hotel. Phenomenal breakfast spread. Lovely inclusion of dinner and Irish dancing. Landmarks chosen well - St. Patrick's Cathedral, Plenty of free time to explore the many things Dublin has to offer (Book of Kells, Trinity College, National Museum, Irish Whiskey Museum, Hard Rock Cafe). Kilkenny - Great. Enjoyed the trolley tour. Had delicious lunch at the Food Hall. Explored Kilkenny Castle, which is beautiful. Waterford - Good. Chose the factory tour, which is beautiful to see, and very informative. Would have also liked to have seen the Historical Museum. Not enough time to do both. Hotel was beautiful, but not all accommodations were available. 3rd floor had no air conditioning. Bathroom for our room had a toilet awkwardly squeezed between the shower and sink. Killarney - amazing. While I have ethical thoughts against using horses as workers, the Jaunting Cart ride through the park was beautiful. Another incredible hotel. Chose Tresk dinner option, and it did not disappoint. Had more than ample time to see what I wanted to - even got a tattoo to commemorate the trip, and honor my Grandmother. Saw a Summer parade! Ring of Kerry - amazing overall. The stop at Moriarty's Gift Shop was excellent. Would have liked more time to explore the Red Fox Inn, but had the best Irish Coffee there over anywhere else on the trip. McGill's was a nice inclusion, but with our large group (44 people) it was cramped and felt too long with the sing-along. Ample stops for photography, which was appreciated. Cliffs of Moher - great. Ferry ride was a delight. Got to see a dolphin! Had plenty of time to explore top side of the Cliff's lookout and get a lunch, but not enough time to explore both sides. Limerick - great. The hotel was fantastic. Appreciate the recommendation to shop at Dunney's for "real Irish goodies" to bring home. Bunratty Castle - amazing. Loved the Medieval Banquet option. This was joyful, plentiful, and engaging. Blarney Castle - great. The grounds are magnificent, and the touristy "kiss the stone" experience was simple and fun. They do disinfect after people kiss the stone. Do so at your own risk. Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdogs - I expected this to be my least favorite excursion, but I was wrong. The sheepdog show was a delight. I was/am extremely disappointed however, that I only had 5 or so minutes to explore the fort - I am a historical recreator, who delves into archeological sites and this would have been a place I would have liked at least an hour to explore. I did not get to see the gift shop. I felt rushed to get back on the coach and leave. Galway - ok. Two hours was not enough to explore the city and have lunch. Where we parked versus any of the recommended exploration options would have taken the majority of the time to walk there and back, and not actually see the sites. Way too rushed. Not worth rushing for. It is because of these stops and the "rush" that I score a "4" for inclusions. Had we more time, I would have happily given a rating of "5". Kilbeggin - great. The tour of the distillery was informative and interesting. Again, rushed to get on the coach, unable to purchase from the distillery (Sunday, left at 12:20 - sales opened at 12:30). Appreciated the stop at Kells for lunch. Splurge on the ice cream! You won't regret it! Kingscourt - amazing. The Cabra Castle... wow. Stayed in the stables, which was still like a palace. Great food, drinks, experience. Stayed an extra night and stayed for High Tea - recommend it wholly. Walked the magnificent grounds, got to see the Hounds, made memories to last a lifetime.

Outstanding itinerary especially the out of the way cultural stops. The tour director was exceptional and related stories to complimented her vast knowledge of the history of both countries. Our coach driver was very friendly which added to the pleasure of the trip and did a great job in keeping us safe.

Ireland is an experience that I will never forget. The pictures I took don't do the countryside justice. It is so much more beautiful in person. The Cliffs of Mor was my favorite stop. The view was incredible. But I enjoyed the castles in Kilkenny, Kilarney, Blarney, and Cabra Castle, also.

This trip provided a great overview of Ireland. We saw cities, as well as, the beautiful green countryside dotted with sheep. I especially enjoyed the music and dancing that our tour included. Just a reminder to those who choose to travel during the warmer months that no hotel we stayed in had air conditioning. There were fans. Also, many hotels have tub showers which can be a challenge to get in and out of. I would go back to Ireland in a heartbeat. It is a beautiful and very friendly country. I would definitely recommend this trip. It’s my second Trafalgar tour. They take very good care of their guests, including moving your luggage for you. I observed other groups not getting this same treatment.

This itinerary was one of the best. I have done 3 Trafalgar trips and this one is by far the most efficient. The only issue I had was spending too little time at Sligo. I think 2 nights here would have been better.