Ireland

Ireland is an endlessly endearing destination for its historic traditions as much as its love of Guinness. Fall in love with legendary Irish hospitality in charming country pubs, local markets, fine distilleries and quaint villages; be spellbound by its raw, untamed landscapes and its wild, dramatic coastlines, before discovering world famous golf courses and a rich artisanal heritage. This is a postcard-perfect country of folk music, rustic roads and fine scotch whisky.

Extraordinary Ways to Experience Ireland

Comprising counties Cork and Kerry, this postcard-perfect region is lush with verdant hillsides, craggy coastlines and rustic roads. The Ring of Kerry is a scenic route set atop cliffs that overlook the Atlantic, circuiting the Iveragh Peninsula from Killarney to Dingle Bay and beyond.

In recent years, Ireland has seen a resurgence in back-to-basics slow-food, celebrating organic, sustainable ingredients brought to life through skilled, thoughtful preparations. Cork’s award-winning Ballymaloe Cookery School is a champion of the slow-food philosophy and on your visit you will explore the extensive organic garden, before grabbing an apron to prepare and enjoy a threecourse lunch in the kitchen.

Introduced to Ireland in the 12th century, falconry remains an enduring legacy of the island’s Anglo-Norman forebears, a noble pursuit still thriving in manor houses across the nation. Under the tutelage of a local expert falconer, introduce your family to this time-honoured tradition on the sprawling grounds of an historic Irish estate.

In County Kerry, at the foot of Macgillycuddy’s Reeks — the highest mountain range in Ireland — lies the 26,000-acre Killarney National Park. Visit Ross Castle or Muckross House and Gardens, or venture forth in search of the region’s only wild herd of native red deer, amid soaring mountains and ancient oak woods.

The newly vibrant capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast, has shaken off its troubled past to emerge as one of northern Europe’s most happening cities. Stroll the cobbled streets of the buzzing Cathedral Quarter, lament the infamous Belfast-built liner at the Titanic museum and admire glorious Victorian architecture.

Be Captivated by the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland

Reaching from the shores of Country Antrim into the rolling seas of the North Atlantic, the tightly packed, hexagonal basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway stretch seaward toward the distant Scottish coast. Take in the majesty of this geological wonder as your guide recalls the legend of Finn McCool, a mythical giant intertwined with the Causeway’s folklore.

9 days from $12,445 pp Arrive Dublin (2N) – Cork (2N) – Killarney (2N) – Depart Lower Shannon (2N) Explore the Emerald Isle from east coast to west. From the Georgian architecture of Dublin to Cork and its Titanic heritage, the scenic Ring of Kerry and the Irish Lake District. You’ll be captivated by the raw landscapes and wild coastlines, quaint villages and country pubs, the folk music and dance and of course the whiskey — best drunk out of Waterford crystal.

Our complete range of tailor-made journeys can be viewed on our website and all can be personalised to your individual requirements. Visit www.abercrombiekent.com.au to find out more.