Emerald Isle Ancestry Adventure

Itinerary | 12 Days

  • Aer Lingus Flight EI80

    • 7 hours direct to Dublin

    • Departs 8:10 pm

  • Arrive Dublin Airport 8:10 am

    • Refresh in the AerLingus first class arrivals lounge near baggage claim

    Enterprise Rental Car

    • Compact SUV, Automatic, 8 days

    Gilsenan Heritage Sites

    • Saint MacCullins Church, Lusk | Where Nana's uncle Patrick was married

    • Knock | Birthplace and home of Nana's father

    • Naul Cemetery | Burial site of Nana's uncle Patrick and family

    Bellinter House Hotel

    • Main House Junior Suite, 3pm Check In

  • Aug 6:

    Aug 7:

    Old Ground Hotel, Ennis

    • Junior Suite, 3pm Check In

  • Aug 8;

    • Grab a breakfast pastry at the Sunflower Bakery, stock up on delicious Irish bread and picnic lunch sandwiches

    • Pass through Adare, visiting the Franciscan Friary and picturesque town

    • Pause at the Kerry scenic spot and take in the views

    • Killarney Lake boat tour
      1 hr 20 min, Departs Ross Castle 3pm

    Aug 9:

    Randels Hotel

    • Junior Suite Mountain View, 3pm Check In

  • Aug 10:

    • Visit Cork cathedral and have lunch at The English Market

    • Tour the town of Kilkenny on the Kilkenny Road Train Tour, see the magnificent castle and Black Abbey

    Aug 11:

    • Enjoy a day of relaxation on the Kilkea Castle grounds

    • Falconry experience

    Kilkea Castle

    • Fitzgerald Suite, 3pm Check In

  • Aug 12:

    • Drop off rental car at Enterprise Kylemore Road

    • Uber to hotel

    • Supper at Sole | 4:30 PM Open Table

    • Literary Pub Walking Tour (optional) - starts at The Duke, 7pm

    Aug 13:

    • Dublin Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

    • Trinity College & the Book of Kells

    • EPIC Immigration Museum

    Aug 14:

    • Grafton Street shopping

    • Rest on Saint Stephen’s Green

    • Experience Evensong at St. Patrick's Cathedral 5:30pm

    The Grafton Hotel

    • Twin, 3pm Check In

    • Relax, enjoy breakfast

    • Last minute shopping and lunch before heading to the airport

    Aer Lingus Flight EI81

    • Departs 3:40 pm

    • Arrives Pittsburgh 6:40 pm

An old graveyard with scattered tombstones and ruins of stone buildings, situated near a body of water under a partly cloudy sky.
Scenic landscape of grassy hills at sunset with dark clouds in the sky and the sun near the horizon.
A large stone castle with multiple towers and turrets situated near a body of water, surrounded by green trees and grass.
A historic stone castle with battlements and towers, situated on a riverbank with a stone bridge crossing the river, surrounded by lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky during sunset or sunrise.

Co. Meath

DAY 2

Stay: Bellinter House

  • Arrive 8:10 am and take advantage of the Aer Lingus Revival Lounge to get refreshed, have some breakfast and coffee.

  • Visit St. MacCullins church, where Nana’s uncle Patrick was married in 1914.

  • Pass through the tiny village of Naul just twenty minutes north of Dublin, home to Nana’s father’s family.

  • Spend the day relaxing at an 18th Century Georgian manor turned hotel and spa. Get a massage, take a nap, enjoy the hot tub, drink some wine and enjoy dinner.

  • Watch the sun set from the Hill of Tara, Ireland’s sacred site and ancient capitol, just ten minutes from the hotel.

Co. Offaly & Clare

DAY 3 - 4

Stay: Old Ground Hotel

  • On the road to Co. Clare, stop in Trim for breakfast and take in the lovely little town and castle.

  • Head to Clonmacnoise Monastic site—home to some of Irelands most magnificent High Crosses standing 13 feet tall.

  • Party like a Lord (or Lady) at the Bunratty Castle Medieval Dinner Banquet.

  • Visit the Cliffs of Moher, 1 hour drive from your hotel.

  • Visit the village and Cathedral of Kilfenora, gateway to the Burren, home of the famed seven High Crosses and Shelley’s ancestral roots.

  • Shopping and traditional pub music in the famous music town of Ennis.

Co. Kerry

DAY 5 - 6

Stay: Randles Hotel

  • Visit the quaint village of Adare on the road to Killarney.

  • Explore Killarney National Park by traditional boat.

  • Step back in time with a horse-drawn jaunting car ride to Muckross Abbey, where 100+ year old elm trees rise from the monastic ruins.

  • Enjoying shopping in the lively downtown.

A medieval castle atop a rocky hill at sunset, with a winding road leading up to it, surrounded by green fields.
Colorful houses with a large Gothic-style church on a hill overlooking water during sunset with pink and purple clouds.
kilkenny.jpg

Cork & Kilkenny

DAY 7 - 8

Stay: Kilkea Castle

  • Stop in the picturesque city of Cork for lunch, lo and visit the exquisite Cork Cathedral.

  • Pass the hilltop fortress of the Rock of Cashel.

  • Take in the town on the Kilkenny Road Train Tour.

  • Enjoy a Falconry experience and day of relaxation at Kilkea Castle.

Dublin

DAY 9 - 11

Stay: The Grafton Hotel

  • Enjoy a delicious and relaxing seafood supper at Sole.

  • Join a literary pub crawl along Duke street.

  • Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour

  • Explore iconic landmarks like Trinity College and the Book of Kells.

  • Imagine the paths of your ancestors at EPIC Emigration Museum.

  • Enjoy a shopping stroll along Grafton Street.

  • Visit St. Stephen’s Green.

  • Attend the choral majesty of 5:30pm Evensong at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral