Leave Australia

Arrive in Dublin and transfer to our hotel right beside the ancient monastic site of Glendalough, County Wickow. Unwind in the clear air of the Wicklow Mountains. [Overnight: Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough, Wicklow]

A relaxing day exploring the ruins of Glendalough and its lakeside scenery. Listen to a local historian tell contemporary tales from the headstones in a nearby graveyard. Visit the Glendalough Visitor Centre and learn of the beginnings of Irish Christianity. Enjoy a ‘welcome to Ireland’ reception hosted by Wicklow County Council and local historians. [Overnight, Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough, Wicklow]

The great 1798 rebellion in Ireland brought hundreds of rebels to NSW. After a drive through the Wicklow Mountains viewing sites of the activity of rebels such as Joseph Holt, John Mernagh, Arthur Devlin, Martin Bourke and others. Listen at the Dwyer-McAllister Cottage to the story of rebel Michael Dwyer, the ‘Wicklow Chief’, exiled to NSW. Lunch is at Fitzgeralds in Ballykissangel! Then on to Wicklow Town for an introduction to family history research and a visit to the old Wicklow Gaol. Today, an Irish genealogist accompanies us to answer your family history questions. [Overnight, Glendalough Hotel, Glendalough, Wicklow]

Touring to Kilkenny via Enniscorthy, Wexford. We visit the 1798 Centre where we hear of the exploits of the many transported rebels. We also visit the site of the Battle of Vinegar Hill in 1798 and the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship at New Ross, an emigrant ship of the Famine period. [Overnight, Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny]

‘Kilkenny itself, the capital of the English colony, must at one time have been ravishing’. So writes author Frank O’Connor. Today we explore this city that has been a centre of civilization and culture for over 1500 years, taking in Kilkenny Castle and a guided walk of the old Medieval old town. [Overnight, Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny]

Touring from Kilkenny to Macroom, Cork. After visiting the Local History collection at the Tipperary County Library at Thurles, we move on to Cashel of the Kings. In south Tipperary we are deep in Australian emigrant territory. After lunch, and a tour of the Rock of Cashel, we proceed through the ‘fat, green’ countryside of Tipperary and Cork to Macroom. [Overnight, Castle Hotel, Macroom, Cork]

After a morning visit to Blarney with its famous stone, park, castle and Woollen Mills, we take lunch in a Cork village which is off the usual tourist route. A local historian will tell us of the delights of his home parish. [Overnight, Castle Hotel, Macroom, Cork]

A trip through north Kerry and along the west Clare coast leads to Galway Bay and the village of Ballyvaughan. En route, we visit the convict Bridewell at Tarbert, cross the Shannon River, lunch at Spanish Point, where ships of the Armada met their fate. Then on to the Cliffs of Moher from where, they say, if you can see the Aran Islands its going to rain and if you can’t, its raining! [Overnight, Hylands Hotel, Ballyvaughan, Clare]

Today, weather permitting, watch the sun go down on Galway Bay from the Aran Islands. We reach the islands after a visit to the ruins of Corcomroe abbey (Sancta Maria de Petra fertile) and Galway city. Savour Galway’s shops - and bookshops – before driving through the Connemara Gaeltacht (Gaelic speaking area) to take the Aran Flyer at Rossaveel. [Overnight, Aran guesthouses, Aran, Galway]

We tour Aranmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. See the roaring ocean views from the cliffs of the fort of Dun Aengus and make a pilgrimage to the little monastic church at Cill Éinne with its ancient inscribed tomb – bendact die for ainm Sanctan, the blessing of God on the soul of Sanctan. [Overnight, Aran guesthouses, Aran, Galway]

A day of sea and scenery. We journey through the mountains, over the bogs, and beside the sea loughs of Galway and Mayo to Patrick’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick. At the foot of the mountain is the National Famine Memorial, a monument to Ireland’s darkest experience. We continue through Westport, around Clew Bay and across the causeway to Achill Island and the village of Keel. [Overnight, Joyce’s Marian Villas, Achill, Mayo]

You can start your morning with a bracing beach walk surrounded by three mountains, - Minaun, Slievemore and Croaghaun. Then we join our local guide, from the Achill Field School, for a day on the island taking in the Deserted Village, the Achill Mission Church and the famous Atlantic Drive. [Overnight, Joyce’s Marian Villas, Achill, Mayo]

A cross-country journey through Mayo and Sligo brings us to the remote shores of Lough Arrow and the parish of Riverstown. Lunch will be in an 18th century ‘gentleman’s seat’ – Cooper’s Hill, close to a great pile of ancient stones, where unfolded one small Famine tragedy among thousands but one with an Australian connection. After uncovering that story from original documents, we move on through Leitrim making for Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. [Overnight, Manor House Hotel, Enniskillen, Fermanagh]

Today another local historian and genealogist is our guide through Fermanagh, a landscape rich in Australian emigrant associations. After a traditional Irish ‘lumper’ lunch, we return to Enniskillen to visit Castle Coole. This magnificent Georgian mansion was once the home of Somerset Richard Lowry Corry, Fourth Earl Belmore, Governor of New South Wales, 1868-1872. Of Belmore it was said, he ‘had nothing particular to do, and did it with discretion’. [Overnight, Manor House Hotel, Enniskillen, Fermanagh]

From Enniskillen we head north through Tyrone to Derry City where we walk ‘Derry’s Walls’ and hear tales of the great siege of 1688-89. Our route to north Donegal takes us past Letterkenny, along the track of the old Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway, past Doe Castle to Carrickart on Mulroy Bay. [Overnight, Carrig Art Hotel, Carrickart, Donegal]

North Donegal has some of the wildest, most remote and beautiful scenery in Ireland. Hundreds of emigrants left here for Sydney between 1859 and 1864. Today, as guests of the Donegal-Australia Association, we learn of their story and drive through a landscape the emigrants would have carried in their hearts for their rest of their lives. [Overnight, Carrig Art Hotel, Carrickart, Donegal]

Today we tour from north Donegal along the north Irish coast to Ireland’s only World Heritage Site, the Giant’s Causeway. Along the way we take in Ulster’s premier seaside resort, Portrush, view Dunluce Castle, a romantic ruin perched over the sea. Journey’s end is the Giant’s Causeway where you can sit in the Wishing Chair and, if it is clear, see Scotland. [Overnight, Causeway Hotel, Giant’s Causeway, Antrim]

A family history research day at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland where staff will provide a brief introduction to the collections and given some time to see what you can find. In the evening, there will be a reception from the Northern Ireland Family History Society and a chance to view that society’s genealogical collections. [Overnight, Jury’s Hotel, Belfast]

Today we visit one of the great Victorian buildings of Ireland, the Belfast City Hall. You will be introduced to the treasures of the Linenhall Library. After lunch we head towards Dublin, passing the Mourne Mountains and across the border into Louth, stoppping to view Muiredach’s Cross, the most spectacular Celtic high cross in Ireland with its host of biblical story panels. [Overnight, Buswells Hotel, Dublin]

This is your introduction to Dublin research - at the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives. Library and archives’ staff will introduce you to the collections and your tour leaders will be available to assist you in both repositories. We will also recommend alternative places to visit around Dublin for anyone who does not wish to research. [Overnight, Buswells Hotel, Dublin]

This morning there is an opportunity to go shopping in central Dublin or continue your research at the National Library. In the afternoon, for those who wish, there will be a walk with local guides through those parts of the city associated with the Easter Rising of 1916 and its leaders Patrick Pearse and James Connelly. It was in this rebellion in arms, centred on the General Post Office in O’Connell Street, that the modern Irish republic was born. [Overnight, Buswells Hotel, Dublin]

The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, died in 1847 on his way to Rome. While his heart was taken to Rome, his body was returned to Dublin where, over his tomb, a great round tower was erected. Today we visit Ireland’s national cemetery at Glasnevin where many other patriots were buried near O’Connell. There will also be time to view the collections of the National Museum and the National Gallery before our final event in the tour, a guided walk by your tour leaders around the fascinating monuments in Merrion Square Gardens. [Overnight, Buswells Hotel, Dublin]

End of tour and airport transfers