St Patrick’s Day in Dublin and Ireland’s Ancient East

Regional departure by coach or Home Connect service, then to Holyhead for the ferry to Ireland, and onward to our hotel for a five-night stay.

We enjoy an included excursion to Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, first visited by the Vikings in 852AD. The walled city has retained much of its medieval character, together with the graceful buildings from its 18th-century expansion – Reginald's Tower is the most historic urban medieval monument in Ireland.

The elegant Chamber of Commerce building, the City Hall and the Bishop's Palace are prime examples of beautiful, 18th-century architecture, and the parameters of the 10th-century settlement can be clearly identified in The Viking Triangle.

Today's included visit takes us to Dublin to join the party atmosphere at the sparkling St Patrick’s Day Parade. Enjoy the marching bands, dancing troupes, military processions, and street entertainers doing what the Irish do best – providing great entertainment!

Be sure to grab a St Patrick’s Day drink of the ‘Black Stuff’ in Temple Bar or one of the many other homely Dublin taverns and, of course, see the city’s main highlights, including Trinity College and the famous Ha’penny Bridge.

Join our included, scenic drive into the Wicklow Mountains to admire the rugged wilderness, before making a stop at a typical Irish country pub.

We visit the valley of the two lakes, Glendalough, celebrated equally for its beauty and its historical and archaeological interests. We end the day in the town of ‘Ballykissangel’ fame, Avoca, with its charming, pastel-coloured houses.

Enjoy a day to relax or join our optional excursion to the attractive city of Kilkenny on the banks of the River Nore, with its Elizabethan architecture and winding passages and lanes. Kilkenny has a fascinating medieval history and a thriving crafts industry, and you will have free time to explore at leisure. See the magnificent 12th-century Kilkenny Castle which overlooks the River Nore, and visit the Kilkenny Design Craft Centre which is home to a selection of hand-crafted Irish gifts.

To Holyhead, then home.