TASTE O'IRELAND in 9 days -2024-
SHORT ON TIME, BUT STILL WANT TO EXPERIENCE IRELAND? Then this tour is for you! This is the perfect eight days of sightseeing and cultural experiences, offering a worry-free journey of Ireland’s history, culture, music, and cuisine.
We kick off in Dublin, where you’ll get a solid introduction to Irish history, culture, and charm. Then we will head out into the countryside to experience three distinct regions. You’ll visit ancient monastic sites, fairy forts, geological wonders, and charming villages, all the while enjoying some of the best food, music, and craic on the island!
Your Adventure Starts Here!
| PRICE FROM | DATES | |
|---|---|---|
Dublin – 2 nights
Kilkenny – 1 night
Dingle – 2 night
Galway – 2 nights
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$3189 + air = Double Occupancy
$3914 + air = Single Room
ITINERARY
September 8, 2025: Welcome to Dublin – Let’s plan to meet today at 2:00 p.m. in our hotel lobby for introductions and a tour overview. Then, join your Exploring Europe guide for a scenic overview tour of Dublin City. Enjoy a stop at the famous Guinness Brewery for a look at the production process and a visit to the panoramic Gravity Bar for your first taste of an authentic pint of the stout brewed here in Dublin. Later, you’ll get a traditional dinner at a favorite Dublin pub. The remainder of the evening is free to enjoy more of Dublin or return to the hotel and settle in. Sleep for 2 nights in Dublin. Dinner.
September 9: Dublin City – After breakfast, enjoy a city walking tour of Dublin City and a visit to Trinity College, followed by a look at the “illuminated” Book of Kells. The afternoon and evening are scheduled to be event-free for you to experience more of Dublin on your own.
September 10: Glendalough and Kilkenny – After breakfast, we will leave the big city behind and begin a journey around the island. The first stop is the ancient monastic site of Glendalough, located in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. We’ll take a peaceful walk along the lakes and through the forest while learning about the monastery and its role in history. Then, travel to the medieval town of Kilkenny, where you will have some free time to experience the town, castle, cathedral, and shops. Tonight, experience a tastebud-tingling dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant this side of Tuscany. Sleep 1 night in Kilkenny. Driving: 3 hours. Dinner.
September 11: A Bit of Blarney and Kerry – Today, we will travel across the Plain of Tipperary to the little village of Blarney. The castle, known for its famous “Blarney Stone,” is one of Ireland’s most popular tourist destinations. After an opportunity to “kiss the Blarney Stone,” you will enjoy a visit to the Blarney Woolen Mills. This huge shopping complex is your one-stop spot for authentic Irish arts, crafts, textiles, and apparel. Later, we will make our way to Dingle at the far southwest tip of Ireland. Tonight’s menu features a selection of fresh and sumptuous locally sourced products. After dinner, join the fun at a pub for a traditional music session or live folk music. Sleep for 2 nights in Dingle. Driving: 6 hours. Dinner.
September 12: The Dingle Peninsula – Today, experience some of Ireland’s wildest natural beauty and oldest pre-historic settlements on our driving tour of the Slea Head. Enjoy endless fields of “40 shades of green”, rock-crashing waves, and all the sheep you’ll ever want to count. Back in Dingle, you’ll have the afternoon and evening for shopping, dinner, and music. Driving: 3 hours.
September 13: The Cliffs of Moher and Galway – After a drive through the coastal mountains of Kerry, we will take a ferry crossing the River Shannon over to County Clare. Here, you will experience the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher, where you’ll find yourself teetering on the edge of a series of 700-foot cliffs perched on the North Atlantic. These cliffs stretch for five miles along the Atlantic coast in County Clare. On a clear day, one can see the distant Aran Islands and the soaring mountains in Connemara and the Dingle Peninsula. We’ll take a scenic drive along the Atlantic coast around Galway Bay and through the rocky terrain known as the Burren. Once in Galway City, enjoy an overview driving tour of the region’s highlights. Then, you’ll have the remainder of the evening to explore on your own, spend your time shopping, wander the pedestrian area, listen to local busker musicians, and experience the “pulse” of this vibrant city. Sleep 2 nights in Galway.
September 14: The Aran Islands – Today, enjoy an excursion, by boat, to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands (weather permitting). Once on the island, experience a driving tour of its natural and historical sites and an opportunity to look around in the craft shops. Return in the late afternoon to Galway for a bit of free time. Then let’s gather for a grand farewell dinner at a favorite restaurant. Boat: 3 hours roundtrip. Dinner.
September 15: Your tour is over after breakfast – Breakfast is included today, but there are no plans beyond that. We will get you back to the airport in time for your flight to the USA. Sláinte!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
INCLUSIONS
Transportation by coach and/or minibus from your Dublin hotel to your return airport.
Andrew & MaryAda Kidd will be your local tour guides and escorts.
7 nights’ accommodation in traditional hotels, guesthouses, and B&B’s. All rooms have private en-suite baths.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant, and hotel staff.
All breakfasts and four of your dinners.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David’s personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
Water is included with all meals. Soda, beer, wine, spirits, coffee, and tea are your responsibility.
All tours and admissions at no extra cost: Dublin walking tour covering the essential sights in the city ▪ a visit to the Guinness Storehouse and Gravity Bar ▪ Entrance to the Book of Kells and Trinity College ▪ Glendalough Monastic site and the Wicklow mountains ▪entrance to Blarney Castle and its famous kissing stone ▪ Dingle Peninsula Driving Tour ▪ The Blasket Centre when open ▪ The Cliffs of Moher experience ▪ Galway City orientation tour ▪ Full-day excursion to Inishmoor Aran Island, weather permitting ▪ and much more! (Itinerary specifics are subject to change).
A full-time Exploring Europe guide and local experts dedicated to bringing to life the art, history, and culture of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
EXCLUSIONS
Comprehensive Trip insurance. We strongly recommend comprehensive insurance for tour.
Fee for passports.
Beer, wine, spirits, and soda during the tour.
Laundry, phone, internet, and personal items
Extras and optional activities.
Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
CANCELLATION POLICY
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
Deposits- Deposits for tours are fully refundable for 30 days from your initial application and deposit date, unless otherwise noted. If you book a tour less than 90 days before its departure date, full payment is due immediately, and the entire tour cost becomes non-refundable after seven days. After these dates, deposits are not refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation.
Payments- Tour payments are due in full 90 days before your tour departure date. If you find you must cancel between 90-0 days before your tour departure, please contact us immediately. We will work with you to transfer your payments to another tour departing within 18 months. We strongly recommend that everyone purchase comprehensive travel insurance that covers tour cancellations, emergency medical, and other unexpected events.
Cancellations will be effective when the written notification is received at David McGuffin›s Exploring Europe by mail, e-mail, or fax.
SIGN UP BY EMAIL OR POST
If you do not want to sign up online:
You may download a tour application and send it to us with payment.
-OR-
You may return it by:
- FAX 1-800-570-1351
- Email – info@davidmcguffin.com
- email – take a photo of the form with your smartphone and attach it to an email
- TXT – take a photo with your smartphone and TXT to 904-612-8149
KEY TO WALKING & ACTIVITY
Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
PRE-TOUR RESOURCES
Now that you’ve decided to join this tour, we are sure you’ll have some questions. Don’t worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
DAVID’S VIDEO: IRELAND: THE DAVID MCGUFFIN TOUR EXPERIENCE
To truly understand a David McGuffin tour, you have to see it to believe it. This film documents the journey of four travelers on David’s “Taste of Ireland” tours. Filmed on location in Ireland, we hope it will give you a sample of what to expect on a David McGuffin tour to Europe. IRELAND: The David McGuffin Tour Experience
DAVID’S AUDIO & PDF DESTINATION GUIDES TO IRELAND
Education and cultural immersion are essential to fully engaging in the David McGuffin tour experience. We believe you’ll experience and appreciate more around the Emerald Isles if you know a little about the sites, the history, and the experiences. David’s downloadable and printable Destination Guides are designed to provide historical background and practical information about our destinations in Ireland.
Additionally, you can put DAVID IN YOUR EARS by downloading his Audio Destination Guides and listening to them before and while visiting locations in Ireland.
All resources can be downloaded, printed, and installed on your audio or mobile device from here. https://davidmcguffin.com/dg-ireland/
DAVID’S TRAVEL TALK TUESDAY BROADCASTS AND VIDEO SERIES BLOG.
David began weekly episodes of Travel Talk Tuesday in December 2020, when we were deep in the pandemic lockdowns and had no hope of travel. He has been rolling out episodes ever since! When David is not traveling in Europe, he presents a LIVE broadcast on Zoom and Facebook. Check it out on Tuesdays at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Or look up an episode and watch the recording here: Watch them here.
DAVID’S 60 SECONDS DESTINATION VIDEOS
Join David as he shares impromptu moments from his travels in Ireland. Watching these short 60-second segments are a great way to experience David’s travel style and adventures. Watch David’s Explore Ireland and Scotland.
DAVID’S BLOG ARTICLES
David and his team have answered many travel-related questions, and they are all tucked away on his blog. But, no need to go there. Type in a keyword in the search box at the top or bottom of this page (find the small magnifying glass icon), and you will get results for your query.
PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL OR GIVE US A CALL.
We are happy to answer your travel questions and give advice and suggestions. tours@davidmcguffin.com or 800-570-1351.
Testimonials & Reviews of our IRELAND Tours
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First, I would like to say that the Best of Ireland 12-day tour we took from October 12-24, 2025, was really fantastic. The itinerary was perfect for the opportunity to see all the “must see” sights in Ireland. The start of the tour in Belfast is a wise choice; it gave us the opportunity to end the trip in Dublin after seeing to country which gave a better perspective of the history of the island.
The hotels were perfect in that they were located in the cities which made it possible to explore around the towns then have dinner and drinks.
Finally, and most important, our tour guide and driver, David Grey, was absolutely wonderful.
I cannot say enough kind words and accolades about David. The tour would not have been as memorable without his sense of humor, great insights and his general caring of us as guests in his country. It was an honor and a privilege to get to know David. David took the time to get to know all his guests and would ask us what our interests and needs were.
David also stopped at a few places not on the itinerary which allowed us a better insight into the country. It was great to see the bridge from the John Wayne movie, The Quiet Man, and visiting St. Brigid’s Well in Liscannor was memorable.
I mentioned to David in passing how I would like to try some poteen after having a drink in Kilkenny. David went out of his way to obtain some local poteen for all the tour guests to have a toast after our memorable Italian dinner. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
My husband and I toured southern Ireland and Scotland. It was a celebration of our 30th anniversary. I know many have mentioned David Grey but he was amazing His flexbility , knowledge and overall character made the trip. We also enjoyed the Scotland driver- Ian who had a wonderful personality . The group dinner selections did not disappoint. Amazing food . We felt like we saw so much of both countries and enjoyed having it all planned where to go .
I’m quite pleased with my first experience with David McGuffin tour company. The itinerary was spot on - from sites (expected tourist highlights to less known treasures) to hotels (especially Barr Na Straide) & restaurants (Rinuccini❣️) to planned time balanced with free time. And our guide David Grey was THE BEST! David is respectful, thorough, flexible, & a wealth of knowledge and all the while just being plain fun. As my late mother would say, “he’s a keeper.”
The trip to Ireland was just GREAT. David McGuffin Exploring Europe really provides a very nice itinerary and very comfortable everything, very nice hotels, great food, highlighted places and experiences. The part I liked best was David the personal full time tour guide, he was exceptional. The company took care of all of the details like where to go, where to stay, all attraction payments, the beautiful motorcoach. All we had to do is relax and enjoy. And what a great group of people. It couldn't have been better!
Have you seen photos or videos of the rolling green fields and rugged seaside cliffs of Ireland, and wondered whether they could be that beautiful in real life? Well, they really are! And the Best of Ireland tour offered a nice balance between larger cities (Belfast and Dublin) on the one hand and smaller cities, towns, and countryside on the other hand.
My wife and I had traveled previously with David himself on tours in Italy and Croatia, so this was our first McGuffin tour with other guides. Aidan, Ambrose and Dave were each special in their own way, and each one was flexible in consulting the group and adjusting the itinerary to our preferences.
As usual with David’s tours, the driving and the visits to various destinations with our guides were supplemented by free time built into the schedule. This allowed us to do some exploration on our own. For example, listening to live music in Dingle pubs on back-to-back evenings was a treat that was among the trip’s highlights. It’s also nice that some dinners were included in the tour price, and others were left to us so that we could choose a restaurant ourselves.
David McGuffin has offered tours to Ireland for a long time, and his knowledge of the island resulted in a tour that our group really enjoyed. Highly recommended.
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