The Best of Ireland, 14 Days Dublin to Kilkenny with Tauck

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*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.

Conrad Dublin

Dublin, Ireland

The Conrad Dublin, located in the heart of “Dublin’s fair city” opposite the gardens of famous St. Stephen’s Green, is a grand place to begin your family’s exploration of “The Emerald Isle.” Your guest room welcomes you with all the comforts of home, like a 37-inch LED flat screen TV with premium channels, an iHome Bluetooth docking station, a clock radio with MP3 connection, air conditioning, bathrobes and slippers, mineral water, cable TV, CD player, minibar, in-room safe and more… even a hair dryer and iron/ironing board. If you’re after some exercise, head to the well-equipped Fitness Center with hi-tech cardiovascular equipment and weights or ask the hotel staff for maps of good jogging routes close by. The hotel’s dining options include contemporary cuisine at their all day brasserie, The Coburg Restaurant and more casual dining at Alfie’s Bar and Grill, which opens out onto Earlsfort Terrace. The Conrad Dublin is a winner of the prestigious Fáilte Ireland 5-Star Quality Award.

The Merchant Hotel

Belfast, Ireland

Awarded both “Hotel Accommodation of the Year” at the Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2012 and named “Best Hotel UK” at the prestigious International Hotel Awards, The Merchant Hotel blends Victorian grandeur and Art Deco sleekness in a grand manner. Its prime location in the city-center, historic Cathedral Quarter, means that there is no better place to be in Belfast. Well-appointed, sumptuous guest rooms soothe with velvets and silks, specially designed wool carpets, original works of art and a host of modern in-room amenities to enhance your enjoyment of your stay. The Gymnasium’s unique space was specifically designed to create a serene atmosphere with panoramic views of Belfast while offering TechnoGym Wellness cardio and strength training equipment, a rock sauna, aromatherapy steam room and an eight-person rooftop hot tub. If you’re in the mood for some satisfying comfort food, The Cloth Ear is the place for you; if you’re thinking on a grander scale, The Great Room Restaurant, situated in the former main Banking Hall of this historic building puts forth fine cuisine inspired by the classics and showcasing the very best of locally sourced ingredients. At Bert’s Bar, you’ll find yourself transported to the chic, intimate jazz bars of 1930s New York, with live jazz every evening from 9:00 PM on. If a quieter atmosphere suits your mood for a pre-dinner cocktail, a bite to eat or a nightcap, settle in at The Bar and admire the antique Baccarat chandeliers and fireplace.

Lough Erne Resort

Enniskillen, Ireland

The first AA and NIBT five-star hotel in Northern Ireland, Lough Erne Resort sits on its own 600-acre peninsula between Castle Hume Lough and Lower Lough Erne, creating a memorable sense of place with stunning views in virtually any direction. Sophisticated guest rooms, successfully fusing past and present, feature carefully chosen furniture, fine Irish linens and luxurious bathrooms among other top-notch amenities. Treat yourself to the relaxing, rejuvenating applications of Asia’s botanical heritage in The Thai Spa or play the Faldo Championship Course – deemed truly memorable by leading members of USTOA who played there in 2009 (at additional cost). Choose the Catalina Restaurant for elegant dining overlooking the lough or visit the Loughside Bar and Grill for casual dining and perfectly grilled prime Irish meats. Traditional afternoon tea in the Garden Hall is a treat for your sweet tooth while the Blaney Bar, overlooking Castle Hume Lough, offers a Grazing Menu as well as over 100 different Irish whiskeys to sample.

Glenlo Abbey Hotel

Galway, Ireland

Old-world charm and 5-star service… Glenlo Abbey Hotel is situated overlooking the River Corrib some four kilometres upstream of Galway City. It is the ancestral home of the Ffrench family, one of Galway’s famous ‘tribes’. Glenlo Abbey Hotel offers superb dining and entertainment options for both formal and informal occasions. These include the River Room Restaurant with stunning views overlooking the estate, the Pullman Restaurant, which was recently awared a second AA rosette, the Oak Cellar Bar and three elegant Receptions Rooms in the Main House which exude old world charm, where guests can enjoy a relaxing drink, afternoon tea, or take time out to relax and read the newspapers. Guest room amenities include marble ensuite bathroom with power showers, bathrobes and slippers, complimentary l’Occitane Toiletries, 40 inch flat screen television, DVD Player, minibar, in-room safe, hair dryer, tea and coffee making facilities, complimentary bottled water, evening turn-down service, 24-hour Room Service, branded chocolate boxes for turndown, turndown weather cards. The history of the property is illustrious: The five-bay, two-storey detached house with it’s grand entrance and flight of steps was built in 1740 by the Ffrenches. The Ffrenches were an Anglo-Norman family who first settled in Ireland in Co. Wexford and from there gradually spread to other parts of the island. The family first arrived in Galway in the early fifteenth century. The house was originally known as Kentfield House, before becoming Glenlow or Glenloe House, deriving from the Irish Glean Locha, meaning ‘Glen of the Lake’. The adjacent Abbey was constructed in the 1790’s as a private church for the family but was not completed and never consecrated. It is typical of eighteenth-century Church of Ireland chapels, which are often found on large demesnes. In 1846, the house and surrounding 138-acre estate were put up for sale,eventually purchased by the Blakes, another of Galway’s illustrious tribal families. In 1897, the estate was purchased by the Palmers who remained there for the following 90 years. In the 1980’s the house and estate were again sold, this time to the Bourke family who lovingly restored the house and converted it into a hotel. In the 1990s, two original carriages from the Orient Express were purchased and placed on the grounds of Glenlo Abbey Hotel. Dating from 1927 these carriages served on the Paris to Istanbul to St. Petersburg route; one of the pair was used in the making of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express. Today serving as the Pullman Restaurant, the carriages offer a unique dining experience.

Old Ground Hotel

Ennis, Ireland

A former manor house dating back to the 18th century set amidst the pretty streets of Ennis in County Clare, the Old Ground Hotel blends the warmth of a country home and the stylish ambiance of a luxurious contemporary Irish hotel. Crisp white linens and a soft duvet await you in your comfortable guest room equipped with multi-channel color TV, direct-dial telephone, coffee and tea making facilities, trouser press and hair dryer. The Town Hall Bistro, located in what actually was the Ennis Town Hall, will tempt your palate with freshly baked scones in mid-morning; sweet treats during afternoon tea; and a bistro-style lunch menu served throughout the day. The Poet’s Corner is the perfect place to sip a nightcap and perhaps share a story or two with local residents who frequent this cozy bar.

Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa

Killarney, Ireland

Located high on a hill in the midst of the emerald-green County Kerry countryside, the Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa offers a luxurious and serene ambiance surrounded by the sweeping panorama of Killarney’s lakes and mountains. Indulge yourself at the impressive Spa, take a swim in the lovely indoor pool, walk in the hills or in the gardens, play a game of tennis or fish for salmon and trout from the hotel’s nearby private stretch of riverbank.

Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa

Thomastown, Ireland

The baronial Mount Juliet Hotel regally reigns over what once was Ireland’s largest estate. Operating as a luxury hotel since 1989, the opulent Georgian mansion that lies at the heart of the Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa is a grand tribute to 18th-century craftsmanship. Each individually designed guest room evokes the ambiance of being a welcome guest in a private, grand family home. The Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa features the only Jack Nicklaus signature golf course in Ireland as well as The Spa, which offers a wide range of pampering programs. There is a wealth of activities to enjoy here (some at additional cost) like golf, fishing, clay pigeon shooting and archery. Or visit the Leisure Centre at Mount Juliet, with its heated indoor swimming pool and a waterfall, a fully equipped gym and tennis courts. The Mount Juliet Hotel & Spa was rated by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the “Top 25 European Resorts” and the readers of Travel + Leisure have placed it among the “Top 10 Resorts in Europe.”