Western Ireland: A One-Week Stay in County Clare

Depart the U.S. on your transatlantic flight to Shannon, Ireland.

After arrival at Shannon International Airport, you'll be met for the short drive through the Irish countryside to your centrally located hotel in the charming town of Ennis. Your Smithsonian Journeys Travel Director will be available this afternoon and thorughout the program for suggestions regarding sightseeing, restaurants, and independent activities.  Take time to unpack and settle in, then join fellow travelers for a walking tour through the town and discover some of the folklore of the area.

In the early evening, gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception followed by dinner and an exclusive performance by local musicians and dancers. (R,D)

A full Irish breakfast is served each morning during your stay at the hotel. Start the day with a visit to the Burren National Park. Your tour of the Burren starts with a nature walk, guided by a local expert. Learn about this fascinating stark limestone landscape, and about its geology, flora, fauna, and unique farming system. Lunch will be served at a family-run restaurant in the heart of the Burren.

After lunch, continue to the former home of Michael Cusack, born in the worst years of the famine, who founded the Gaelic Athletic Association, one of the great sports organizations which still exists today. Cusack’s home is now a museum dedicated to the Association.

Continue through the Burren and visit the most iconic archaeological burial site in Ireland: the Poulnabrone Dolman. Continue to Ballyvaughan and drive along the Black Head drive, one of the most scenic drives along the Wild Atlantic Way. Continue to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, rising 702 feet at their highest point and ranging for five miles over the Atlantic Ocean. The sheer scale and dramatic visual impact of the cliffs never ceases to amaze and delight travelers. (B,L)

Start your day with a presentation by a local speaker who will talk about Irish history and genealogy. Afterward, depart on an excursion to the Loop Head Peninsula, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Shannon Estuary on the other. Loop Head Drive is part of the Wild Atlantic Way and begins in Kilkee, leading along the spectacular rugged coastline to Loop Head Lighthouse. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Next, visit an interactive exhibition on the history and operation of the lighthouse. Join fellow travelers in the Smithsonian Travelers Corner for an informal discussion about the day’s discoveries. (B,L)

Travel south this morning into County Limerick. Arrive in Adare, founded in the 13th century and considered among Ireland’s prettiest villages. Gather for lunch at the Dunraven Arms Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Ireland, and then set off on a walking tour of Adare. The town's rich heritage remains ever present in its monuments, thatched cottages, streets, and people. There will be time to explore Adare on your own before we return to Ennis late in the day. (B,L)

Today visit the award-winning Gardens and Science Center of Birr Castle. The interactive center reveals the wonders of early photography, engineering, and astronomy. You'll find a special emphasis on the design and assembly of the world-famous Great Telescope, built in the early 1840s when it was the largest telescope in the world. Lunch will be served in Killaloe at a restaurant featuring Irish specialties.

Later, enjoy a cruise on Lough Derg and the River Shannon, sipping an Irish coffee as you take in the bucolic views of  Counties Clare and Tipperary. This evening, gather for dinner at a restaurant located within the medieval quarter of historic Ennis. (B,L,D)

Today, take a scenic drive to Doolin and board a ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. The island has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Preserving Irish heritage is a priority to the community, and it is quite common to hear locals conversing in Gaelic. During a special tour, learn about life on the island with a local guide. Meet with a family who harvests seaweed from tide to table, restoring an age-old tradition. Continue to the mighty fort of Dún Aonghasa. Perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Dún Aonghusa is the largest of the prehistoric stone forts in the Aran Islands. Excavations revealed significant evidence of prehistoric metalworking, as well as several houses and burials.

Afterwards return via ferry to Doolin, a village synonymous with soulful Irish music due to the many musicians who live in the area. Meet with a local musician in his home, sit by an open fire and listen to traditional songs and stories of Irish musical heritage while enjoying a glass of wine and congenial company. (B,L)

Begin the day with an excursion to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Bunratty Castle stands on a strategic spot which has been occupied for over 1,000 years. Gaze through a window into Ireland’s past as you tour the castle, graciously restored in the 1960s and furnished by Lord Gort's personal collection of medieval furniture and artifacts. The Folk Park features over 30 buildings as part of a "living" village in a rural setting. Farmhouses, village shops, and streets are recreated and furnished as they would have appeared at that time. The balance of the day is at leisure so that you can follow your own path and lunch independently. This evening, gather with fellow travelers for a special farewell reception and dinner at the hotel. (B,R,D)

After breakfast, transfer to Shannon International Airport for your flight to the U.S. (B)

Please note: The progression of this itinerary may change due to operational considerations.