Ireland Family Ancestry Tour Itinerary
Day by Day Agenda
Day 0 - Saturday, Sept 5 - Travel Day
Fly or Drive to JFK during day
JFK to Dublin via Air Lingus Non-stop - lie flat seats - late evening/overnight flight
Arrive in Dublin Sunday Sept 6
Pick up Rental Car and Drive to Beckett Locke Hotel in Dublin
Day 1 - Sunday, Sept 6 - Dublin Orientation and Recovery Day
Morning
Arrive at Dublin Airport
Pick up Rental Car (add details once booked
Drive to Beckett Locke Hotel
Afternoon (optional, low-energy):
Short riverside walk along the River Liffey Quays, Photo stop at the Samuel Beckett Bridge
Easy Sightseeing Option (Highly Recommended):
🚌 Hop-On Hop-Off Double-Decker Bus Tour
Boarding location: Big Bus Dublin – Custom House Quay Stop 📍 Custom House Quay, Dublin 1
🚶 5–7 minute walk from Beckett Locke
Tickets can be purchased online or directly at the bus. Stay on for a full loop or hop off only if you feel energized
Evening:
Casual dinner near the hotel or IFSC area
Early night to recover from travel
Day 2 - Monday, Sept 7 - Dublin Sightseeing
Morning: Trinity College & the Book of Kells
Breakfast available at Hotel
Trinity College is one of Dublin’s most beautiful and calm spaces, The Book of Kells & Long Room Library is the highlight, Mostly indoor, slow walking, Benches available. Best time: morning (9–11am) before crowds peak. Plan 1.5–2 hours total, including wandering the campus afterward 📍 Distance from Beckett Locke: ~25 minutes walk or ~10 minutes by taxi or bus
Afternoon: Free time for Lunch and Nap
Evening:
Dinner Suggestions (Winding Stair, Oxmantown, or Wollen Mills)
After Dinner Music at Temple Bar
Day 3 - Tuesday, Sept 8 | Dublin → Burren / Galway Bay
Transition day • Easy driving • History stop • Settle into countryside Hotel: The Waters Country House, Ballyvaughan (Night 1 of 2)
Morning | Dublin Departure
Breakfast and coffee at Beckett Locke
Depart Dublin heading west toward the Midlands
Afternoon:
Stop: Clonmacnoise Monastic Site, One of Ireland’s most important early Christian settlements, breaks up the drive
Lunch near Clonmacnoise / Shannonbridge / Athlone area
Drive to Ballyvaughan
Arrive at The Waters Country House, Check-in
Evening | Restorative Country Night
Tea, wine, or quiet time in the garden or lounge
7:00 PM Dinner: Onsite dining or Short walk/drive into Ballyvaughan village
Prepare for next day’s Burren exploration and bike/scenic split
Day 4 - Wednesday, Sept 9 | Burren Biking & Scenic Drives
Morning
Breakfast at The Waters Country House
Drive 5 minutes to Burren Cycle Hire
Bike fitting + route briefing
Cycle Route #1
Non-riders do Scenic drive through the Burren
Afternoon
Return bikes
Rest at hotel
Optional coastal walk
Evening - Open
Day 5 - Thursday, Sept 10 | Cliffs and Castle
Morning (Check all travel times)
Breakfast at the Waters Country house
Check out
Drive 30 mins to Cliffs of Moher - scenic tours and photos
Afternoon
Cliffs of Moher to Killimer Ferry: Drive south from the Cliffs (around Doolin) towards the Shannon Estuary.
Killimer-Tarbert Ferry: Take the car ferry from Killimer (Co. Clare) to Tarbert (Co. Kerry).
Tarbert to Ballyseede Castle: From Tarbert, it's a short drive to Ballyseede Castle, Tralee. 2 hours total drive+ferry time
Check into Ballyseede Castle
Evening
Eat at The O'Connell Restaurant at the Castle: This is the castle's primary, fine-dining restaurant, which has received a two-star AA Rosette award. Dress Code is smart.
Pappys bar at the castle for casual drinks or eats
Day 6 — Friday, Sept 11 | Castle Morning → Dingle Peninsula
Morning
Full Irish breakfast in the castle dining room
Time to: Walk the castle grounds, Meet the resident dogs (a highlight for many guests), Take family photos in the gardens and public rooms
Check out and Drive 1.5 hour to Dingle
Afternoon — Dingle Town at Leisure
Check into Base Accommodation in Dingle
Open time to: Stroll the harbor, Browse local shops (hand-knit goods, art, pottery)
Ice cream or coffee along the waterfront
Dingle Oceanworld Aquarium (if multigenerational)
Evening — Dinner & Music in Dingle
Dinner at a cozy local restaurant (we’ll select one together)
After dinner: - Traditional Irish music in a pub
Or quiet evening walk along the quay
Day 7 — Saturday, Sept 12 | Dingle Boat Tour
Morning
Coffee/Breakfast near harbor
Afternoon:
130pm - Boat tour from Dingle Harbor - Blasket Islands / cliffs / sea caves - arrive ½ hour early, boat tour is 3 hours,. Arrive back at 5pm
Evening
Dinner and Music in Dingle
DAY 8 – Sunday, Sept 13 - Dingle → Cork | Arrival + Gentle Evening
Morning
Breakfast in Dingle
Drive to Cork ⏱ Approx 3.5 hours with one comfort stop
Optional Stop En Route - Glengarriff village (coffee + stretch, harbor views)
Afternoon and Evening
Arrive in Cork, Check in: The Dean Cork
Indoor pool, Rooftop bar views (even just a drink)
Dinner (easy + close options include: Market Lane – relaxed, modern Irish, excellent quality, OR Goldie – seafood-forward, reservations recommended, OR Dinner at The Dean if energy is low)
DAY 9 – Monday, Sept 14 - FULL DAY IN CORK — Culture, Food, Light Walking
Morning
Breakfast At The Dean or nearby café
English Market (must-do, flat, central, food-focused)
OR Cork City Gaol (only if group energy is good)
OR Shandon Bells (optional, stairs involved)
Afternoon
Lunch at English Market stalls OR Farmgate Café (inside market, sit-down, excellent)
Gentle walking along River Lee
Back to hotel for rest / pool
Optional shopping: Oliver Plunkett Street
Evening
Dinner (last “nice” dinner) Goldie (if not done yet), OR Isaac’s Restaurant, OR Elbow Lane Brew & Smokehouse
Rooftop drink at The Dean
DAY 10 – Tuesday, Sept 15 - Departure Day
Breakfast
Check out
Drive to airport - Cork or Shannon is close
No activities planned. This is intentional.