The traditions of Irish music offer a full body experience embracing heritage and spirit with upbeat tempos for a jig or slow melodies for a ballad. Your custom tailored Irish tour creates an immersive musical experience of seisún and céilí, to celebrate both informal musical gatherings and those moments that make you want to get up and dance. Discover customs and legacy at Blarney and Bunratty Castles, walk along the enchanting landscape of the Cliffs of Moher and listen to new songs...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Dublin – Arrive in Dublin with a Captivating Introductory City Tour
Dublin celebrates its modernity and its customs with effortless enthusiasm. The cobbled lanes wind between traditional pubs, which lead into hidden alleys filled with literary charm. The scent of leather-bound books and aged crisp pages fill the Long Room at Trinity College, emanating from the 200,000 copies of rare volumes in the collection. The aroma of coddle, a traditional stew made from pork sausages, bacon, potatoes, and onions drifts out of local restaurants.
After settling into the comforts of your hotel, your guide leads you on an elaborate tour of Ireland’s capital city, arriving at Dublin Castle. The 18th-century complex was the seat of British rule in Ireland until the early 1920s, before being ceremoniously handed over to the Provisional Irish Government. The defensive structure retains its Norman adornments of thick stone fortifications and dramatic towers. The building’s interior features the aristocratic grace associated with historic castles and government buildings, with state apartments glistening with gilded molding and crystal chandeliers. The Throne Room dates back to the mid-18th century and contains the throne erected for King George IV’s visit to Ireland. Outside of the castle, your guide takes you to the Cobblestone Pub in Smithfield. The pub is known mostly to Dubliners eager for a taste of traditional music, often accented with a modern touch.
What's Included:
Day 2
Dungarvan – Explore Kilkenny Castle and the Festivities of Dungarvan
Day 3
Dungarvan – Discover Heritage in Lismore and a Ring Music Session
Day 4
Ballyvourney – Visit Blarney Castle and Enjoy a Private Dance Lesson
Day 5
Ballyvourney – Learn Storied Songs at Inchigeelagh and Gougane Barra
Day 6
Dingle – Traverse the Tranquil Streets of Dingle and Relish the Music
Day 7
Dingle – Delight in a Full Day Excursion around the Dingle Peninsula
Day 8
Ennis – Travel to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park for Harmonious Traditions
Day 9
Ennis – Venture to the Cliffs of Moher and the Irish Music Center
Day 10
Shannon – Depart for Home
Trip Highlights
- Meet popular musicians who carry on and nurture their heritage with captivating songs and sounds inspired by traditional Irish music
- Indulge in Irish legends and fascinating history when visiting Blarney Castle to kiss the celebrated Blarney Stone
- Walk along the tops of the Cliffs of Moher for views spanning the Atlantic coast dropping down to the crashing waves
- Spend time learning about the past with a storyteller turned balladry, who sings and poeticizes the tales of Inchigeelagh in the spirit of Irish tradition
- Traverse the sensational scenery of Dingle Peninsula to discover enchanting landscapes and ancient artifacts, including the 6th-century Gallarus Oratory
- Visit Bunratty Castle and Fold Park as it brings to life the 13th century culture in town and the grandeur of the aristocracy within the castle
- Relish the time you spend inside the classic Irish pubs encouraging musicians, poets, and artists to continue Irish oratory and music
Detailed Description
Music and dance vary from country to country and even city to city. In Ireland, the sounds and movement of traditions can vary between counties. Your 10-day Ireland tour highlights the captivating music steeped in ancient heritage and shaped by the land, cultures, and elements of the Emerald Isles. Your musical journey begins with your arrival at Dublin International Airport. The private transfer escorts you to a luxury hotel in the heart of the capital city.
Explore the fascinating depths of the aristocratic grounds and bask in your first live performance of traditional tunes inside a classic pub in the Cultural Quarter. The culture of Ireland has long encouraged and supported the melodic qualities through the generations, preserved in the captivating defenses of Kilkenny Castle and the festive traditions of Dungarvan, a town renowned for its traditional Irish music. Relish the chance to meet local musicians, visit ancient monasteries, and sing with locals happy to welcome a friendly face to the historic pubs.
You can sing a verse dedicated to the myths of the Blarney Stone when you visit Blarney Castle before learning the ways a modern poet sings the ballads of his town Inchigeelagh. Find pleasure in the marvelous beauty of Gougane Barra National Park, an area that has inspired verse, song, and dance throughout Irish history. Visit Killarney and the surrounding historical sites before basking in the beauty of seaside Dingle, which includes a fascinating concert shining a spotlight on the heritage of Irish music.
Traverse the Dingle Peninsula where legend, poetry, and music are interchangeable. Bring history to life at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park before speaking to a local musician about the gathering inspiration from the past. The Cliffs of Moher captivate you, the landscape of the Burren move you to awe, and the Irish Traditional Music Center in Milltown Malbay offers the perfect place to wind down your exploratory Ireland tour with an eclectic montage of the music of Clare County.
For more tour options, please visit the Ireland tours section or the reviews for Ireland tours on Zicasso.
Starting Price
$6,500 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.86 stars based on 464 reviews.
We had a great 10-day trip. Zicasso’s travel designer was super-responsive in working through our itinerary and on our trip itself. We traveled to Dublin, Kinsale, Killarney, and Galway. The hotels were all central, close to town and trains. All of the drivers and guides were prompt and on time. I would definitely recommend our agent.
Reviewed By Joanne L.
We were extremely happy with the support we received from Zicasso’s travel designer in planning our trip to Ireland and Scotland. The recommended trip itinerary allowed us to leverage our shorter time in Ireland and really get to experience a lot of Scotland, where we spent more of the vacation.
We were very happy with the selected hotels and the guides in each country. Transportation was well planned and went smoothly.
Reviewed By Nancy B.
I was completely satisfied with the Zicasso travel company. Our agent did a great job of planning our itinerary, including all the places we requested and selecting excellent hotels and outings. Everything went smoothly and I had a wonderful experience.
Reviewed By Elinor G.
Zicasso's travel planners were great to work with, giving us great flexibility in tailoring our tour exactly the way we wanted it. They offered us good options for the activities we were interested in (sheep farm, falconry experience), fitting them within our schedule.
The schedule worked very well for us, striking the right balance between checking all the places we wanted to see and activities we wanted to experience, and giving us just the right amount of relaxation time in between. We brought back wonderful memories from our trip!
Reviewed By Arvind M.
We had a great trip to Ireland! I appreciated how Zicasso's travel company helped plan the trip, listening to where I thought we wanted to go and making suggestions to create the trip plan. All of the guides and drivers did well and we enjoyed getting to know them.
Even though the weather did not cooperate for several days, we enjoyed seeing other sights. We also enjoyed all of the hotels we stayed at. Overall, the travel company did an excellent job and we would use them again!
Reviewed By Mildred H.
Our trip was well-crafted and included a wide array of experiences. The guides Zicasso's travel company provided and the accommodations were first-rate and memorable. We were very pleased with a trip that included many memories.
Reviewed By Doug D.