Explore Ross Island, home to Ross Castle and an ancient copper mine, and ruggedly beautiful Innisfallen Island, with its 7th century monastery
Trace the famous Ring of Kerry, dotted with enthralling historical sites including standing stones, medieval churches and monumental stone forts
Enjoy a two-day exploration of the fortresses, megaliths and museums of the Dingle Peninsula
“A balanced and informative programme, with comprehensive explanations on site… backed up by Mike’s well presented and illustrated talks”
- ACE customer on a previous tour with Mike King
South-west Ireland, the region corresponding to the ancient Kingdom of Munster, is both scenically spectacular and extraordinarily rich in sites of historical and cultural interest. Two of its undoubted jewels – the Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry – form the focus of this tour.
We will discover Lough Leane, overlooked by the sentinel-like Ross Castle, Muckross House and Franciscan friary, and the monastery ruins of tiny Innisfallen Island. In the narrow pass known as the Gap of Dunloe, which carves its way through the mountains west of Lough Leane, is situated the cottage of Kate Kearney, a 19th century beauty immortalised in song.
The remainder of the world-renowned Ring of Kerry invites appreciation of prehistoric standing stones, great ring forts of the early medieval era, some fine medieval churches and Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, one of the great statesmen of modern Irish history.
The beautiful Dingle Peninsula also richly rewards exploration, with its dramatic coastal promontory forts, early Christian monasteries and churches, beehive huts, the famous boat-shaped oratory at Gallarus and ogham stones, displaying the earliest written form of the Irish language.
We will spend four nights at the characterful four-star Loch Lein Country House Hotel, in a tranquil and beautiful location west of Killarney, a short distance from the north shore of the lake. Three further nights will be spent at the four-star Dingle Skellig Hotel, spectacularly situated on Europe’s westernmost peninsula and offering a superb range of guest amenities.
This tour will be led by Mike King, BA, MA, a museum professional for over 30 years. Mike has a passion for Irish archaeology, Britain and Ireland’s early medieval culture, European pilgrimage and carved stones, having created an exhibition on the megaliths of Northern Ireland. He has worked as Heritage Manager for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and co-ordinated the protection and movement of a 10th century high cross in Downpatrick.
8
£2895
DING-24
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, seven breakfasts, one lunch, seven dinners with water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, double room for single use supplement £695.
