Day 1: Explore the many delights Dublin as to offer on your first day in Ireland. Dublin has plenty of excellent restaurants and bars that you can choose from as well as some wonderful galleries, museums and theatres.
Day 2: Leave Dublin and drive south to Wexford for your second night. Stop along the way at one of Ireland's most famous gardens at Powerscourts Estate as well as driving to Glendalough and visiting the 6th century monastic settlement with its Round Tower and Celtic Crosses. Spend your second night in Wexford know as the "Model County" which offers some beautiful coastline, beaches and charming villages.
Day 3: Leave Wexford for your next nights stay at the Ballymakeigh House in Youghal. Along the way it is worth a visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory in Waterford City. Stop for a visit and maybe some lunch. From here drive onwards to Youghal which has recently earned acclaim as an Irish Heritage Port, which hints at the many historically interesting buildings in the town. There is also a very informative visitor centre and from here you can join one of the guided tours. Also another must see is the 11th Century St Mary's Collegiate Church and is still in use after eight centuries.
Day 4: From Youghal take a short drive to Cork City Ireland's second largest city. A famous landmark is at the Shandon Steeple of St Ann's Church, which contains the Bells of Shandon and taking a trip to the English Market on the Grand Parade is a must see for anyone in the city. From here continue on towards Kinsale Town for your next night. Kinsale is now one of the most popular and fashionable locations in the country. Known at the "Gourmet Capital of Ireland" it has a plentiful supply of seafood for the beautiful restaurants in the town. Two miles eash of Kinsale Town is Charles Fort which is a classic example of a star- shaped ford. Guided tours are available here. Desmond Castle is another place worth visiting, built as a custom house and later during the American War of Independence it was used as a prison for the captured American Sailors.
Day 5 & 6: Killorglin is a beautiful setting for a peaceful holiday as there are many quiet roads and wonderful walks to enjoy in the area. There are numerous lakes with provide idyllic fishing grounds such as Lough Nakirka for trout fishing and Cara Lake for Salmon. There are numerous golf courses also nearby including Dook Golf Club, Dunloe Golf Range and Kilorglin Golf Club. There is also a great selection of restaurants and pubs to choose from in the town.
Day 7: Spend your last night in the beautiful village of Adare. The Third Earl of Dunraven built a street with thatched cottages and well trimmed hedges at the gates of his early Victorian Manor in the 1820's. Adare has some of the best collection of ruined mediveval friaries in Ireland including a 13th century Trinitarian Monastery, a 15th century Franciscan Monastery and a 14th century Augustinian Monastery. This village also is a regular winner of the Tidy Towns Competition.
Day 8: Depart from Shannon Airport for your return flight home.
Lodging:
Harrington Hall, Dublin (1 night)
Churchtown House, Wexford (1 night)
Ballymakeigh House, Cork (1 night)
Ashlee Lodge, Cork (1 night)
Carrig House, Kerry County (2 nights)
Echo Lodge, Limerick (1 night)
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