Who Are the Irish? Many Answers Lie on Ireland’s East Coast On New 6 Day Ancient Ireland Tour
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- Released on Thursday, 08 February 2018 10:41
COUNTY WICKLOW, Ireland, Feb. 8, 2018 – When visiting Ireland, the recurring question is: Who are the Irish?
The answer seems simple. They are an ancient people. But this question begs complexity. A 6 Day Ancient Ireland Tour helps sort things out. Driftwood Journeys of Discovery (from Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland) has designed this mentally stimulating exploration of Ireland's east coast for imaginations that yearn to burrow into bogs, scale crenellated towers and shimmy up mountains for glimpses of Iron Age Celts sifted into Stone Age sands. See: https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/tour/6-day-eastern-ireland-tour/.
While passing through the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin, then into the interior and back to the coast, guests will see visions of Vikings landing longboats off the Irish Sea, Norman invaders from England flying flags, medieval monks chanting, mineral-mad 19th century industrialists digging into hillsides and ghosts of emigrants clutching destitute families. The artifacts they’ve left behind signal bloodshed one moment and repentance the next. More than any other region of Ireland, this coastline separated by mountains from inland valleys defines how over 5,000 some years the Irish came to be.
From a 5th century monastery to Kilkenny, Ireland’s medieval capital and only inland city, to Kinsale, Ireland’s gourmet capital, to a wildlife sanctuary cliff walk overlooking the sea, the world of the spirit is omnipresent.
Guests revel in genteel living exemplified by overnights in stone castles and stately homes showcasing manicured grounds and some of Europe’s finest gardens. They will
- hear the music of waterfalls and of hand-blown Waterford crystal,
- fondle hand-woven garments,
- watch sheep dogs at work,
- by Hook or by crook visit the world’s oldest’ continually working lighthouse and the tomb of Saint Nicholas in the ‘lost town of Jerpoint’ near Kilkenny, Ireland’s largest inland town and its medieval capital.
Around every corner is a profundity of Celtic and Viking dispositions, medieval architecture and 18th century elaborations, and the intrigues of The Copper Coast, a UNESCO Global Geoparkgeophysical anomaly that drove industry and is the source of the minerals for Waterford Crystal. In New Ross, County Wexford (the ancestral home of John F. Kennedy), guests may well shed tears on The Dunbrody Famine Ship replicathat reveals itsharrowing tale of the Irish famine. From such ports embarked 2.5 million of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America (1848-1950) including Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island who departed from Cobh. This was also the final port of call for the RMS Titanic.
But spirits perk up at the home of Irish whiskey, Jameson Distillery, and while shopping for hand-crafted collectibles at Waterford Crystal Factory, Stephen Pearce Pottery and Ross Tapestries that tells the story of the Anglo Normans arriving in Ireland in 1169.
Departures from Dublin are April through October and occur every other week. The per person double rate is €1,729 (€300 single supplement).
Rob Rankin, owner of Vagabond Tours, says “we’ve long known that the South East of Ireland is a hidden treasure, and this combined with customer demand for a tour that covered the area made us realize that we needed a new product for the region. We are confident that this tour will be on a par with the other award-winning itineraries Vagabond Tours offers.”
The Vagabond staff curate locally owned accommodations, pubs and restaurants that help serve their goal of authenticity. In the end the mission is to have their guests “love Ireland as much as we do.” Transport is in a 16-passenger Mercedes mini coach that allows access beyond where regular tour buses go.
For more details, itinerary, images and inclusions please see https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/tour/6-day-eastern-ireland-tour/.
About Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland
Since 2002 Vagabond Adventure Tours has been creating opportunities for visitors to embrace Ireland by walking, biking, horseback riding and kayaking its lands and waters, imbibing history and culture along the way. In 2013 the company was honored by National Geographic Traveler with a Top 50 Tour of a Lifetime distinction. In 2015 and 2017 Vagabond Small Group Tours of Ireland was named a “Best Adventure Experience” at the Irish Tourism Awards. And in 2016, Vagabond became Ireland’s first tour operator to achieve Ecotourism Gold Level Certification.
In 2013 the company launched Driftwood Journeys of Discovery that explores in a less strenuous manner many of the same routes of Vagabond Adventure Tours. Itineraries in both divisions focus on high yield, low impact tourism which means that local economies benefit from the company’s and guest’s contributions to local, rural Irish economies (including accommodations, meals, nightlife, attractions and shopping).
For details on all of Vagabond Small-Group Tours of Ireland itineraries, availability and for 2018 reservations, please visit https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/. Call toll free (from the US) 1.833-230-0288; in Ireland 00353 (0) 1 5634358; or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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