Wild Ireland - An In-Depth Discovery of Ireland’s Wonders

Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this afternoon and transfer to the MS Island Sky. Enjoy welcome drinks and dinner as we moor overnight.

A morning city tour will include Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares and the famous ‘Doorways of Dublin’. We will also see the National Gallery, Dublin Castle and the city’s cathedrals. See the famous Guinness Brewery before ending at Trinity College, Ireland’s oldest college, founded in 1592, where we can wander through the grounds. Returning to the ship for lunch we will sail south along the Irish coast this afternoon.

This morning we will anchor off the picturesque and historical village of Baltimore. This now peaceful village has had a long and occasionally turbulent history, most notably the ‘Sack of Baltimore’ in 1631 when much of the population was abducted by pirates. We will explore the village on a walking tour, taking in its 800 year old castle and learning about the maritime history. There will be free time to explore independently before we return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon we will travel the short distance across the bay to Sherkin Island, Ireland’s art island. This 100 resident strong island offers an array of landscapes from Atlantic views from the hilltops to fuchsia scented paths and sandy beaches. There will be various walks on offer taking in the beautiful scenery including a route on the artist trail where many artists have open galleries dotted throughout the island. You can also enjoy the island at your own leisure, perhaps taking in the Abbey, a ruined Medieval monastery that sits by the pier.

Docking in Castletownbere we will take the ferry across to Bere Island which lies at the entrance to the deep, sheltered waters of Bantry Bay. The small island, roughly 10 kilometres by three kilometres, has a population of about 200 people but its place in history is assured. After the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, the island became one of three Irish ports retained by the British because of its strategic value. Evidence remains of earlier visitors too with megalithic standing stones, wedge tombs and ring forts. We will explore on a choice of island walks, spend time at the Heritage Centre which showcases island life and meet the islanders. We will sail late this evening, so there will be the opportunity to go ashore in Castletownbere after dinner.

Over breakfast we will arrive off The Skelligs, tiny islands just off the magnificent coast of the Dingle Peninsula. Weather permitting, we will sail around these mystical islands with their early Christian history. Skellig Michael is a World Heritage Site and atop this rugged pyramid, that rises from the sea, are the ruins of a monastery. Meanwhile at Little Skellig the sky can on occasion turn white as some of the 20,000 pairs of breeding gannets leave their roosts. We will continue along the famous Kerry (Iveragh) Peninsula and anchor at the port of Knightstown on Valentia Island. Spend the afternoon exploring the history of the island, including the Cromwell Point Lighthouse or perhaps take part in a birding tour. Alternatively visit Derrynane House, the ancestral home of Daniel O’Connell, known as the ‘Liberator’ and a key player in the emancipation of Irish Catholics in the early 19th century.

From Galway we explore the beautiful region of Connemara. Here the National Park covers nearly 3000 hectares of scenic mountains, heaths and woodland and is home to herds of ponies. During our drive along the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ we will see beautiful coves, bays and traditional fishing villages where we will experience local culture in this Irish speaking part of the country. Visit Kylemore Abbey which is set on a lake against a backdrop of the Connemara Mountains and home to Ireland’s only Benedictine order of nuns who have restored and cared for the Kylemore estate since 1920. Uniquely, only Victorian varieties of flowers and vegetables are grown in the walled garden which contains two distinct areas: the kitchen garden and the flower garden. We will be entertained by Irish musicians this evening and will dock overnight for anyone wanting to go ashore after dinner.

This morning we will cruise by the magnificent Cliffs of Moher which rise to 213 metres and are over five miles long. A little further up the coast and some 30 miles from the Galway Coast are the Aran Islands. We will call into the largest, Inishmore, and explore some of the early Christian sites. This island was a place of monastic study from the earliest Christian times. Also, see the dramatic stone fort of Dun Aonghusa, parts of which date back some 3,000 years.

Spend the day in County Donegal where from our base in the village of Killybegs we have a choice of excursions. Choose to drive west to the Glencolmcille area, a Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) area steeped in culture and rich in folklore and music. One of the most scenic areas in Ireland, the drive through the countryside is outstanding. The Folk Museum which opened in 1967 is a monument to Father James McDyer who came to the village in 1952 and set about infusing the local people with a spirit of self-reliance and pride in their heritage. Here we will learn about the history of the area and will enjoy some traditional Irish music. We will also offer a walk through the Bluestack Mountains. This circular 3.5 kilometre walk offers the striking beauty and peacefulness of the mountains and spectacular views. In the afternoon there will be the option to take a stroll through Donegal town, which was invaded by Vikings in the 8th century and used as their port, giving its Gaelic name Dun na nGall, ‘Fort of the Foreigners’. The walking tour will take in the town’s history including the Castle, the ruined Franciscan friary as well as the ‘The Diamond’ or centre of town where markets were held until 1967. This evening we will enjoy some Irish dancing after dinner.

Sailing this morning we will head to Tory Island, located off the northwest coast of Ireland and home to 150 or so Gaelic speakers. It is the most remote inhabited Irish island; although only 14 miles offshore it feels like many more and island life here is full of traditions. We will meet some of the local community in the village hall and enjoy some of their legendary storytelling, music and dance. Tory Island is also famous for its migratory birds and we hope to hear the calls of the corncrake for which the island is known.

Located just a few miles from the North Antrim coast, Rathlin has been settled for more than 6,000 years. Today, there are only 80 or so souls, whereas before the famine there were 1,200 inhabitants. History is everywhere with historic buildings and ruins which we will explore with our local guides. Returning to the ship we will sail towards Larne on the Antrim Coast. Arriving late afternoon, we will drive to the Giant’s Causeway which became widely known from the 1700s as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’ and large numbers of visitors came to view this amazing array of basalt columns of which there are estimated to be around 40,000 in total. We will enjoy a private entrance to the Giant’s Causeway once it is closed to the general public. Return to the ship in the evening for dinner on board.

This morning we will head to Belfast and start our exploration of the city including the Titanic Experience, located right beside the historic site of this world-famous ship’s construction. Housed in an iconic, six-floor building, this state-of-the-art visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, through her construction and launch, to her famous maiden voyage and tragic end. Continue on to the Grand Opera House and the Albert Memorial before passing Queen’s University and the Botanic Gardens. Return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon we will explore the dramatic Causeway Coastal Route with its landscape of soaring cliffs, swooping glens, rolling waves and silver sands. Along the Antrim coast we will stop at Glenariff Forest which covers over 1,000 hectares. Here we will walk some of its timber walkways to take in this beautiful area. This evening we will sail for Liverpool.

Disembark this morning. Transfers will be provided to Liverpool Lime Street Station and Manchester Airport at a fixed time.

Itineraries are subject to change.