Gay Ireland

Arrival & Cocktails

Welcome to Ireland! Upon your arrival to Dublin airport, private transfer to your hotel. Once arrived, spend the rest of the day to unwind relax and acclimatize.

This evening, enjoy a private Cocktail Masterclass at your Hotel prior to your dinner.

Oscar Wilde

Explore Irish capital with your private guide. Discover the historic city’s main sites, such as the bohemian Temple Bar district, and Dublin Castle. Immerse yourself in Irish history and hear music and stories that make Ireland’s capital city so unique. This walking tour will show unusual Dublin stops with the added layer of LGBT history. Your tour will also include some Oscar Wilde based visits. Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854 –1900) was one of the most famous Irish writers and a notable aesthete. Oscar was an outstanding classicist, attending Trinity College, Dublin followed by Magdalen College, Oxford.

Oscar Wilde’s House is one of Dublin’s Top Tourist Attractions. Unfortunately, it is not open to visitors, so just enjoy standing outside & visualizing the goings on in those Victorian times! Oscar was born at Number One Merrion Square Dublin 2 in 1855. Sir William Robert Wills Wilde, Oscars father, was an Aural & Ophthalmic Surgeon as well as a famous womaniser & eccentric. The Wilde family lived there from 1855 until 1878. The house is now home to the American College, who took over the building in 1994.

You will have then the afternoon to enjoy the city by yourself. What about an exclusive shopping experience at Brown Thomas? The Brown Thomas Personal Shopping Experience is your walk-in wardrobe. Enjoy a luxurious, relaxing space that is exclusively yours, while the team of personal shoppers bring the store to you. Whatever your needs or your personal style, your dedicated personal shoppers have the fashion knowledge, style expertise and in particular, the time, to find you the perfect solution. Whether you require a look for a special occasion, an entire wardrobe make-over or simply a gift for a loved one, Brown Thomas will tailor everything to your personal and individual needs.

Kilkenny

This morning meet your driver-guide who will be with you for the rest of the trip. Leave the Irish capital behind and make your way to Kerry by way of the Medieval city of Kilkenny. In Kilkenny enjoy a tour through the craftworkers studios of the valleys of the Nore and Barrow to Woodstock House, which is the home of an enduring emblem of Sapphic friendship. In 1778 Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby eloped to Wales where they lived together for over fifty years. Best known as the Ladies of Llangollen, after the Welsh village where they lived in “delicious retirement”.

Kenmare is a smaller less frenetic town than its neighbour Killarney, and a tiny bit classier. It also has a faint whiff of hippydom – in the 60s it was Ireland’s San Francisco!! They are all now organic farmers, film directors or writers.  If Killarney is the preferred destination, the town has magnificent views of the lakes and mountains.

The Ring of Kerry

During this day, you will discover the real beauty of the Ring of Kerry. Considered one of the most beautiful destinations to explore in Ireland. The Ring of Kerry offers dramatic landscapes of wild rugged coastline, golden beaches, glistening lakes, picturesque villages and spectacular mountain ranges. You can’t miss the lunch at Cill Rialaig artists’ retreat. It is run by former magazine publisher and socialite Noelle Campbell-Sharpe. This is a place where artists are invited to spend a residency period, contributing some piece of their work to the centre afterwards, and also combines a shop, café and gallery.

The Dingle Peninsula

Today, explore the Dingle Peninsula. This dramatic and beautiful region is littered with archaeological wonders. The Dingle Peninsula stretches 48 kilometres into the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland’s south-west coast. Centred on charming Dingle town, the peninsula has long been a beacon for those of an alternative bent, attracting artists, craftspeople, musicians and idiosyncratic characters who can be found in workshops, museums, festivals and unforgettable trad sessions throughout Dingle’s tiny settlements. The peninsula has something to offer to everyone including sandy beaches safe for swimming, walking routes for all abilities, a thriving Irish language community, a rich musical tradition, fine dining, sea angling, arts and film festivals, talented crafts-persons and some of the best surfing in Ireland. Continue on the Wild Atlantic Way to Dromoland Castle by way of Adare Village with its thatched cottages, Adare is considered as Ireland’s prettiest village.

Falconry

In the morning, immerse yourself into the noble and ancient art of Falconry. This 5-star Falconry experience includes different species of falcons, hawks and owls. Afterwards, visit Bunratty Castle & Folk Park.

The Cliffs of Moher

Full day with driver guide to visit the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.

Words simply cannot do justice to the Burren, an eerie area of ancient seabed that suffered glacial activity during its long history. Described by a Cromwellian Army Officer named Ludlow as ‘a country where there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury them’. However, don’t let its bare Lunar-like landscape fool you. In the narrow crevices that criss-cross this limestone plateau flourish orchids, gentians and other rare flora. In other words, it’s a stunning wild garden.

Aside from its spectacular landscape, it is also an area rich in historical and archaeological sites. There are many wedge tombs and megalithic tombs in the Burren. One of the most famous is the portal dolmen at Poulnabrone, which dates back to around 2,500 BC.

Check out the Burren Perfumery, which is located just outside Carron in the heart of the Burren. All the perfumes, balms and soaps are made onsite using ingredients based on the flora and landscape of the Burren.

A real treat in the foothills of the Burren is Hazel Mountain Chocolates, a quirky cafe with gluten free cakes and pastries in a 1950s cottage fronting a state-of-the-art bean-to-bar stone-ground chocolate factory. It has been voted one of Ireland’s top 10 food attractions and it’s easy to see why.

South of the Burren is another of Ireland’s natural wonders. The Cliffs of Moher is a sheer precipice 8km, rising to a height of 214m and is one of the most impressive stretches of coast in the West of Ireland. O’Briens Tower stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors for hundreds of years. Walking along the cliffs will provide you with some great photos and on a clear day, you can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay.

Galway

After a good night’s rest and a fine Irish breakfast, take the day to explore Galway city. Although Galway is the fourth largest city in Ireland, it has retained much of its small-town character and is home to many artists, writers and artisans. In the evening, enjoy a private pub tour of Galway. Learn of all the great pubs and traditional music spots

The Irish National Stud

Time to make your way back to Dublin by way of Kildare. Enjoy Red Carpet visit to the Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens. Continue to the capitol. No visit to Dublin would be complete without a tour to the Guinness Storehouse. Partake in the exclusive Connoisseur experience for you to become a complete Guinness Expert!