Discover the Emerald Isle
Join Us as We Present an Overview of our Rick Steves' Tour of Ireland
Best of Ireland in 14 Days
Rick Steves' Commitment: Maximum thrills per mile, minute and dollar
We had a "grand" time! The tour immersed us in Ireland's rich history and delighted us with its beautiful countryside, quaint towns and rugged coast. There was much to see and do, both in the cities of Dublin and Belfast and in the smaller "Tidy Towns" like Kinsale, Dingle and Westport. And like all Rick Steves' tours, we had free time to explore, sip a wee glass of Guinness and get a feel for local traditions and people.
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Typical of Rick Steves' tours, at most stops we stayed two nights in locally owned hotels. Midway through the tour, we had a mini three-night vacation – settling into small town life in Dingle, a center for Irish music and Gaelic tradition.
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The 14-day tour circles Ireland clockwise, starting in Dublin, capitol of the Republic of Ireland, and ending in Belfast, Northern Ireland's capitol.
Note: All photos will expand when clicked.
Highlights of the Tour
Traditional Music Events
Irish musicians performed at our hotel just for our group!
Beautiful Vistas
The wild Atlantic coastline at the Cliffs of Moher was stunning!
Unique Experiences
Each of us got to fly a Harris Hawk at the Ireland School of Falconry.
Local Tours with Great Guides
Barry had an exuberant way of connecting the history of Kinsale to the present.
Historic Castles and Churches
We tried to imagine life in the Middle Ages as we explored the ruins of Dunluce Castle.
Fun Group Activities
Our guide lined us up for some bog jumping with our new friends. Lots of Laughs!
Meet Us
We are Gary and Marsha, from San Diego, California. In 2019 we traveled to Europe for the first time, joining a Rick Steves' Tour of Scandinavia. We are in our mid-seventies, and after three years of staying close to home, we were ready to travel again!
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Gary: Retired contractor, history buff, instrument builder, guitar player and fan of traditional music
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Marsha: Retired teacher, amateur photographer, nature lover and digital scrapbook author
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As moderately active seniors, we did wonder if we could manage an active Rick Steves' tour. You bet! We did it! We had a fabulous experience and came home with wonderful memories!
