West Of Ireland Heritage Trail

Itinerary:

Sunday
Depart Leyland at 09.00hrs for our journey to Holyhead to board the early afternoon ferry to Dublin. Disembark and re-join the coach for the short journey to our overnight hotel, arriving in time for our evening meal.

Monday
Check out of our overnight hotel following breakfast. En-route to our hotel make a stop for a guided tour at Knock Shrine with entrance to the museum. Step back in time to 1879 to discover the fascinating story of Knock and why more than 1 million people make the Pilgrimage each year. Re-join the coach at 14.30hrs to continue our journey to the hotel arriving to a warm welcome while your case is taken to your room.

Tuesday
Today we travel to Stokestown in Co Roscommon to visit Stokestown Park House and the National Famine Museum. Enjoy a guided tour of the grand Georgian Palladian mansion complete with original furnishings and fabrics, offering a glimpse into times past, followed by a free flow visit of the historic gardens. Today allows you to explore the parallel lives of Strokestown Park's aristocratic landlords and their tenants during the Great Irish Famine at the state-of-the-art National Famine Museum. The museum shares breathtaking local and national stories from this tragic period in Ireland's History bringing them dramatically to life. On the journey back to the hotel, we make a stop in the town of Foxford where we visit the Foxford Mills Visitor Centre and Store. Founded in 1892 this is the home of traditional Irish Knitwear. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the sore and perhaps grab an authentic Irish souvenir.

Wednesday
This morning, we travel to Westport with a visit to Westport House, a Georgian country house considered to be Ireland's most beautiful home, followed by time afterwards to explore the town of Westport, a colourful unique town of independent shops, bars and cafes to explore. Return to the hotel via the beautiful Wild Nephin National Park.

Thursday
This morning, we make our way to Turlough to visit the fascinating National Museum of Country Life. Wander interesting exhibits that showcase the lives of ordinary people and their way of living in rural Ireland between 1850 and 1950. In the grounds explore award-winning Turlough Park Gardens. Followed by a visit to Castlebar, the county town of Mayo, enjoy free time to explore at leisure. Return to Ballina via a picturesque drive via Cunnagher More Bog and over Pontoon Bridge.

Friday
Check out of our hotel following breakfast for the return journey back to Dublin port for our afternoon ferry back to Holyhead, with fond memories of our time in Ireland.