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EmErald ExpEdition 12 day SElf-driving tour

CIE Tours

Kerry , Cashel , beaCh : TourIsm Ireland ; pub : marTIn Thomas phoTography / alamy

The Ring of Kerry

route that passes through nine Irish counties . Break up the drive to Galway via the N21 with a stop in Limerick , a city known for Georgian townhomes and the medieval St . Mary ’ s Cathedral and King John ’ s Castle . Take the quick route along the N85 to visit the iconic Cliffs of Moher and divert 15 minutes to the nearby village of Doolin . You ’ ll get a hearty dose of Irish music at watering holes like Fitzpatrick ’ s Bar or McGann ’ s Pub . From here , it ’ s less than two hours of driving to Galway , where Eyre Square ’ s pubs and shops make for a great evening out .

Rural Ireland is probably the last place you ’ d expect to find Hollywood nostalgia , but don ’ t be surprised if you come face to face with John Wayne . The village of Cong , a short daytrip from Galway , was the filming location of 1952 ’ s The Quiet Man , starring Wayne and Maureen O ’ Hara .

Hang up the keys to sip a pint and sing along

As a tribute to this celluloid legacy , Cong residents erected a statue of the duo . The town is also home to Ashford Castle , which rebranded as a five-star luxury hotel . The extensive grounds of the castle are open to the public ( staff provide complimentary maps ), but make a reservation in advance to enjoy a meal within the 13th-century stonewalls .

It ’ s about four hours of driving from Galway to Derry . On the way , stop in Sligo , the second-largest town in western Ireland . The Sligo County Museum houses memorabilia from poet W . B . Yeats , and history buffs will appreciate the 13th-century Sligo Abbey . Follow the N15 and R237 to Derry , where you ’ ll cross into the U . K . If you need to gas up , wait till you arrive in Northern Ireland where it ’ s cheaper , and remember to pay in British pounds .

Derry , also known as Londonderry , is the only walled city in Ireland . Walk along the wall and pop into landmarks , including the gothic cathedral of St . Columb and the neoclassical Bishop Street Courthouse .

From Derry , it ’ s an hour ’ s drive to the fabled Giant ’ s Causeway , another UNESCO World Heritage site . Formed by an ancient volcanic eruption , the basalt rock formations feature in the »

explore Ireland your way , on your time — with a little help for details like car rental and hotel bookings . This self-drive holiday includes pre-booked fourstar hotels , where you ’ ll savour daily full Irish breakfasts . also included in the pay-one-price holiday : a spectacular sightseeing bus tour in dublin . For more savings , you can prebook skip-the-line tickets to the guinness storehouse or house of Waterford Crystal guided factory tour .

Tipperary ’ s Rock of Cashel

From $ 1,515 ( land only ) yEar-round dEparTurEs

FlIghTs From $ 782 / pErson ( InCludIng TaxEs )

Call a TravEl spECIalIsT 1-866-667-4777 amatravEl . ca / EuropE

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