Dublin offers iconic attractions like Trinity College, home to the illuminated Book of Kells, and Dublin Castle, a symbol of centuries of British rule.

We started our explorations by visiting the ancient neolithic sites of the Hill of Tara, Knowth and Newgrange, that are marvellously built using large seemingly unmovable stones.

In our free time, we went to Trinity College to see the Long Room and to enjoy the Book of Kells Experience.

Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, is a vibrant city where history, culture, and innovation meet. We enjoyed Queen’s University, the nearby Botanic Gardens, and the grand Stormont Parliament Buildings.

We used black taxis to visit the Peace Murals and Peace Wall, powerful reminders of the city’s past during the Troubles. We also met with three members of the "Felons Club", ex-prisoners whom related their experiences and thoughts about the future.

Derry is most famous for its intact 17th-century city walls, which surround the old town and offer panoramic views. From here we visited the Giant's Causeway with its famous basalt columns.

Derry played a pivotal role in the Troubles, notably as the site of Bloody Sunday in 1972, when British soldiers shot unarmed civil rights protesters. This history is powerfully documented in the Museum of Free Derry.

After visiting the museum, we walked the walls from Bishop's Gate to Town Hall where a Jazz Festival was in full swing.

Donegal is home to Donegal Castle, a 15th-century fortress built by the O'Donnell clan, and a charming center with traditional pubs and craft shops.

From here we visited Killybegs Harbour, Slieve League cliffs, and a distillery in Ardara.

Westport is a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, offering easy access to the rugged beauty of Connemara.

We visited a sheep farm situated along Killary Fjord where we witnessed a skilled border collie control a small herd. Later, we toured the elegant Kylemore Castle estate and walled garden that's a visually stunning site, offering insight into Ireland's aristocratic past and horticultural excellence.

Westport is also home to Westport House, a stately home with deep ties to Ireland’s pirate queen, Grace O’Malley.

Ennis serves as a base for exploring the Cliffs of Moher, and Aran Islands.

On our only rainy day we took a ferry to Inisheer, the nearest of the Aran Islands. Once there, an old rusty minibus drove us on short tour of the island where we visited a shipwreck and an ancient cemetery.

On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at St. Brigid's Well of Kildare, a beloved Celtic-Christian saint associated with healing, fertility, and protection. The site has a small chapel-like grotto filled with votive offerings—rosaries, photos, notes, and personal mementos left by pilgrims seeking blessings or giving thanks.

On the following day we enjoyed a sunny morning at the Cliffs of Moher that consist of layered shale and sandstone, home to one of Ireland’s largest colonies of seabirds, including puffins, razorbills. At their highest point near O’Brien’s Tower, a 19th-century observation point offers panoramic views.

On our way to Dingle, we visited the Kerry Writers' Museum. Guided by the Irish storytelling tradition, the museum featured a seanchaí—a traditional narrator—who shared folklore and songs. The museum also includes rooms that recreate the writing environments of some of Kerry’s most celebrated authors.

Afterwards, we stopped at the South Pole Inn that was once the home and business of famed Antarctic explorer Tom Crean, who after three polar expeditions with Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton, returned in 1927 and opened the pub with his family.

Dingle is a charming coastal town known for its colorful houses, lively traditional music, and strong Gaelic heritage. From here we circled the Dingle Peninsula, visiting Hold a Baby Lamb sheep farm, Blasket Center Cultural Museum, and Gallarus Oratory.

Nestled at the edge of Killarney National Park, Killarney is surrounded by lush forests, shimmering lakes, and rugged mountains. 

We traversed the famous Ring of Kerry that offers many spectacular viewpoints along the way.

On our final day, we visited Killarney National Park by carriage, boat, and on foot. The early morning horse and carriage ride through the park was decorated by mist coming from Lough Leane. By the time we arrived at Ross Castle the mist had mostly dissipated, just in time for our boat trip to Innisfallen, a small island on Lough Leane. There we walked around the an old abbey and through the forest among curious deer.