Knitting Tour Of Ireland

Ireland is a country known for its stunning landscapes, vibrant colourful villages, ancient Celtic relics, lush green valleys and abandoned castles. As an ocean ‘outpost’ at the western edge of Europe, it has a natural character quite different to the Continental landmass. Ireland’s past has been remarkably tumultuous provoking a tradition of courage, humour and creativity. More recently it has become synonymous with quality goods and excellent shopping - with a wealth of Irish crafts, clothing and gifts available throughout Ireland. Creative crafts are flourishing - original designs in metalwork, ceramics and glass, as well as the traditional crafts such as knitting, basketry, lace-making and woodworking have been revived. Jewellers make use of Celtic patterns and hand-knitted woolen knitwear such as Aran sweaters are never out of fashion!

DAY 1: ARRIVE SHANNON TO GALWAY! Arrive into Shannon Airport where you will by met by your driver/guide and escorted to your waiting motorcoach. Your tour of Ireland will begin by travelling northwards to Galway City via the area of Co.Clare known as the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.

Cead Mile Failte - Welcome to Ireland

Stop at the Cliffs of Moher - These great dark sandstone cliffs rise majestically from the Atlantic for almost five miles. Throngs of screaming sea birds make their homes precariously on the ledges or wheel and swoop about the waves. Some of the best views can be enjoyed from O’Brien’s Tower, built in 1853 by Cornelius O’Brien. On a clear day you can see the Aran Islands and beyond. The views will leave you breathless.

The Burren is a vast, bare, eerie limestone plateau, which covers much of Co Clare. The limestone is deeply fissured and most of the rivers have gone underground creating an extensive cave system. 4000 years of farming has largely denuded the country of trees and vegetation but the Burren is noted for the “opposite” contrasts of its flower population with Mediterranean and Alpine species flourishing side by side.

Continue north to Galway City. Galway City is the focal point of Co. Galway and the west of Ireland. It nestles at the neck of Galway Bay and is reputed to have been Columbus’ final point of departure on his voyage of discovery.

Check into The Ardilaun House Hotel for dinner and overnight. Originally a country manor on the outskirts of Galway, the Ardilaun House Hotel is ideally located in five acres of beautiful grounds. The hotel has a number of comfortable & spacious lounges where guests can relax or one can take a stroll in the spacious gardens and grounds, having dined in the AA Rosette award winning Camilaun restaurant. Guests can use the excellent leisure club facilities including: 18m swimming pool, hydro spa, jacuzzi and gym. Staying at the Ardilaun can be a different experience each occasion.

DAY 2: GALWAY & ARAN ISLANDS
Today you will start your knitting tour in earnest, when you take ferry over to the Aran Islands and enjoy a tour of the islands. The Aran Islands are an extension of the Burren, County Clare, these three small Atlantic Islands about 30 miles out from Galway, are rocky and barren, with smallholdings divided by unmortared stone walls. Pockets of soil have been manufactured by the islanders from sand and seaweed, to grow scanty crops for livestock.

Renowned for preserving traditional ways of life, they have been celebrated in the writings of JM Synge and in the 1934 film Man of Aran. Gaelic is the principal language of the islands.

Fishing, the islands main industry, is done from currachs, frail-looking boats of laths and tarred canvas.
Aran sweaters have been worn by West Coast fisherman for generations. The patterns are so varied and intricate that it is said a drowned man could be recognised by his pullover alone. The banana or undyed wool came originally from the Aran Islands and makes the garment warm and rain resistant. You can buy sweaters, cardigans, dresses, caps and mitts in Aran patterns. Ask for a card explaining the meaning of the pattern. A hand-knitted Aran Sweater (more expensive than handloomed) will last for more than 15 years if looked after.

Here on the Aran islands you will have a chance to meet with a small group of knitters to hear the story of knitting on the island the evolution of the famous Aran sweaters .
Return to Galway for overnight.

DAY 3 : GALWAY & CONNEMARA

This morning the group will have a private knitting workshop at the hotel between 9.00am and 12 Noon.
Afterwards, you will visit the Spiddal Craft village. Drawing their inspiration from the landscape and culture of the Gaeltacht of Connemara, the crafts people who work, display and sell their products at the Spiddal Craft Centre produce a range of handcrafted quality products, which is representative of this area. Visitors can observe the crafts in the making and chat with the master crafts people in the individual studios. The variety of products includes Pottery, Candle Making, Leather Working, Woodturning, Jewellery, Hand Weaving, Silk Painting and Batik.

You will see the beautiful Ashleigh falls just before lunch in Leenane where you can visit the Sheep & Wool Museum and see how many different kinds of wool and sheep there are in Ireland. The North Connemara hills are steeped in sheep and wool tradition, and at Sheep and Wool Centre this history is depicted in pictoral and live forms.

Several breeds of sheep, some of them ancient western European breeds, graze in a unique setting of pleasant walks and spectacular views. These sheep are gathered by a collie dog, and visitors are free to mingle with the flock, try to identify different breeds or take home a photograph of a neolithic sheep. The museum offers a fascinating insight into a part of Connemara’s history, through a multi-lingual video, and a display of items, including Looms, Spinning Wheels and Hand Cards.

Continue along the coast to Westport where you will enjoy dinner and overnight at the Wyatt Hotel. The Wyatt Hotel is a charming boutique hotel, a gem in the heart of Westport, Co Mayo. The hotel is named after the famous Georgian architect, James Wyatt, who is credited with the design and planning of this picturesque town, one of Ireland’s only two planned heritage towns with it’s tree lined Mall.

DAY 4: WESTPORT - DONEGAL

After a hearty Irish breakfast, the group will have another private workshop at the hotel between 9 and 12.00 Noon. Afterwards you will drive north to Donegal. En route north you will explore the National Museum of Country Life in Castlebar where you will learn about life in the West of Ireland and see how people have lived and survived for hundreds of years.

Handcrafts feature heavily in the survival of generations past. What we now consider as luxury items was once a necessity. See how things were made such as ropes, thatch roofs, baskets, clothes, utensils and much more.

You next stop will be at the excellent Foxford Woollen Mills. At the heart of this unique working Woollen Mills, are first-class visitor facilities. Sights, sounds, smells and spirits from another century await you…In 1892 Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, an Irish Sister of Charity, came to this small West of Ireland town and established a Woollen Mills. From a venture aimed at alleviating the post-famine poverty of a congested area a Woollen Mill famous throughout the world for its tweeds, rugs and blankets has grown. Step back in time.

This spell binding journey leads you from Famine times right up to the present day. Shadowy figures recall the distant past. Michael Sheridan and his family emerge from the mists of time and tell you their own story of life in Famine-stricken Ireland. Your voyage into the past is enhanced by the fleeting appearance of Mother Morrogh Bernard foundress of Foxford Woollen Mills. The spirit of this far sighted woman still lingers and travels with you on your journey through the mill. See the massive machinery some of which is one hundred years old. Watch the yarn being carded and spun. Walk through the original mill buildings. Feel the noise and clatter which surround you. Follow the famous Foxford Rug through each stage of its production process. Many of the tweeds which you see being woven here will wind their way to some of the finest fashion houses in Europe including Acquascutum, Cacharel and Hugo Boss.

You will then travel via Sligo & Ballyshannon to your accommodation in Donegal Town. A warm welcome awaits you at the Mill Park Hotel which is situated a few minutes walk from the centre of picturesque Donegal Town with its medieval castle and traditional tweed industry. The hotel has 40 deluxe bedrooms individually decorated with an abundance of flair and imagination.

With the fishing port of Killybegs on its doorstep seafood is a natural speciality of the Mill Park, where a wide range of local produce is always included on the menu. Guests can avail of the Leisure Club for that early morning swim, brief workout or just to relax on the sun bed.

DAY 5: DONEGAL

This morning you will meet with a group of local knitters and spend the morning swapping stories at your hotel. In the afternoon head along the beautiful Donegal Coast to Glencolumbkille to visit the Folk Village.

The folk village was the idea of Father James McDyer who set up a cooperative to improve economic conditions in his poor and remote parish. Three cottages each appropriate to a certain period - the 1720’s, the 1820s and the 1920s are furnished with items presented by the villages reflecting the local way of life and the slow advance from rural poverty, household utensils, tools for spinning and weaving, items from the dairy, turf spades and fishing tackle. Local history can be traced in the School House.

Return to the Mill Park Hotel in Donegal where the group will have a private workshop this evening at the hotel.

Overnight again in the Mill Park Hotel in Donegal.

DAY 6: DONEGAL - ARMAGH - MEATH

Leaving Donegal, travel through Belleek to visit the famous Parian China workshops. Perched on the banks of the River Erne, visiting Belleek is like a step back in time. The methods and techniques developed by the very first craftsmen are still followed today. A video presentation in the visual theatre takes visitors through the production process before the guided tour begins.
Then it’s on to the casting, fettling and flowering shops to see how craftsmen design, mould and shape the parian. Visitors will learn how the intricate strands of the basketware are woven together using techniques passed down from generation to generation. They will see how tiny petals, stems and twigs are created by hand and discover the secret that gives Belleek Parian China its distinctive pearly glow.

The tour then passes through to the furnace area and ends in the painting rooms where the delicate colours of nature are artfully applied.

Continue east to the area renowned for its Linen Industry, now largely defunct. A relatively new centre opened to the public in Armagh, the Irish Linen Centre tells the new story of the development of Ireland’s linen industry from its origins up to the present day. The re-creation of individual factory scenes brings the past very much to life and the sensitive and imaginative use of audio-visual techniques evokes memories of earlier times. A highlight is the weaving workshop where experienced weavers produce the Centre’s owned linen on restored 19th century hand looms. This speciality linen shop offers the opportunity to purchase a wide range of linen products from throughout Ireland.

Traveling south, you will stop in the majestic county of Meath. The mysterious allure of Ireland’s legends powerfully resonates through the landscapes of Meath. Man first settled here 8000 years ago and the county’s lush plans are replete with ancient Celtic monuments, castles and churches.

Known as the Royal County, Meath’s colors are green and gold-green for its rich grass pastures, gold for the High Kings of Ireland, who reigned there for centuries. For many, the sacred Hill of Tara embodies the very soul of Ireland - according to myth, otherworldly peoples like the Formorians and De Danaan struggled here for temporal and mystical power. From Tara the warriors of the Fianna rode forth to combat and St. Patrick embarked on his conversion of the Irish to Christianity.

The Boyne Valley was the site of the historic battle of 1690 and is also home to many of Ireland’s most notable Neolithic sites, including Bru na Boinne with its 15 passage graves and the massive Newgrange, containing an inner chamber illuminated once a year by the rising sun of the winter solstice.

Check into the Newgrange Hotel in Navan for dinner and overnight. Located in Navan in the heart of the Royal county. The Newgrange hotel is a modern hotel, designed and inspired by the ancient history of the area. In addition to its 36 elegantly decorated bedrooms, the hotel boasts a choice of bars, restaurant and cafe.

DAY 7: DUBLIN

This morning the group will have the last of the workshops at the hotel in Navan between 9am & 12 Noon. In the afternoon, travel east to Dublin where a local guide will introduce you to the city. Dublin City - capital of the Republic of Ireland sits on a splendid bay at the mouth of the River Liffey with the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains rising from its southern suburbs. It is internationally noted for its writers, Georgian architecture, witty natives and the production of Guinness!
On the Dublin City tour, you will view all the main sights of the capital including the Phoenix Park, where the President of Ireland resides. O’ Connell Street, Dublin’s main thoroughfare. Step back in time to Georgian Dublin, with its unique style of buildings such as those along Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square. You will see gems of Irish architecture from the 18th Century such as Leinster House, the seat of the Irish Parliament, the GPO and the Four Courts, Trinity College and the Bank of Ireland which is the old Parliament building. You will also get to see our two Medieval Cathedrals - St. Patrick’s and Christ Church.

Check into the O’Callaghan Mont Clare Hotel where you will overnight for the next two nights.
The group will bid farewell to your driver at this stage. A traditional Dublin Hotel, the O’Callaghan Mont Clare is centrally located on Dublin’s Merrion Square, just a few minutes walk to all major attractions including Trinity College, museums, theatres, business and shopping areas. 74 newly refurbished bedrooms with air conditioning, a charming lounge bar and Goldsmith’s restaurant.

DAY 8: DUBLIN CITY AT LESIURE

Today you are on your own to explore Dublin City at your leisure. Dublin is one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. Over a thousand years old, the turbulent history and rich traditions of the city have inspired writers, artists and musicians down the ages. Today, artists are still attracted by Dublin’s youthful enthusiasms and easy-going lifestyle and the city has become a thriving center of culture and enjoyment.

The new wave of cafes and restaurants are meeting places for all ages while traditional Dublin pubs are rightly world-famous for their informal atmosphere and lively conversation. The city oozes atmosphere, not least in the heady scents that cling to it - the rich aroma of the hops being roasted in the Guinness brewery and the salty tang of the sea. Nighttime entertainment is a rich mix of world-class theater, concerts from classical to rock, jazz clubs, traditional music sessions and old-style cabaret. Dublin gets much of its energy from its young people and enjoys one of the best clubbing scenes in Europe. Above all, Dublin is a small city, where visitors can feel at home after even the shortest stay.

This evening you will enjoy a night of Irish music and entertainment with a farewell dinner at the Abbey Tavern in North County Dublin.

Overnight again in the Mont Clare.

DAY 9 : DEPART

After a hearty breakfast this morning a private coach will transfer you to Dublin airport for your return flight to the US.

Slan Abhaile (Safe Home)