9 Night Yarn Lovers Tour of Ireland

Included in This Tour

• Transfers on arrival and departure by private coach (for arrivals prior to 10.30am on start day of tour)
• Sightseeing as per itinerary in a luxury coach with an experienced driver and accredited guide
• Accommodation in rooms with private facilities for 9 nights
• Irish breakfast daily
• 5 dinners
• 4 lunches
• 1 farewell meal in Dublin
• Entrance to the following attractions:  Epic Ireland, Rock of Cashel, Blarney Castle & Kilkenny Castle, Cliffs of Moher and Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre

Workshops/Knitting Activities Included in This Tour

• Knitting workshop with Helena Kelly Maye in Kilkenny
• Yarn development & knitting workshop with Liz Spillane in Kerry
• Aran knitting workshop on the Aran Islands with Una McDonagh
• Zwartables Ireland sheep farm visit
• Cushendale Woollen Mill tour
• Kerry Woollen Mills factory tour
• Dingle Peninsula guided tour
• Visit to This is Knit yarn store

 (Wool and patterns are included in all workshops, you need to bring your own needles, sizes will be advised)

Overnights for this Tour

• Camden Court Hotel (or similar), Dublin, 1 Night
• River Court Hotel, Kilkenny (or similar), Kilkenny, 2 Nights 
• Lake Hotel (or similar), Killarney, 3 Nights
• Lahinch Golf & Leisure Hotel (or similar), Lahinch, 2 nights
• Camden Court Hotel (or similar), Dublin, 1 Night

Important Note: Attractions, Workshops and Demonstrations May Change According to Availability and Scheduling

Day 1: Dublin Sightseeing

Begin your knitting tour of Ireland with a transfer to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10.30am on start day of tour). After meeting the rest of the group, it's on to Epic, The Irish Emigration Museum. One of Ireland’s newest museums, you can make your way through twenty themed galleries and find out why people left Ireland, how they influenced the world around them, and experience the connection between their descendants and Ireland today. If time permits we will also pay a visit to This is Knit, an independent, family-owned yarn shop where the shelves are filled with high quality, natural-fibre yarns, from top Irish and international brands. Overnight Camden Court Hotel, Dublin, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 2: Travel to Kilkenny and Knitting Workshop Helena Kelly Maye

Check out of your hotel and board your touring coach. Travel to your hotel in Kilkenny where on arrival, take part in a knitting workshop with Helena Kelly Maye who will fistly introduce the workshop activities. Her knitting methods consist of the honeycomb, blackberry, diamond and cable stitching. She will also explore some of the traditional Aran stitches. Your workshop will continue after lunch (included) where Helena will show you how to design and size your own Aran pattern. Long renowned as Ireland’s medieval capital, Kilkenny's origins date back more than 1,500 years. Kilkenny, from the Gaelic "Cill Ceannaigh", derives its name from a 6th century monk called Saint Canice. Characterised by beautifully restored buildings and covered slipways, Kilkenny City is small and compact enough to explore on foot, yet full of fascinating, historical buildings, and contemporary shops, design galleries, cafés and restaurants. Overnight River Court Hotel, Kilkenny, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 3: Craft in Kilkenny – Cushendale Mill & Zwartables Farm

We start the day with a visit to Kilkenny Castle, a 12th century castle reconstructed in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands. There will also be time to visit Kilkenny Design Centre which offers a fantastic selection of Irish handcrafted gifts including jewellery, knitwear, Celtic gifts, china & crystal, pottery & glass, home & fashion accessories and contemporary design pieces. Next, we travel outside Kilkenny city and stop at Zwartables Ireland sheep farm to meet Suzanna and her family who breed and rear Zwartables sheep. Tour the farm, meet the sheep and chat with the family who will tell you all about their unique yarn which you can buy direct from the farm if you wish. After lunch (included), your final stop for today is Cushendale Mill where products made on site are crafted using natural-fibre textiles made with mohair, Irish wool and merino lambswool. Enjoy a tour of the mill and see the spinning mule in action. You might even spot some of the wool from the sheep at Crampton farm! Return to Kilkenny where the remainder of the evening is free. Dinner is not included tonight so that you can sample one of Kilkenny’s many fine restaurants if you wish. Overnight River Court Hotel, Kilkenny, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 4: Rock of Cashel & Blarney Castle and Woollen Mills Store

Today we make our way to Killarney with a few stops along the way, the first one being the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, one of Ireland's most significant and visited heritage sites. The Rock is a collection of ecclesiastical structures set on an outcrop of limestone overlooking the lush green fields of the Golden Vale. Afterwards, board your coach and travel to Cork and the village of Blarney. Cormac MacCarthy, a great Irish chieftain constructed Blarney Castle nearly 600 years ago and since then this remarkable fortress and its ‘stone of eloquence’ has been attracting thousands of curious visitors every year. Legend has it that if you kiss the stone you will never be lost for words and have, as the Irish say, ‘the gift of the gab’. Built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was originally known as Mahoney’s Mills and provided valuable employment to the people of Blarney and nearby areas. Today Blarney Woollen Mills is Ireland’s largest Irish gift & craft store. Continue to Killarney and check into your hotel where dinner will be waiting for you. Overnight Lake Hotel, Killarney, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 5: Knitting Workshop with Liz Spillane & Kerry Sightseeing

After breakfast travel to Kenmare to meet knitwear designer and textile artist, Liz Spillane. Liz has over 30 years’ experience teaching knitting classes and even worked as a tutor in the fashion department in the Limerick School of Art & Design. Your workshop with Liz will include creating fancy/ textured yarns, using a single smooth yarn as a base and a variety of techniques to build the texture and colour. The yarn is then knitted with standard knitting needles.  After your class we will travel to Kenmare for lunch (included) and afterwards you will have some time to explore Kenmare at your leisure. We return to Killarney via the mountain road to Moll’s Gap and Ladies View where you will be treated to unrivalled views of the Killarney Valley. With its three famous lakes and majestic mountain ranges, Killarney has been the inspiration of poets and painters over many centuries. The Killarney National Park is internationally renowned for both its scenic beauty and scientific interest. Overnight Lake Hotel, Killarney, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 6: Kerry Woollen Mills & Dingle

After breakfast travel to Dingle, visiting Kerry Woollen Mills along the way. This 17th century establishment has been crafting fine fabrics and yarn from wool for over 300 years and on your tour you will see truly skilled craftspeople at work. Continue to Dingle where after a few hours to explore the town and have lunch at your leisure, we will explore the peninsula. The peninsula itself is ringed by sandy beaches, craggy cliffs, rolling hills and mountains, including the 952m Mount Brandon which towers overhead. Return to Killarney where the remainder of the evening is free for your personal sightseeing or shopping. Overnight Lake Hotel, Killarney, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 7: Travel to Lahinch via Adare & Cliffs of Moher

After breakfast board your touring coach and travel to Adare in County Limerick. Situated in the south west of Ireland, Adare is one of Ireland's prettiest and most picturesque villages and is a haven for those wishing to escape and unwind, taking in its medieval surroundings. After some free time to explore the village and attractions continue your journey north and visit the dramatic Cliffs of Moher! Overnight Burren Region, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 8: Day trip to the Aran Islands

Depart your hotel in time to get the early morning ferry to Inis Oirr (Inisheer), one of the famous Aran Islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland. On arrival you will be collected by your Aran Island knitting instructor Una McDonough and taken to Café Una where you will be welcomed with tea or coffee and scones. Enjoy a knitting workshop where you will learn traditional methods and stitches the Aran Island way. In your class you will learn the Sharry Chain Link Stitch. The Sharry family, like many of the island families, has a long-standing connection with the sea and the women of the family celebrate that connection in their choice of stitches when they knit traditional Aran sweaters. Next enjoy a guided tour of the wind-swept island which is full of character and tradition. This evening take the return ferry back to the mainland and return to your hotel. Overnight Burren Region, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 9: Return to Dublin via Irish Fibre Crafters & Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre

Check out of your hotel and make your way back to Dublin via the village of Ardrahan in County Galway. Here, pay a visit to Irish Fibre Crafters where you will find a selection of creations made by local crafters. Next. it's on to Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre where you will discover how Daniel E. Williams went from stable boy to distillery manager to creating the whiskey which still bears his initials today. After sampling some of this fine whiskey, continue to Dublin where the afternoon is free for your personal sightseeing or shopping. This evening re-group back at your hotel before enjoying a final farewell dinner in a local Dublin restaurant. Overnight Camden Court Hotel, Dublin, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 10: Tour Ends.

After your final Irish breakfast depart the hotel for Dublin Airport arriving in time to complete check-in formalities and that last-minute duty free shopping.