8-day Moriarty Tour of Ireland

Luxury cultural tour of Ireland with Con Moriarty

Saturday 12th – Sunday 20th October 2013
Taking place before and up to the Clan Gathering taking place in Dingle from Oct 19th – 21st.
(see www.moriartygathering.com) 

 

Highlights

• A very special opportunity to connect with Ireland and share with Moriarty’s rich heritage.

• A vacation of rich cultural diversity and with experiences sure to nourish the soul!

• Ireland’s dynamic capital city of Dublin and the magnificent landscapes of Kerry and the
South West along with some of Ireland other most iconic locations.

• Connecting with Moriartys from around the world – the Moriarty Gathering.

8 Day Itinerary – in brief

Days 1 & 2 – Saturday 12^th & Sunday 13^th

Arrive Dublin and gather at our city-centre hotel for mid-morning (- late arrivals catered for) and begin our sojourns with a short city tour and orientation. (Early arrivals will have the opportunity to meet with us the evening before and get going early this morning if so desired.)

Ireland capital city is home to more than quarter of the population of the island of Ireland. Founded over a thousand years ago by Vikings, it is a vibrant place of astonishing culture overlying layers of history. This year’s Moriarty Gathering will start here and over the course of two days (or less) explore the key aspects of this city; it’s history, literature, politics, music, art, theatre, etc through a range of carefully selected venues, exhibits and sites that will include (options to visit) the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the Natioanl Library of Ireland, The National Archives of Ireland, The Genealogical Office Dublin Castle, The National Theatre, Glasnevin Cemetry 7 Museum, the Irish Parliament (Dáil), Four Courts, General Post Office (GPO) and more. Beyond the city limits, there will be options to visit the Boyne Valley and enter the oldest building on Earth, the spectacular UNESCO-designated 5300 year old burial mound known as Newgrange. Our trip will be led by guide and scholar Con Moriarty along with other specialist guides to excited in introducing our group of Moriarty’s and friends through these cultural and historical highlights.

A special welcome dinner will be held on Saturday evening – with invitations extended to Moriartys in the city and environs to join us while on Sunday night, we will dine from the flavours of Dublin’s latin-quarter, Temple Bar.

(Included Breakfast and Dinner each day in Dublin).
Overnight Dublin City Centre.

Day 3 – Monday 14^th

8.30 am. Leave Dublin via luxury coach and transfer south through the plains of central Ireland, stopping at the ecclesiastical and political centre of the country in early medieval times, the Rock of Cashel. From here the sept / clan known as the Eoghanacht originated and from which our family is derived. Onwards to Cork City, Ireland’s second city and Blarney Castle – and Stone! Later into the ancient kingdom of Kerry – Moriarty territory and to the Killarney Valley itself. Check into the magnificent 5-star Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa overlooking the mountains, lakes and woodlands of the region, steeped in history and archaeology and much. (Included Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).

Dinner at Fredericks’ Restaurant, Aghadoe Heights Hotel.
Overnight Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney.

Day 4 – Tuesday 15^th

This morning we will visit the heart of the famed Killarney National Park, Muckross House, Gardens and Traditional farms before mid-morning embarking on one of Ireland’s most magnificent journeys - a lake and mountain sojourn suitable to travellers of all ages and abilities and world famous from the earliest Victorian era. We will take a traditional boat over the deep waters of Loch Lein – and 1500 years into history to the nearby island of Inisfallen; one of the great early-Christian ecclesiastical sites of Ireland and once education centre to Ireland’s gaelic nobility. The surrounding mountain-shore of the valley here is draped with the last vestiges of the ancient oak forests that once covered Ireland and buried deep in these woods is the splendid and remote O’Sullivan’s Cascade – a place of magnificent natural history and shrouded in a phenomenal wealth of mythic lore. Our voyage will take us through three lakes and a river that form the basin of the Killarney Valley to their head of these waters; the Black Valley.

After a lavish picnic buffet at Lord Brandon’s Cottage, the option of a traditional horse and jaunting cars provides a classic experience and transport through the most dramatic mountain pass in Ireland; the Gap of Dunloe. This glaciated glen owes it’s spectacular beauty to the last ice age when a great tongue of glacier slipped through the hills here and dividing the mountains of Killarney and the mighty McGillycuddy Reeks. It is a place where Moriarty numbers among the family-names of those who live in the wild and beautiful place.  (Active travel option – hiking or biking: for those wishing to walk or indeed, bike ride, the Gap of Dunloe provides exhilarating exercise!

A very special “Irish Night” at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, Gap of Dunloe follows.

(Included Breakfast, Picnic/Buffet Lunch and Dinner and Entertainment).
Overnight Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney.

 
Day 5 – Wednesday 16^th

Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) and Beara Peninsulas.

The peninsulas that extend into the North Atlantic from the southwest of the island of Ireland were long perceived to mark the edge of the world. The spectacular natural and cultural history of this place has provided a powerful fascination for discerning travellers for centuries today. Today we will journey along the Ring of Kerry, one of Europe most scenic touring routes and a place where 10,000 years of history and archaeology lies imprinted in the land. The great peninsula of Uibh Ráthach (Iveragh) holds remote and hidden places. The lofty McGillycuddy Reeks dominate the interior overlooking intricate coastlines and islands with hikes along ancient ways and through holy landscapes, over wild beaches and onto Atlantic headlands at “the edge of the world”.

A highlight of our trip will be the opportunity to see and learn of the sacred rock-island of Sceilig Mhichil (Skelligs), an off-shore monastic outpost and An U.N.E.S.C.O World Heritage sites. The Beara Peninsula is probably the wildest place in Ireland and was named after the greatest of our pre-Christian pagan land-goddesses. It is a place rich in sacred stone alignments, rugged mountains and a truly incredible history, most spectacularly encapsulated in the extraordianry family history of the O’Sullivans of the region.

We will be in Kenmare, one of the most colorfula nd beautiful towns in Ireland by mid-afternoon and there this evening we will delve into the rich and complex world of Irish whiskey in the company of renowned expert and head-barman at the famous Park Hotel, Kenmare, John Moriarty. Later dinner at the Limetree Restuarant before rolling back to Killarney. (Options here to cut the day short will be available) 

(Included Breakfast and Dinner and Whiskey Tasting).
Overnight Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa, Killarney.
 

Day 6 – Thursday 17^th

Today provides participants with a range of options, to break-out into small groups of friends or family to pursue personal passions – or simply to rest. Options for the day will include playing Golf with Denis Pio Moriarty at Killarney, Waterville or Ballybunion, Bike with Naoise Ó Muircheartaigh (Moriarty) in the Killarney National Park, Visit Skellig Michael monastic outpost and Cliff-hike with Con Moriarty…Shop….or Relax before reuniting for an early dinner at our new Dingle location; Benner’s Hotel and special night with John Benny Moriarty and wife Eilish Kennedy & Friends (all renowned singers and musicians) at John Benny’s Pub, Dingle.

(Included Breakfast and Dinner).
Overnight Benner’s Hotel, Dingle.

Day 7 – Friday 18^th

The Dingle Peninsula is the most northerly of the five finger-like promontories of the South West. It is a powerful place where almost ten thousand years of history is etched on a landscape described by National Geographic as “probably the most beautiful on Earth!” This morning we will tour the very western end of this incredible place, around the environs of it’s most westerly point, Slea Head and the Blasket Islands.

Gaelic culture thrives here amidst a fishing and farming community-many with Moriarty relatives scattered throughout the globe. We will meet with some of these people today and share their place with them; scholars, story-tellers, fishermen and sheep men who’s place is one of outstanding beauty in the shadow of one of Ireland’s holy mountains, Mount Brandon.

Lunch today will be at John and Mairín Moriarty’s at Lord Baker’s Restaurant with the afternoon free before the Moriarty Banquet tonight at the Dingle Skellig Hotel. This event has been organized to bring Moriartys from the region and around Ireland to a single event; connecting people of a shared heritage in an evening of entertainment. The event will kick-off with cocktails from 6 pm followed by dinner at 7.30, a key-note speaker, comedy, music, song and dancing.

(Included Breakfast and Moriarty Banquet).
Overnight Benner’s Hotel, Dingle.

Day 8 – Saturday 19^th

An opportunity to rest all day for some – or come with us this morning to a relatively hidden part of the peninsula and learn of the last of our Muircheartaigh / Moriarty chieftains; the valleys  around Annascaul, Cloghane and Castlegregory for a seafood lunch at Spillane’s and refreshing stroll on mighty Brandon Bay. The afternoon is free for all (but with the option to hike on the Great Blasket Island for anyone interested) ahead of a Farewell Dinner at the Chart House Restaurant.

(Included Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Overnight Benner’s Hotel, Dingle.

Day 9 – Sun 20^th  

Depart

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Highlights

A very special opportunity to connect with Ireland and share with Moriarty’s rich heritage. 

A vacation of rich cultural diversity and with experiences sure to nourish the soul! 

Ireland’s dynamic capital city of Dublin and the magnificent landscapes of Kerry and the South West along with some of Ireland other most iconic locations.

Connecting with Moriartys from around the world – the Moriarty Gathering.

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Please contact Binky for more details.