It is the National Cathedral of the chuch of Ireland.

It was built on a site where Saint Patrick is said to have baptized the pagan Irish.

It began as a college of priests and became a cathedral around 1220.

It was the largest church in medieval Ireland and was built in a harmonious early English Gothic style.

It was consecrated in 1254.

Between 1832 and 1904 the Guinness family financed its extensive restoration which succeeded in leaving much of the medieval fabric intact.

Its most famous dean was Jonathan Swift from 1713 to 1745.

He was of course the author of Gullivers Travels and is buried in the cathedral.

Come and see Ireland with all its history and architecture on our special tours of Ireland.

We at Ireland Luxury Tours pride ourselves in our Ireland tours because of the bespoke nature of our itineraries.

If you fancy an extended tour taking in Dublin , Cork , Galway , and Belfast email us for great deals.

Or if you would like a nice Belfast tour or one taking in the Giants causeway and North coast then just email us.

Our tours of Ireland are among the best Ireland tours available.

As a small family run company we make sure that you see the real Ireland.

The itinerary below is a sample of the tours we can arrange of Ireland and Scotland.

SUN 26^TH  : Arrive in Dublin and transfer to TRINTY CAPITAL HOTEL (2 nights) http://www.trinitycapitalhotel.com/?gclid=CMPS-pfPr6MCFRQ_lAodgQjq5Q

MON 27^TH : See Dublin (Viking Splash Tour http://www.vikingsplash.ie/   , Book of Kells  http://www.bookofkells.ie/  , Temple Bar)….we can develop ideas for Dublin.

TUES  28^TH : Approx 11.00 am  travel to BALLYNAHICH CASTLE (2 nights)

WED 29^TH : Visit Augnanure castle http://www.galway.net/galwayguide/todo/sights/county_galway/aughnanure_castle/   and Galway (plus further attractions as we discuss)

THURS 30^TH : Travel to Belfast through Fermanagh visiting Devenish Island http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Devenish-Island-Monastic-Site-Co-Fermanagh-Enniskillen-P2899 on the way. Stay at EUROPA HOTEL (2 nights) http://www.hastingshotels.com/europa-belfast

FRI 1^ST : Visit North Coast (Dunluce castle, Giants causeway, etc)

SAT 2^ND : Take HSS ferry (Belfast to Stranraer approx 2 hours) and travel  to Oban (lunch in Glasgow). Stay at OBAN CALEDONIAN HOTEL (1 night). http://www.obancaledonian.com/  Nice distillery to see in Oban. http://www.discovering-distilleries.com/oban  Views of Mull of Kintyre.

SUN 3^RD : Travel from Oban to Loch Ness (lunch in Fortwilliam or Aviemore). Stay at LOCH NESS CLANSMAN HOTEL (2 nights) http://www.lochnessview.com/  

MON 4^TH : Take Jacobite boat trip on Loch Ness http://www.jacobite.co.uk/  

TUES 5^TH : Travel from Oban to Montrose visiting Edzel and Antonine wall on the way. Stay at PARK HOTEL MONTROSE  http://www.parkmontrose.com/

WED 6^TH : Visit Glamis castle http://www.glamis-castle.co.uk/   and travel to Edinburgh. Stay at the RAMADA MOUNT ROYAL HOTEL (3 nights) http://www.ramadajarvis.co.uk/hotels/edinburgh.aspx

THURS 7^TH : Edinburgh….see the castle and the cobbled streets.

FRI 8^TH : Edinburgh….shopping on Princess Street.

SAT 9^TH : Travel home

The climate is mild on account of the Gulf Stream, without extremes of heat or cold.  Average temperatures in January are around 4-7oC and in July 14-16oC, rising occasionally as high as 25oC.  May and June are often the sunniest months, and North American visitors in particular will notice that there are many more daylight hours in summer than in the US.  Rainfall is heaviest in the mountainous west and lightest in the east but the weather is at all times very changeable.  A day of prolonged and depressing drizzle can end with a clear sky, a spectacular sunset and the promise of a sunny day to follow.  Even so it is wise to have a raincoat or umberella to hand while touring.

There are 32 counties and four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster.  Six of the 9 Ulster counties are part of the United Kingdom and the other 26 form the republic of Ireland.  The principal cities and towns are Belfast (capital of Northern Ireland), Dublin (capital of the republic of Ireland), Cork, Londonderry, Limerick, Waterford and Galway.

Ireland, as everyone knows, is very green.  This is caused by the mild, damp climate which encourages growth.  Two areas of great botanical interest are Glengarriff, Co. Cork, which enjoys the full benefit of the Gulf Stream, there is a luxuriant growth of tropical flora such as arbutus, fuchsia and other delightful flowering plants.  A trip to Garinish Island, just offshore from Glengarriff, with its beautiful plant collection is well worth while.  By contrast the Burren is an area of Co. Clare which resembles a lunar-like landscape of bare, carboniferous limestone.  It is 100 square miles in size but in spring and early summer produces a host of exotic orchids, ferns and rare plants.

There are at least 380 wild birds to be seen in Ireland, for migration goes on all year.  The most common species are blackbird, thrush, goldcrest, starling and curlew.  Among the indigenous animal species are the Irish hare, the Irish stoat, fox and red deer.  Wild deer roam the Kerry and Wicklow mountains.

Irish horse breeding is world famous, being centred on counties Meath and Kildare.  The national stud at Tully Co.Kildare (near the Curragh) can be visited at certain times of the year.  There are seven distinct breeds of Irish dog, the best known being the giant Irish wolf-hound, the Irish setter and the Irish water spaniel.  There is only one reptile, the common lizard, and, thanks to St. Patrick, no snakes!

See it all on Ireland tours with the specialists…..Ireland Luxury Tours

Our tours of Ireland are simply the best !!!!!!

 In 1756 Arthur Guinness (1725-1803) established a brewery in Leixlip, County Kildare, which he moved to Dublin in 1759.

The business grew under his son Arthur (1767-1855) and grandson Benjamin (1798-1868), who developed export markets in the United States and Europe.

Sir Benjamin’s sons, Arthur Edward (1840-1915), First Baron Ardilaun, and Edward Cecil (1847-1927), First Baron Lveagh, were generous benefactors to the city of Dublin. They oversaw the development of their brewery in St. James Gate, which still produces dark, creamy stout, into one of the worlds largest breweries.

By 1980, the family interest in the business had fallen to just 5%, but the company continued to expand its holdings. However, the financial takeover of Guinness by Distillers in 1986 led to a fraud trial in 1990, afetr which the company’s former chairman was convicted for illegal manipulation of Guinness share prices.

Guinness, now part of the multinational conglomerate Diageo, continues to sponsor the publication of the Guinness Book Of World Records.

Try a pint of guinness on any  Ireland Tours !!!!