Our local representatives will meet you at the Dublin airport. Stop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The church was transitioned from a Catholic church to the Church of Ireland over the centuries. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and a critic of British rule, was a pastor here. Enjoy a pub lunch in downtown Dublin. Travel on to Phoenix Park. Once a private park only for titled gentry, it now serves the public as both a recreational venue and home to the Dublin Zoo. After a short driving tour of Dublin, we will check into our hotel for some downtime before dinner on our own. Take the opportunity to wander the streets of Dublin in the late evening light. Perhaps make your way along the River Liffey to the Temple Bar area, where outdoor music can be enjoyed. (B, L)

Head north and discover the rich history of Celtic life at the Bru na Boinne Prehistoric Monuments. You will see one of the Passage Tomb sites here, such as Newgrange and Knowth. They are richly decorated with megalithic art. From the time of the first Celtic influence until the 1169 invasion, the Hill of Tara was the island’s political and spiritual capital. It contains several ancient monuments and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland. Walk the grounds of Monasterboice Monastery, where some of the finest 9th-century High Crosses can be seen. Founded in 521 AD by St. Buite, the ruins remain a testament to their Christian heritage. Finish the day in Armagh and check into your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay. (B, D)

Delight in some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery as you travel around the Ring of Kerry, where the sea crashes into the soaring coastline. Weather permitting, take in a sheep dog demonstration. Stop around lunchtime in Waterville. Charlie Chaplin brought his family here in the summers. You can choose from several seafood restaurants along the shore for a delicious lunch. After lunch, visit the 19th-century Muckross House. Enjoy the magnificent Victorian mansion, considered one of Ireland’s leading stately homes. Imagine yourself in that time when you wander through the elegantly furnished rooms. Downstairs, however, reveals the working conditions of the servants employed in the house. Finish the day in Kinsale and enjoy a walking tour. See the Norman French inscriptions at St. Multose Church, which was built in 1190 and remains in use to this day. The courthouse in town was used for the inquiry over the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. Check into your Kinsale hotel for your overnight stay. (B)

Travel to Cork to visit Blarney Castle and see the fabled Blarney Stone. Legend says that those who kiss the stone acquire the gift of eloquence. You will see the Rock of Cashel, the traditional seat of Irish kings. Here, St. Patrick is thought to have converted the King of Munster. The present ruins are from structures built in the 12th and 13th centuries, during the Norman era. Check into your Dublin hotel for your overnight stay. (B)

Then, board the bus for a ride through scenic Wicklow County to Glendalough, one of the most beautiful spots in all of Ireland. Here, St. Kevin founded a monastery in 498. See the Celtic High Crosses and a stone-roofed church. Explore the wonderful hiking trails around the two lakes. Finish the day with time on your own this afternoon in Dublin. (B)