Kirbys Coaches (Rayleigh) Ltd | Tel: 01268 777777

Connemara, Galway & Westport, Ireland

Fully Escorted! New for 2024!

Connemara is a place of legend, folklore, and profound beauty. It is no surprise that artists, photographers, poets, and playwrights have all found inspiration here. Bounded by the Atlantic and set within a particularly scenic corner of County Galway, the region is famous for its wild terrain and soft colours. Connemara is not just about the landscape though, it is about the charm of the towns and villages such as Clifden, Westport and Killary. It’s about the ponies, the music, and the pure flavours of local food.

Day 1

Travel to South Wales making suitable refreshment stops along the way. We board our ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare (approx. 4hrs) and then travel a short distance to our overnight hotel, Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy.

Day 2

After breakfast we depart Enniscorthy and journey alongside the Wicklow Mountains National Park via Wicklow to Bray. Bray is known as the ‘Gateway to the Garden of Ireland’ and is the longest established seaside town in Ireland. Time here to purchase morning refreshments or stroll along the promenade before re-joining the coach to the pretty town of Athlone, perched on the banks of Ireland’s longest river, the Shannon. Opportunity to purchase lunch here or visit Sean’s Bar, Ireland’s oldest pub. We then continue to our hotel via Galway, arriving with time to freshen up before our evening meal.

B, D

Day 3

Today we have an included tour of Westport House. Built in 1730, the house boasts original architecture within a superb parkland settling including a lake, terraces, waterfalls, and magnificent views of Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick. The rest of the day is free to explore the pretty town of Westport, situated on the shores of Clew Bay.

B, D

Day 4

Today is a day at leisure to enjoy Clifden. Opportunity to use the hotel leisure facilities. Clifden is a picturesque market town surrounded in breathtaking scenery, nestled between the Twelve Ben mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of Clifden Bay. There are plenty of shops to browse.

B, D

Day 5

Today we travel through the Connemara National Park and witness the dramatic scenery of the Twelve Ben mountain range before arriving at Glen Keen Farm where we will be treated to an entertaining sheep herding demonstration, traditional Irish music and refreshments. Then to Killary where we include a delightful cruise experiencing the magnificence of Killary Fjord from the comfort of a purpose-built cruise ship, the Connemara Lady.

B, D

Day 6

We depart our hotel and make our way back to Enniscorthy, firstly visiting the Connemara Celtic Crystal Visitor Centre in Moycullen for a guided tour. Their unique Irish crystal is one of a kind. It is rare opportunity to tour in one of the few remaining crystal factories in Ireland. Watch them hand cut exquisite Celtic designs, such as the Claddagh, Shamrock and Celtic Knotwork, free hand from memory on clear and colourful cased crystal. Afterwards we continue to Galway for our lunch stop. Galway is one of the brightest and most intriguing jewels of the West of Ireland and is known as the friendliest city. It marks the halfway point on the Wild Atlantic Way and it is a joy to explore its wonderful cobbled streets, colourful shop facades and its restaurants and bars. We then continue onwards and make a refreshment stop in Portlaoise, with plenty of cafes to choose from. We re-join our coach to Enniscorthy for our overnight hotel.

B, D

Day 7

This morning we catch an early return ferry from Rosslare to Fishguard with an included voucher to obtain breakfast on board. We then continue homewards making suitable comfort stops.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included

CLIFDEN STATION HOUSE HOTEL, GALWAY ***

This traditional hotel is nestled in the charming town of Clifden, surrounded by the majestic beauty of Connemara. Warm rooms include TV, free WiFi, and tea/coffee making facilities. There is a gastronomic restaurant, intimate beamed bar and leisure facilities include a gym, indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room.

PRICE INCLUDES

• Return ferry crossing Fishguard to Rosslare

• Outward & return overnight at the Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy ****

• 4 nights at the Clifden Station House Hotel, Clifden ***

• Dinner, bed and breakfast throughout*

• Tea/coffee after dinner at both hotels

• Free use of the hotel leisure facilities at the Clifden Station House Hotel

• 2 nights of Irish Music in the Clifden Station House Hotel

• Guided tour of Westport House

• Sheep herding demonstration & refreshments with Irish Music

• 90-minute Killary Cruise

• Entry & guided tour of Connemara Celtic Crystal

• Coach excursions as described

• Fully escorted throughout

*Please note on the last morning breakfast is included on the ferry, not in the hotel.

To travel to Ireland we are required to show Photo ID i.e. driving license, bus pass or a passport. If you are bringing cash with you, please remember that they only take Euros.

TRAVEL OPTIONS

Upgrade your room (subject to availability). Supplements apply, call 01268 777 777, option 1

Please find below our pick up points (not all pick up points will be available on all departure dates). View the pick-up point you require, then you’ll see a list of dates which are/aren’t available from your pick up point.

Name	Address	Times
Barking	Station Parade, IG11 8TU	Failed View
Barkingside	Fullwell Cross, Bus Stop A - IG6 2EA	Failed View
Basildon	Cherrydown East Bus Stop, SS16 5GT, Basildon	Failed View
Brentwood	Brentwood, Outside The Dairyman	Failed View
Chalkwell Park	Chalkwell Park Bus Stop, London Road	Failed View
Chelmsford Victoria Road	Victoria Road CM1 1JR	Failed View
Collier Row	White Hart Lane - Bus Stop out Tythe Court RM7 8LZ	Failed View
Corringham Town Centre	Gordon Road, Bus Stop near Grover Walk SS17 7EY	Failed View
Cranham	Front Lane/Moor Lane Junction Bus Stop RM14 1XJ Outside Restaurant Opp. Car Park	Failed View
Dagenham	Church Elm Lane, Bus Stop L - RM10 9QS	Failed View
Depot	Depot, Princess Road, Rayleigh	Failed View
Galloway Pickup	Pickup tba for Galloway	Failed View
Hadleigh Church	Hadleigh Church, Bus Layby	Failed View
Harold Wood	Bus Stop A, Gubbins Lane, RM3 0DR	Failed View
Hockley Spa	Hockley Spa, Bus Stop outside the Library	Failed View
Holiday Inn, Brentwood	Holiday Inn Brentwood	Failed View
Hornchurch.	Hornchurch Town Centre, outside Sutton Arms	Failed View
Hutton	Hutton, Bus Stop just past the Chequers Pub	Failed View
Ilford	Ilford, Bus Stop outside 6 Clements Road, IG1 1BA	Failed View
Kavanaghs Rd	Kavanaghs Road/London Road, Brentwood	Failed View
Palace Theatre	Palace Theatre Bus Stop	Failed View
Pitsea	Outside what was Gala Bingo Hall, Pitsea	Failed View
Queensway	Queensway Bus Stop (Behind the Odeon Cinema)	Failed View
Rayleigh Stn	Rayleigh Railway Station	Failed View
Romford	St Edwards Way - Bus Stop H - RM1 3DQ Out: Romford Shopping Hall	Failed View
Sadlers Farm	Bus Stop on A13, just before Sadlers Farm roundabout, nr Romsey Road	Failed View
Shenfield Stn	Shenfield Station, outside what was Barclays Bank	Failed View
Shepherd & Dog Crays Hill	Shepherd & Dog, Crays Hill	Failed View
Shotgate	Shotgate Post Office	Failed View
South Green	Grange Parade Bus Stop, South Green, Billericay	Failed View
Stanford Rookery Corner	Rookery Corner Stanford	Failed View
Sun Corner	Sun Corner London Road - Billericay	Failed View
Thames Drive	Thames Drive Bus Stop	Failed View
The Elms	Bus Stop outside Elms Public House, Leigh on Sea	Failed View
The Oak Grays	The Oak Public House, Lodge Lane, Grays	Failed View
Thorpe Bay Stn	Thorpe Bay Station, Acacia Drive (opp Station)	Failed View
Thurrock Services,	Thurrock Services Coach Park, RM16 3BG	Failed View
Upminster	Bus Stop M, St Mary's Lane- Upminster Outside St.Laurence Church RM14 2QJ	Failed View
Vic Hse Cnr, Rayleigh Rd	Vic House Corner, (Rayleigh Road)	Failed View
Websters Way	Websters Way, Rayleigh	Failed View
White Horse	White Horse,Southchurch Road, Southend	Failed View
Whittinghams Grg	Whittinghams Garage, opp Rochford Railway Station	Failed View
Wickford	Halls Corner, opposite Police Station, Wickford	Failed View
Woodford Green	Snakes Lane East, Bus Stop R - IG8 7HU	Failed View