Day 1: Museum of Style Icons, Irish National Stud & Japanese Gardens
Begin your knitting tour of Ireland with a hearty Welcome Breakfast before you begin your journey. Travel to Newbridge, the ancience County Kildare town and home to the renowned silverware. Stop at Newbridge Silverware’s Museum of Style Icons, housing fashion collections and artefacts which once belonged to some of the greatest style icons of modern times such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Princess Grace, Princess Diana, the Beatles and many more and have time to shop in their Lifestyle Store.
Continue you onto the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens in County Kildare. The Stud which were laid out by Japanese master horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son Minoru. Representing the journey of life, the gardens are said to provide comfort to the soul. Visit the Japanese Gardens Restaurant for refreshments (not included) before you carry on to the heart of Ireland and your home for the next three nights in Kilkenny. Enjoy dinner (included) in your hotel and relax for the evening. Overnight Kilkenny, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.
Day 2: Zwartbles Farm, Cushendale Mills, Happy Hour Workshop
Explore rural pastures with a visit Zwartbles Ireland Sheep Farm where you will meet Suzanna Crampton and her family who breed Zwartbles Sheep. We take a tour of the farm, and meet the sheep and Suzanna will inform us about their unique yarn which can be purchased directly from the farm. Continue on to Cushendale Mill where you might see some wool from the sheep at Suzanna’s farm! See where products made on site are crafted using natural-fibre textiles made with mohair, Irish wool and merino lambs wool. A tour of the mill is also included in your visit.
Enjoy lunch nearby (included) before returning to Lyrath Estate and an afternoon Happy Hour Workshop with your host! The evening is yours to dine in your hotel (not included) or explore the nightlife of nearby Kilkenny. Overnight Kilkenny, Bed & Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 3: National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny Castle and Kilkenny Walking Tour
Start the day with a visit to the National Design and Craft Gallery situated in the former stable yard of the castle, a fantastic opportunity to view some Irish handcrafted gifts including knitwear, jewellery, Celtic gifts and contemporary design pieces. Explore 12th century Kilkenny Castle, remodelled over time to a Victorian aesthetic and full of cultural, historical and decorative delights! Lunch (not included) can be enjoyed in any of Kilkenny’s historic pubs, trendy cafes or fine dining establishments you choose.
Finish the afternoon with a walking tour of the Medieval Mile where the history and characters of Kilkenny are brought to life by your guide. Finish your evening with dinner back in your hotel, where your special guest will be knitwear designer and instructor, Carol Feller. Dinner is served in your hotel this evening (included). Overight Kilkenny, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
Day 4: National Design and Craft Gallery, Kilkenny Castle and Kilkenny Walking Tour
Today begins with a knitting workshop hosted with well-known Irish knitter and author of the book ‘Contemporary Irish Knits’, Carol Feller. Carol trained initially as a textile artist and then as a structural engineer. While both of these backgrounds are very different the influences can be seen in her design work which is well-shaped, flattering to wear and enjoyable to knit.
Begin your journey west with a visit to Gothic styled Kinnitty Castle Hotel where you lunch is a luxurious Sparkling Afternoon Tea! Continue onto the ‘City of Tribes’, where you will be staying in the very heart of Galway in Eyre Square. Tonight you can dine in your hotel or in one of Galway’s many restaurants, bistros or pubs (not included). Overight Galway, Bed & Breakfast and Afternoon Tea included
Day 5: Cong and ‘The Quiet Man’, Joyce Country Wool and Kylemore Abbey
Set off for a tour of Connemara this morning. Situated on the Westerly part of Ireland, Connemara is one of the most beautiful unspoilt landscapes around. Journey to the pretty village of Cong in County Mayo, where the 1952 Oscar-winning movie, The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, was filmed. Continue to Joyce Country Wool, where Carina Coyne and her husband run a sheep farm. She is lifelong knitter and her farm is where she spins and dyes her own wool using natural dyes including Lichens, berries, plants, vegetables, and anything that grows in abundance on her doorstep!
Finally, you will be welcomed to Kylemore Abbey, home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for over 100 years and a haven of history, serenity and beauty. You can enjoy lunch here (not included) will soaking in your peaceful surroundings. Return to your Galway city hotel in time for dinner in your hotel (included). Overight, Galway, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included
Day 6: Spiddal Craft and Design Centre, Ciaran Hogan & the Aran Islands
After a hearty breakfast, make the most of a free morning for last minute shopping and exploring and perhaps a spot of lunch (not included). This afternoon leave Galway city and arrive at Spiddal Craft & Design Centre where you will be met by Ciarán Hogan. Ciarán will demonstrate traditional Irish willow basket weaving techniques and also introduce you to some modern basket designs.
Continue to Rossaveal tocatch your ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay. Meet with on arrival where you will be introduced to Aran life and hear all about the history of Dun Aonghasa. Dinner will be served (included) at your hotel followed by a traditional Irish dancing lesson! Overnight Aran Islands, Inis Mór, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast.
Your morning on Inis Mór includes a knitting workshop with Una Mcdonagh, where you will be instructed on traditional methods and stitches associated with the Aran Island way. Tour the island with a local guide and learn about over 50 different monuments of pre-Christian and Christian history. Visit the impressive fort of Dún Aonghasa with it’s three terraced walls surrounding an inner enclosure containing a platform on the edge of a 300 ft high cliff.
The views from the top are quite breathtaking looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. You will also have the opportunity to visit some local knitwear shops on the island and enjoy a lunch (included) at Teach Nan Pháidí! Dinner will be served in your hotel this evening (included). Overnight on Inis Mór, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast.
After breakfast we take the ferry back to the mainland and travel through the hidden Heartlands of Ireland, stopping for a visit to the world's oldest licensed distillery dating back to 1757 in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath. Discover real artisan Irish whiskey being made today and learn how Kilbeggan preserves its heritage before trying a drop yourself! Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant (included) before returning to Dublin and a visit to This Is Knit, an independent family run yarn shop in the prestigious Powerscourt Centre - a speciality shopping centre set in an elegant Georgian house centrally located just off Grafton Street.
Check into your city centre hotel in time to relax and enjoy your Dublin city experience and dine in any of the many fine dine establishments, pubs and cafes on your doorstep (not included). Overnight, Dublin, Lunch, Bed & Breakfast included.
Day 9: Knitting Workshop with Lisa Sisk, Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College and Book of Kells
Today enjoy a morning knitting workshop in your hotel with Lisa Sisk from This Is Knit on the Moebius Knitting style followed by a workshop on the Glenties Cowl pattern which was designed by Lisa. You will work with Soft Donegal yarn from the mills of Studio Donegal in Kilcar for this class. This afternoon, travel to Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse for a tour of the St. James’ Gate Brewery which been the production site home to the Guinness Brewery since 1759 when Arthur Guinness first signed a 9000 year lease for the brewery.
You can enjoy lunch (not included) in one of the onsite eateries or simply enjoy a pint of Guinness in the Gravity Bar, admiring a 360 degree view of Dublin, Continue to historic Trinity College Library and a visit to the Book of Kells before returning to your hotel for a farewell meal (included). Overnight Dublin, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.
