Four Shillings Short

>> MAY 4 – 17, 2024: IRELAND’S HEARTLANDS & WATERWAYS TOUR  <<

This tour explores many of the overlooked places in the midland counties and more remote coastal towns of Ireland along with history, archaeology & music traditions.

Day 1 & 2: We begin in the famous music town of Ennis, County Clare, known for Traditional Irish music sessions, The Clare Museum and Ennis Friary.  We explore the sites of Limerick (King John’s Castle and the Hunt Museum) and visit the Grange Stone Circle, aligned with the Summer Solstice.

Day 3 – 5: From there we head north to Athenry, County Galway, one of the best preserved Medieval towns in Ireland, taking in the Athenry Heritage Center and a guided architectural tour of the town. We end the day in Athlone, County Westmeath, where we stay for three nights and take a cruise down the River Shannon to Clonmacnoise, one of Ireland’s most famous monastic sites, with its High Crosses, Round Towers and breathtaking views of the River Shannon. We visit the Corlea Trackway, an ancient 2000 year old Bog Road that connected the Hill of Tara with Uisneach (the center of Ireland) and Megalithic Passage Tomb of Rathcroghan during the times of the High Kings of Ireland. While in the area we also visit the Strokestown Famine Museum and Belvedere House and Gardens, on Lake Ennell.

Day 6 – 7: We then move base to the scenic village of, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim, with river walks and Traditional music sessions. We tour Boyle Abbey with its beautiful Gothic and Romanesque arches and spend time at Lough Key Forest Park.

Day 8 & 9: We then leave the midlands and enjoy a presentation of Irish Music, Dance and Storytelling at the Coleman Music Center in County Sligo then travel northwest to County Mayo, taking a tour of the Foxford Woolen Mills, and end the day in the remote Atlantic seaside town of Belmullett, County Mayo. While there, we visitm the 6000 year old Neolithic site at the Céide Fields which contains the oldest known stone-walled fields in the World.