Connemara Day Trip Details

DEPARTURE TIME : 6:30AM ( Arrive 10mins before )

DEPARTURE LOCATION : Molly Malone Statue, Suffolk Street – MAP HERE

Adult – €50

Student (13-16) / Senior – €45

Children (5-12) – €25

Infants (0-4) – Free

KYLEMORE ABBEY – KILLARY HARBOUR CRUISE – LEENAN – GALWAY CITY

OVERVIEW

Join us on our Connemara tour to explore another of Ireland’s 7 Wonders. Connemara is located in Ireland’s beautiful west with unique and breathtaking scenery. On one side you have the Wild Atlantic Ocean and on the other the majestic mountain ranges of the Twelve Bens and Maumturk. Connemara has enchanted visitors for generations. The unique landscape has truly captivated Hollywood and it captivates visitors daily to this thriving region. The scenic landscape is something visitors cannot forget. It will also be a cherished memory for many years to come.

Experience the journey with our friendly, knowledgeable and entertaining tour guides. To ensure your satisfaction our guides regularly take part in ongoing training and knowledge building days. They all are unrivaled in their knowledge of Ireland’s geography and history. Their charming characters and fun loving attitudes will ensure you have plenty of craic on this memorable and unforgettable journey through the region of Connemara.

Explore Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way; discover the local flora and fauna and the intriguing history and mythology of this beautiful area. A trip to Connemara is a must for all travelers to Ireland. It is a place you need to see to believe. When you arrive at the Connemara National Park, be prepared to be mesmerized by the beauty surrounding you. You may be left speechless as you take in the majestic landscape. Perhaps consider a trip to Blarney Castle (another of our day tours) to reclaim the gift of the gab by kissing the Blarney Stone.

From November 2017 to March 2018, the Killary boat tour is closed so we can’t offer it as part of our Connemara tour. We are delighted to offer instead a unique experience on a traditional working sheep farm. At the Killary Sheep Farm, right in the heart of Connemara you can watch the farmer give a sheep dog demonstration, along with some other tricks of the trade.

 

Itinerary – Connemara Day Tour

6:30AM : DEPART DUBLIN
We will meet in front of the Molly Malone Statue located on Suffolk Street (map is available within the link to the booking page). We will begin our exciting journey by crossing the west coast of Ireland toward the vibrant town of Galway. We will take an exceptionally scenic route towards Oughterard, which is considered to be the gateway into Connemara! While passing through charming little towns along the way, you will have the luxury of encountering views that are truly unmatched anywhere else across the land! Any signs or boundaries do not mark Connemara National Park; you will realize you have arrived from the breathtaking surroundings.

10:30AM : KILLARY BOAT CRUISE
Ireland has only one fjord and we are heading straight for it – the Killary Fjord. Marvel at the thriving mussel beds and look out towards Mweelrea, the highest mountain range on the west coast of Ireland. Please note that during the high season (April – October) this tour offers a 1.5-hour boat cruise around Killary Harbor. During the low season (November – March) the boat cruise will not run and instead we will make our way over to the Killary Sheep Farm, a traditional farm that hosts approximately 200 ewes and lambs that roam freely across the fjord. Visitors have the unique opportunity to observe a local farmer performing a skilled sheepdog demonstration.

12:15PM : MAUMTURK MOUNTAINS
We continue our journey around the Connemara region. This area is designated as a “Gaeltacht” region where the local residents speak Irish as a first language. You’re bound to learn a few words or phrases along the way. Your guide can give you some pointers and regale you with his or her best Gaelic! We will then drive along the Maumturk Mountains on one side with the Twelve Bens Mountains on the other. This is an incredible route, providing you with outstanding views and it will leads you through the village of Recess. It is a village with a fascinating history and is home to historic events such as Alcock and Brown landing their plane here after their record-breaking nonstop flight from North America to Europe. This is also where Guglielmo Marconi based himself after causing a sensation in the early world of communications by transmitting wireless messages from his station at Poldhu in Cornwall to Newfoundland in 1901.

12:45 : KYLEMORE ABBEY
We will have a photo opportunity at Kylemore Abbey. Once a prestigious female boarding school, but now it hosts nuns on retreat as well as welcoming tourists visiting from around the world! Nestled at the base of the Druchruach Mountains and looking out onto the northern shore of Lough Pollacappal, the sprawling abbey is a sight to behold. It is known as one of the most romantic places in Ireland; a place filled with history.

2:00PM : INAGH VALLEY
We will travel through the stunning Inagh Valley. “Can you hear me now?” is a well known catch phrase, as the Inagh Valley is a notorious spot for losing mobile phone service. It is a valley filled with stunning mountains and lakes. As we head towards Galway, we pass the little village of Leenane where the movie “The Field” was filmed.

3:15PM : GALWAY CITY
Enjoy an hour of free time to explore this famous city before venturing back to Dublin. There are various attractions to visit, such as the Galway Cathedral, Claddagh Ring Museum, main shopping district and the busy harbour where you can view the Spanish Arch! Galway is a very welcoming and vibrant city. Much like Christopher Columbus before us, this is the last place we visit before heading back to Dublin. Of course Columbus was heading off to discover America but we are heading in the other direction to re-discover Dublin!

7:00PM : ARRIVE BACK IN DUBLIN
We will arrive back in Dublin after an exciting and unforgettable journey discovering the savage beauty that is Connemara. Your friends will be jealous and will all want to go to the region of Connemara after seeing your beautiful photos.

“CLIFFS OF MOHER AND WILD CONNEMARA”
Two tours in two days. Day 1 was the Cliffs of Moher which were just as spectacular as described in brochures. The visitor centre is centrally located between two short cliff walks however most visitors choose to follow the trails outside of the boundaries of the attraction, this will certainly take more than the allotted 90 minute visit time even for the fit and nimble but the scenery is well worth it.
Day 2 was Wild Connemara which included Kylemore Abbey and Killary Fiord. The abbey has a fascinating (and romantic) history and a discounted entrance fee is available if you provide your driver’s name at the gate. The 90 minute cruise on the Killary Fiord travels past many mussel farms but the chilly air in May kept most tourists huddled inside the cafeteria. I’ll bet that outside deck space would be hard to find in warmer weather!

“CONNEMARA, KYLEMORE ABBEY, GALWAY”
Took the Irish Day Tour to Connemara yesterday. This tour included the boat ride in Killary Fjord, driving through Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, and Galway. During the boat ride, there were varying degrees of rain and one small spot of sunshine. There are three levels on the boat. The first is a cafe under full cover, then a smaller second level that is also full cover, and the third is open air with an awning. You can move freely between the three levels, so I alternated between braving the rain for the best views and pictures, to relaxing with Irish coffee in the cafe. An all together pleasant trip and the rain added the benefit of dozens of beautiful waterfalls coming down the mountains.
Next we had a full hour and a half at Kylemore Abbey. We packed snacks with us so we chose not to eat a full lunch and explored the abbey, church, and mausoleum instead. The abbey is nicely preserved with antique furnishings and several religious vestments and items. The gothic church is beautiful with marble pillars from all over Ireland. Walking to all the places was nice with well kept pathways and scenery. You walk past Klyemore Lake which is also very pretty. Some people on our tour bus chose to take the shuttle to the gardens. The line for this was long and they barely had time to go, even with an hour and a half to spend.
On the way to Galway, our driver stopped to let us take pictures of Connemara. This only happens when time allows it and I was happy to get photos of the scenery without bus window glare.
Our last stop was Galway and we had an hour. It’s really not enough time to do much. We never made it to the harbor. But we had time to visit a couple of shops, listen to a few street musicians (there were many here), and sit in the park for a bit where we were dropped off.