Day 1: Welcome to Dublin! Dublin with St Patrick’s Cathedral and Trunk Show with Aoibhe Ni
Transfer from Dublin Airport to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 11am on start day of tour). Meet with your guide and group for an introduction to your tour before you set out. First stop is at St Patrick’s Cathedral for a guided tour of one of Dublin’s oldest operational buildings – over 800 years old, before returning to your hotel for the evening.
Enjoy a trunk show and demonstration with Aoibhe Ni, a well loved Irish crochet designer. Aoibhe is best known for her love of Tunisian crochet and her designs push the boundaries to create unique and stylish clothing, homewares and accessories. This evening, enjoy a Welcome ‘Cast-On’ Dinner with your new companions.
Day 2: Fair Isle Knitting with Pauline Gallagher, and heading west to Galway
This morning take part in a Fair Isle knitting workshop with Pauline Gallagher of The Knitting Class. Prior to the explosion in interest in Aran knitting, Fair Isle knitting was already well established in Ireland, especially in Donegal which has had a strong connection with Scotland for many centuries. In this workshop you will explore the origins of Fair Isle knitting and get to work on a two colour project which includes traditional features such as stranded knitting in the round, yarn management, how to read a chart and an introduction to steeks.
Afterwards, head onwards to Galway, stopping off for lunch en route before enjoying an evening free to explore and/or relax.
Day 3: The Magic of Connemara with The Wool and Sheep Centre, Kylemore Abbey and Glen Keen Sheep Farm
After a hearty breakfast, we travel out to Connemara, one of the most beautiful and un-spoilt landscapes in the west of Ireland. First stop is the Connemara Sheep and Wool Centre. Gain insight into the importance of sheep and wool in Connemara's past. Learn the history of the local woollen industry and see the process of how sheep’s fleece is made into cloth through displays and demonstrations.
Next stop will be a visit to see Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian Walled Garden, surrounded by mountains and lakes, the Abbey is also a renowned place of spirituality and education. Our last visit of the day will be to Glen Keen Farm for a sheep herding demonstration. Enjoy tea, coffee and scones before returning to Galway for a free evening. Take this time to visit the vibrant streets of Galway with its eclectic mix of shops, pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues.
This morning take part in an Aran knit workshop with one of Ireland’s best known Aran knitters and designers - Mrs Anne Ó’Máille of Ó’Máilles of Galway. This shop was established in the 1938, but became well known because in 1951, many costumes featuring in the movie ‘The Quiet Man’ were tailored by the Ó’Máille family. The shop is now closed, but Anne will still bring her pieces and talk about the heritage of her wonderful store!
nne will be focusing on the unique and fascinating Aran stitches. Afterwards, spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of this vibrant city, shop or check out the pubs and restaurants, all which make Galway such a popular destination.
This morning we travel west to catch a ferry to Inis Óírr, the smallest of the Aran Islands located in Galway Bay. Úna MacDonagh, your Aran Island knitting instructor will meet you at Café Úna where you will receive a warm, Irish welcome with tea/coffee and homemade scones. Una will instruct on traditional methods and stitches of the Aran Island such as the Sharry Chain Link Stitch. The Sharry family were an Island family whose connections to the sea are evident in their choice of stitches used in knitting traditional Aran sweaters.
During your time with Una, you will learn about historical Aran clothing, from the traditional Aran Sweater which we all know and love to the lesser known Crios woven belt & the heavy woollen shawls which were once commonplace. In the afternoon, we take a guided tour of the island before checking into your B&B accommodation. You will be collected this evening and taken to a local restaurant for dinner.
Overnight Inis Óírr, local quality bed and breakfast, Aran Islands - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 6: Another day and night on Inis Oírr (Inisheer) and Traditional Music
We begin our day with a fabulous baking demonstration of brown bread and scones as well as some homemade butter making! Enjoy tea or coffee with freshly baked scones – the fruits of the demonstration!
This will be followed by a spinning and dyeing workshop using local plants and lychens in the traditional manner of the Aran. Lunch (included) will be followed by some delightful Irish traditional music. Return to your B&B in time to freshen up for dinner.
Overnight Inis Óírr, local quality bed and breakfast, Aran Islands - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Say farewell to the Aran Islands after breakfast and take the ferry to Doolin in County Clare. We travel to the Cliffs of Moher to admire one of Ireland’s most visited natural attractions stretching for 5 miles as the crow flies along the Atlantic Coast of County Clare. We could not pass by Bunratty without giving you a chance to explore the famous Bunratty Castle and Folk Park!
Arrive in picturesque Killarney in time for dinner at your hotel.
Overnight Killarney - Breakfast and Dinner included.
Day 8: Knitting with Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches
Today, we take a day trip to Cork and begin with a cable knitting workshop hosted by well- known Irish knitter and author Carol Feller of Stolen Stitches. 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.
After lunch (included) sit back and enjoy the return trip to Killarney, where the evening is yours to explore and enjoy.
Overnight Killarney - Breakfast and Lunch Included
Day 9: Knitting with Liz Spillane and the Scenery of 'The Kingdom.'
Liz Spillane resides just south of Kenmare where she will welcome you to her knitting workshop. Liz’s workshop involves creating your very own colourful and textured yarn for hand knitting. Using locally spun 100% pure new wool yarns together with exiting yarns, in the studio store, she will teach some simple techniques. Discover and learn some more traditional Aran knitting stitch structures to add to your repertoire, before combining the two and create your own unique accessory.
After lunch, take in some of the panoramic views at Molls Gap and Ladies View.
Overnight Killarney - Breakfast and Lunch included.
Day 10: Kerry Woollen Mills, Rock of Cashel, Farewell “Cast-Off” Dinner
First stop of the day is a visit to Kerry Woollen Mills, one of the oldest working mills in Ireland.before then journeying on to the Golden Vale of Tipperary and the iconic Rock of Cashel, a place of historical significance and medieval architecture.
From here return to Dublin where you and your new knitting companions will enjoy a Farewell “Cast-Off” Dinner.
After your final Irish breakfast depart the hotel for Dublin airport arriving in time to complete check-in formalities and that last-minute duty free shopping.
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