This evening you will have a meet and greet drinks reception along with an informal talk with Vawn Corrigan, author of Irish Aran History Tradition and Fashion, before enjoying your welcome dinner. Overnight Dublin, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.
In the afternoon, we will travel to Dublin’s Guinness Storehouse for a guided tour. St. James’ Gate Brewery has been the production site home to the Guinness Brewery since 1759 when Arthur Guinness first signed a 9000 year lease for the brewery. This evening is free for you to check out one of Dublin’s many restaurants and bars. Overnight in Dublin, Bed & Breakfast included.
There will be a brief stop in Galway city for lunch (not included) and exploring, before we continue to Rossaveal in Galway to board your ferry to Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay. Meet with the wonderful Una McDonagh and friends on arrival where you will be introduced to Aran life and hear all about the history of Dun Aonghasa before your visit to the landmark tomorrow. Dinner will be served at your hotel followed by a traditional Irish dancing lesson! Overnight Inis Mór, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast.
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. There is a bit of steep walk up so make sure you have your sturdy footwear on! The views from the top are quite breath-taking looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Time for a relaxing chance to shop for local knitwear and crafts. Of course today lunch is included at Teach Nan Pháidí! Overnight on Inis Mór, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast.
Ciara will demonstrate how to create simple slip stitch cables using two complementary yarn colours while only working with one colour at a time and also how to incorporate beads into the design. There will also be time to demonstrate an optional advanced closed cable motif which the more adventurous knitter might like to include in their project. Our final destination of the day will be Sligo, known as Yeats country after the Irish writer and poet. Overnight Sligo, Lunch, Dinner and Bed & Breakfast included.
Stop at Donegal Craft Village, with independent artisan crafters showing their work in studios surrounding a pleasant courtyard. Finally, arrive in Donegal town where you can spend the afternoon sightseeing or shopping where you will find many craft shops including Magee Tweed, a Donegal classic! Overnight in Donegal, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast included.
Our next stop is at Studio Donegal where a hand-weaving and clothing manufacturing business is committed to preserving and promoting traditional Irish hand-weaving. Enjoy seeing the process of hand-weaving from beginning to end including spinning, warping and weaving of the wool. Return to Donegal town for a chance to sample local nightlife - listen to some traditional music, dine in one of the restaurants or take it easy back at your hotel. Overnight in Donegal, Lunch and Bed & Breakfast included.
We will also visit the site of Dunluce Castle perched on a dramatic headland which plunges directly down into the sea and used as inspiration from the Chronicles of Narnia to Game of Thrones! Finally, we arrive in the vibrant, cosmopolitan Belfast where the rest of the day is free for you to enjoy this wonderful city. Overnight in Belfast, Bed & Breakfast included.
Yarns in many natural colours of the alpaca and some stunning seasonal colour ranges,created from natural dyes are on display here. Mourne Alpaca fleeces are processed professionally at a dedicated mill but raw fleeces are also available here for purchase for anyone interested in home spinning. When we return to Belfast, we visit the Titanic, Belfast, built on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was originally constructed. This popular museum contains many galleries where scenes were reconstructed of Belfast at the time the ship was constructed, the launch, its maiden voyage, the sinking and aftermath. This is an interactive museum where technology brings the story of each scene to life and you spend as long as you like here! The rest of the day is free for you to take in the sights of Belfast before enjoying a chance to browse and shop with Irish Artisan yarn at an exclusive pop up shop in your hotel this evening! Overnight in Belfast, Bed & Breakfast included.
We continue our journey down south to Drogheda to meet tapestry weaver and artist, Áine Dunne. Based in the Boyne Valley, Áine and her team will host a spinning and tapestry workshop where you will be introduced to hand spinning sheep’s wool by using a drop spindle. Have a go at weaving a sample piece on a four-sided tapestry frame loom! Return to Dublin and enjoy a farewell dinner with your group at a local restaurant. Overnight in Dublin, Dinner (at a local restaurant) and Bed & Breakfast included.
Your enquiry has been sent, we?ll be in touch soon.