10 Night Aran Islands, Donegal & Causeway Coast Knitting Tour

Included in This Tour

• Transfers on arrival and departure by private coach (for arrivals prior to 10.30am on tour start day)
• Sightseeing as per itinerary in a luxury coach with an experienced  driver/guide or driver and accredited guide
• Accommodation in rooms with private facilities for 10 nights
• Irish breakfast daily
• 5 dinners
• 5 lunches
• 1 farewell dinner
• Entrance to the following attractions: Trinity College Library & Book of Kells, Guinness Storehouse, Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery, Titanic Belfast, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Slieve League Cliffs, Dún Aonghasa, National Museum of Country Life
• Return ferry to Inis Mór, Aran Islands
• Inis Mór guided tour 

Workshops/Knitting Activities Included in This Tour

• Spinning & tapestry workshop with Aine Dunne
• Knitting workshop with Edel MacBride from Knitfield
• Aran Island knitting workshop with Una McDonagh
• Knitting workshop with Ciara Ní Reachtnín
• Knitting workshop with Lisa Sisk from This is Knit
• Meeting with local designer at the Constant Knitter
• Studio Donegal weaving demonstration
• Mourne Alpacas farm visit

Overnights for this Tour

• Camden Court Hotel (or similar), Dublin, 2 Nights
• Aran Islands Hotel, Inis Mor, 2 Nights
• Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, 1 Night
• Mill Park Hotel (or similar), Donegal, 2 Nights 
• Grand Central Hotel (or similar), Belfast, 2 Nights
• Camden Court Hotel (or similar), Dublin, 1 Night

Important Note: Attractions, Workshops and Demonstrations May Change According to Availability and Scheduling

Day 1: Dublin Sightseeing

Begin your knitting tour of Ireland with a transfer to your hotel (for arrivals prior to 10.30am). Your first visit of the day is to Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells. The university campus is a masterpiece of architecture and is recognised as one of the world's outstanding centres of learning - the alma mater of Swift, Wilde and Beckett. Next, visit the Constant Knitter where you will meet a local craftsperson for a demonstration and informal chat about their craft topic. The remainder of the evening will be free for you to explore the city at your leisure before meeting back at the hotel for your welcome dinner. Overnight Camden Court Hotel, Dublin, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 2: This is Knit Workshop & Guinness Storehouse

This morning meet Lisa from ‘This is Knit’ for a workshop which includes an informative talk on the developments in the Irish hand knitting scene over the past ten years as well as a two hour ‘Moebius Knitting’ workshop following the ‘Glenties Cowl’ pattern, designed by Lisa Sisk. For this class you will be using Soft Donegal yarn from the mills of Studio Donegal in Kilcar. After your workshop we will travel to Dublin's Guinness Storehouse for a guided tour. Located in the heart of the iconic St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, this production site has been home to the Guinness Brewery since 1759, when Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease!  This evening dinner is not included so that you can sample one of Dublin’s many restaurants and bars at your leisure. Overnight Camden Court Hotel, Dublin, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 3: Travel to Aran Islands & Tullamore D.E.W.

After a leisurely breakfast, board your touring coach and travel to Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre where you will discover how Daniel E. Williams went from stable boy to distillery manager to creating the whiskey which still bears his initials today. There will be time for some lunch before continuing to Rossaveal in County Galway for your ferry to Inis Mór (also spelled Inishmore), the largest of the three Aran Islands. On arrival, meet with Aran Island locals for an introduction to Aran life with special attention to history of Dun Aonghasa in preparation for your visit the next day. Dinner will be served at the hotel accompanied by your hosts and after, enjoy a quick traditional Irish dancing lesson or if your tired feet are not up to the task, you can watch the instructor display some simple steps! Overnight Inis Mor (Inishmore), Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 4: Another Day & Night on Inis Mór!

This morning, enjoy a knitting workshop where you will learn traditional methods and stitches the Aran Island way.  Then it’s off for a tour of Inis Mór with your local guide. The island has more than 50 different monuments of Christian and pre Christian history and you will pay a visit to the impressive fort of Dún Aonghasa. The fort consists of three terraced walls surrounding an inner enclosure containing a platform on the edge of a three hundred foot high cliff. Please note that the walk to the fort is up a sharp incline and suitable footwear should be worn and is not recommended for those who may have walking difficulties. The views from it are breathtakingly spectacular. On your tour you will also visit some of the local knitwear shops that are on the island and enjoy a delicious lunch at Teach Nan Phaidi! Overnight Inis Mor (Inishmore), Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 5: Museum of Country Life & Knitting Workshop with Ciara Ní Reachtnín

Begin your day with the early ferry back to the mainland. From there travel through Connemara to the Museum of Country Life. After lunch (included), enjoy a knitting workshop with Ciara Ní Reachtnín. During your time with Ciara you will learn how to make the Deirdre na nDólás (Deirdre of Sorrows) shawl pattern, one of Ciara's own Celtic Mythology designs. Techniques taught in this class will include constructing the garter tab, adding beads to your knitting, the unique cables and lace design of the main body of the shawl and attaching the beaded lace edge. Finally travel the short distance to Sligo where you will check into your hotel. Overnight Sligo, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 6: Travel to Donegal 

Leaving Sligo we journey to Donegal via the grave of William Butler Yeats at Drumcliffe Cemetery. Here, explore the final resting place of this great poet as well as the high cross and St.Columba's Church. Next, it's on to Donegal Yarns which is steeped in centuries of tradition of tweed yarns spun locally. It operates a vertical production system from raw wool to a finished multi-coloured fleck. Afterwards, we visit Studio Donegal, a hand-weaving and clothing manufacturing business committed to preserving and promoting traditional Irish hand-weaving. Here you will see the process of hand-weaving from start to finish including the spinning, warping and weaving of the wool. Overnight Donegal, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 7: Edel MacBride Knitting Workshop & Free time in Donegal Town

Today meet one of Ireland’s finest knitwear designers, Edel MacBride, for an intensive Aran knitting workshop. Enjoy a core workshop including yarn pack, working the best of Irish moss, cable and Edel’s favourite Aran stitches.  After your class, we travel onwards to visit Slieve League Cliffs, one of the highest cliffs in Europe, to enjoy some amazing views. Next, travel the short distance to Glencolmcille, an area famous for its wealth of traditional Irish culture, music and prehistoric settlements. Take a tour of Glencolmcille Folk Village, a collection of several small cottages, called a ‘clachan’, resting on a hillside that overlooks the stunning Glen Bay Beach. Designed, constructed and conserved by local people, the folk village is one of Ireland's longest running living-history museums. Overnight Donegal, Dinner Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 8: The Causeway Coast

The Causeway Coast is rated as one of the top five road trips worldwide and when you experience it you will see why! The road meanders around a narrow strip of coastline between stunning sea views and majestic high cliffs. Visit the Giant’s Causeway where around 60 million years ago, three great lava flows were laid down, cooling the basaltic plateau that makes an interesting photo opportunity today!  On your journey you will also visit the remains of Dunluce Castle which is perched dramatically close to a headland that plunges directly down into the sea! Your day tour today ends in Belfast City where the remainder of the evening is free to check out the local bars and restaurants.  Overnight Belfast, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 9: Belfast Sightseeing, Titanic Belfast & Mourne Alpaca Farm

This morning enjoy a panoramic tour of Belfast and visit Titanic Belfast, one of Belfast’s newest and most popular museums, built on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard where the Titanic was originally constructed. Galleries reconstruct scenes from Belfast at the time of its construction, the launch, the maiden voyage, the sinking and the aftermath. This museum is extremely interactive, with technology bringing each period to life.  Time permitting, we will also pay a visit to Mourne Alpacas outside Belfast, a family managed herd of Alpaca and pedigree Angora goats that produce high quality fleeces, so much so that their motto at the farm is “We breed for heat, not for meat!” Once you have been up close and cosy with the alpacas, and had a chance for plenty of photos and questions, we will move onto the fleece. While enjoying a cuppa after all your hands on with the alpacas and the fleece, you can get a chance to see, feel and purchase quality alpaca yarns and some blend yarns, in many natural colours of the alpaca and some stunning seasonal colour ranges created from natural dyes as well. Mourne Alpacas have all their fleeces processed professionally at a dedicated mill and raw fleeces are also available for purchase for anyone who is keen to take some for home spinning. Return to Belfast where the remainder of the evening is your own. Overnight Belfast, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 10: Irish Linen Centre & Spinning and Tapestry Workshop

Linen was an important industry in Ireland, particularly in the North of Ireland. So much so that its capital Belfast was fondly known as 'Linenopolis'! Today begins with a visit to the Irish Linen Centre where you will take a guided tour and learn about the history of linen production in the province of Ulster. Next, we travel to Drogheda to meet Aine Dunne, a tapestry weaver and artist, resident and working from the Boyne Valley. With Aine and her team, you will enjoy a spinning & tapestry workshop. Here you will be introduced to hand spinning sheep’s wool by using a drop spindle and try your hand at weaving a sample piece on a four-sided tapestry frame loom. During your time with Aine you will gain insight into her designs, weaving methods and work schedule.  Return to Dublin where this evening your final farewell dinner will be served in a local restaurant. Overnight Dublin, Bed & Breakfast Basis

Day 11: End of Tour

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.

Booking Requirements & Cancellation Information

A deposit of 20% of the total tour price is required to hold your booking. The balance of the tour is due 60 days before arrival and can be made in instalment payments on request.

Cancellation Policy:

• Cancellation 60 days or more prior to itinerary start date - Full deposit is forfeit
• 60 days to 49 days prior to itinerary start date - 50% of the total paid is forfeit
• 48 days to 31 days prior to itinerary start date - 75% of the total paid is forfeit
• 30 days or less prior to itinerary start date - 100% of the total paid is forfeit

Postponements:

Should you wish to change your tour to one of our other available tours or to a different date, you can do so subject to availability. An amendment fee of €250 per person will apply. Within 60 days of the tour commencement date, cancellation fees will apply.