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Ireland
Ireland West Coast Adventure in 7 days
A 6 night fully guided and accompanied journey from Galway city to the wild coast of County Mayo
Highlights
Discover the relaxed and friendly Irish way of life through the eyes of a local
Dine well on home cooked Irish breakfasts, lunches in friendly cafes and dinners in restaurants selected by locals
Explore Ireland’s stunning West coast and Wild Atlantic Way
Spend the night on the largest island in a bay containing 364 other islands!
Summit Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, with it’s views over County Mayo, back to Galway and out across the Atlantic Ocean
Our Ireland West Coast Adventure holiday takes you from the vibrant and dynamic city of Galway with its bars and live music to the rugged coast of county Mayo.
During this journey, your local guide will introduce you to the Irish way of life and show you what it’s like to live like a local.
You will be taken to places steeped in history like abbeys and monasteries, and have the chance to pull your own first pint of Guinness in a traditional Irish pub and taste the local food. There’s the opportunity for a walk in the Connemara hills, and afterwards you can relax in Connemara seaweed!
The journey continues to the county Mayo, where you stay on the beautiful Clare island and eventually return to the mainland again where you will be staying with an Irish family in the small town of Ballina – the perfect base to explore Sligo and Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Day 1
Your journey starts in Galway City, where you’ll be staying tonight.
The colourful and friendly city centre is the setting for your first tour with your local guide, who will be accompanying you this week. You’ll walk the city streets and explore the Spanish Arches, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Claddagh Village and of course there’s a chance for free time in the cafes and shops of Galway.
Your accommodation is just outside the centre of town so it’ll be a short walk into the centre later for dinner (included).
Accommodation on this day: The Stop Bed and Breakfast
Day 2
Breakfasts are a feature this week, all home-cooked by your hosts.
This morning’s a road journey through the hills of Connemara to the west coast and Clifden, with plenty of options to stop off for walks or to take pictures.
There’s time to explore the vibrant country town of Clifden before moving on to the historic Kylemore Abbey with its Victorian Walled Garden. Here, there’s an option to take a hike in the hills of Connemara with views towards the lakes and Maumturk mountain range.
Lastly today you’ll visit the iconic Aasleagh Falls before arriving at your accommodation, overlooking Ireland’s only fjord.
If you like the sound of a sauna followed by a seaweed bath, there’s time to treat yourself before dinner (included).
Accommodation on this day: Leenane Hotel
Day 3
Today you’ll hop across the waters to beautiful Clare Island on the inter-island ferry.
Clare Island has a population of just 160 people and is an outdoor lovers paradise. You’ll stay on the island tonight, in a small guest house overlooking the beach and harbour, and you’ll spend your day walking the coast and exploring the beaches of Clare Island. Clare is the largest of the 365 islands – yes, 365! – of Clew Bay and has some of Ireland’s most spectacular coastal trails.
Dinner tonight (included) will be served in the bar next to your accommodation – if you like seafood you’re in for a treat as their speciality is the fresh catch of the day.
Accommodation on this day: O'Grady's
Day 4
After enjoying another Irish breakfast, you’ll depart from Clare Island for the mainland.
Your first stop today is the mountain clearly seen from last night’s guesthouse – the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. There’s a chapel right on top of the 764m peak, visited by many thousands of pilgrims every year. From the top there are spectacular views over the 365 islands of Clew bay.
Next stop is colourful Westport where there’s a chance to refresh and refuel after your walk. The towns of the west of Ireland are as yet untouched by the commercialism that has taken over much of the UK in the past three decades and the majority of the shops are still owned and run by local families.
From here you’ll travel to Ballina where you will be for the next 3 nights. Dinner (included) is home cooked in your accommodation and later on there’s the chance to pull your own pint of Guinness in the local pub.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 5
Today’s a two-parter. You’ll have a long morning exploring the north coast of County Mayo, and after lunch you’ll be back in Ballina for a visit to Beleek Castle, a cooking lesson and then a whiskey tasting to finish off.
Your morning will take you along Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Way -the Monasteries of the Moy, the historic town of Kilalla, Downpatrick head, the spectacular sea stack Dun Briste and the oldest Neolithic field site in the world-the Ceide Fields. There’s a chance for lunch at Mary’s cottage before heading back to Ballina.
The tour of Beleek Castle is fascinating and lively. Beleek Castle was built between 1825 and 1831 on the site of a medieval abbey bought. Owned by the same family until the 1940s, it was left to decay until its purchase in the 1960s by Marshall Doran. The restoration is quirky but tasteful – many rooms have been restored with a nautical theme, with entire sections of a recovered Spanish Armada ship being used as both structure and decoration. Marshall Doran was an avid collector of medieval armoury and the basement holds a very impressive private collection.
Next you’ll return to your accommodation for a fun and interactive baking experience, the fruits of which you’ll get to eat with tea and local jams, before finally there’s an Irish Whiskey tasting session.
Dinner (included) will be served in the local pub just 2 minutes walk from your accommodation.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 6
After enjoying your home cooked breakfast, it’s off to neighbouring County Sligo for a hillwalk up proud little Knocknarea (327m). The summit cairn hides one of Europe’s largest unexcavated passage tombs. From here you’ll take in the spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic ocean and onto Donegal.
After a cafe lunch you’ll then return via the stunning rugged coastal route
back. There’s an opportunity to stop off at beaches and viewpoints along the way, including the unmissable Beach Bar for perhaps an Irish coffee.Ireland’s local spa tradition is to immerse oneself in a bath filled with treated seaweed and hot water. You’ve a chance to enjoy this experience at Kilcullins seaweed bath house before returning to Ballina.
Dinner (included) is at a restaurant in town favoured by locals and visitors alike.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 7
If it fits your dietary requirements then a particular breakfast recommendation is the scrambled egg and smoked salmon – try to have this at least once in your stay!
It’s departure day and depending on the timing of your onward journey you may be able to explore the town of Ballina before it’s time to say farewell.
Walking
The perfect way to explore Ireland's unspoilt scenery from gentle strolls on isolated golden sand beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way to the more challenging ascents of Achill island's two 650m peaks, there are walks to suit everyone.
Cycling
County Mayo's back roads are wonderfully quiet and picturesque - your only hazard might be a few sheep! You'll be able to cycle the Great Western Greenway (a disused railway line), cross beautiful Ballycroy National Park and explore Achill Island. Daily routes are 40-50km so there's always plenty of time for stopping to admire the scenery.
Baking
You'll get to spend time in your guide's 'Mam's' friendly kitchen where she'll have you baking scones, traditional Guinness soda bread and Irish potato cakes. Don't worry because you'll get to eat them all afterwards washed down with a nice cuppa.
Whiskey tasting
Take part in our guide's very special Whiskey appreciation session and you'll soon work out which Whiskeys you like and why.
The Stop Bed and Breakfast
The Stop is a wonderful bed and breakfast created from a 1930’s town house, situated 500m from the River Corrib and the centre of the city of Galway. It’s a modern take on a B&B, with the minimal and tasteful decor creating light and space in the otherwise rather compact rooms. Downstairs the walls are filled with original contemporary artworks.
Breakfast is a highlight, cooked by owners Russel and Emer, but save some space for the homemade cookies which are always available in the sitting room.
Leenane Hotel
The Leenane Hotel is on the waterfront of Ireland’s only fjord, in Connemara. It’s a destination in itself, with a well-regarded onsite restaurant specialising in freshly-caught seafood. Next door there’s a spa where you can relax back in the Seaweed Baths.
Every room has a view, either of beautiful Killary Harbour or out towards the lovely mountains of Connemara.
Brigown Bed & Breakfast
A warm welcome is assured at Brigown Bed & Breakfast. Your host Marjorie is a household name in Ireland when it comes to cooking and will ensure you feel at home here in her charming guesthouse on the banks of the river Moy in Ballina. Breakfast is particularly good here – a great chance to sample Marjorie’s culinary skills!
The Quay is a short walk away for food and drink, and you’re not far from the centre of town. The garden is a great place to sit and relax to watch the river and the world go by.
O’Grady’s
O’Grady’s offers luxury en-suite bed and breakfast style accommodation on Clare Island, guarding Clew Bay on the west coast of Mayo. The house was constructed in 2006 on the site where generations of the family of the owners Helen and Alan O’Grady have lived. In fact the stone of the original dwelling has been built into the face of the house, preserving this deep connection with the place.
The house is next to the harbour where the mainland ferry arrives, and is a stone’s throw from the sandy beach.
What’s the currency in Ireland?
The official currency in Ireland is the Euro (€) and has been since Ireland withdrew legal tender status for the Irish Pound in 2002. Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt the Euro, in 1999.
What’s the craic?
If you’re having a good time with others in Ireland, you’re almost certainly having a good craic (pronounced the same as the English word ‘crack’). Craic is a Gaelic word that’s hard to precisely define in English. Essentially it’s ‘fun’ but there’s definitely a social element to the definition. Generally, craic is a noun and it can be used in the singular or plural: ‘Yeah, we had some great craic today’. ‘Today was a good craic’.
Craic can’t be purchased, unless you’re in the middle of a serious misunderstanding.
You’re guaranteed to have a good craic on our holidays in Ireland!
What is the Wild Atlantic Way?
The Wild Atlantic Way is a road route along the length of the Atlantic west coast of Ireland, stretching from Londonderry in the North to Kinsale in the South. The Wild Atlantic Way was launched in 2014 by the Irish Tourist Board to raise awareness of and showcase the stunningly beautiful, diverse and lesser-populated Atlantic west coast of Ireland.The full signposted route is some 2,500Km long and passes through nine counties. It’s subdivided into six zones: The Northern Headlands, The Surf Coast, The Bay Coast, The Cliff Coast, The Southern Peninsulas and The Haven Coast.
For our Ireland holidays, we’re focusing on County Mayo and County Sligo, bounded by The Surf Coast and The Bay Coast sections of the Wild Atlantic Way.
How do you pour the perfect pint of Guinness?
You’ll have the chance to learn from a local if you’re on some of our guided days out in our Ireland holidays. But here are the steps to pouring a perfect pint of the Black Stuff.Step one – the glass is important. Choose a slightly ‘tulip’ shaped glass with a Guinness logo. As well as looking the part, the logo provides a visual aid…
Step two – you’ll need to hold your Guinness glass at a 45 degree angle whilst the Guinness logo is facing downwards.
Step three – here’s where the logo is helpful – pull the Guinness tap towards you and position your glass so that the stream hits in the area of the harp logo. The angle works it’s magic here as it discourages the Guinness stream from bouncing and creating large air bubbles.
Step four – watch for the liquid level and as it reaches the bottom of the harp, slowly return the glass to the upright position. Once the Guinness reaches the top of the harp, smoothly and slowly close the tap to stop pouring.
Step five – place the glass down for the magic phase, the ‘surge and settle’, as tiny bubbles form the iconic creamy head. If you’ve done it right then once the liquid is settled the wording ‘Guinness’ on the logo should be framed in black liquid, whilst the head should be between the bottom and the top of the harp.
Step six – hold the glass again under the pouring tap and push the tap away from you to slowly raise the head to the top of the glass. The perfect head should be about 20mm in height.
Step seven – drink and savour! If you need more practice, simply pour another ;).
Where are the tallest cliffs in Ireland?
The most well-known cliffs in Ireland are the Cliffs of Moher which run for some 14Km along the coast of County Clare. They’re certainly impressive with their vertical drop of 214m and they’ve become famous due to the visitor’s centre developed in the 1990s and opened in 2007. Between one and two million people visit every year. However, these cliffs are dwarfed by the tallest Ireland has to offer…The cliffs of Slieve League in County Donegal fall steeply from the summit of 601m to the ocean far below. Slieve League can be accessed by a short walk from the road. The drop is not as sheer as Moher but the cliffs are nearly three times as high! They’re still not the winner though… Slieve League is notable due to it’s accessibility however the real winner of the title is further south and west in County Mayo.
The tallest cliffs in Ireland are the sea cliffs of the remote mountain of Croaghaun on Achill Island which rise an incredible 688m from sea to summit. This makes them the highest not only in Ireland but also in all of the British Isles. They’re proudly also the third highest in all of Europe. To view the cliffs from Croaghaun summit requires commitment and fitness – and plenty of British hill walking experience or a guided hill walking day.
There’s a chance to see the cliffs of Croaghaun on our holidays in Ireland that include time on Achill Island.
Is Ireland in the UK?
By area, the Republic of Ireland is roughly 85% of the island of Ireland, the remaining 15% being Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is a unitary sovereign state currently comprising Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. So no, the Republic of Ireland is not in the UK. But yes, Northern Ireland is in the UK. You may find this confusing but confusion’s been the least of it since the creation of Northern Ireland via the Partition Act of 1922.Where is Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is part of the British Isles, an archipelago of over six thousand islands large and small lying off the coast of continental Europe, bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the North Sea. The two largest of these islands are Great Britain (comprising England, Scotland and Wales) and the island of Ireland (comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).How do I get to Ireland from the UK?
For UK travellers, the good news is that there are daily flights from many UK airports straight to County Mayo, arriving at Knock airport. There are also daily flights to other Irish airports including Dublin and Belfast making a through-trip possible on your Irish holiday.How do I get to Ireland from the US and Canada?
From the USA and Canada, direct flights go from many international airports to Dublin – from New York, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore.How do I get to Ireland from continental Europe?
Very many continental European airports offer direct flights to Dublin.
Dublin airport is very well connected and so we can organise your holiday in Ireland to include flights from anywhere in the world.Highlights
Discover the relaxed and friendly Irish way of life through the eyes of a local
Dine well on home cooked Irish breakfasts, lunches in friendly cafes and dinners in restaurants selected by locals
Explore Ireland’s stunning West coast and Wild Atlantic Way
Spend the night on the largest island in a bay containing 364 other islands!
Summit Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, with it’s views over County Mayo, back to Galway and out across the Atlantic Ocean
Our Ireland West Coast Adventure holiday takes you from the vibrant and dynamic city of Galway with its bars and live music to the rugged coast of county Mayo.
During this journey, your local guide will introduce you to the Irish way of life and show you what it’s like to live like a local.
You will be taken to places steeped in history like abbeys and monasteries, and have the chance to pull your own first pint of Guinness in a traditional Irish pub and taste the local food. There’s the opportunity for a walk in the Connemara hills, and afterwards you can relax in Connemara seaweed!
The journey continues to the county Mayo, where you stay on the beautiful Clare island and eventually return to the mainland again where you will be staying with an Irish family in the small town of Ballina – the perfect base to explore Sligo and Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Way.
Day 1
Your journey starts in Galway City, where you’ll be staying tonight.
The colourful and friendly city centre is the setting for your first tour with your local guide, who will be accompanying you this week. You’ll walk the city streets and explore the Spanish Arches, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Claddagh Village and of course there’s a chance for free time in the cafes and shops of Galway.
Your accommodation is just outside the centre of town so it’ll be a short walk into the centre later for dinner (included).
Accommodation on this day: The Stop Bed and Breakfast
Day 2
Breakfasts are a feature this week, all home-cooked by your hosts.
This morning’s a road journey through the hills of Connemara to the west coast and Clifden, with plenty of options to stop off for walks or to take pictures.
There’s time to explore the vibrant country town of Clifden before moving on to the historic Kylemore Abbey with its Victorian Walled Garden. Here, there’s an option to take a hike in the hills of Connemara with views towards the lakes and Maumturk mountain range.
Lastly today you’ll visit the iconic Aasleagh Falls before arriving at your accommodation, overlooking Ireland’s only fjord.
If you like the sound of a sauna followed by a seaweed bath, there’s time to treat yourself before dinner (included).
Accommodation on this day: Leenane Hotel
Day 3
Today you’ll hop across the waters to beautiful Clare Island on the inter-island ferry.
Clare Island has a population of just 160 people and is an outdoor lovers paradise. You’ll stay on the island tonight, in a small guest house overlooking the beach and harbour, and you’ll spend your day walking the coast and exploring the beaches of Clare Island. Clare is the largest of the 365 islands – yes, 365! – of Clew Bay and has some of Ireland’s most spectacular coastal trails.
Dinner tonight (included) will be served in the bar next to your accommodation – if you like seafood you’re in for a treat as their speciality is the fresh catch of the day.
Accommodation on this day: O'Grady's
Day 4
After enjoying another Irish breakfast, you’ll depart from Clare Island for the mainland.
Your first stop today is the mountain clearly seen from last night’s guesthouse – the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick. There’s a chapel right on top of the 764m peak, visited by many thousands of pilgrims every year. From the top there are spectacular views over the 365 islands of Clew bay.
Next stop is colourful Westport where there’s a chance to refresh and refuel after your walk. The towns of the west of Ireland are as yet untouched by the commercialism that has taken over much of the UK in the past three decades and the majority of the shops are still owned and run by local families.
From here you’ll travel to Ballina where you will be for the next 3 nights. Dinner (included) is home cooked in your accommodation and later on there’s the chance to pull your own pint of Guinness in the local pub.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 5
Today’s a two-parter. You’ll have a long morning exploring the north coast of County Mayo, and after lunch you’ll be back in Ballina for a visit to Beleek Castle, a cooking lesson and then a whiskey tasting to finish off.
Your morning will take you along Mayo’s Wild Atlantic Way -the Monasteries of the Moy, the historic town of Kilalla, Downpatrick head, the spectacular sea stack Dun Briste and the oldest Neolithic field site in the world-the Ceide Fields. There’s a chance for lunch at Mary’s cottage before heading back to Ballina.
The tour of Beleek Castle is fascinating and lively. Beleek Castle was built between 1825 and 1831 on the site of a medieval abbey bought. Owned by the same family until the 1940s, it was left to decay until its purchase in the 1960s by Marshall Doran. The restoration is quirky but tasteful – many rooms have been restored with a nautical theme, with entire sections of a recovered Spanish Armada ship being used as both structure and decoration. Marshall Doran was an avid collector of medieval armoury and the basement holds a very impressive private collection.
Next you’ll return to your accommodation for a fun and interactive baking experience, the fruits of which you’ll get to eat with tea and local jams, before finally there’s an Irish Whiskey tasting session.
Dinner (included) will be served in the local pub just 2 minutes walk from your accommodation.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 6
After enjoying your home cooked breakfast, it’s off to neighbouring County Sligo for a hillwalk up proud little Knocknarea (327m). The summit cairn hides one of Europe’s largest unexcavated passage tombs. From here you’ll take in the spectacular views overlooking the Atlantic ocean and onto Donegal.
After a cafe lunch you’ll then return via the stunning rugged coastal route
back. There’s an opportunity to stop off at beaches and viewpoints along the way, including the unmissable Beach Bar for perhaps an Irish coffee.Ireland’s local spa tradition is to immerse oneself in a bath filled with treated seaweed and hot water. You’ve a chance to enjoy this experience at Kilcullins seaweed bath house before returning to Ballina.
Dinner (included) is at a restaurant in town favoured by locals and visitors alike.
Accommodation on this day: Brigown Bed & Breakfast
Day 7
If it fits your dietary requirements then a particular breakfast recommendation is the scrambled egg and smoked salmon – try to have this at least once in your stay!
It’s departure day and depending on the timing of your onward journey you may be able to explore the town of Ballina before it’s time to say farewell.
Walking
The perfect way to explore Ireland's unspoilt scenery from gentle strolls on isolated golden sand beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way to the more challenging ascents of Achill island's two 650m peaks, there are walks to suit everyone.
Cycling
County Mayo's back roads are wonderfully quiet and picturesque - your only hazard might be a few sheep! You'll be able to cycle the Great Western Greenway (a disused railway line), cross beautiful Ballycroy National Park and explore Achill Island. Daily routes are 40-50km so there's always plenty of time for stopping to admire the scenery.
Baking
You'll get to spend time in your guide's 'Mam's' friendly kitchen where she'll have you baking scones, traditional Guinness soda bread and Irish potato cakes. Don't worry because you'll get to eat them all afterwards washed down with a nice cuppa.
Whiskey tasting
Take part in our guide's very special Whiskey appreciation session and you'll soon work out which Whiskeys you like and why.
The Stop Bed and Breakfast
The Stop is a wonderful bed and breakfast created from a 1930’s town house, situated 500m from the River Corrib and the centre of the city of Galway. It’s a modern take on a B&B, with the minimal and tasteful decor creating light and space in the otherwise rather compact rooms. Downstairs the walls are filled with original contemporary artworks.
Breakfast is a highlight, cooked by owners Russel and Emer, but save some space for the homemade cookies which are always available in the sitting room.
Leenane Hotel
The Leenane Hotel is on the waterfront of Ireland’s only fjord, in Connemara. It’s a destination in itself, with a well-regarded onsite restaurant specialising in freshly-caught seafood. Next door there’s a spa where you can relax back in the Seaweed Baths.
Every room has a view, either of beautiful Killary Harbour or out towards the lovely mountains of Connemara.
Brigown Bed & Breakfast
A warm welcome is assured at Brigown Bed & Breakfast. Your host Marjorie is a household name in Ireland when it comes to cooking and will ensure you feel at home here in her charming guesthouse on the banks of the river Moy in Ballina. Breakfast is particularly good here – a great chance to sample Marjorie’s culinary skills!
The Quay is a short walk away for food and drink, and you’re not far from the centre of town. The garden is a great place to sit and relax to watch the river and the world go by.
O’Grady’s
O’Grady’s offers luxury en-suite bed and breakfast style accommodation on Clare Island, guarding Clew Bay on the west coast of Mayo. The house was constructed in 2006 on the site where generations of the family of the owners Helen and Alan O’Grady have lived. In fact the stone of the original dwelling has been built into the face of the house, preserving this deep connection with the place.
The house is next to the harbour where the mainland ferry arrives, and is a stone’s throw from the sandy beach.
What’s the currency in Ireland?
The official currency in Ireland is the Euro (€) and has been since Ireland withdrew legal tender status for the Irish Pound in 2002. Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt the Euro, in 1999.
What’s the craic?
If you’re having a good time with others in Ireland, you’re almost certainly having a good craic (pronounced the same as the English word ‘crack’). Craic is a Gaelic word that’s hard to precisely define in English. Essentially it’s ‘fun’ but there’s definitely a social element to the definition. Generally, craic is a noun and it can be used in the singular or plural: ‘Yeah, we had some great craic today’. ‘Today was a good craic’.
Craic can’t be purchased, unless you’re in the middle of a serious misunderstanding.
You’re guaranteed to have a good craic on our holidays in Ireland!
What is the Wild Atlantic Way?
The Wild Atlantic Way is a road route along the length of the Atlantic west coast of Ireland, stretching from Londonderry in the North to Kinsale in the South. The Wild Atlantic Way was launched in 2014 by the Irish Tourist Board to raise awareness of and showcase the stunningly beautiful, diverse and lesser-populated Atlantic west coast of Ireland.The full signposted route is some 2,500Km long and passes through nine counties. It’s subdivided into six zones: The Northern Headlands, The Surf Coast, The Bay Coast, The Cliff Coast, The Southern Peninsulas and The Haven Coast.
For our Ireland holidays, we’re focusing on County Mayo and County Sligo, bounded by The Surf Coast and The Bay Coast sections of the Wild Atlantic Way.
How do you pour the perfect pint of Guinness?
You’ll have the chance to learn from a local if you’re on some of our guided days out in our Ireland holidays. But here are the steps to pouring a perfect pint of the Black Stuff.Step one – the glass is important. Choose a slightly ‘tulip’ shaped glass with a Guinness logo. As well as looking the part, the logo provides a visual aid…
Step two – you’ll need to hold your Guinness glass at a 45 degree angle whilst the Guinness logo is facing downwards.
Step three – here’s where the logo is helpful – pull the Guinness tap towards you and position your glass so that the stream hits in the area of the harp logo. The angle works it’s magic here as it discourages the Guinness stream from bouncing and creating large air bubbles.
Step four – watch for the liquid level and as it reaches the bottom of the harp, slowly return the glass to the upright position. Once the Guinness reaches the top of the harp, smoothly and slowly close the tap to stop pouring.
Step five – place the glass down for the magic phase, the ‘surge and settle’, as tiny bubbles form the iconic creamy head. If you’ve done it right then once the liquid is settled the wording ‘Guinness’ on the logo should be framed in black liquid, whilst the head should be between the bottom and the top of the harp.
Step six – hold the glass again under the pouring tap and push the tap away from you to slowly raise the head to the top of the glass. The perfect head should be about 20mm in height.
Step seven – drink and savour! If you need more practice, simply pour another ;).
Where are the tallest cliffs in Ireland?
The most well-known cliffs in Ireland are the Cliffs of Moher which run for some 14Km along the coast of County Clare. They’re certainly impressive with their vertical drop of 214m and they’ve become famous due to the visitor’s centre developed in the 1990s and opened in 2007. Between one and two million people visit every year. However, these cliffs are dwarfed by the tallest Ireland has to offer…The cliffs of Slieve League in County Donegal fall steeply from the summit of 601m to the ocean far below. Slieve League can be accessed by a short walk from the road. The drop is not as sheer as Moher but the cliffs are nearly three times as high! They’re still not the winner though… Slieve League is notable due to it’s accessibility however the real winner of the title is further south and west in County Mayo.
The tallest cliffs in Ireland are the sea cliffs of the remote mountain of Croaghaun on Achill Island which rise an incredible 688m from sea to summit. This makes them the highest not only in Ireland but also in all of the British Isles. They’re proudly also the third highest in all of Europe. To view the cliffs from Croaghaun summit requires commitment and fitness – and plenty of British hill walking experience or a guided hill walking day.
There’s a chance to see the cliffs of Croaghaun on our holidays in Ireland that include time on Achill Island.
Is Ireland in the UK?
By area, the Republic of Ireland is roughly 85% of the island of Ireland, the remaining 15% being Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is a unitary sovereign state currently comprising Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England. So no, the Republic of Ireland is not in the UK. But yes, Northern Ireland is in the UK. You may find this confusing but confusion’s been the least of it since the creation of Northern Ireland via the Partition Act of 1922.Where is Ireland?
The Republic of Ireland is part of the British Isles, an archipelago of over six thousand islands large and small lying off the coast of continental Europe, bounded to the west by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east by the North Sea. The two largest of these islands are Great Britain (comprising England, Scotland and Wales) and the island of Ireland (comprising the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland).How do I get to Ireland from the UK?
For UK travellers, the good news is that there are daily flights from many UK airports straight to County Mayo, arriving at Knock airport. There are also daily flights to other Irish airports including Dublin and Belfast making a through-trip possible on your Irish holiday.How do I get to Ireland from the US and Canada?
From the USA and Canada, direct flights go from many international airports to Dublin – from New York, Chicago, Orlando, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, Baltimore.How do I get to Ireland from continental Europe?
Very many continental European airports offer direct flights to Dublin.
Dublin airport is very well connected and so we can organise your holiday in Ireland to include flights from anywhere in the world.
