Bogs of Ireland
Dates available on request

Ireland has some of the best preserved peatlands in the world. The peatlands, consisting of raised bog and blanket bog, are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. This unique and educational tour of the Bogs of Ireland will show the participants the rich archaeological heritage preserved within the peatlands and the heritage and splendour of the midland towns. We'll see the range of wooden trackways and roads conserved within the bogs, as well as the people who used these methods of transport and their everyday objects. This tour will tell the story of Irish bogs as never before, while watching bog oak sculpting, sipping whiskey, getting your feet wet in a few bog holes and enjoying the fun of a day at the horse races at the Curragh racecourse. 
Day 1: Arrive Dublin
On arrival, our luxury coach, will meet you at Dublin airport and the tour will coommence with a trip around Dublin City to see the sites of the capital. We’ll hear the history of the Grand Canal, that connects the Irish Sea with the River Shannon in the Irish midlands. We’ll step back in time from the Grand Canal harbour (close to U2’s original recording studio) back to the original Dubh Linn (Dublin). Then it’s time to look back even further to come face to face with some of the human bodies discovered in the Irish bogs that are on exhibit in the National Museum of Ireland. In the evening, there’ll be some time for shopping before we relax and enjoy a welcome to Ireland dinner in Dublin. Your ideal chance to buy your pair of wellies (wellington boots) before we head off to learn about and experience first hand the wonders of the Irish midlands.
Day 2: The Bog of Allan and Abbeyleix Heritage town
Today we’ll hear from the experts about how the raised bogs of Ireland were formed and see the range of flora and fauna at the Bog of Allan Nature Centre where we’ll walk and talk through a conserved bog and enjoy a ramble through the demesne gardens. We’ll then pass through the lovely town in Kildare and see the early monastic settlement of St. Brigid. A visit to the iconic image of County Laois, the Rock of Dunamase, will enable the group understand the medieval history of the county. We’ll hear about Europe’s earliest fleshed human remains discovered recently in a bog in County Laois. Later in the afternoon the group will take a tour to the local museum at Abbeyleix Heritage House, before we embark on a short walking tour of Abbeyleix Heritage Town that was built by the De Vesci family and was the home of the carpet factory that produced a carpet for the ill fated Titanic.
Day 3: Lough Boora, Clonmacnoise and the history of whiskey
Today the group will travel the short distance along the Slieve Bloom foothiils to the town of Tullamore, County Offaly via the Quaker town of Mountmellick. The group will enjoy the highlights of Lough Boora Parklands hearing about one of the earliest excavated human settlements in Ireland and viewing the range of artists sculptures. Then we’ll see where the Grand Canal meets the River Shannon at Shannonbridge and visit the towns fortifications built by the British during the Napoleonic era.
In the afternoon the group will enjoy a tour of the world famous Clonmacnoise monastic settlement and hear about the routes of the Esker Riada. Then it’s time to visit the newly refurbished Tullamore Dew Centre and hear about the producton of whiskey while sampling some on the quays of the Grand Canal.
Day 4: The old oak tree
After that nice night cap, we’ll visit what is considered to be one of the oldest oak trees in Ireland in he grounds of Charleville Demesne. Then we’ll travel to Leamanaghan Bog, County Offaly to learn about the church site, its traditions, amazing book shrine and archaeological discoveries resulting from the harvesting of the peat by Bord Na Mona. Then it’s off to Ballynahown Ecovillage where the group can witness oak sculpting in practice and spend time viewing the beautiful bog oak sculptures.
In the afternoon, the group having learnt about the range of wooden structures preserved in the midland raised bogs, will visit the conserved wooden road at Corlea Interpretative Centre, Co. Longford that dates to the Iron Age.
Day 5: The City of the Tribes
The group will travel west of the Shannon and experience the popular city of Galway, before travelling further west into the Gaeltacht region of Connemara and sees the range of bogs and the newtorks of stone walls that characterise the Galway landscape.
Day 6 - 'the sport of kings' - enjoy a day at the races
After the tranquil quiet landscape of the west of Ireland, it’s time to visit a track of another kind. The group will make their way to an exciting evening of racing during our famous racing season. Everyone will get a chance to ’have a flutter’ (place a small bet).

The group will then make there way back to Dublin where they’ll spend the last night enjoying the city centre. From there all are welcome to spend whatever time they have enjoying the city or maybe even extending their stay in Ireland. We’re always happy to advise on additional tours if the group wishes.