Galway is Ireland’s cultural, language, traditional music and artistic capital.
The city centre is famous for its lively ambience, street entertainment, shopping, cafes and pubs.
With your private Driver Guide you can experience the five-star luxury of Ashford Castle in Connemara and visit the city for the day to enjoy its charms, food highlights, music and shopping.
Back at the castle, relish in warm hospitality with open fireplaces and quiet nooks inviting you to curl up and relax in opulent surroundings. Stay in the castle itself or there is the option to upgrade to the exclusive Hideaway, a converted boathouse on the property favoured by visiting celebrities.
On the doorstep of Ashford Castle is the beauty of Connemara. There are lots of wonderful villages from Clifden, the alpine-like capital, to Leenane on the banks of Killary Fjord as well as Roundstone with its beautiful beaches on the western coast. The jewel of this rugged mountainous region is Kylemore Abbey.
Travelling south, you will get the opportunity to explore West Clare. This is Ireland’s most rugged landscapes with shifting and sculpting stone creating unforgettable scenery such as the Cliffs of Moher, Burren and the Aran Islands.
Stay in Adare Manor, named best hotel in the world 2018, which borrows its name from the nearby village of Adare, beloved for its delightful thatched roof cottages, lively pubs and antique shops.
Alternatively, keep with the castle theme and stay in the five-star Dromoland Castle. All three properties offer unrivalled estate activities – falconry, horse riding, fishing and boat trips and, of course, golf (Adare is set to host the 2026 Ryder Cup).
This is a trip that combines the best of Ireland’s hotels and castles with the wilds of the Wild Atlantic Way.