Private journey
Luxury Ireland: Castles, Golf & Premium Experiences
This itinerary shows how a large number of very different interests can be sequenced into one coherent ten-day journey without ever feeling rushed. It moves from city culture to country estates, from a championship golf course to a private boat on the Atlantic — with the same driver, the same liaison and the same standard of care throughout.
This is a Zatino-designed itinerary, shown as a working template rather than a fixed package or a quotation. Dates, hotel availability and arrangements change — we build the final version around your group, your dates and your interests.
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Designed for
Private travellers and families who want castles, championship golf and full-service touring without driving.
Route
Dublin · Kildare · Kerry · Clare · Galway · Connemara
Why this shape
What makes it work
Castle accommodation throughout
A city castle hotel in Dublin, a thirteenth-century castle in Kildare, a cliff-edge lodge in Kerry and a large private estate in Connemara — four distinct properties, one standard of care.
Championship golf
Private access to a Ryder Cup host course, with a PGA professional and a personal caddie, balanced with time to use the rest of the day.
Experiences that are hard to arrange alone
A distillery session with a master distiller, a before-hours visit to Trinity College's Old Library, a literary pub evening and a helicopter transfer along the west coast.
Journey shape
Days 1–3
Dublin — luxury shopping, Clontarf Castle, literary and heritage evenings
Days 4–5
County Kildare — golf at The K Club, Barberstown Castle
Days 6–7
Kerry & Clare — helicopter tour, Dromoland Castle
Days 8–9
Galway & Connemara — Ballynahinch Castle, Atlantic coast
Day 10
Return to Dublin — final shopping and a farewell dinner
Day by day
The shape of the ten days
Day 01
Welcome to Dublin — arrival
Airport transfer to Dublin city, then a gentle walking tour
Clontarf Castle Hotel
- VIP airport service
- Private chauffeur
- Castle stay
- Fine dining
- Arrival
Meet-and-greet at Dublin Airport
A VIP welcome service on arrival, with your chauffeur and multilingual liaison waiting in the arrivals hall and escorting you to your car. Mercedes S-Class or Range Rover, chauffeur-driven throughout.
- Afternoon · 2 hours
Clontarf Castle
Settle into an Executive Suite at Clontarf Castle Hotel, an eleventh-century castle converted into a hotel. Welcome champagne and a traditional tea service are served in the suite.
- Evening · 2 hours
Private welcome dinner
A private dinner in the castle's Knight's Suite, with locally sourced Irish ingredients prepared by the executive chef.
Day 02
Dublin's luxury and culture
Private chauffeur throughout
Clontarf Castle Hotel
- Personal shopping
- Whiskey experience
- Michelin dining
- Luxury transport
- Morning
Personal shopping
A shopping assistant from Brown Thomas prepares a selection in advance based on your preferences and accompanies you through the store, with champagne service.
- Afternoon · 2 hours
Private whiskey masterclass
A private session at Jameson Distillery Bow St. with a master distiller, covering expressions not normally offered to the public — and the chance to blend and bottle your own to take home.
- Evening
Michelin-starred dining
Dinner at Chapter One by chef Mickael Viljanen, with wine pairings chosen by the head sommelier.
Day 03
Historic Dublin and literary heritage
Private chauffeur
Clontarf Castle Hotel
- Cultural heritage
- Before-hours access
- Literary experience
- Morning · 2 hours
Trinity College before opening
A private before-hours visit to the Old Library and the Book of Kells with a Trinity scholar, including manuscript rooms normally closed to visitors, then the Long Room Library as the public arrives.
- Afternoon · 2 hours
Dublin Castle private tour
An expert historian takes you through Dublin Castle, including the state apartments left off the general tour, followed by afternoon tea in the castle gardens.
- Evening
Literary pub evening
A private pub tour with actors performing work by Joyce, Beckett and Yeats, ending with dinner in a reserved section of Davy Byrne's, the pub featured in Ulysses.
Day 04
The K Club and County Kildare
Scenic drive through Kildare, approx. 50 minutes
Barberstown Castle
- Premium golf
- Castle stay
- Japanese gardens
- Chauffeur service
- Morning
Through County Kildare
A drive through the Irish countryside to the thoroughbred county, with a stop at the Japanese Gardens beside the Irish National Stud.
- Afternoon · 4 hours
Golf at The K Club
A private lesson with a PGA professional on the Palmer course, followed by a round with your own caddie, at a club that has hosted the Ryder Cup.
- Evening
Barberstown Castle
Check in to the thirteenth-century Barberstown Castle, once owned by Eric Clapton, with turndown service and Irish chocolates in the suite.
Day 05
Thoroughbred country
Private chauffeur
Barberstown Castle
- VIP horse experience
- Luxury shopping
- Fine dining
- Estate access
- Morning · 2 hours
Inside the Irish National Stud
A behind-the-scenes visit meeting champion thoroughbreds and their foals, with a private guide on the racing and breeding legacy.
- Afternoon
Kildare Village
Your shopping assistant accompanies you to the outlet for private access to the VIP lounge, champagne service and preferred pricing at a range of luxury labels.
- Evening
Castle dining
A multi-course tasting dinner in the medieval banquet hall, Irish specialties paired with wines selected by your sommelier.
Day 06
Helicopter tour and County Kerry
Private helicopter transfer, chauffeur on arrival
Sheen Falls Lodge
- Helicopter tour
- Private scenic tour
- Gourmet picnic
- Lodge
- Morning · 1 hour
Helicopter to Kerry
A private helicopter transfer, flying over the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and the Ring of Kerry.
- Afternoon · 5 hours
Ring of Kerry private tour
Your chauffeur meets you at the helipad for Ladies View, Moll's Gap and Killarney National Park, with a gourmet picnic lunch at a viewpoint.
- Evening
Sheen Falls Lodge
A suite overlooking Sheen Falls and Kenmare Bay, with dinner prepared by the executive chef — Kerry lamb and local seafood.
Day 07
Clare and Dromoland Castle
Private chauffeur north, approx. 2 hours
Dromoland Castle
- Estate activities
- Spa
- Castle dining
- Morning
North to County Clare
A drive north through village scenery, stopping at Adare Manor for a private look at the grounds and art collection.
- Afternoon · 4 hours
Dromoland Castle
At Dromoland Castle, ancestral home of the O'Brien clan: falconry, archery and clay-pigeon shooting on the estate with expert instructors, followed by afternoon tea.
- Evening
Spa and castle dining
A private spa treatment using seaweed-based products, then a tasting menu built around local organic produce.
Day 08
Galway and Connemara
Private chauffeur, approx. 2.5 hours
Ballynahinch Castle
- Cultural tour
- Abbey visit
- Castle stay
- Scenic drive
- Morning · 3 hours
Galway City private tour
A private guide walks you through Galway's coloured streets, its history and its artisan shops, with access to a traditional Irish music workshop.
- Afternoon · 5 hours
Through Connemara
A drive through Connemara National Park to Kylemore Abbey for a private tour of the Gothic castle and its Victorian walled gardens.
- Evening
Ballynahinch Castle
A suite on a 700-acre estate, and dinner at the Owenmore Restaurant overlooking the river and mountains.
Day 09
Atlantic coast and Connemara
Private boat and estate vehicles
Ballynahinch Castle
- Private fishing
- Coastal cruise
- Cultural performance
- Whiskey tasting
- Morning · 4 hours
Private fishing
Fly fishing on the rivers of the Ballynahinch Estate with an expert ghillie, waters known for salmon and sea trout. No experience needed; equipment is provided.
- Afternoon · 4 hours
Private coastal boat tour
A private boat along the Connemara shoreline to see seals, dolphins and seabirds, with local maritime history along the way — and fresh oysters and champagne on board.
- Evening
Private Irish cultural evening
Traditional music, dance and storytelling performed for your group alone in the castle library, accompanied by fine Irish whiskeys.
Day 10
Return to Dublin and farewell
Scenic inland drive, approx. 2.5 hours, then airport transfer
- Historic site
- Luxury shopping
- Michelin dining
- VIP transfer
- Morning · 90 minutes
Return by the inland route
A scenic drive back through the Irish midlands, stopping at Clonmacnoise, a sixth-century monastic settlement on the River Shannon.
- Afternoon
Final shopping
A last session with your shopping assistant around Dublin's Grafton Street, with tax-free shipping arranged to send purchases home.
- Evening
Farewell dinner
A closing dinner at Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, one of Ireland's two Michelin-starred restaurants, with a small farewell gift to mark the trip.
What it covers
Included in the shape
Private chauffeur service
Mercedes S-Class or Range Rover with a professional chauffeur throughout the journey
24/7 concierge
A dedicated concierge on call around the clock for anything the day does not cover
Castle accommodation
Nine nights across castle hotels and country properties
Fine dining
All breakfasts, selected lunches and all dinners, including Michelin-starred experiences
Helicopter tour
A private aerial tour along Ireland's west coast
Personal shopping
Shopping assistants and private or VIP access, with tax-free shipping
Whiskey experiences
Private tastings with master distillers, and your own blended bottle
Premium golf
Access to championship courses with PGA professionals and private caddies
Multilingual support
Mandarin, Japanese and Korean-speaking staff available throughout
Not included: international flights, travel insurance, visas and gratuities. Items described as optional can be added or removed.
Make it yours
Start from this shape, not from scratch.
Tell us who is travelling, why, and when. We will shape the right journey or programme around your needs.
Plan your programme