Description

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland Small Group Tour for 2026

Ready to finally experience St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland?

We’ve planned it all out for you.

Tour Highlights

• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland

• Spend time in beautiful County Wicklow
• See a live sheepdog demonstration

• Be a passenger on the iconic Ring of Kerry

• Spend time breathing in salt air at Slea Head and the Dingle Peninsula

What to Expect

We know it can be scary to book a tour on the internet.

So hopefully, we can ease your fears by answering all of your questions!

Group Size & Travel Style

• Small group size (7 people max!)

• Medium activity level (expect some walking, light hiking, stairs, and uneven terrain)

• Balance of structured tours and free time

• This is considered a tour

ACCOMMODATIONS

• We’ll stay in 3-4 star level hotels, as well as local B&Bs and guesthouses

• These locations are centrally located in Dublin, Belfast, and Galway

• Handpicked for charm, comfort, and Irish character

Meals

• Breakfast included daily

• Free evenings to enjoy authentic Irish pubs, fresh seafood, or other great local places (with recommendations provided)

Who This Trip is For

• Travelers who love interacting with locals (there’s a lot of that on this trip!)

• People who want to get a feel for what it’s like to live in each of these places
• Tourists who love knowing their hard-earned dollars are benefitting Irish families and business owners directly

Itinerary

We’ll spend the first couple of days acclimating in Dublin, Ireland – which is where you’ll most likely fly in.

This trip has a theme, so we won’t be doing the typical tourist attractions.

Get ready to see a side of Ireland most Americans never see.

Saturday, March 14th, 2026

You’ll arrive into Dublin, Ireland!

If you’d like, there’s an option to have someone meet you at the airport.

Otherwise, you can take an Uber or use public transportation to get to Dublin City Center.

As much as you’ll want to sleep, fight the urge! You’ll need to stay up to fight jet lag.

We’re making it fun, though!

Here’s a rough itinerary for the first day:

• Walking Tour
  You’ll enjoy a light walking tour of the city to help you get your bearings.
• Trad Music
  We’ll visit a historic and iconic pub with live “trad” (traditional) music. It’s a great place to get your first pint of Guinness, or your first Irish whiskey!
• Pub Dinner
  The group will have dinner together at the oldest pub in Dublin (it’s over 800 years old!).

Sunday, March 15th, 2026

Wicklow Mountain National Park is just so pretty, and visiting the monastic site is like stepping back in time.

I can’t wait for you to see it.  I’ll be right there getting great photos and video clips for you.

• Glendalough Lake
  Get stunning photos of you by a beautiful, Irish lake (the same on featured as a fjord in the show Vikings)
• Monastic Settlement
  Sneak a peek at what Ireland would have looked and felt like during the early days of Christianity on the island.
• Kilkenny Castle
  Visit a real castle, and see how the whole city of Kilkenny was built around it.
• Sheepdog Demonstration
  Sheepdog work is an Irish tradition. And on this day, you’ll get to see it in action!

Monday, March 16th, 2026

On this trip, we’re committed to helping you experience Ireland like a local would.

And one favorite local hangout, is Howth.

We’ll visit Howth for the day to fully take in and enjoy this seaside town.

Then, we’ll meet a local for a guided cliff walk (light hike).

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026

We’ll take in everything this electric day has to offer!

You’ll watch the famous St. Patrick’s Day parade live and in-person.

Then, we’ll enjoy the day at a nearby pub with other revelers.

After the festivities, you’ll get free time to explore Dublin on your own.

Wednesday, March 18th, 2026

On Wednesday morning, we’ll check out of our hotel in Dublin and head towards Killarney in County Kerry.

You’ll have free time to explore the town of Killarney.

Thursday, March 19th, 2026

This is when you’ll see some of the most beautiful scenery you’ll ever see in your life.

Together, we’ll be touring the Dingle Peninsula, Slea Head, and Inch Beach.

Then, you’ll have a free evening to catch up on sleep, or explore the town of Killarney.

Friday, March 20th, 2026

This is when we’ll finally tour the beautiful Ring of Kerry route.

It’s popular for a reason!

You’ll definitely want to have your good camera on this day.

Saturday, March 21st, 2026

You can’t come all the way to Ireland without seeing the Cliffs of Moher, so that’s exactly where we’ll be on this day.

If this isn’t your first time to Ireland, and you’ve already been to the Cliffs of Moher, then we’ll send you on an awesome tour of the Gap of Dunloe and beyond.

That evening, we’ll all come back together to swap stories and show each other photos of where we’ve been all day.

Sunday, March 22nd, 2026

If you’re departing from County Kerry, you’ll fly out from Shannon airport – 3-4 hours north of where we’ll be staying.

If you’re traveling on to Galway or Donegal, we’ll help you with directions.

Otherwise, you’ll join us as we head back to Dublin – which is where we’ll all part ways.

Traveler Requirements

You must have a passport that’s valid for at least six months after the last day of your travels.

You’ll also need full authorization to enter the Republic of Ireland (for where we start in Dublin), and the United Kingdom (for Derry, Belfast, and the rest of Northern Ireland).

What’s Included

✔️ 8 nights accommodation in handpicked hotels (prices listed are for double occupancy; single supplement available)
✔️ Daily breakfast from Sunday, March 15th through Sunday, March 22nd
✔️ Transportation throughout the tour, including scenic drives, transfers, and day trips
✔️ All guided tours and entrance fees listed in the main itinerary, unless otherwise indicated
✔️ Expert local guides in select destinations
✔️ Trip host from Heather & Stone to assist with pre-trip logistics, recommendations, and help you make the most of your experience
✔️ St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Dublin, including access to events and parades
✔️ Group welcome meet-up in Dublin and farewell breakfast in Killarney
✔️ Community connection – a small group experience designed to foster lasting friendships

What’s Not Included

✖ International airfare to/from/within Ireland
✖ Lunches and dinners (except where noted)
✖ Alcoholic beverages and personal extras
✖ Travel insurance (required for travelers participating in this tour)
✖ Passport and visa requirements (however, we offer this as an additional, optional service – see options at checkout)

Optional Extensions

• Want someone to meet you at the airport?
  Figuring out how to get to City Center can be a lot – especially when you’re tired and you’ve been traveling for 18 hours! We’ll send someone to meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel if you’d like.
• Departing later?
  We’d love to have you join us on our excursion to Howth! We’ll explore this cute seaside town together, then we’ll go on a cliff walk.
• Need help finding a great deal on a flight?
  Our travel experts would love to help. Just select the “Flight Research” extension at checkout.
• Traveling Ireland (or elsewhere in Europe!) before or after this tour?
  Hire us to help you plan the rest of your trip.

Pricing & Payment Plans

You have the option of paying in full here on this page.

At checkout, you’ll also see the option to setup a payment plan through PayPal, Affirm, Klarna, or AfterPay.

Meet Your Host

Heeey! I’m Brittany – the traveler behind Heather and Stone, and your host for this St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland tour.

Before the trip, I’ll be the main one you’re planning and coordinating with.

Then when we meet in-person, we’ll be traveling together as friends.

I’ve been to Ireland more times than I can count, and every visit reminds me why I fell in love with this country in the first place.

Over the years, I’ve taken friends and travelers to hidden spots they’d never have found in a guidebook, and I realized that’s what makes Ireland truly magical: the little villages, coastal walks, and ancient sites that most visitors miss.

I’m not just here to take you from place to place.

I’m here to help you experience Ireland the way I’ve come to know it.

Ireland has completely stolen my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with you.