Emerald Isle Adventure

Join Region 12 and Torque Events for the Emerald Isle Adventure: a 7 night driving tour of Ireland starting in Cork on Saturday 31st May and culiminating in Dublin on Saturday 7th June 2025. The trip includes 7 nights accommodation in 4/5 star hotels on half board.

Pre Trip Information
The tour officially starts in Cork on Saturday 31st May. The ferry crossing is not included in the price of the trip to allow for flexibility should you wish to extend your stay or start earlier. For your information, we will be staying in Holyhead at the 4 star
Trearddur Bay Hotel on Friday 30th May. You are welcome to book direct with the hotel and join us.

We are currently liasing with Irish Ferries to secure a group rate for the crossing and we will keep everyone who books, updated with these details. There is also an Irish Ferries discount for PCGB members, check out the member discounts page. For those travelling independantly we will meet up at our start point hotel in Cork for dinner on the Saturday evening. 

ITINERARY

Saturday 31st May
Cork
Fota Island Hotel and Spa
On arrival in Dublin from your ferry, we have created an excellent route incorporating one of the best drives of Ireland. You may of course elect to take the shortest route directly to the hotel. However, Sally Gap is a mountain pass at an elevation of 500m (1,640ft) above sea level. From here you will make your way southwest onto Ireland’s Foodie Capital, Cork where your Torque team will be waiting to welcome you at the 5* luxury of Fota Island Hotel & Spa. As one of the very few resort hotels in Ireland, it is situated on its own private island amidst the tranquillity of Cork Harbour but just 15 mins drive from the hustle and bustle of Cork City. Cork is known as the culinary capital of Ireland, a city where you’re actively encouraged to gorge! And there’s no better introduction to Cork’s foodie scene than the fantastic English Market. It’s the oldest market of its kind in Europe and even got the royal seal of approval in 2011 when Queen Elizabeth II went on a walkabout of its artisan stalls. Feast on local cheeses, fresh seafood and chunks of handmade chocolate before rolling your way to the quirky Butter Museum where you’ll discover a surprisingly interesting take on one of Cork’s most historic industries. For the less culinary inclined, Cork is also home to the beautiful Blarney Castle and is the perfect starting point for our spectacular Wild Atlantic Way route.



Sunday 1st June
Killarney
Lake Hotel Killarney
Today we put on our driving shoes and head west onto the ring of Kerry. The iconic Ring of Kerry route takes us over winding roads past charming villages, pristine lakes, rugged coastline, and mountain vistas. En route we will be stopping off at various points, from majestic waterfalls and breathtaking beaches and even an opportunity to witness a live sheep dog demonstration along the way (subject to timings).
Our home for the evening is the Irish family owned and run, beautifully authentic Lake Killarney hotel. The hotel offers a traditional and warm Irish welcome in a truly magnificent setting. The charming town of Killarney is the place that launched a billion postcards. And now that postcards are a dying art form, it’s becoming the place that launched a billion tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram snaps. Simply put, this is the Grand Central Station of tourism for the southwest, a vibrant crossroads where paradise meets good old-fashioned fun.



Monday 2nd June
Galway
G Hotel
Today sees us rising slightly earlier to prepare for this epic day of driving. We now start to head North to the county of Galway, but not before heading onto the Burren Loop. The Burren 100-mile Scenic Loop Drive is a varied figure of 8 driving route through the Burren National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most dramatic and unique landscapes in the world. The Burren is a huge rocky karst pale grey limestone landscape in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland and on the Wild Atlantic Way.
After what promises to be an epic drive, we arrive at our home for the night The Luxurious 5 Star G Hotel of Galway.
Galway City is a thriving, bohemian, cultural city on the western coast of Ireland. Along with being a popular seaside destination with beautiful beaches and long winding promenade, it also has a buzzing cosmopolitan city centre. The city is a joy to explore with its labyrinthine cobbled streets, colourful shop facades and busy café/ bar culture. Take an evening stroll along the promenade and watch the sunset over Galway Bay or watch the salmon fishermen in the River Corrib from the perfect vantage point of the Salmon Weir Bridge.



Tuesday 3rd June
Donegal
Sandhouse Hotel
After yesterday’s stunning drive, the last thing to expect would be yet another! Well expect it you should, because today we continue North up to county Donegal. The N59 is a wonderfully flowing road with fast sections that continually coax you to keep a good pace. There is no need to break speeding laws to have fun either, as the limits are generously apportioned throughout. Safely keep up to the set maximum pace and we guarantee your drive will be thrilling at the wheel, a feat almost unheard of for public roads in entertaining modern sports cars. Take your eyes off the recurrently swivelling asphalt and you’ll be greeted by idyllic topography, with numerous lochs (there are at least 20 on the stretch from Galway to Clifden alone) sitting level with the road and quickly giving way to striking mountains reaching high into the clouds above.
Today's adventure comes to an end at the Sandhouse Hotel & Marine Spa on the spectacular sandy beachfront of Rossnowlagh in the town of Donegal. Referred to as the largest little village in Northwest Ireland, Donegal Town has around 3,000 inhabitants and marks the entryway to the untamed wilds of the county. Donegal Town offers a variety of shops and many options for both classic dining and takeaway. There are several highly rated hotels and nightly entertainment in many of the areas pubs. The town is vibrant with a unique culture and cosmopolitan offerings.



Wednesday 4th June
Letterkenny
Clanree Hotel
The Donegal County is possibly the most beautiful section of the iconic Atlantic coast and today we aim to see quite a bit of it, from the Slieve Cliffs and Assaranca Waterfalls to the jaw-droppingly stunning Fanad Head Lighthouse and beaches of Ballymastocker. As much as today will still be a fantastic drive, the stops and scenery will equally rival the drive.
If County Donegal is the “coolest place on the planet” – and according to National Geographic Traveller, it is – then its biggest town carries the same label. Nestled between the epic splendour of Donegal’s mountains and the glacial fjord of Lough Swilly, Letterkenny is a lively market town with a buzzing arts and culture scene, great places to eat, and some of the best traditional pubs on the island. This is where we find our home for the night at the Clanree Hotel



Thursday 5th June
Dublin via Giants Causeway
Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
Our driving tour is almost at an end, but not before we go and take a look at some more stunning landscapes! We head east now back into the United Kingdom into Northern Ireland to visit the world-famous Giants Causeway. Stand on the hills that gently arc this unique place and you’ll look down on thousands of basalt columns tumbling down into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an epic sight, with a whopping 40,000 or so of these hexagonal-shaped stepping stones, which date back to a volcanic age almost 60 million years ago.
Dublin is a city that's as intimate as a village and as friendly as an Irish pub. Framed by mountains, centred on a river and edged by a beautiful bay, the city's streets and alleys are filled with vibrant art and historic buildings, hip cafés and traditional "old man" pubs, as Dubliners call them. Walk the streets and you'll feel the energy of over 1,000 years of history, as echoes of the Vikings mix with buzzing boutiques, cobbled streets reverberate with the sounds of buskers, and 18th century parks play host to festivals, film and food markets. Our final stay for the next 2 nights of our adventure is the 18th century 4 star luxury Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, minutes from Killiney Beach, with panoramic views over Dublin Bay and beyond.



Friday 6th June
Dublin
Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel
The following morning, we’ll take the Dart into the heart of the city where you will be free to explore Ireland's capital. Or perhaps just relax in the castles ground or make use of the hotels pool and spa.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a visit to the Guinness Storehouse Located at St James’s Gate in the heart of Dublin City, the home of Ireland's most iconic beer. Crowned 'World's Leading Tourist Attraction' 2023, The Guinness Storehouse invites guests to savour the sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas of Guinness. Journey through seven floors, discovering the ingredients, history, and advertising of Guinness before finishing your tour at one of Dublin's highest points, the Gravity Bar. 
Here our tour sadly ends as you enjoy one final night in Dublin before heading back home.



BOOKING INFORMATION
Spaces are limited to 17 cars

Prices are per room, on a half-board basis (breakfast and dinner)
£2,800 Double Occupancy (Double or Twin)
£2,275 Single Occupancy

£500 deposit due on booking 
Balance will be due 90 days ahead of trip
 
Disclaimer: Hotels are provisional until full recce is undertaken in September and Torque Events reserve the right to substitute a hotel for one of similar quality if one is not deemed suitable.

Torque Events Limited
Steve and Benn from Torque Events Limited will be looking after us on the tour and will be hosting us as we travel.  Both are Ex-Military and as such, have an eye for detail and planning but more importantly, they have been conducting driving events and tours for the past 14 years.  They founded the Rally for Heroes event and now run its successor, A Driving Force for SSAFA, taking 50 cars on a 10-day tour whilst raising money for Military charities.  They are very well qualified and experienced to ensure that we have the best possible experience.  Having spoken to them on several occasions, they are both brimming with passion and enthusiasm for what they do whilst being very approachable.
Torque Events is fully insured as Tour Organisers giving us peace of mind both before and during the event. They will also:

• Carry out all the planning and preparation in advance of the Tour including liaison and communication with us as required.
• Provide a Welcome Pack and detailed Road book, which will also be a keepsake
• Loan us professional radios and charging stations for the event
• Provide Google Map routes to everyone via the setup WhatsApp groups as well as providing live updates should any changes be required
• Deal with Risk Management should any incidents arise
• Provide a roaming guide during the tour to ensure the entire group reaches its destination
• Provide a personal meet and greet concierge service so no queueing at reception
• Deal with management of all the Hotels, so we do not have to
• Organise all extra activities as chosen by us.
• Help create a team ethos through involvement and communication
• Provide a relaxing and positive atmosphere to enhance our enjoyment of the tour.