GAME OF THRONES' ITINERARY - In association with Moloney & Kelly Travel
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‘GAME OF THRONES’ ITINERARY
In association with Moloney & Kelly Travel
Day 1 – Fáilte go hÉireann
Arrive in Dublin Airport and transfer to Dublin City Centre.
Dublin has all the attractions of a modern city, combined with the beauty and heritage of the past.
Even though it has shown recent signs of slowing down, "the Celtic Tiger" - the nickname given to
the roaring Irish economy - has turned Dublin into a boomtown. Elegant shops, hotels, galleries,
art-house cinemas, coffee houses and a stunning variety of restaurants have sprung up on
almost every street in the capital. Roughly half of the Irish Republic's population of 3.6 million
people live in Dublin and its suburbs.
Other notable sights of the city are Dublin Castle, Jameson Distillery, Kilmainham Goal, Guinness
Storehouse, General Post Office, Custom House, Four Courts, Christchurch Cathedral and Georgian
Dublin with its' beautiful 18th century houses and squares.
Enjoy a visit to Trinity College which is a
must see when in Dublin. Trinity College was
founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I to
‘civilise’ Dublin and is Ireland’s oldest and
most famous college. Ireland’s largest
collection of books and manuscripts is housed
in the Trinity College Library. It’s principle
treasure is the 8th century hand-illuminated
Book of Kells, generally considered the most
striking manuscript ever produced in the
Anglo-Saxon world and one of the greatest
masterpieces of early Christian art.
Next visit St Patrick's Cathedral, named after the Patron Saint of Ireland who on his journey
through Ireland is said to have passed through Dublin. In a well close to where the cathedral now
stands, he is reputed to have baptized converts from paganism to Christianity. To commemorate his
visit, a small wooden church was built on this site and in 1191 St Patrick's was raised to the status
of cathedral, and the present building, the largest church in the country, was erected between
1200 and 1270. The writer and satirist Jonathan Swift was Dean here from 1713-45 and his grave
and epitaph are situated near the entrance of the cathedral.
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Overnight Accommodation: Brooks Hotel, Dublin City
Day 2 – Dublin to Belfast
This morning depart Dublin and head northwards.
Visit Trim Castle which was used to film the York
and London scenes for Braveheart. Trim Castle,
the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, was
constructed over a thirty-year period by Hugh de
Lacy and his son Walter. Hugh de Lacy was
granted the Liberty of Meath by King Henry II in
1172 in an attempt to curb the expansionist
policies of Richard de Clare, (Strongbow).
Construction of the massive three storied Keep,
the central stronghold of the castle, was begun c.
1176 on the site of an earlier wooden fortress.
This massive twenty-sided tower, which is
cruciform in shape, was protected by a ditch,
curtain wall and moat.
Next you will visit the nearby Brú na Boinne and Newgrange. The archaeological landscape within
Brú na Bóinne is dominated by the three well-known large passage tombs, Knowth, Newgrange and
Dowth, built some 5,000 years ago in the Neolithic or Late Stone Age.
You can visit the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre which tells the history of the region and either
Newgrange or Knowth burial passages
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Access to the monuments at Newgrange and Knowth is
only by guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
on the south side of the river Boyne.
The Knowth site consists of a large mound (Site 1) and 18
smaller satellite mounds. The large mound covering a
hectare contains two passages, placed along an east-west
line. The passages are independent of each other and
each lead to a burial chamber. The eastern passage leads
to a cruciform chamber, similar to that found at
Newgrange. It contains three recesses and basin stones
into which the cremated remains of the dead may have
been placed.
Continue on to Belfast for the night.
Overnight Accommodation: Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast
Day 3 – Belfast City & Game of Thrones
Today enjoy a day tour of Belfast City, including some of the city’s landmarks such as the City Hall
and the Queens University.
Visit The Titanic Belfast Experience; a dramatic, innovative and exciting presentation of the real
story of the Titanic. This state-of-the-art exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the life of
the Titanic, from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, to her famous maiden voyage and
tragic end.
After lunch travel from Belfast to the northeast shores of Lough Neagh and Shane’s Castle. Here
visit the first of numerous film locations in Northern Ireland of the Game of Thrones.
Built in 1345 by a member of the royal house of O’Neill, the ruins of Shane’s Castle and its 2600-
acre demesne near Randalstown was the scene of extensive filming for the Game of Thrones
series
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Follow the Causeway Coastal Route, one of the world’s great road journeys. Retracing your steps
along the M2 (before branching onto the A2) you follow the Causeway Coastal Route through
Carrickfergus with its imposing castle dominating the town’s skyline. Continue along the coast road
to the port town of Larne.
Four miles outside of Larne, near the village of Ballygally lies Cairncastle the location for many
other scenes from Game of Thrones. Cairncastle has its own tale of the nobleman supposedly
drowned along the coastline in 1588 as part of the ill-fated Spanish Armada.
Return to Belfast.
Overnight Accommodation: Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast
Day 4 – Belfast to Bushmills
Today your first stop will be in the picturesque Glenarm. With pitched battles between would-be
rulers of Westeros a frequent subject matter for Game of Thrones it’s fitting that day one should
end in a village whose name is taken from the Irish Gleann Arma, meaning Valley Of The Army. You
might whish to visit Glenarm Castle or Glenarm Forest Park.
From Glenarm head west to Ballymoney, to see one of the most captivating sites along the North
Coast - The Dark Hedges. Planted in the 18th Century, these fascinating Beech trees have grown
over the years to almost intertwine with each other and are favorites with photographers and
painters. It even has its own ghostly background, adding a further air of magical mystery to it, this
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
doubt added to its appeal in regard to the G.O.T producers,
and leaving viewers in awe with the closing shots in season
two.
Travelling through Coleraine on the banks of the River Bann,
it’s time to follow the Causeway Coastal Route signs past
Castlerock and on to Downhill Strand. This beautiful beach
was used as the set for the burning of the seven old gods of
Westeros on Dragonstone, in series two.
Standing proudly on a rocky outcrop is the iconic Mussendun
Temple, built in 1785 as a summer library and modelled on the
Temple of Vista in Italy. The beach below is Dragonstone,
where the Seven Idols of Westeros were burned and Melisandre, flames dancing into the night sky,
proclaimed: “For the night is dark and full of terrors.”
Continue on to Larrybane in the very north of County Antrim. Larrybane, meaning ‘the ancient white
site’, is classic Storms End with its panoramic views of the limestone cliffs and ocean. It hosted
several key scenes, including where Brienne beats Ser Loras in a tourney and is given a place in
Renly’s Kingsguard as a reward.
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Next visit a sight that has not been a film location of Game of Thrones, however is a very popular
spot in Northern Ireland.
A short coastal footpath leads to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. Traditionally fishermen
erected the bridge to Carrick-a-Rede island over a 23m-deep and 20m-wide chasm to check their
salmon nets. Today visitors are drawn here simply to take the rope bridge challenge!
Once you reach Carrick Island, the reward is seeing the diverse birdlife and an uninterrupted view
across to Rathlin Island and Scotland. There is only one way off the island - back across the
swinging bridge! Don't look down!
Continue on to Bushmills.
Overnight Accommodation: Bushmills Inn, Bushmills
Day 5 –Bushmills Distillery, Giant’s Causeway & Derry
Bushmills is home to Ireland’s oldest working distillery and the oldest licensed distillery in the
world where historical records refer to a distillery here as early as 1276.
Here at Bushmills Distillery you can enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and the processes of
mashing, fermentation, distillation and blending. Once you have learnt a little about how the whiskey
is made, you get the chance to enjoy a glass!!
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
No visit of the north is complete without calling in to The Giant’s Causeway. These 40,000 stone
columns, mostly hexagonal, formed millions of years ago with the cooling of molten lava. In addition
to their sheer number, what makes the columns so fascinating is their uniformity. It is as if the
columns were carved by human hands, or perhaps truly by a giant. Exploring the cobblestone-like
paths, it will be easy to see why Giant’s Causeway is a World Heritage Site, a National Site and a
National Nature Reserve.
Continue on to Derry for your next overnight.
Overnight Accommodation: Radisson Blu Roe Park Hotel, Derry
Day 6 – Derry to Donegal
This morning enjoy a guided walking tour of the walled city of Derry. Arrive in Derry City. Listen
to the history of the Walls of Derry, constructed in 1613 – 1618. Hear the history of the city,
taking you back to the 6th century in early Christian times. Visit Columbs Cathedral en route and
finish the tour visiting the Guildhall. The Guildhall was originally built in 1887 by The Honourable
The Irish Society and was officially opened in July 1890. Bombed twice in 1972, the building was
refurbished and reopened in 1977. Fashioned in neo gothic style it is one of the most striking
buildings in the northwest.
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Columbs Cathedral City Centre Water Fountains & Guild Hall
Leaving Derry you will travel to Donegal, where you can visit Glenveagh National Park and
Glenveagh Castle.
The Glenveagh National Park is more that 15,000 hectares of mountains, lakes, glens and woods,
together with Nature trails where you might be known to find some red deer! This park is Ireland’s
largest and most beautiful parks centring around a breath-taking lake.
However the Centrepiece of the park is the Gothic Castle, Glenveagh Castle. Built in the 1870’s by
John George Adair, a man who was born in County Laois, but who made his fortune in the United
States. He had a castle designed to resemble Balmoral, Queen Victoria's Scottish highland
residence, with a four-story keep and turrets made of thick granite, and placed it in estate of over
40,000 acres. Two other Americans who later owned the castle would add to its size and grandeur,
creating one of Europe’s most enchanting settings in a place of solitude. The Castle is surrounded
by a most beautiful garden where roses and rhododendrons abound.
Drive by the nearby Glenties, where Brian Friel’s play “Dancing at Lughnasa” was filmed.
Arrive in Donegal.
Overnight Accommodation: Harvey’s Point Hotel, Donegal
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
Day 7 – Donegal to Dublin
This morning commence your return journey to
Dublin. Travelling south through the Fermanagh
Lake District, visit Castle Coole, a magnificent
18th- century mansion and landscape park.
Castle Coole is one of Ireland's finest Neo-
classical houses, allowing visitors to glimpse
what life was like in the home of the Earls of
Belmore. The interior of the house was created
by some of the leading craftsmen of the late
18th century with chimney pieces carved by
Westmacott, plasterwork created by Rose,
scagliola columns and pilasters created by
Bartoli.
Next visit nearby Marble Arch Caves, one of
Europe's finest showcaves with a fascinating
natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls,
winding passages and lofty chambers.
Lively and informative guides conduct tours
past a bewildering variety of cave formations
- stalactites glisten above streamways and
chambers while fragile mineral veils and
cascades of creamy calcite coat walls and
spread as shimmering terraces across rock
strewn floors.
Overnight: Brooks Hotel Dublin
Day 8 – Farewell
Slán Abhaile. Transfer to Dublin Airport for your return flight home.
40 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Tel: + 353 1 6909450 Fax: + 353 1 6909499. www.moloneykelly.com.
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