Still Out There Co.STILL
OUT THERECO.New Year’s in Ireland ↗
Ireland trip overviewFull itinerary

December 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027

Ireland.
The week, day by day.

From the first introductions in Dublin to midnight in Dingle and one last breakfast together. Here’s where we’re going, what we’ll do, and where you’ll put your feet up along the way.

Start the journey
Travel artwork inspired by the colorful waterfront and fishing boats of Dingle, Ireland
Dingle · your home for New Year’s Eve
  • 8 days / 7 nights
  • Start & finish in Dublin
  • Private coach
  • Hosted by Steve + Doc’s Tours

THE ROUTE

A week worth
making room for.

Dublin · Donegal · Galway · Dingle · Kilkenny · Dublin

Big days out, time to wander, and good company along the way. Every day below includes the plan, your hotel, and what’s included at mealtimes.

Destination artwork illustrates the planned experience. Venues and the order of stops may change.

Illustration of travelers meeting beside a coach with their luggage in Ireland
The first introductions · the start of the week
Where you’ll stay
The Abbey Hotel, Donegal · night 1 of 2
At the table
Welcome dinner included. Lunch in Eskra is at your own expense. Included hotel breakfasts begin tomorrow.
The pace
Arrival and coach travel, with a sightseeing stop. An easy first evening is always an option.
DAY 01

Dublin to Donegal

This is where the group chat becomes real life.

  • Dublin pickups
  • Eskra lunch stop
  • Ulster American Folk Park
  • Welcome dinner & music

Meet the group

We collect the group at Dublin Airport, with a second pickup in Dublin city centre for anyone who arrives early. Land before 10:00 a.m. on December 27, or come in the night before. Meet Steve, your local guide and driver, collect your Still Out There traveler pack, and settle into the private coach. Everyone is new to someone. That’s a rather good place to start.

Northwest to Donegal

We stop for lunch in Eskra, then visit the Ulster American Folk Park, an open-air museum exploring Irish emigration and the journey to America. After a chance to stretch your legs and explore, we continue to Donegal and check into The Abbey Hotel for two nights.

Your first Irish evening

Gather for our included welcome dinner in Donegal, with The Reel Inn on the plan for dinner and live music. Learn a few names, share a few stories, and see where the evening takes you. If jet lag makes an early exit appealing, your hotel is waiting.

The current plan lists live music at The Reel Inn at 7:00 p.m. Exact pickup instructions and final evening arrangements will be shared before departure.

Back to the top
Travel artwork inspired by Slieve League’s steep sea cliffs above the Atlantic in Donegal
Slieve League · a very good reason to look up
Where you’ll stay
The Abbey Hotel, Donegal · night 2 of 2
At the table
Breakfast included. Lunch at The Rusty Mackerel, dinner, and drinks are separate.
The pace
Coastal sightseeing with an optional rugged hike. No hotel change today.
DAY 02

Slieve League & Donegal

Ireland has decided to show off.

  • Slieve League
  • Optional Pilgrim’s Path
  • The Rusty Mackerel
  • A second Donegal evening

Out to the Atlantic

After breakfast at The Abbey Hotel, we head to Slieve League. Think a vast Atlantic horizon, steep mountain slopes, and views that make the conversation stop for a minute. Donegal is giving us a proper introduction to the Wild Atlantic Way.

A walk, then a warm lunch stop

The optional Pilgrim’s Path hike is planned for those who want a more demanding walk, subject to conditions. It’s a rugged route, so bring suitable walking shoes or hiking boots. After our time at the cliffs, we stop at The Rusty Mackerel for lunch at your own expense.

Back to your Donegal home

Return to the same hotel for a second night, with dinner left open. McCafferty’s is the itinerary’s dinner recommendation. Your host will help you find live music and good company in town; join the evening or enjoy some time to yourself.

Cliff access and the optional hike depend on weather and safe conditions. The Pilgrim’s Path is not a required part of the day.

Back to the top
Travel artwork inspired by Galway’s warmly lit streets and pubs in the evening
Galway · follow the music
Where you’ll stay
The Harbour Hotel, Galway · 1 night
At the table
Breakfast and group dinner at M. Fitzgerald’s included. Lunch in Cong and drinks are separate.
The pace
A full coach and sightseeing day, followed by an optional night out.
DAY 03

Donegal to Galway

Big landscapes. A lively little city.

  • Benbulbin scenic drive
  • Kylemore Abbey
  • Cong
  • M. Fitzgerald’s & The Quays

Benbulbin & Kylemore Abbey

Breakfast, checkout, and a journey south through scenery that makes a window seat a very good choice. We begin with a scenic drive around Benbulbin, then continue to Kylemore Abbey, set against the mountains beside its lake.

A little time in Cong

Our lunch stop is Cong, the village associated with The Quiet Man. Find something to eat, wander the village lanes, and enjoy a slower moment between sightseeing stops. Then we continue to Galway and check into The Harbour Hotel.

Dinner, then The Quays

Our included group dinner is planned at M. Fitzgerald’s. Afterward, join your host for an optional evening in Galway’s live-music and pub scene, beginning at The Quays. By now, choosing who to sit beside is getting considerably easier.

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Illustration of travelers looking across the Atlantic from Ireland’s dramatic west-coast cliffs
The west coast · scenery worth stopping for
Where you’ll stay
The Dingle Skellig Hotel · night 1 of 2
At the table
Breakfast included. Lunch, dinner, and drinks are at your own expense.
The pace
A coach and sightseeing day with a ferry crossing. Free time after arrival.
DAY 04

Galway to Dingle

The long way to a very good New Year’s.

  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Shannon Ferry
  • Dingle arrival
  • Free evening

The Cliffs of Moher

Leave Galway after breakfast and head for the Cliffs of Moher. We make time for the Atlantic views before continuing south. You may have seen the photographs; standing there with the wind in your jacket is a different experience.

Across the Shannon

Cross the River Shannon by ferry and continue toward Dingle, in Ireland’s Gaeltacht. The journey brings us into a landscape of coastal roads, small towns, and a strong Irish-language and musical tradition. Check into The Dingle Skellig Hotel, our base for the next two nights.

Make Dingle your own

Dinner is yours to choose tonight. Explore the town, find a seafood restaurant or a cozy pub, and settle into the place where you’ll welcome 2027. There’s no need to fit everything into this evening. Tomorrow belongs to Dingle too.

The coastal stops and ferry arrangements may change with weather and operating conditions.

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Travel artwork inspired by Kilkenny’s historic stone streets and warmly lit pubs
Kilkenny · the first evening of a new year
Where you’ll stay
The Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel · 1 night
At the table
Breakfast included. Lunch, your choice of dinner in Kilkenny, and drinks are separate.
The pace
Coach travel, a hosted pub visit, and a city walking tour.
DAY 06

Dingle to Kilkenny

A new year. A very personal welcome.

  • Carmody’s family pub
  • Local live music
  • Davy Holden walking tour
  • Kilkenny evening

A family stop at Carmody’s

After breakfast, we leave Dingle for Kilkenny with a stop at Carmody’s Pub in Hospital, County Limerick. This tiny house pub belongs to Steve’s cousins, and the group is expected. A private welcome and local live music make this one of the most personal experiences of the week.

Kilkenny, with a storyteller

Continue to Kilkenny and check into The Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel. Our plan includes a walking history tour with Irish historian, musician, and storyteller Davy Holden. It’s a chance to get to know the city through someone who knows how to tell its stories.

The year is only getting started

Choose your own dinner spot in town. Later, join the optional host-led pub evening, planned to begin at Syd Harkin’s and finish at Matt the Millers. Or take your first early night of 2027. Both are perfectly respectable plans.

The guide, walking-tour timing, and evening venues are subject to final arrangements.

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Illustration of a group of friends walking together on the Irish coast
Fresh air, good company · one more coastal walk
Where you’ll stay
The Temple Bar Hotel, Dublin · 1 night
At the table
Breakfast and farewell dinner at The Norseman included. Lunch and drinks are separate.
The pace
Coach travel and a coastal walk, followed by dinner and an optional evening out.
DAY 07

Kilkenny, Howth & Dublin

One last coast. One more night together.

  • Howth Cliff Walk
  • Temple Bar Hotel
  • The Norseman dinner
  • Dublin live music

A detour to the sea

After breakfast and checkout, we head toward Dublin via Howth. This seaside village gives us one more stretch of coast, with a planned walk along the Howth cliff paths. The route and extent of the walk will follow the conditions on the day.

Into Temple Bar

Continue into Dublin and check into The Temple Bar Hotel for our final night. We’re back where the journey began, with considerably more shared stories than we had on the first morning.

A proper farewell

Our included farewell dinner is planned at The Norseman. After dinner, join your host for a final evening of live music in the Temple Bar district. Swap the photos, revisit the best moments, and make those plans to see each other again.

The Howth walk depends on weather and safe path conditions. Wear suitable footwear for uneven outdoor paths.

Back to the top
A group photograph beside a touring coach from Steve’s previous travels
Good company has always been the point · Steve’s past travels
Where you’ll stay
Trip ends today · no overnight accommodation on January 3
At the table
Breakfast included. No group lunch or dinner included.
The pace
Departure day. Your airport transfer and any onward plans are independent.
DAY 08

Dublin departure

Same group chat. Different time zones.

  • Final hotel breakfast
  • Independent airport transfer
  • Optional trip extension

One last breakfast

Breakfast at The Temple Bar Hotel is included, then the official trip comes to a close. Say your goodbyes, check that the best photos made it into the group chat, and make sure the packing still leaves room for your Still Out There hoodie.

Homeward, or a little further

There is no group coach transfer today. Arrange your own journey to Dublin Airport by taxi, ride share, or airport bus; your host can point you in the right direction. If you’d like to extend your stay, Still Out There and Doc’s Tours can help arrange extra nights or onward travel at additional cost.

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YOUR HOMES FOR THE WEEK

Good days.
Proper beds.

Seven nights across five stops. Two-night stays in Donegal and Dingle give you a little more time to settle in.

2NIGHTS

Donegal

The Abbey Hotel

Dec 27 & 28

1NIGHT

Galway

The Harbour Hotel

Dec 29

2NIGHTS

Dingle

The Dingle Skellig Hotel

Dec 30 & 31

1NIGHT

Kilkenny

The Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel

Jan 1

1NIGHT

Dublin

The Temple Bar Hotel

Jan 2

Planned hotels are subject to final arrangements. Shared rooms and same-gender roommate matching are available, with a private-room option at additional cost.

A LITTLE FORWARD PLANNING

The details that
make it easier.

Your trip is personally hosted by Steve Dispensa, with Doc’s Tours handling the operating logistics.

Getting there

Arrive in Dublin before 10:00 a.m. on December 27, 2026, or come a day early. From North America, that usually means an overnight flight departing December 26. We offer scheduled pickups at Dublin Airport and in the city centre; we’ll share the exact meeting instructions before the trip.

Getting home

The final hotel night is January 2 in Dublin. The trip finishes after breakfast on January 3. Your transfer from The Temple Bar Hotel to Dublin Airport is at your own expense. Flights, extra hotel nights, and any independent travel are also separate.

The pace of the week

Expect coach journeys between towns, city walking, steps, and uneven coastal paths. Pilgrim’s Path is optional, and outdoor plans depend on conditions. Bring layers, a waterproof outer layer, and suitable walking shoes. Talk to us before booking if you have mobility or support questions.

Your evenings, your call

Four group dinners bring everyone together. Other dinners and nights out leave room to choose your own pace. Join the live music, stay for one drink, or enjoy an early night. Shared-room guests can use same-gender roommate matching; private rooms are available at a supplement, subject to availability.

Included in your week

  • Seven hotel nights
  • Private coach along the planned route
  • Hotel breakfast every morning, Dec 28–Jan 3
  • Four group dinners: Donegal, Galway, Dingle & Dublin
  • Scheduled sightseeing and admissions
  • Still Out There traveler pack
  • Hosting by Steve, with Doc’s Tours operations

Budget separately for

Flights, travel insurance, lunches, the other three dinners, drinks, private-room supplements, independent activities, personal expenses, extra nights, and your January 3 airport transfer are separate.

See the trip overview & room options

COME SOLO. NOT ALONE.

You could be in the next group photo.

€2,830 per person sharing · optional private room +€700, subject to availability. Current availability, payment requirements, and booking terms are shown on WeTravel.

Check availability & bookTalk it through with Steve
Back to the Ireland trip overview