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This fantastic knitting and crochet holiday includes expert-led workshops, as well as the discovery of stunning scenery and traditional crafts on Ireland’s west coast. Explore the charming city of Galway and visit the Leenane Sheep and Wool Centre, amidst the Connemara landscape. Knitting schools were established across Ireland in the 1600's, cementing the craft as a key part of Irish life. It later became a huge source of income for many people, thanks to an abundance of wool, and the distinctive design of Aran sweaters became a symbol of Ireland. A full-day excursion takes us to the smallest of the Aran Islands, providing a chance to learn about Aran knitting the Inis Oírr way.
Please choose your preferred 6 day itinerary
Please Note: Flight-inclusive packages are available at an extra cost, with flights from London Heathrow to Shannon and one piece of checked-in luggage included.
Workshop information: Twist and transfer your stitches to create a Celtic cable cowl or scarf. Taking our inspiration from the iconic Aran sweater, we will work through the techniques used to make traditional cable designs. With the choice of either knit or crochet, we will look at how to move stitches across the fabric, how to twist stitches left and right, and how to add a textured relief pattern
Meet Carol and your tour manager at London Heathrow for your morning flight to Shannon. We'll visit the stunning Cliffs of Moher on route to the hotel.
This morning's excursion takes us to Galway where we will visit Knitwits, Galway's largest yarn store, and enjoy a guided walking tour through the historic winding streets of this colourful and cultural city. We will return to the hotel this afternoon for our first workshop.
We will travel to Ros a Mhil and catch the ferry to Inis Oírr this morning. It is the smallest of the Aran Islands, renowned for their preservation of the traditional ways of life. After a wandering wagon tour of the island, we meet with a local knitting expert to knit a simple project with an Aran design inspired by the Inis Oírr landscape
A full day of knitting or crochet under the guidance of our expert with both morning and afternoon workshops at the hotel
Beyond Galway lies the cultural region of Connemara. Here we will visit Kylemore Abbey and the Leenane Sheep and Wool Centre for an insight into the importance of textiles to Connemara's past. Discover the history of sheep farming and learn about the methods of spinning and weaving as you see wheels and looms dating back to the turn of the last century.
We enjoy our final workshop with our expert at the hotel this morning. In the afternoon, we transfer to Shannon airport for our return flight to London Heathrow.
Tour Notes: You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness to get the most out of this holiday. On excursion days you will need to walk a short distance from the hotel to the coach and you should be able to board the coach unaided. On arrival at the excursion destination, you should be able to alight the coach unaided and there may be a walk between the coach drop off point and the excursion venue. By their nature, walking tours, museum visits etc involve being on your feet for a significant amount of time. Whilst our excursions are taken at a leisurely pace, for the enjoyment of everyone in the group you should be able to keep up with your fellow travellers.
You will stay for five nights at the Galway Bay Hotel.
This 4-star hotel is set on the shores of Galway Bay, one of Ireland’s most scenic locations. With beautiful views over the Bay and Clare Hills, this award-winning hotel is also just 5 minutes from Galway City. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool, massage fountain and the leisure centre, which features a fully equipped modern gym and sauna. Health and beauty treatments are also available. Full Irish breakfasts are served each morning, and the AA Rosette Bay Brasserie serves modern Irish cuisine with fresh fish and local produce.
Single Room Supplement from £560.00