Jean in San Diego

 
WELCOME
TOURS
Blog
LATEST NEWS
GIFTS & TREATS
WOMENSWEAR
MENSWEAR
CHILDRENSWEAR
HOMEWARES
WORKSHOPS
BOOKS
KNITBITS
FREE PATTERN
ABOUT JEAN
GET IN TOUCH
LINKS
Facebook
Twitter
Ravelry
 
 
 
Jean Moss Handknits, knitters' tours, workshops, patterns, kits and readymade

KNIT IRELAND
Thirteen nights 4-17 May 2013

Two last minute places available on this trip due to cancellation
20% discount!!!

Irish musicians Kerry Woollen Mill Book of Kells illuminated manuscript Dingle town
The craic Kerry Woollen Mill Book of Kells Dingle town

13-day tour of knitting, yarns, music and sights of the Emerald Isle
The Burren, Galway, Aran Islands, Connemara, Dublin, Killarney & The Dingle
Luxury accommodation in boutique hotels
DESIGNERS

Jean Moss Carol Feller
Jean Moss Carol Feller Anne O'Maille

RESERVE YOUR PLACE SO YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED
Pics from our Sept/Oct 2012 trip
The Burren
Galway
Inis Oirr, Aran
Clifden & Rosleague Manor
Dublin Nenagh & Kerry Woollen Mill
Killarney & The Dingle
If you would like to check out our tours with previous members before booking, there is a 
Travellers with Jean Moss groupon Ravelry
Highlights
of our 2011 tour of Morocco

Pics
of our May 2012 Lakes & York trip


PROGRAMME
Druid   Day 1
Meet at Shannon airport at 09.00. Lunch at spectacular Cliffs of Moyer. Scenic tour of the Burren ("botanical holy ground"), stopping off at Lisdoonvarna, (famous for its matchmaking festival), the prehistoric Poulnabrone dolmen and pretty Kinvara harbour en route to Galway city. Evening reception and Jean's illustrated talk, Behind the Scenes, then dinner at Park House Hotel.
     
Galway  

Day 2

Workshop on traditional Aran techniques with Ann O'Maille, co-owner of the first shop in the world to stock Aran sweaters. Afternoon to explore the compact medieval yet cosmopolitan and cultured city of Galway. Dinner at Ard Bia restaurant on bank of River Corrib. Time to take in some traditional Irish music for those who wish.
     
Aran Sweaters   Day 3
  Coach to Connemara Airport for flight to Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands. Waggon tour of the island, short film of island life and culture. Workshop with Una McDonagh, Aran Knitting the Inis Oirr Way. After pub lunch with trad music, ferry back to mainland and dinner at Park House.
     
Nancy's hat   Day 4
Coach through the stunning Connemara landscape to Rosleague Manor country house hotel close to Letterfrack. After Show & Share, a sumptuous dinner at the Manor.
     
In a Swirl Workshop  

Day 5

Workshop, In The Swirl, with Jean in the morning followed by free afternoon to relax, knit and explore the gardens and walk down to the sea.   Dinner at the Manor.
     
Heath_sheepdog_pup   Day 6
Morning visit to nearby Leenane Sheep and Wool Centre for an illustrated presentation on the Connemara wool industry past and present, followed byWild Colours, a yarn dyeing workshop using all the local plants. Also a chance to see a special sheepdog trial high on the hills overlooking Lough Na Fooey. Then time for some shopping in bustling and colourful Clifden. Dinner with music in a town pub.
     
Kylemoor Abbey   Day 7
Coach to Dublin where we will stay at Brooks Hotel superbly located in the heart of the city close to the shops, museums, galleries and pubs of Grafton Street, St Stephens Green and Temple Bar. En route we shall visit the spectacular Kylemore Abbey House, with its Victorian walled gardens. Dinner at Brooks.
     
Yeats_quote   Day 8

Open-top bus tour of Dublin - colourful street life, Georgian architecture, Trinity College, statues of Molly Malone and Oscar Wilde, St Patricks Cathedral, Kilmainham Gaol, Phoenix Park, Guinness Storehouse, Bewleys… and much more. Drop in to meet the Dublin Knitting Collective. Afternoon free for shopping. Dinner at Brooks.
     
Trinity College   Day 9
Sightseeing with visits to Trinity College, Book of Kells and the Guinness Storehouse. Complete the day with your own choice from Dublin's numerous museums, galleries and other historic buildings. Independent dining.
     
Polenta   Day 10
Jean's workshop, Peplums & Pleats, at This is Knit (just round the corner from our hotel) in the morning. Dinner at nearby foodie restaurant and emporium, Fallon & Byrne.
     
Kerry Woollen Mill   Day 11
Coach from Dublin to Killarney, with stops en route at the picturesque market towns of Nenagh and Adare. Visit Kerry Woollen Mills spinners and dyers of authentic Irish yarn. Settle in to Killarney Royal Hotel.
Dinner in the hotel.
     
Clifden   Day 12
Morning workshop, Beyond the Raglan: Seamless Knitting by Cork-based designer Carol Feller.
Afternoon trip, to Muckross House and gardens in Killarney National Park. Weather permitting a chance for a boat trip on the lake and/or a horse and trap jaunt. Dinner out at Johnny and Paddy McGuire's Bricin restaurant, where over dinner you'll be treated to Johnny's story of the house ghost and Paddy's fantastic soda bread, reputedly the best in Ireland!
     
O'FLAHERTY'S   Day 13
Day trip to remote and rugged Dingle Peninsula, the location for the David Lean film Ryans Daughter - wonderful scenery, prehistoric beehive huts, photogenic fishing port, local pottery and weaving. Lots of knitting and shopping possibilities. Coffee at the atmospheric Benners followed by pub lunch with traditional music rom Mazz and Fergus O'Flaherty! Chance to follow celebrities footsteps to the renowned and quaint Dick Mack's bar.  Dinner back at Killarney Royal.
     
Homeward bound   Day 14
Coach to Shannon Airport, arriving at 10am and farewell to the Emerald Isle.

The tour begins and ends at Shannon Airport with its excellent international routes including two early morning arrivals from JFK and Newark. We advise you to arrive at least one day early and we can put you in contact with a very hospitable local B&B, from where we can collect you on the first morning.

The Burren Jean with sheepdog pup Inch Beach Aran Islands
Poulnabrone Dolman Puppy at sheepdog demo Inch Beach Inis Oirr coast

PRICE

GB £2900 or US $4785 per person for twin or double room
(single supplement GB £595 / US $980)
Deposit GB £400 or US $660
5% discount for early booking 150 days before departure
10% discount for non-knitters

TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
13 nights luxury accommodation
13 delicious breakfasts, 11 dinners, 2 lunches

Tea and coffee during workshops
Hotel and coach tips
Coach and ferry transport within Ireland in the itinerary
Knitting tuition in all the workshops
Fees for guides, gardens, historical sites and places of interest
on the itinerary


Temple Bar, Dublin Jean Moss Seaside_mural



NON-KNITTING PARTNERS & FRIENDS
We very much welcome non-knitters. There is a wealth of activities for you while your partner or friend is knitting.  Hill walking, golf, horse riding, archaeology, pubs, music. museums and galleries, just hanging out and talking to the locals….and much more.

WHAT MAKES OUR TOURS REALLY SPECIAL?
We have personally researched and sampled every bit of our tours
We have run our tours for ten years and have a reputation for excellence
We aim to create a house party feel about our trips
We spend several nights in each location to allow you to settle in and feel at home
As well as good design and beauty we appreciate the quirky side of life
Where possible we love to get off the beaten track
Above all we want you to have a great time and a memorable knitting holiday!!!


Aran sweaters

Join us on the knitting holiday of a lifetime!
RESERVE YOUR PLACE HERE
email us to get more info, or phone/fax +44 (0) 1904 6462

Highlightsof our 2011 tour of Morocco


EXTRACTS FROM SONGS & SAYINGS ABOUT PLACES WE'LL BE VISITING

The Galway Shawl
She wore no jewels or costly diamonds
No paint or powder, no none at all
She wore a bonnet with a ribbon on it
And around her shoulder was the Galway shawl.
Traditional

Dingle Bay
And there's where the small birds sing high on the mountain
That furze dressed mountain, that valley or hill
There's where the wild eagle knows its own freedom,
And fishermen's boats make their way to Dingle Bay.
Brian Warfield

Lisdoonvarna
How's it goin' there everybody,
From Cork, New York, Dundalk, Gortahork and Glenamaddy.
Here we are in the County Clare
It's a long, long way from here to there.
There's the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher,
And the Tulla and the Kilfenora,
Miko Russell, Doctor Bill,
Willy Clancy and Noel Hill.
Flutes and fiddles everywhere.
If it's music you want,
You should go to Clare.
Christy Moore   

From Clare to Here
I sometimes hear a fiddle play or maybe it's a notion 
I dream I see white horses dance upon that other ocean 
It's a long way from Clare to here 
It's a long way from Clare to here 
It's a long, long way, it grows further by the day 
It's a long way from Clare to here 
Ralph McTell

Molly Malone
In Dublin's fair city,
Where the girls are so pretty,
I first laid my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
She wheels her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh!
James Yorkston

Killarney
No place else can charm the eye,
With such bright and varied tints,
Ev'ry rock that you pass by,
Verdure broiders or besprints.
Virgin there the green grass grows
Ev'ry morn Spring's natal day;
Brighthued berries daff the snows,
Smiling winter's frown away.
Angels often pausing there,
Doubt if Eden were more fair,
Beauty's home Killarney,
Heaven's reflex Killarney.
Traditional

Where the River Shannon flows
Where dear old Shannon's flowing
Where the three-leaved shamrock's grows
Where my heart is I am going to my little Irish rose
And the moment that I meet her
With a hug and kiss I'll greet her
For there's not a colleen sweeter where the River Shannon flows.
Traditional

When I die Dublin will be written in my heart.”
James Joyce

Any Kerryman will tell you that there are only two Kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry -
"One is not of this world and the other is out of this world" 
Unknown

I can't think of a case where poems changed the world, but what they do is they change people's understanding
of what's going on in the world.
Seamus Heaney

Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness
- the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living.
Sean O'Casey

Jean Moss Handknits, 17 Clifton Dale, York YO30 6LJ, UK, phone/fax +44 (0)1904 646282 email moss@dircon.co.uk