Summer Excursion to south-east Co. Tipperary led by Mr Conleth Manning, RSAI Past President

15 – 17 June 2025

This year we are pleased to invite members who are interested in an active and outdoor excursion to take part in a three-day, two-night trip to south-east Co. Tipperary. We offer organised transport throughout.

The current schedule for the three-day (two-night) excursion is as follows:

Day 1: Bus will depart from Society House at 10 am. Our first stop will be the monastic site of Liathmore. After lunch, Dr. Tomás Ó Carragáin will speak to us at Toureen Peakaun in the Glen of Aherlow  on his excavations at this important early ecclesiastical site. Some moderate walking will be required. We will then travel to our base for the three days: Talbot Hotel in Clonmel. Sunday night dinner to be organised independently, early bookings are recommended. For those looking for some adventure before dinner, there will be a short walk to to St Patrick’s Well.

Day 2:  This will be a busy day visiting sites in the area, starting with the village of Kilsheelan. Next on the itinerary: the historic Kilcash Church and Castle. After lunch, we will depart for Knockroe – the Neolithic passage tomb, where Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan will speak to us about his excavations there. If time permits we will visit Kilkieran to view the ancient crosses, before returning to the Hotel for a group dinner.

Day 3: We start the day by visiting The Main Guard – a  seventeenth-century courthouse and market house and one of Clonmel’s most distinctive landmarks. We will then take a short walk to the nearby County Museum. After lunch, we will visit the Famine Warhouse near Ballingarry, where Prof. William Nolan will speak to us, after which we depart for Dublin.

As always, excursion programmes are subject to change due to weather and other circumstances. As this excursion will primarily take place outdoors please ensure that you have appropriate waterproof clothing and that you are prepared for walking on rough terrain. The cost of the excursion is €450 for members (€500 for guests) which covers: two nights’ bed and breakfast at The Talbot Hotel Clonmel, one dinner, three lunches, all entrance fees, and other administration costs.

You may book your place by following the link below:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/AQPZPUU337J4U

Bookings and free cancellations can be made up to 10 May 2025.

Cancellation fees apply after 10 May 2025

Spring Excursion to Moyglare House and Russel Library, Co. Meath/Kildare

Saturday 29 March 2025

We are now taking bookings for our Spring Excursion to Moyglare House, a magnificent mid-eighteenth-century house situated north of Moyglare village on the borders of Counties Meath and Kildare, and to Russel Library in Maynooth.

The coach will depart from Society House at 9.30am. Upon our arrival at Moyglare House we will be greeted with tea and coffee before embarking on the house tour, which will be led by Dr Angela Alexander, a leading scholar on Dublin cabinetmakers from the Irish Regency period. Following lunch, the afternoon will be spent at The Russel Library, which holds the historical collections of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to view rare books and mediaeval manuscripts from the Library. RSAI Member, Mr Tim O’Neill – a historian and calligraphic artist, will join us for this part of the excursion.

The cost the of excursion is €85 for members and €95 for guests to include cost of coach, tours and lunch.

Please note that this excursion will involve a walk to and from Moyglare House (approx. 20 minutes each way).

9.30am: Depart from Society House

6.00pm: Approximate return time

Please follow the link below to book your place:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/6ENPK7JH4E48S

Autumn Excursion to Russborough House and Burgage Cross, Threecastles Castle, Co. Wicklow

Saturday 20 September 2025

We are now taking bookings for our Autumn Excursion, which will Russborough House and Burgage Cross, Threecastles Castle in Co. Wicklow.

The coach will depart from Society House at 9.30 am sharp and go directly to Russborough House for a short tea/coffee break, before embarking on a house tour. Filled with hidden treasures from the Renaissance to the 20th century, Russborough is famous as Ireland’s most beautiful Georgian house, with its wonderful, richly decorated interiors and the world class private collection of art, fine and decorative arts.

We will then travel to two sites near Blessington: Burgage Cross and Threecastles Castle. This part of excursion will be led by Ms Isabella Mulhall – an Assistant Keeper in the Irish Antiquities Division (IAD) of the National Museum of Ireland.

Our coach will return to Merrion Square by approx. 6pm.

The cost of the excursion is €85 for members and €95 for guests to include cost of coach, tours. lunch and tea/coffee breaks.

Please note that the excursion programme is subject to change.

9.30am: Depart from Society House

6.00pm: Approximate return time

Please follow the link below to book your place:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M5FNE9NMU2NCG