We leave Belfast at 9.00am and head south, by-passing Dundalk, Drogheda and Dublin on the new motorway and arrive in Wicklow around lunch-time. In the afternoon we proceed at leisure through Gorey and Enniscorthy to Wexford and our hotel by the river. We should arrive in mid-afternoon with time to try the hotel’s excellent leisure complex or to take a stroll around the town before dinner.

We are joined this morning by a local guide who will show us around Wexford and lead us up the Slaney Valley to Enniscorthy, across to New Ross and on to Waterford. After a short walking tour and a visit to “Waterford Treasures” we return to Wexford.

Johnstown Castle dates back to Norman days and today houses the Irish Agricultural Museum. We spend a couple of hours here this morning before driving out to “the Hook” - Hook Head Peninsula - where we visit one of Ireland’s most celebrated lighthouses. On the way back to Wexford we call at Duncannon Fort which for centuries commanded the waters of Waterford harbour, one of the most important harbours in the south-east. It was from here that a certain King James set sail after the Battle of the Boyne.

We travel west today, beyond Waterford, to explore the south coast between Tramore and Dungarvin. In the 19th century a native of the area achieved such fame that Queen Victoria sought a meeting with him - he is still their most famous son, with a local monument and a song in his memory:

“But the greatest and bravest the world ever saw was the champion of champions, brave Master McGrath.”

After a leisurely breakfast and a last look around the town we leave Wexford and commence our return journey to Belfast around mid-day. We make a few comfort stops en-route and arrive at the Europa Buscentre around 6.00pm.