Our first stop of the day is one you'll want to linger over. Macken of Ireland in Killarney is home to some of the most beautiful jewellery in the country, and in particular, some of the finest Claddagh rings you'll find anywhere in Ireland — handcrafted, genuinely stunning, and the kind of keepsake that means something. Warm up with a proper Irish coffee while you browse; there's no better way to start a day on the Ring of Kerry.

The Ring of Kerry is a 179-kilometre loop around the Iveragh Peninsula, and it is, without much argument, one of the most beautiful drives on the planet. Today we take in its finest stretch: rugged Atlantic headlands, hidden coves of impossibly turquoise water, sheep-dotted hillsides tumbling straight into the sea, and views that shift and surprise around every single bend. This is postcard Ireland, and then some — bring your camera, and prepare to fill it up.

Cork has a personality all its own — proudly independent, endlessly welcoming, and nicknamed "the Rebel City" for its long history of standing apart. This evening's guided tour is the perfect way to get properly acquainted: wander the atmospheric English Market, see the famous Shandon Bells, and take in the colourful streets and riverside setting that make Cork one of Ireland's most underrated cities. Locals will tell you Cork, not Dublin, is the real capital of Ireland — after tonight, you might just agree.