Travellers and explorers, wondering if they continued west would they fall off the edge of the world. From Stone Age, Bronze and Iron Age to Celts, Vikings, Normans, Anglo-Normans and British. They all seemed to want a slice of the pie, except the Romans. They decided it was too cold and described the place as Hibernia, the land of eternal winter.

Listen to the folklore, stories of fairy tales, leprechauns, Druids and Banshees, History dating back thousands of years, as can be witnessed in the megalithic tombs at Newgrange, Co. Meath associated with the Winter Solstice or Poulnabrone dolmen, Co. Clare. Visit the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and the celebration by the Druids of the Summer Solstice. 

This tour takes you to Northern Ireland where you see the Titanic Visitors Centre in Belfast as we tour this iconic city. The Giants Causeway in Antrim is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. An amazing experience in Omagh Co. Tyrone is the American Folk Museum which gives a very detailed view of the history of migration from that particular region. Thomas Mellon and his family moved to Pennsylvania in the 1800s and became a very successful American businessman. He was involved in founding the Mellon Banking Company, a member of the judiciary, a lawyer, in later life he became involved in the coal mining and steel industry, accumulating a very healthy bank balance. The folk park in Co. Tyrone is a monument to the family’s ancestors.

Driving on the western side of the island is sheer joy, gazing out onto the Atlantic Ocean with the views of cliffs disappearing into crashing waves of foaming, raging waters. Beautiful beaches and isolated villages, sheep ignoring your presence, cows relaxing in green pastures.

A trip to the Aran Islands out in Galway Bay is the essence of nostalgia. The three islands cover about 40 square kilometres in total. The Atlantic storms that have swept across these islands over millennia have left an incredible amount of stone and rock in their wake. The three islands are a composition of limestone deposits that are typical of this area. Farmers living on the islands for generations began to create land. Building dry stone walls to divide portions of land, both for crop rotation or animal husbandry, ownership of property was defined then taking seaweed from the shoreline and spreading it over the sheet of rock, seeds were spread on top, some grasses eventually began to grow, root crops were planted, e.g potatoes, turnips, carrots, cabbages etc. These did not mature to anything worth eating but they did turn into fertilizer and eventually a degree of soil began to develop. Today the dry stone walls collectively measure approximately 2,500 kilometres, which were the solution to a tricky problem that has been solved over generations of islanders. The stone walls are about 4 - 6 feet in height. The pattern of these dry stone walls are a remarkable feature of the Irish landscape and can be seen in many parts of the western counties. It was a labour intensive operation and a piece of artwork to get each stone interlocking without mortar or concrete, gaps in the walls allow wind to pass through. The design of the walls ensures that even after centuries exposed to extreme weather conditions, Atlantic storms, gale force winds these examples of skill and know-how are in existence to this day relatively intact. Watch the movie from bygone days “The Man of Aran” by Robert Flaherty, which shows the process of how the islanders created arable land. These men were also fishermen, watch “Riders to the Sea”, a play by John Millington Synge. Today, the numbers of visitors to the islands are sufficient to sustain the island’s population and indeed is contributing to the emigration from the island somewhat. Working from home is great for people in remote areas.

Peat bogs or turf covered in sweet mountain thyme and beautiful purple heather in the glow of a September afternoon add that feeling of peace and tranquility. A touch of Autumn is in the air as the foliage surrenders to the elements. Spend an evening in a local restaurant or bar where the background music serenades your enjoyment of the local cuisine. To experience the music of a bar or pub you’ll be always welcome, whether you partake in an alcoholic drink or not. 

The cities and towns of Ireland are much more diverse than modern cities. The height of the buildings are restricted and therefore the urban areas spread out resulting in very heavy traffic mornings and evenings particularly in the larger cities and towns. 

Sporting events such as Gaelic football and hurling are amateur sports that are supported throughout the country. Rugby and soccer have their fans who can be seen at all levels. Horse racing takes place in every county, there are no casinos but betting shops will be found in all towns big and small. Entertainment and adventure has no boundaries, walking, hiking, biking, boating, horseback riding and others are all available.

Join us for that trip that will end up by you asking yourself why have I not been here before or waiting to return home to tell your friends, family and colleagues what’s in Ireland to make it feel like home.