This year, we’re starting a new blog series called “Ireland Tour Stories.” The aim is simple. We’ll share stories from actual private tours we’ve run, so you can see what a trip really feels like once you’re here. Rather than a polished itinerary, these are real days on the road, with real moments, including when things don’t go exactly to plan.
We thought there was no better way to start than with our great friend, Jamie, who has now been on two private tours with us. The story below is about her family’s latest tour in July 2025.
The Group and the Journey
Jamie traveled in a group of 7, including a mix of generations, from her 80-year-old mom to her sister and young nieces. They toured with our private driver-guide, Peter, who was with them throughout their Irish journey. On this 9-day family tour, they moved through coastal routes, smaller towns, and some of Ireland’s most iconic destinations, including the west coast, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, and Dublin.
Here’s their full itinerary below:
Day 1: Dublin Airport – Powerscourt House & Gardens – Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience – Drop Off at Cliff House Hotel, Waterford.
Day 2: Collection – Waterford Crystal Factory – Cappoquin House & Gardens – Drop Off at Cliff House Hotel.
Day 3: Collection – Jameson Distillery – Kinsale – Kinsale Museum – Drop Off at Perryville House, Kinsale.
Day 4: Collection – Bantry Bay – Glengarriff – Inch Beach – Drop Off at Dingle Benners Hotel.
Day 5: Collection – Dingle Bay & Town – Slea Head – Drop off at Dingle Benners Hotel.
Day 6: Collection – Foynes Flying Boat Museum – Bunratty Castle & Folk Park – Doolin – Drop Off at Fiddle & Bow Hotel, Doolin.
Day 7: Collection – Cliffs of Moher – Caherconnell Stone Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations – Drop Off at The Hardiman, Galway
Day 8: Collection – Kilmainham Gaol – Oscar Wilde House Tour – Drop Off at The Alex, Dublin.
Day 9: Collection – Drop Off at Dublin Airport.
A Change Early in the Trip
While we always try to plan every detail of the tour in advance, sometimes things don’t go exactly as you hope. Unfortunately, while they were staying in Dingle, Jamie’s niece, Erin, began to feel very unwell.
Of course, the family’s priority quickly shifted from sightseeing to making sure Erin was okay. Thankfully, Peter was able to ensure Erin got a doctor’s appointment straightaway. Erin was soon feeling on the mend, and luckily, no other members of the family got sick on the tour.
Irish Weather
As if Erin being sick wasn’t enough bad luck, later in the trip, a planned boat tour at the Cliffs of Moher couldn’t go ahead due to conditions on the Atlantic. Safety always comes first, and although it is extremely rare for a boat tour to be canceled, Jamie’s family were unlucky and were at the cliffs on an incredibly windy day!
Peter, their driver-guide, is the perfect person to have by your side in a moment of uncertainty, and he already had a plan B prepared. While the team in the office contacted the boat company to process a refund, Peter suggested to the family that they take a local cave tour instead, which they agreed to. We were delighted to hear that Jamie’s family loved the cave tour and said they couldn’t have imagined it not being on their itinerary!
“Instead of scrambling and spending the next hour or two hours sort of revamping, Peter already made a plan B, partnered with us, made sure it was something that we liked, and we were off to the races going to a very cool cave tour, that was not on our original itinerary, but I really loved it, and I can’t imagine having not done it”
Evenings in Ireland
After spending the days exploring some of the best attractions around Ireland, it was important to make sure their evenings were spent relaxing and enjoying the best food possible. Guests are free to choose where to eat dinner, but our driver-guides and tour planners are always happy to recommend local restaurants we love!
Jamie’s family decided to take Peter’s recommendations for dinner every night of their tour, and given that Peter knows every corner of every town in Ireland, they weren’t disappointed! It made things easy, especially in smaller towns where options can be limited, and places fill up quickly.
“The food in Ireland, if anybody thinks otherwise, you’re wrong, so delicious! Delicious, fresh seafood, everything from pasta dishes to probably the best burgers I’ve ever had!”
Apart from dinners, Jamie’s niece Megan particularly enjoyed the Irish brown bread, and they got their hands on a brown bread mix to take home with them.
The food you have on vacation can have such an impact on how much you enjoy your trip, so it was so great to know that the Irish pubs and restaurants lived up to the hype. After dinner, they got to enjoy some live music in the Irish pubs, and perhaps a Guinness or two after a long day’s touring!
Highlights from the Tour
Although they got to visit so many different sites across Ireland, here are some of the attractions they really enjoyed from their 9-day tour:
- Kilmainham Goal – While in Dublin, they visited the iconic Kilmainham Goal, where they embarked on a powerful journey through Irish history.
- Jameson Distillery – In Middleton, they learned about the Jameson whiskey-making process and even sampled exclusive samples. Peter generously got them a whisky that he thought they would like.
- Waterford Crystal – Earlier in the trip, the group visited the well-known Waterford Crystal factory, where they saw the craftsmanship behind one of Ireland’s most famous exports.
- Dingle Crystal – While traveling along the west coast, the group made a stop at Dingle Crystal, lesser-known than the famous Waterford Crystal. It’s not usually on a standard itinerary, but they told us they had an awesome time!
- Coastal Stops – Along the route, there were plenty of opportunities to pull over and take in the scenery. These stops gave the group time for short walks, photos, and simply being outside when the weather allowed.
Looking Back on the Trip
As sometimes happens, this trip didn’t follow the plan exactly. There were a few unexpected moments along the way, but the group was still able to see what they came for and enjoy the experience at their own pace.
“Your driver picks up on your cues, the vibe of your family, the vibe of your group, all that good stuff, so he kind of knew what we would enjoy, and boy was he right”
If you want to hear more about their story, you can watch the video Jamie made about their family’s time in Ireland. It was an absolute pleasure to take the 7 of them around Ireland! Jamie and her family view Peter as a friend, and we know the feeling is mutual, after 9 wonderful days spent together.
