Featured cultural tours in Ireland

Exploring Ireland on an escorted tour

On our escorted tours of Ireland, we trace the greatest touchstones of Irish history on both sides of the border. Tales of emigration run deep: at Cobh, we explore the port from which three million people left the island between the 1600s and the 1960s. In Dublin, the Irish Emigration Museum conveys these stories of endurance and humanity in depth.

We weave across complex and beautiful landscapes, coast-to-coast, north-to-south. On our guided visit to the Irish-speaking Aran Islands, we encounter Iron Age forts and ruined churches. Crossing the Burren, we traverse a vast patchwork of rugged limestone and dramatic cliffs.

In Dublin, tours of Kilmainham Gaol unveil wretched but important stories, whilst our visit to Trinity College takes in the Old Library and the incomparable Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript from c. 800 AD. Friendly Galway welcomes us with its medieval walls and museum, whilst north of the border, Belfast offers fresh perspectives. We visit Hillsborough Castle, where the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, heralding peace after the Troubles.

Ireland's great residences, both north and south of the border, feature in our grand tour of Irish country houses. Private access features heavily, with out-of-hours openings and dinners in state rooms. For music lovers, our visit to the Wexford Opera Festival in southern Ireland guarantees rare operas, as well as meetings with festival managers and artists.

Important information

Local currency


Euro in the Republic of Ireland (€)

Pound Sterling in Northern Ireland (£)

Timezone


GMT+1

Transport

Some tours begin in Dublin and end in Belfast.

Coach transfers are provided to coincide with our recommended flights.

A selection of our bases in Ireland

" Anthony Lambert is almost perfect: learned, well-prepared, witty, articulate, thoughtful, respectful, friendly with everyone and quietly helpful, as needed. " Great Irish Houses - Country houses both sides of the border
" I travel a lot and have been on many organised tours. It doesn't get any better than yours. Indeed this tour was one of the best I've take in 60 plus years of travel. " Great Irish Houses - Country houses both sides of the border

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