Shamrockin' Tour 2027
Ireland Through the Eyes of a Writer
Ireland has been part of my story for as long as I can remember.
I first fell in love with Ireland as a toddler, spending summers on my grandparent’s farms. For more than 30 years, I’ve written about Ireland, immersed myself in its culture, explored its stories, and followed the people, places, music, films, and writers that make the island so endlessly fascinating.
Shamrockin’ Tour 2027 is Ireland as seen through the eyes of a writer.
Yes, we’ll see castles, cliffs, mountains and beautiful villages. But this isn’t simply a checklist of Ireland’s greatest hits. Along the way, we’ll look for the stories hiding behind the scenery.
We’ll visit places where movies were made, walk streets where history and literature collide, explore the music and poetry that helped define a nation, and discover corners of Ireland that many traditional tours simply pass by.
From “The Quiet Man” to William Butler Yeats, from Irish rock ‘n’ roll to the pubs and villages that became movie sets, this is a journey through the Ireland that inspires stories—and the stories that help us understand Ireland.
And because this is Shamrockin’, we’ll experience it together: with plenty of time for conversation, craic, music, a pint, a good meal and the occasional moment when you stop and think, “How is this actually real?”
Highlights of our Experience
Important Booking & Travel Information
26 September to 4 October 2027Dublin | Galway | Connemara | Cliffs of Moher | Ring of Kerry | Killarney
Depart North America to Dublin, Depart Shannon to North America
Price per Person
- Double Occupancy: $3,600
- Single Occupancy: $4,725
Important Details
- A $250 deposit is required to reserve your spot.
- The full amount is due by June 17, 2027.
Contact Information
Barbara Farragher
📞 732-539-5763
📧 shamrockintour@gmail.com
Price includes all accommodations, transportation on a luxury coach with a seasoned tour director, all on-tour transportation on coaches and ferries, excursions, meals as indicated in itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), deluxe documents wallet with a backpack to keep you organized, free WiFi on coaches to keep you connected throughout the tour, all local taxes, hotel service charges, and baggage handling of 1 suitcase per person.
*Optional Travel Protection Insurance is available, and payment is due at the time of deposit.
***Airfare not included in pricing***
Itinerary Summary
September 26 – Depart the United States
Our Irish adventure begins with an overnight flight across the Atlantic, heading toward Dublin and the first chapter of the journey.
September 27 – Dublin: First Impressions & Old Ireland
Arrive in Dublin and meet our CIE Tours driver/guide before beginning our first full day in Ireland.
We’ll start with breakfast at a local venue before heading to Malahide Castle, a remarkable 12th-century castle just outside Dublin. From there, we’ll dive into one of Ireland’s most celebrated cultural exports with a guided, interactive experience at the Irish Whiskey Museum, exploring the history, rise and fall, and enduring legacy of Irish whiskey. We’ll finish the day with a welcome drink and dinner with our fellow travelers.
Overnight: Trinity City Hotel, Dublin
September 28 – Dublin: Music, Writers & Creative Energy
Today is yours to explore Dublin.
Use your Hop-On Hop-Off pass to discover the city at your own pace—or follow your own curiosity. Museums, galleries, bookstores, historic sites, Grafton Street, Nassau Street and the city’s legendary pubs are all possibilities.
For the writer in all of us, Dublin’s literary heritage is everywhere. And for the music lover, we’ll go behind the scenes at the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum Experience in Temple Bar, exploring the history of Ireland’s vibrant music industry and memorabilia from famous performers.
Overnight: Trinity City Hotel, Dublin
September 29 – Dublin to Galway: Into the Stories
We leave Dublin and head west through Ireland’s agricultural heartland, passing through towns including Moate, Athlone and Ballinasloe on our way to Galway Bay.
Then comes one of the signature experiences of the trip.
At Ballyglunin Train Station, we’ll step onto the location that doubled as Castletown Station in John Ford’s classic 1952 film The Quiet Man, where John Wayne’s character arrives by train.
And this is where the “writer’s eye” comes into full focus: while we’re standing in the very place where movie history was made, we’ll enjoy a reading of “This Is Your Brain on Shamrocks” by Mike Farragher.
We’ll then explore Galway on a guided walking tour through its medieval walls, Lynch’s Castle and narrow streets before dinner.
Overnight: Radisson RED Galway
September 30 – Connemara: Landscape That Tells a Story
Today we head into Connemara, one of Ireland’s most evocative landscapes.
We’ll travel through sweeping boglands and misty mountains, follow the scenic Sky Road and visit the village of Clifden. We’ll also explore Kylemore Abbey, set on a magnificent 1,000-acre estate in the heart of Connemara.
Then we’ll stop at Gaynor’s Pub in Leenane for lunch and a pint. Film buffs will recognize it as a filming location for the 1990 classic The Field.
It’s another example of what makes Shamrockin’ different: the landscape isn’t just scenery—it becomes part of the story.
Overnight: Radisson RED Galway
October 1 – Yeats, The Wild Atlantic Way & the Cliffs of Moher
We begin with Thoor Ballylee, the 14th-century Norman tower house that became the rural home and a major source of creative inspiration for Nobel Prize-winning poet William Butler Yeats.
From there, we’ll travel along the spectacular County Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, taking in the Atlantic vistas and western coastline that have inspired generations of artists and writers.
We’ll cross the River Shannon Estuary by ferry before returning to Galway.
Overnight: Radisson RED Galway
October 2 – The Ring of Kerry
Today, Ireland puts on one of its greatest shows.
We’ll explore the Ring of Kerry, traveling more than 100 miles through some of the country’s most dramatic scenery—mountains, golden beaches, rocky headlands and spectacular coastal views, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take it all in.
We’ll enjoy lunch at a local venue before continuing to Killarney.
Overnight: Killarney Plaza Hotel
October 3 – Killarney: Your Story, Your Way
After nearly a week of exploring Ireland together, today gives you something equally important: time to wander.
Spend the morning and afternoon exploring Killarney independently. Visit St. Mary’s Cathedral or the Franciscan Friary, browse the town’s shops, find a quiet corner for a pint, or simply soak up the atmosphere.
We’ll come back together that evening for a farewell dinner—a chance to raise a glass, share favorite moments and celebrate the stories we’ve collected along the way.
Overnight: Killarney Plaza Hotel
October 4 – Shannon: Until We Meet Again
All good stories have to end eventually.
We’ll transfer to Shannon Airport for our flight home, with time for some last-minute duty-free shopping before boarding for the United States.
But the best Ireland trips don’t really end at the airport.
You take a little Ireland home with you.
This Isn’t Just a Tour. It’s a Story.
Shamrockin’ Tour 2027 is for travelers who want to see Ireland—and understand a little more of what makes Ireland Ireland.
It’s for the person who hears a song and wants to know the story behind it.
The movie lover who wants to stand where the scene was filmed.
The reader who wants to walk where a writer once walked.
The storyteller who knows that sometimes a landscape can say more than a thousand words.
And the traveler who would rather discover something unexpected than simply check another attraction off a list.
I’ve spent more than three decades writing about Irish culture and returning to the places that shaped my own connection to Ireland. Now I’d love to share that Ireland with you.
Come see Ireland through the eyes of a writer.
Come for the scenery. Stay for the stories.
Come Shamrockin’.
Tour Testimonials
Dawn DI was quite nervous about my first trip abroad: where do I go? What do I do? Thanks to the expertise of Mike and Barbara, there was nothing to worry about. From the hotels, to the attractions to making new friends, who could ask for more? Thank you Mike and Barbara, for creating the vacation and time of my life! I will never forget our time in Ireland!
Susan PThank you to Mike and Barbara for a wonderful trip and to new friends (and old) for the fun times!
It’s hard to choose my favorites, but I loved our Ballyglunin experience, all of the gorgeous scenery , a private spontaneous vocal & bodhran performance by Mac Dara and the sheep dog experience are things I’ll never forget .
So glad I didn’t miss this trip! It was a great one! And I raise my glass of Jameson( neat)to you for making it all possible!
I would like to consider myself a pretty seasoned traveler. I have participated in many organized tours and hands down this was the best one ever. The tour, hotels, food, and mostly the pace and organization were outstanding. Best in class!! Thanks to Barb and Mike for being a gracious hostess and host for the entire trip! Thank you to everyone for a wonderful trip!! Can't wait to go back!Gayle G
LindaFor my first (but definitely not my last) trip Mike and Barbara made the trip an absolute ease and pleasure! It was clear they worked hard to make sure our group had a unique taste of Ireland.
Hotels were beautiful located right in the middle of it all!
Can’t wait to use them to travel with them again! And the backpack with all the little extras was an unexpected bonus that was much appreciated!
I’d like to thank you for organizing such a wonderful trip to Ireland. It was my first time to Europe and my first time in an organized tour and it was spectacular!! A job well done!Joanne T