2015 tour is history!
We're home - tired from the long plane ride but so happy we were part of the 2015 Tour of Ireland sponsored by the Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI).
2015 IGSI tour group with driver/guide Paddy Grant (right)[/caption] There were 21 of us on the tour: 19 from Minnesota, one from Indiana and one from Ohio. Most of us had an interest in our Irish family history, but the tour itinerary offered "something for everyone." Celtic Journeys, a travel agency specializing in individual and small escorted group tours of Ireland and Scotland, did a marvelous job coordinating our tour! We had excellent accommodations (10 nights in mostly 4-star hotels) and delectable meals (7 evening dinners and all breakfasts included). We travelled very comfortably on a small bus; the capacity was about 30 passengers so there was room for us to spread out. During our 10-day trip, we circled much of Ireland: Dublin to Belfast to Derry to Galway to Waterford and back to Dublin. Celtic Journeys invisibly managed all the details. Entrance fees to a bunch of attractions were also covered in the package price of $1895. An excellent value! Our bus driver, Paddy Grant, was also our tour guide. We were happy to have him at the wheel as we circumnavigated Ireland, often on narrow roads and one-way streets. You had to be with us to appreciate fully how outstanding he was. Paddy shared a wealth of knowledge about Irish history and customs. (I wish I'd kept a journal of "paddyisms.") He pretended to be curmudgeonly - OK, maybe it wasn't a difficult act for him - but he was unfailingly patient and flexible with us. Paddy definitely contributed to our positive travel experience. My husband and I usually prefer to travel independently, but Celtic Journeys puts together customized group packages that are very appealing and they're branching out beyond Ireland/Scotland. Check out what they offer and take a look at their 2016 brochure at www.celtic-journeys.com/
2015 IGSI tour group with driver/guide Paddy Grant (right)[/caption] There were 21 of us on the tour: 19 from Minnesota, one from Indiana and one from Ohio. Most of us had an interest in our Irish family history, but the tour itinerary offered "something for everyone." Celtic Journeys, a travel agency specializing in individual and small escorted group tours of Ireland and Scotland, did a marvelous job coordinating our tour! We had excellent accommodations (10 nights in mostly 4-star hotels) and delectable meals (7 evening dinners and all breakfasts included). We travelled very comfortably on a small bus; the capacity was about 30 passengers so there was room for us to spread out. During our 10-day trip, we circled much of Ireland: Dublin to Belfast to Derry to Galway to Waterford and back to Dublin. Celtic Journeys invisibly managed all the details. Entrance fees to a bunch of attractions were also covered in the package price of $1895. An excellent value! Our bus driver, Paddy Grant, was also our tour guide. We were happy to have him at the wheel as we circumnavigated Ireland, often on narrow roads and one-way streets. You had to be with us to appreciate fully how outstanding he was. Paddy shared a wealth of knowledge about Irish history and customs. (I wish I'd kept a journal of "paddyisms.") He pretended to be curmudgeonly - OK, maybe it wasn't a difficult act for him - but he was unfailingly patient and flexible with us. Paddy definitely contributed to our positive travel experience. My husband and I usually prefer to travel independently, but Celtic Journeys puts together customized group packages that are very appealing and they're branching out beyond Ireland/Scotland. Check out what they offer and take a look at their 2016 brochure at www.celtic-journeys.com/ 
