Groups Destination Focus: Ireland
The days of excruciating long hours spent travelling on a coach to “see” as much as much as possible in the shortest period of time are rapidly disappearing in this age of well-informed, active travellers wanting to immerse themselves into the cultural vibe of the country. There is no better place to embrace this desire than in the ”Emerald Isle,” Ireland. With so many layers of history and “Irish-Only” cultural identities, Ireland offers a bountiful feast of activities and experiences for the immersive traveller: for the history buff, relive a span of history from medieval times through the Georgian and Victorian periods right up to the “troubles” of more recent times; for a sense of whimsy and fun delve into the traditional folklore of fairies, fables, ghosts and ghouls; for the faith-based, discover the fascinating monastic settlements and churches of times past; for the nature lover, walk or cycle the “green” trails or stand in awe on a wild coastal cliff.
Whatever your interest, there is an experience that will let you feel the vibe!
GroupsOnly by Goway has the experience and expertise to make them happen.
Here are some of our favorite experiential “Irish-only” activities for the group traveler:
DUBLIN AND BELFAST MUST “SEES”
Dublin:
Epic Ireland: a state of the art visitor experience that showcases the unique journey of the Irish nation through 21 galleries of interactive displays.
Guinness Storehouse: a magnificent 7 floor building shaped like a pint glass takes you on a journey of interactive experiences that fuses its long brewing heritage with Ireland’s rich history
Belfast:
Ulster Museum: Northern Ireland’s treasure house of past and present that ranges from Egyptian mummies to modern artistic masterpieces. If you see nothing else be sure to visit the galleries showcasing the time of the “Troubles” of the 1970’s & 80’s.
Titanic Belfast: the amazing story unfolds in a stunning building that takes you on a breathtaking journey from ship design and conception through to the aftermath of the disaster.
See our Ireland Cultural Immersion sample tour.
GET MOVING WITH A GAELIC GAMES EXPERIENCE
No where else in the world but Ireland will your group be able to experience the indigenous games of Gaelic Football and Hurling — not only are they Ireland’s most popular sports, they are also an expression of local and national identity. At Experience Gaelic Games in Dublin, your instructor will teach us the basic skills of the two sports and then get us on the field to practice our newly learned skills— all in a fun, informal setting for all ages and all skill and fitness levels!
Or how about our Ireland Golf Tour idea?
TASTY TREATS IN IRELAND’S OLDEST CITY, GALWAY
What better way to see a town than on a guided walking tour, and, even better, is when the tour includes visits to fun foodie destinations to sample all the tasty treats unique to the place. In Galway, Galway Food Tours takes small groups on a stroll to seek out some of the town’s unique foodie venues where every visit includes tempting taste treats and a chat with the owners who always have some good stories to tell. A morning tour will include visits to an historic artisanal bakery where the aromas alone will make you want to try everything; an old-fashioned tea house to sip some beautiful Irish Breakfast teas to help wash down the freshly baked scones slabbed with creamy butter; an Irish speciality food store to learn more about local cooking ingredients and finally we stop at a welcoming pub for a sip or two of Irish Whiskey to end a filling morning.
Or how about our Walking Greenways in Ireland tour idea?
A VISIT WITH W.B YEATS!
On the shores of Lough Gill outside of Sligo is Broc House and its proud owners Damien Brennan and Paula Gilvarry. Now both retired, Damien is a self-professed Yeats aficianado and Paula is a well-respected chef that now share their life-long passions with visitors in their home. What better way to spend an afternoon or evening as welcome guests enjoying afternoon tea or a good-old fashion Irish dinner prepared expertly by Paula while Damien tells the story of W.B.Yeats through poetry readings and yarns about the famous writer, all while looking out panoramic windows into the heart of Yeats Country.
Or how about our Ireland – True Home of Game of Thrones tour idea?
A COOKING DEMO LIKE NO OTHER
In Northern Ireland on the shores of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, the Belle Isle Cooking School and its head chef, Joe Kelly, are passionate about sharing the flavours and recipes of Ireland with visitors. Even if cooking is “not your thing,” Joe makes the class fun and informative, and, of course, you get to taste all his wonderful creations: Irish soda bread with local churned creamy butter, a hearty Irish stew filled with local produce, flaky scones that melt in your mouth along with a wonderful selection of Irish sweets. With the recipes in hand as you say goodbye, you will leave wanting to make all the dishes for your friends when you get home.
Or how about our Irish Pub Tour travel idea?
No group is too big, too small or too unusual for the tour planning experts in Goway’s dedicated GroupsOnly Department! Why not request a quote?
