I would appreciate any feedback from anyone who has been on a guided tour of Ireland.
Since I’ve never traveled internationally before, I’d be a very easy target for the various rip-off artists that plague tourists.
I’ve been seriously considering Brendan Worldwide Vacations because they have several very nice tour packages listed on their website.
Has anyone been on one of their tours, or does anyone have any recommendation of a tour group that they’ve had a favorable experience with?
I have never actually been on a formal tour
of Ireland, but my wife and I signed up for one of Mick Maloney’s Irish Folklore Tours. Mick is a wonderful teacher and musician and one of the people that have really helped to promote Irish music and culture in America. He has a company that offers tours of Ireland complete with all transportation, meals, and plenty of Irish Traditional Music to go with it. They usually are divided into interest, like for example, Celtic Spirituality, and region. They usually include a night or two in Dublin and a South, West, Northwest, East, Southeast emphasis. Mick leads most of the tours himself, which means endless and interesting stories, songs, etc along the way.
Unfortunately, our tour was cancelled and we didn’t get to go, but plan to sign up again when I get caught up a little on whistle orders 
.
They are also a bit pricey. We were going to pay about $5000 for two of us on a 12 day tour. That seems expensive, but if you want have the best, I am not sure if you could do better.
His Website is at:
http://www.irishfolkloretours.com/
or call toll free at:
Call 1-800-848-4364
Hope this helps.
All the best
Mike
On 2002-05-19 20:50, Michael Burke wrote:
Unfortunately, our tour was cancelled and we didn’t get to go, but plan to sign up again when I get caught up a little on whistle orders >
As long as you keep making the best whistles available I doubt that you’re ever going to get caught up on your orders! 
By the way, I really like your newer design that eliminates contact between lips and metal… very nice touch.
Every time I think there’s no way you could possibly improve your design you always prove me wrong… keep up the good work.
Going in July with Seamus Kennedy and Isle Inn Tours. Come on along if your planning on going soon. Otherwise I can let you know all about it when I return…
Gm
I went on one of Mick Moloney’s tours with my wife and I recommend it highly. History and sightseeing excursions during the day and music and/or sessions at night. One of the great things about traveling with Mick is that he has connections w/ so many traditional musicians in Ireland. Every night he would find them, or they would find him. We stayed up late and got up early. On at least on occasion we got thrown out of a pub when the police showed up, because we stayed a little too long.
It is an excellent tour. Very nice accommodations. I felt like we saw a lot of Ireland that a “regular” tour might miss. Some of the people who go on his tours go every year. It does seem expensive, but I would say it is worth every penny, especially if you are interested in traditional music. I took my tenor banjo and had it out almost every night at a session or with other musicians on the tour.
I live in Kerry part of the year and in my experience MOST tours are a con and a rip off.
You never see anything except what makes the tour company good money,they have backhanders everywhere,even the more cool ones.
My advice is ,hire a car and get yourself lost on the west coast and have a real adventure, follow your nose and take local tips and be guided by the music and the Guiness.
Most important,get off the main roads,if a place looks good from a distance,it’ll be fantastic up close.
GOod Luck
Phil.