tour of northern ireland from dublin

Welcome to our

Ireland's True North

A 5 day / 4 night tour of the North of Ireland (a very unique guided tour of Northern Ireland & Donegal)

Epic Northern Ireland

An incredible 5 day journey into the history, politics, culture and fun of the North and Donegal

Win a once in a lifetime tour of Ireland

Visit our Facebook or Instagram page to enter the competition. All you have to do is like, share and leave a comment as to what you'd most like to see on your visit to Ireland. Enter before February 1st to be in with a chance of winning a place on our April 2019 Wild Atlantic Tour.

Click Here to Enter

Black friday special offer.

Get €150 off your next  Wild Atlantic or Castles & Classics Essential Ireland Tours with this Black Friday special offer code: Ireland‍ or €115 of the True North Tours with this code: Ireland-North

Limited places so Book Now! Offer valid until 4 December

Price Per Person Sharing from only €1,299 to €1,499

Reserve place with 20% deposit, max tour sizes: 16 people.

Solo supplement of €400 applies to solo travellers, see FAQs for details. The €1,299 price applies to all our March tours  (€400 discount!)

Check Out our 2024 Dates!

Essential Ireland and Stephen McPhilemy offer a limited number of very popular tours to Northern Ireland and beautiful Ulster each year, all sell out. We are one of the few companies to offer a tour exclusively of Northern Ireland and Donegal!  Stephen McPhilemy has led Rick Steves tours through Northern Ireland for 20 years as part of longer all-Ireland tours and now, due to public demand, offers his own shorter 5 day tours focusing exclusively on the the highlights of  North of Ireland.  Book early to avoid disappointment

If a particular date does not suit your group please get in touch about organising a private tour

Click to See Dates

APRIL 2024: 1st April & 19th April - SOLD OUT ‍ MAY 2024: 13th May & 20th - SOLD OUT JUNE 2024: 3rd June - SOLD OUT JULY 2024: 20th July - OPEN AUGUST 2024: 26th August - OPEN SEPTEMBER 2024: 2nd September - OPEN 23rd September - OPEN OCTOBER 2024: October 4th - OPEN October 22nd - OPEN Note: Over half of the departures for our 'True North' tours of Northern Ireland and Donegal have already sold out. To book a tour please click here or email Stephen McPhilemy and our team at [email protected]

Explore Northern Ireland with us, truly essential!

We at ‘Essential Ireland’ are passionate about including the beautiful and fascinating North of Ireland and Donegal in our tours. We highly recommend you visit! Click here to read the detailed and up-to-date itinerary of our famous 'True North' 5 day tour of Northern Ireland and Donegal

Our tour-guests are fascinated by the story of Historic Derry, the beauty and legend of the Causeway, modern peaceful Belfast and its troubled past, the characters and the communities of this beautiful part of Ireland that only 25 years ago was a no-go zone for tourists and is now one of Europe’s top attractions.

On our Northern adventures we take pride into introducing you to the fun and endearing locals from both cultures and communities, the indigenous Irish community and Northern Ireland’s ethnic British culture.

We also venture into majestic Donegal, a remote magnificent corner of Ireland that is often overlooked by mainstream tours. Join us for a unique adventure!

Price: from Only €1,299 - 1,799 per person

Highlights of our northern tour.

Walk the walled city of historic Derry (1613). See its fully intact 17th Century battlements

Explore beautiful Donegal

Experience the majestic Giants Causeway a natural phenomenon and UNESCO world heritage site

Learn of Belfast troubled past and wonderful peaceful present

Photostop the famous Carrick a Rede rope bridge 100 ft above the rugged Antrim coast (we opt not cross due to the overwhelming crowds an waiting-lines, not an efficient use of your valuable travel-time)

Visit the world famous titanic experience and step back in time to a period of luxury & elegance

Visit Monasterboice a 5th Centruy Irish monastery and home to Muirdach's High Cross

The serene beauty of Glenveagh National Park

Whats included in the tour package

All activities are fully covered in the Essential Ireland Tour Package

All Breakfasts are Included. From cooked buffet feasts of sausage eggs and bacon; to healthy fruit, homemade muesli and porridge

All accommodation costs are covered, you will stay in a centrally located hotel in Belfat an Derry

All tips to guides, drivers, local guides, bar-staff, servers etc ALL covered while on a tour activity or meal

All transport , from luxury coach travel, shuttle buses, taxis etc used for tour activities are paid for.

1 group lunch is provided

1 group meal is provided

What type of accommodation will I stay in?

We handpick quality accommodation based on quality, location, and the best customer-service on offer. We like to provide a balance between 4 star good-quality hotels and also high-quality Guesthouses, to give a variety of experiences, we also offer one night in a traditional B&B to experience life with an Irish family environment ned world-class quality customer-service.

Our co-founder, Patrick, always like to remind guests that we “dont stay in generic big-brand hotels, we prefer to offer you historic and luxury homes of character, that have housed Hollywood stars and withstood sieges”.

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Overview of 5 day true north itinerary.

NORTHERN IRELAND & DONEGAL EXPERIENCE

5 DAYS AND 4 NIGHTS ( 2 NIGHTS IN DERRY & 2 IN BELFAST)

Day 1: Dublin to Belfast (2 nights) Highlights:

The titanc experience

Tour ancient site of Monasterboice

Visit St. Peters Cathedral, Drogheda. See the head of St. Oliver Plunkett (yes, his head!)

Belfast City Tour

Day2: Belfast in-depth ‍ Highlights:

Panormic city our, see the famous murals and Peace wall

Visit the Ulster Museum

Queens University (alma mater of our founder and Chief tour guide Stephen McPhilemy) the Botanic Gardens

Free for dinner in Belfast

Day 3: Belfast to historic Derry (2 nights) Highlights:

Photostop at Carrick a rede rope-bridge

The Giants Causeway UNESCO world heritage site

Dunluce Castle

Cross the Derry Peace Bridge

Award-winning Walking Tour of Historic Derry

Day 4: Derry in-depth ‍ ‍ Highlights:

Visit Derry’s historic guildhall & plantation museum.

Scenic day tour to rugged Donegal

Glenveagh National Park

Group lunch at ‘Leo’s’ - Enya’s family pub

Day 5: Derry/Londonderry to Dublin Highlights:

Scenic drive through county Tyrone

Visit the Cathedral city of Armagh

Slane Castle photostop

Battle of the Boyne site.

CLICK HERE FOR UP-TO-DATE & DETAILED NORTHERN IRELAND TOUR ITINERARY

Ireland's true north tour dates 2019

We run a limited number of tours each year, book early to avoid disappointment

July 7th to July 11th - SOLD OUT

September 8th to September 12th

Check Out our 2020 Dates!

Sunday 5th April - Thursday 9th April

Sunday 13th September - Thursday 17th September

Reserve your space with a 20% deposit 

Contact Us to Find Out More

Any Questions we are happy to help!

OUR GALLERY

One of the unique features of Essential Ireland Tours is that we bring our own in-house professional travel-photographer and videographer with us on all tours.

Stephen McPhilemy and Patrick Wade are the co-founders of Essential Ireland Tours. One Irish and one Irish-American, they met 20 years ago while Patrick was backpacking through Ireland and Stephen was his tour-guide. Two decades later they (and their Irish Wolfhounds) are experienced and respected figures in the Irish tour and hospitality scene with a passion for providing high quality tours. Authentic Irish experiences for unbeatable value.

Founded by Stephen McPhilemy and Patrick Wade. Essential Ireland's mission is to introduce its guests to wonderful Irish experiences in small groups that allow them to see the real Ireland.

Wade McPhilemy Teo, company reg # 535035, registered in Ireland

Milltown House, Dingle, County Kerry, V92DP93

[email protected]

(+353) 83 1477 363

3 Day Northern Ireland

Private tour, from the ancient east to the northern coast..., the ancient east to the northern coast.

From the heart of Ireland's Ancient East to the drama of the Northern Ireland, this tour brings together the best of Ireland's ancient past with the fascinating recent history. This journey will take you into the tombs of The Boyne Valley that were built at the dawning of Ireland's identity to the streets of Belfast were Ireland's identity fought a bitter battle. A tour of Northern Ireland that combines fascinating history with exhilarating sights and sounds of the North Atlantic. Join us on a unique Irish journey from The Republic to Northern Ireland...

Distance Travelled:

Approx 700km ​

Attraction Highlights:

The North East Causeway Coastal Drive, The Boyne Valley Drive,​ The Northern Coast, The Boyne Valley

Activity Highlights: 

Political Tour Belfast, Coastal Walks,​ Whiskey Distillery, Castle Visit, Walking Tour

Counties Travelled:

Dublin, Meath, Down, Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Fermanagh

Fast Paced Adventure

Choose Your Style...

Remember you can always change this tour to suit your own pace, interests and requirements. Just contact us and tell us what you would like.

Northern Adventure

3 private day tour itinerary, day 1 , dublin city to belfast city , via the boyne valley.

Today we will begin our adventure North. Our first stop will be at one of the world’s most important prehistoric sites - the UNESCO heritage site, Newgrange. Standing over 5,000 years old, this passage tomb not only predates Stonehenge but also the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Our tour will take you inside this ancient tomb for a recreation of the lightshow on the winter solstice when the sun shines through lighting up the inner chamber of the tomb. we will also have the option of enjoying the other treats that The Boyne Valley has to offer like The Hill of Slane.  Afterwards we will go through the 'Gap of the North' and across the border into Northern Ireland where we will visit the quaint town of Hillsborough to wander around the official royal residence of the Monarchy.  A short drive from here will see us arrive into the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast City, where we will complete our day with a comfortable stay in the heart of the city.

Activity Options - Newgrange, Hill of Slane, Hillsborough Castle

Tour Timings - 9.30am - 5:30pm​

Overnight - Belfast City, Northern Ireland

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Belfast City to Derry City

Via the causeway coast.

Today we will continue our journey north, this time taking the stunning north-east coastal drive through parts of the nine Glens of Antrim where the mountains meet the sea. This drive offers spectacular views across to our neighbours Scotland on a clear day and through many quaint towns and villages along the way. Your journey will take you into the queen of the glens - Glenariff where you will take a short walk to enjoy the forest and waterfall. Our next retreat is the beautiful fishing harbour of Ballintoy before journeying on to the world famous Giant's Causeway, where geology meets mythology. Here you will have plenty of time to enjoy the stones and learn all the myths of Fionn MacCumhaill.  A short drive further west will see us arrive at the old Bushmills Distillery that sits on the River Bush. You will have the option of touring the distillery where you will learn all about the process that makes this whiskey so special and get a chance to sample the local stock.  To end the day  we will drive along the coast, stopping at the crumbling ruins of the incredible Dunluce Castle before making our way to the fascinating walled city of Derry for your overnight within the medieval walls.

Activity Options - Giant's Causeway Exhibition Centre, The Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge, Cliff Walks, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, Games of Thrones Sightseeing Tour Timings - 9:30am to 5:30pm Overnight - Derry City

Derry City to Dublin

Via mid-ulster.

Our final day on our private tour of Northern Ireland will see us explore the western parts of Northern Ireland with trips around Derry City and then a visit to the excellent Ulster American Folk Park where we will learn of Ulster's extraordinary contribution to the rest of the world through emigration. After this educational stop we will then enjoy the lake lands of Enniskillen and take in the sights and sounds of the town. After Enniskillen we will make our way south back across the border, enjoying the area of outstanding beauty - The Ring of Gullion before making our way back to County Meath. Here we will end the days travels with a tour of one the most impressive castles in Ireland - Trim Castle before arriving back in Dublin City.

Activity Options - Ulster American Folk Park, Lake Boat Trip, Loughcrew Megalithic Tombs Walk, Trim Castle Tour Tour Timings - 9:30am to 6:30pm Overnight - Arrive Back in Dublin City  

Accommodation Options 

On the 3 day northern ireland private tour, where would you like to stay.

We offer a varied portfolio of boutique and luxury options of accommodation from the exclusive to the less expensive. We believe variety is the spice of life and we encourage a mix style of accommodations to enhance your private tour experience. All of our partner accommodations are of the highest standard and offer a special, memorable, local experience.

Below you will find some examples of our partner accommodations.

5 Star - Castles, luxury hotels & city hotels

4 Star - Manor houses, deluxe hotels and city hotels 

3 Star - Country houses, gourmet hotels & retreats

Speciality Lodgings - B&B's, guesthouses & farmhouses

Others - Hostels, Private Rentals, Camping, Glamping & Quirky

We will tailor the tour using your accommodation option.

Find full Accommodation Options

Why not add a

Full package upgrade.

Why not let Little Gem handle your entire vacation in Ireland! 

Just add an airport to airport upgrade...

We will greet you at the arrivals of whichever airport you arrive into in Ireland and take you to your hotel. We will cover all accommodations during your time  in Ireland and we will drop you back at the airport to wave goodbye at the end of your travels :)

Find out more here

For detailed itineraries and full pricings.

Private Tours of Ireland

6 Day Northern Island Tour

The perfect way to tour northern ireland.

Tour Northern Ireland and the northwest coast on this relaxed journey of discovery, featuring excellent hotels, unforgettable sights and fun activities.

Explore the wild backroads of Mayo, medieval castles in Donegal and the epic Giant’s Causeway in Antrim. Overnight in a charming Irish castle hotel and visit the world’s biggest Titanic attraction.

Shop for authentic crafts and meet local people in friendly Irish villages, before visiting Northern Ireland’s cities: Belfast and Derry/Londonderry.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "We had an amazing driver (Danny). He was entertaining and fun. He also was flexible and took folks to places their ancestry was from when it was on the route. Small tours can get to places the big coaches cannot plus with a smaller group, you get to know people better and it takes less time getting on/off." Guest Review - Sept 2023

August 2024

September 2024, october 2024, august 2025, september 2025, october 2025.

*Price displayed is the discounted price for Mar, Apr and Oct.

If the date you want is full please contact us  and we will do our best to accommodate you.

A €250 deposit per person is all we need to secure your tour online. All our departure dates are guaranteed .

**All tours are charged in EURO. Exchange rates quoted are online rates and may differ to the rate our payment partner Flywire and banks offer.

Single Supplements apply to Single Room Occupancy.

Genuine Guest Reviews

Driftwood chose great hotel stays, a good variety of stops along the way and the vans were super comfortable to travel in.

We saw so much of Ireland that we probably wouldn't have experienced if we had tried to do this on our own. Driftwood had little surprises around every corner and the guides were open to some flexibility with the itinerary.

We would highly recommend travelling with Driftwood or Vagabond and would love to come back one day for more adventures.

We enjoyed every minute of this tour!

We enjoyed every site and location that we visited - and I learned so much about Ireland from our knowledgeable tour guides.

The level of activity was excellent - the tour was very well paced.

Accommodations and food were excellent ... I highly recommend Vagabond Tours!

We had an amazing driver (Danny)... He was entertaining and fun.

Small tours can get to places the big coaches cannot plus with a smaller group, you get to know people better and it takes less time getting on/off.

Danny set us up with an app where we could share photos with others in the group and message when we find something in the evening — like when we found good traditional Irish music in a pub that evening, we messaged and some folks joined us.

Find answers to questions about the 6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour itinerary.

What Currency Will I Need On Tour?

There are two currencies used on the island of Ireland. Which one you need, depends on which part of Ireland you're visiting.

You'll use Euro (€) while visiting the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland's currency is the Pound sterling (£).

Which Small Group Tours of Ireland Visit Donegal?

Donegal is one of our favourite places to visit in Ireland. We know you'll love it too!

The following tour itineraries explore Donegal.

When & Where Do Vagabond/Driftwood Tours Depart From?

All of our tours leave from our pick-up/drop-off point at the Grand Canal Hotel in Dublin .

Our pick-up times from the Grand Canal Hotel vary by tour:

Who Guides The Tours?

All of our tours are fully guided by our team of expert driver guides.

We call them VagaGuides .

What Activities Have Weight Limits?

We always put guest safety first on Vagabond Cultural Adventures.

For this reason, when engaging in kayaking and horseback-riding activities, the following personal weight limits apply:

🐴 Horseback-Riding

Male weight limit: 238lbs / 17 stone / 108kg

Female weight limit: 225lbs / 16 stone / 102kg

Per person Double Kayak weight limit: 110kg / 17.5 stone / 245lbs

Total Double Kayak weight limit for 2 guests: 190kg / 30 stone / 420lbs

Per person Single Kayak weight limit: 92kg / 14.5 stone / 200lbs.

Are There Any Luggage Restrictions?

Owing to the compact nature of our small-group tour vehicles , we operate a strict limit of one piece of luggage per person.

Your single piece of luggage should measure no longer than 30” (75cm) along its longest side. This 30” (75cm) includes any wheels that may protrude from the luggage.

Which Small-Group Tours Visit Northern Ireland?

We love introducing our guests to the wonderful cities and surprisingly wild coastline of Northern Ireland.

The following four small-group tour itineraries visit Northern Ireland:

What Day Do Tours Return To Dublin?

To help you plan your return flights, here are the days and times that our tours return to Dublin.

The return point for all tours is Dublin's Grand Canal Hotel

Where Can I Do Laundry On Tour?

Serviced laundry facilities are available on tours that stay 2 nights in the following towns:

• 🧺 Dingle - Check which tours visit Dingle

Do All Hotels Provide Separate Bathrooms?

Yes, all hotel rooms on Vagabond and Driftwood Tours of Ireland are ensuite.

Expect your own separate bathroom with toilet, sink and shower and/or bath.

Can I Access My Bag While On Tour?

It's difficult to access your main luggage or suitcase while on tour. Luggage is securely packed in our tour vehicles. As a result, it's not easy for your driver guide to access individual items of baggage during the day.

However, you can easily access your luggage at each hotel. So that you have your travel essentials close at hand, we recommend bringing a daypack, or backpack, that you can keep beside you in the tour vehicle.

Which Small Group Tours Visit The Wild Atlantic Way?

The Wild Atlantic Way is one of our favourite routes to tour.

Here are all of the small-group tour itineraries that explore the Wild Atlantic Way.

A hot shower after a woodland stroll. A real fire. A pint. We assure you that wherever you stay with us, you’ll love it.

We put great effort into selecting accommodation on Driftwood tours. Your tour will overnight in locally-owned establishments (in some cases for generations). Receive a heartfelt welcome, often from the hoteliers themselves. No hotel chains here!

Mount Falcon Estate Hotel

Situated in the heart of the Moy Valley, the 4 star Mount Falcon Estate offers 100 acres of magical woodlands to add to the adventure of the day.

If you have time, make sure you experience the hotel's spa and a falconry experience

This Victorian Gothic manor house was originally built as a wedding gift.

It's widely recognised as one of the the most romantic historic hotels in Ireland; perfect if you have an anniversary while on tour.

Ocean Sands Hotel

The Ocean Sands is located in Sligo, in Ireland's northwest.

This modern hotel is nestled on a pristine beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The seaside Ocean Sands Hotel reflects the best of Irish hospitality.

After fun days on the road with Vagabond & Driftwood, you can enjoy delicious cuisine and breathtaking ocean views from the restaurant, bar or one of the comfortable guest rooms.

Abbey Hotel Donegal

Enjoy the charms of Donegal town at the comfortable Abbey Hotel.

Relax in superbly appointed bedrooms before savouring delicious food and lively traditional Irish music performances.

You're guaranteed a warm Irish welcome at the Abbey!

Ebrington Hotel

A contemporary spa hotel located just a stone's throw from the Guildhall Square in Derry/Londonderry.

The original building dates to 1842. However the Ebrington Hotel has been fully refurbished in 21st century style.

Make sure you pack your swimwear and make use of the hotel's luxurious spa facilities, including a pool.

Ballygally Castle Hotel

Ever stayed the night in a haunted castle? Now you can.

Sitting proudly on the scenic Northern Ireland coast, Ballygally Castle Hotel features a 400 year old tower house which is home to a friendly ghost. Spooky!

Ballygally is the only 17th century building still used as a residence in Northern Ireland today.

This elegant and welcoming hotel has become a firm guest favourite on our small-group tours of Northern Ireland.

The boutique Cuan has been in the heart of Strangford village since the early 1800s.

This is a unique hotel destination in a stunning setting.

The immediate area is a delight to explore. Strangford is home to beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for a relaxing stroll at the end of the day.

All Driftwood tours are flexible. Your 6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour is no different.

Unmissable activities are included. Where there are great options, we’ve left the final decision up to you. Feel free to choose your evening meals and lunches. All additional tour options are marked clearly below.

Brexit Notice: Please note all tours travelling into Northern Ireland will continue to run as normal and scheduled. Please contact us with any direct concerns you may have .

• A journey of discovery in a super-comfy, slick Mercedes mini-coach
• The services of a highly-trained and professional VagaGuide tour guide
• 6 full days on tour
• 5 nights' accommodation
• 5 delicious and filling hot Irish breakfasts
• Most daily activities and essential attractions
• A one night stay in a castle hotel
• Entrance into the world famous Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle and Hillsborough Castle
• A guided walking tour of Derry/Londonderry
• A guided sheepdog demo in Sligo
• Shuttle bus in Glenveagh National Park

All details of prices and suppliers listed here are correct at time of publication. Our suppliers occasionally increase prices for optional tour activities during the touring season. This is a rare occurence. In the unlikely event of a major price increase, we will do our utmost to update you.

** Cash is required for this activity. No card payment available.

• Slieve League Boat Trip** €25.00 Guided boat trip in the shadow of 2000ft high sea cliffs. Cash required.
• Entrance to Donegal Castle €5.00 Self-guided tour of 15th century Donegal Castle.
• Glenveagh Castle Tour €7.00 Guided historic tour of Glenveagh Castle Tour in Donegal
• Bushmills Whiskey Tasting £10.00 Tasting at the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery.
• Giant's Causeway Shuttle Bus** £1/€1.20 Shuttle bus from Giant's Causeway visitor centre to the stone formation.
• Black Cab Tour** £20.00 Guided Belfast tour. Recommended. Cash Required (£GBP Sterling).
• Titanic Experience £24.95 Self-guided tour of the world's largest Titanic visitor experience.

6 Day Driftwood Northern Island Tour Intro & Highlights

• Experience the historic cities and spectacular natural scenery of Northern Ireland and the rugged northwest region.
• Visit the geological wonder that is the Giant's Causeway , Northern Ireland's World Heritage site.
• Board a boat trip to Slieve League , the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe.
• Traverse mountain passes and pristine beaches in Donegal , one of Ireland’s most beautiful but undiscovered counties.
• Take a history tour with a local guide to see street murals and learn about the 'Troubles' in Belfast , capital of Northern Ireland.
• Relive epic battles on a historic walking tour of Ireland’s only fully intact walled city; Derry/Londonderry .
• Overnight in high quality guesthouses and locally-owned hotels .
• Take a guided tour of the castle where the British Royal Family stay in Northern Ireland.
• Meet master craftspeople and skilled artisans in working craft studios.
• Encounter authentic culture and local experiences in off the beaten track destinations.

Day 1: Let’s Hit The Prehistoric Road!

Begin your Driftwood Journey of Discovery from Dublin , bound for Mayo in Ireland's northwest .

• Discover an Iron Age trackway at Corlea . Europe's oldest oak road was constructed nearly 2200 years ago.
• Explore Ireland’s rich rural heritage at the Museum of Country Life ; a modern exhibition space set amid landscaped gardens.

Accommodation tonight is at The Mount Falcon Estate & Spa or The Ocean Sands Hotel.

The average driving time today is 4 hours 30 minutes.

Day 2: Donegal Boat Trip & Sheepdog Demo

Travel from Mayo to Donegal in Ireland's remote northwestern corner.

• Watch shepherd and dog working perfectly in tandem during a sheepdog demo (Fee Included).
• Scenic coastal drive to Slieve League  with the option to take a boat trip under these towering sea cliffs (Optional Extra).
• Alternatively, shop for crafts in Donegal town with the option of a self-guided tour of Donegal Castle (Optional Extra).

Accommodation tonight is at The Abbey Hotel.

The average driving time today is 3 hours 30 minutes.

Day 3: National Park & Walking History Tour

Northward, ever northward! We travel today from Donegal to Derry/Londonderr y in Northern Ireland .

• Watch for wild deer in Glenveagh National Park  with the choice of an historic castle tour (Optional Extra).
• Enjoy panoramic 360° vistas from the Celtic stone ringfort, Grianán of Aileach .
• Take a guided walking tour of Ireland’s only walled city, Derry/Londonderry .

Accommodation tonight is at Ebrington Hotel.

The average driving time today is 3 hours.

Day 4: Castle Hotel Stay & Giant’s Causeway

Touring Northern Ireland, we move from Derry/Londonderry along the Antrim coast .

• Walk in the footsteps of Finn McCool at the legendary Giant's Causeway (Fee Included). Shuttle bus available (Optional Extra).
• Game of Thrones fan Alert! Look out for Theon Greyjoy stepping ashore at tiny Ballintoy Harbour.
• Whiskey tasting at Bushmills, the world's oldest licensed Irish whiskey distillery (Optional Extra).

Accommodation tonight is at Ballygally Castle Hotel.

Day 5: Belfast History Tour & Royal Castle

• Sea cliffs and a welcome spa hotel, travelling from Antrim to Newcastle via Belfast city.
• Explore the vibrant history of Belfast on a historical Black Cab Tour (Optional Extra).
• Visit the Titanic Centre , the world's largest Titanic visitor experience (Optional Extra).
• Guided tour of Hillsborough Castle & Gardens , the British Royal Family's residence in Northern Ireland (Fee Included).

Accommodation tonight is at The Cuan Hotel.

The average driving time today is 2 hours 30 minutes.

Day 6: Mountains, Castles & Celtic Crosses

Headed south from Down to Dublin, there’s still time for some of Ireland’s top highlights on your final day

• Step back in time to imagine kings, earls and lords battling over Dundrum Castle .
• Revel at the Celtic high crosses of Monasterboice .
• Farewell hugs all round for your new Driftwooder friends in Dublin between 5-6pm.

Similar Tours

💰 EARLY BIRD OFFER: Pay 2024 prices for your 2025 Driftwood tour. Save up to €222 !

• 3 Day Tour Of Northern Ireland (Belfast, Derry and Giant's Causeway)
• Tours of Ireland
• 3 or 4 Day Tours

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Pick-up Points

• 07:50am - 5 Beresford Pl, Mountjoy, Dublin 1, D01 V2V4, Ireland
• 08:00am - Paddywagon Office, 34 O'Connell Street Lower (The Spire)
• 08:10am - Molly Malone Statue, Suffolk Street

Day 1: Dublin - Belfast city (overnight Belfast)

Day 2: belfast - giant's causeway - derry, day 3: derry - wild atlantic way - galway - dublin, additional info.

Accommodation

Free cancellation.

• For a full refund, you must cancel at least 72 hours before the tour's start time.
• If you cancel less than 72 hours before the tour's start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
• Any changes made less than 72 hours before the tour's start time will not be accepted.
• Cut-off times are based on the local time in Ireland.

Why Book Direct?

You help a local business to recover from the pandemic

You help to maximise the employment of our amazing guides

You enjoy a Best Price Guarantee

You enjoy the Best Cancellation Policy in Ireland

You enjoy Guaranteed Access where tours are overbooked

You contribute to our investment in carbon offset

We say Go Raibh Mile Maith Agat (1000 thanks!)

Paddywagon Tours

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Private Tour From Dublin To Northern Ireland – Giant’s Causeway / Titanic Experience / Black Taxi Tour

Titanic experience is closed on the 19th september 22 and for the month of january 2023..

Fully Customisable Tour

Knowledgable Driver/Guide

All Group Sizes

A private tour of Northern Ireland is the ideal way to explore this spectacular part of the world. With a personal and knowledgeable guide , Wild Rover Tours helps you uncover the history, culture and natural beauty of Northern Ireland. Choose from adventures such as the Titanic Experience, Black Taxi Tour, or the Giant’s Causeway and begin the trip of a lifetime! Travel in style in luxury touring vehicles that cater for small to large groups. Prices start from €650 for two in a luxury modern saloon car, for larger private group tours get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Why Choose this Tour

Fully customizable itinerary! Tell Wild Rover Tours where you would like to go in Northern Ireland, and we’ll take you!

Travel in style in a luxury vehicle.

Adaptable to all group sizes, whether you want a one day trip or a multi-day adventure!

Your friendly, knowledgeable guide will drive you to your desired destinations & is on hand to offer advice, suggestions and information should you need it

Visit Giant’s Causeway - UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most geographically diverse places in the world

Learn About Belfast’s Troubled Political Past on a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast.

Walk along the Peace Wall which divides the two religious/national communities of east Belfast

No visit to Northern Ireland should go without a tour of the Titanic Experience, voted “World’s Leading Tourist Attraction’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards!

Northern Ireland Highlights - Sample Itinerary

Make the most of your time in Ireland with a private, escorted tour with Wild Rover Tours. Your personal guide can tailor the experience  to your interests.

Ireland is such a compact island that we can comfortably see the lively city center of Belfast and experience the beautiful scenery and rugged landscape of Giant's Causeway and the North Antrim Coast on the same day, without any sense of being rushed.

Below is a sample itinerary including some of the highlights of Northern Ireland. It is flexible and we can adjust it to suit your needs. Simply let us know your group size and the duration of your trip, and we will help you craft your ideal private day trip to Northern Ireland!

Titanic Experience

Black Taxi Tour

On the way to Belfast we travel through the Boyne Valley, home to a  passage tomb older than the pyramids . Your private driver / guide will tell you stories about the many historical events which occurred in this area of Meath over hundreds of years. One of the most famous is the battle of the Boyne which influenced the political and cultural history of Ireland for hundreds of years after.

Arriving in Belfast you will notice the difference between it and Dublin. Belfast was the only city in Ireland which experienced the Industrial Revolution of Britain during the 19th century.

At this point you have the option to take a tour or explore Belfast at your leisure.

If you want to understand more about the political history of this city there is no better way to do it than in a black taxi accompanied by a local driver. On a Black Taxi Tour of Belfast your local guide will bring you to both sides of the community and explain what Belfast was like during the ‘troubles’. They will explain the content of the murals on the Peace Wall and how people survived such a chaotic time. Please note that this Black Taxi Tour can also be done on foot if you prefer.

Titanic Quarter

The Titanic Quarter and Maritime Mile is one of Europe’s largest urban waterfront regeneration projects. Built to be unsinkable, the fate of Titanic is well known. Explore the underwater theatre and recreated decks and cabins of the ill-fated White Star liner on the Titanic Experience Tour.

The Titanic Experience in Belfast's' Titanic Quarter includes access to the nine interpretive galleries, full-scale reproductions, and the opportunity to walk in the shoes of those who built, served, and took passage on the ill-fated liner. This interactive experience exploring the origins of the tragic and legendary ship along with its passengers and crew in the city where she was built, is not one to be missed.

If neither option appeals, feel free to spend this time exploring the city. Your personal guide can offer suggestions for brunch, shopping, museums or markets depending on your interests.

THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY

Visit Game of Thrones Filming Location

Witness the Beauty of the UNESCO Site

Giant's Causeway

One of the most popular stops on our private day tours to Northern Ireland from Dublin is also the most visited natural site in the north of the island, Giant’s Causeway . Volcanic activity tens of millions of years ago produced a unique field of flat-topped and ruggedly symmetrical stones lying between craggy peaks and the roiling sea. UNESCO has ranked Giant’s Causeway among its world heritage sites and many consider it one of the eight natural wonders of the world.

The spectacular rock formation is named after an Irish myth your driver will be happy to share with you on the way.  Created more than 60 million years ago  after a series of volcanic eruptions it is best known for its distinctive rock formations that span nearly 18 miles (29kms) of coastline.

Dunluce Castle

On our way to the Giant’s Causeway we can stop to visit the unique Dunluce Castle located on the edge of the north Atlantic coast . This area may be recognised by  Game of Thrones fans as it was a popular location for filming the series.

Dunluce Castle was built by the McQuillan family around 1500. It is located on the top of sheer-sided cliffs 100 feet above the ocean – the perfect location for one of the Great Houses of Westeros. The Castle’s dramatic history of violence, intrigue and rebellion is matched by the scandal and betrayal committed by the Greyjoys in Game of Thrones.

Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge

Cross the World Famous Bridge

Take in Atlantic Views

Note - Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge is currently Closed. However, the Coastal Path remains open .

Leaving the Causeway we continue our day to the Carrick a Rede rope bridge close to Ballintoy. This absolutely fabulous attraction is a must when visiting the north coast. You have the opportunity to cross this world famous rope bridge, that’s if you’re brave enough!

Bushmills Distillery

Oldest Working Distillery in Ireland

Established in 1608

About three miles from the Giant’s Causeway, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery has been creating ‘water of life’ since 1608, making this the  oldest working distillery in Ireland !

Family and friends have worked together for generations at Bushmills, passing on their whiskey making knowledge. Here, the philosophy is that small, handcrafted batches are the best way to create beautifully smooth Irish whiskey.

Take the opportunity to purchase some of this  famed triple distilled whiskey  in the gift shop and wander around the visitor’s centre for an insight into this fascinating distillery.

Remember  all of these attractions can be included in your private tour ! If we have whet your appetite enough to consider booking a private tour of Northern Ireland, why not contact us today to discuss your needs. We would be delighted to help you make the most of your holiday/vacation in Ireland.

Special Offers

Four bundles from dublin.

10% Off. Cliffs Of Moher & Galway + Giant’s Causeway & Belfast (2 x Tours)

10% Off. Cliffs Of Moher & Galway + Wicklow & Kilkenny (2 x Tours)

10% Off. Belfast & Giant’s Causeway + Wicklow & Kilkenny (2 x Tours)

12.5% Off: 3 Tour Saver. Cliffs of Moher (with Bunratty) + Belfast + Wicklow

What our clients love, about wild rover tours, wild rover tours.

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• Katie Howard ★★★★★ 4 weeks ago Neil and Sarah were fantastic! If you are in Dublin and debating whether this tour is worth it I promise it is. Absolutely amazing. They give you nice long stops so you feel you can take in the area. Great history lessons while driving but also quiet time with music. The sheepdog demonstration was the icing on the cake. I want to come back again now to those areas as they were stunning!
• Theresa Langston ★★★★★ a month ago Our tour to Northern Ireland and the Giant Cliffs were amazing! Our tour guides Krishna and Barbara were so informative and friendly people. Barbara gave us a lot of Irish history and folklore. The Titanic museum in Belfast was so well done and sad too. The Giant Cliffs are amazing! The views are so beautiful. The countryside throughout Ireland is so green. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting … More Ireland they were amazing tour guides. Thank you so much!
• Alexandra McDonald ★★★★★ 2 months ago What a fantastic and professional tour company! This Wild Rover tour from Dublin to the Cliffs was the perfect choice for my 7 year old and me. We were visiting Dublin for a long weekend and the Cliffs had been a bucket list item, and not stressing about driving was my main reason for booking. I reserved on their website directly (a fair price!) and went to the meeting point that day at 7am. They have … More large, comfortable coaches with their logo. The Cliffs are magnificent and a must-see! The driver Garry and our guide Rory were so professional and entertaining. Rory pointed out landmarks as we drove, gave us a comprehensive history of Ireland, and had such a lovely personality all day! We made a rest stop on the route there and back (no WC on the bus). We returned back at 7:30pm and it was such a great (albeit long) day. Furthermore, Rory came through the cabin as we were arriving back in Dublin to answer any personal questions we had about the area, and took a few minutes to recommend local restaurants, pubs, and experiences that we would find useful. Absolutely recommend!!
• Darian Wickstead ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago We did the Giant’s Causeway and Cliffs Wild Rover tour with David/Steven and Rory/Steven as the guide/driver combo. David provided some singing and was happy to give extra facts or suggestions for Dublin, as did Rory. The bus was clean, comfortable, and everything was very clear. We did the Taxi tour in Belfast and learned a lot. Steven was a great driver. Someone else said it in a review, I would … More bring a lunch to Giant’s causeway or eat on the bus. If you eat at the pub, you will only be left with an hour which isn’t very much time. Pub is also very expensive. Same with Galway, we had a lovely lunch, but then were only left with an hour to explore Galway, and we wish we had more time.
• Sarah Zwieg ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago I took two tours with Wild Rover and booked direct which earned a 10% discount. These tours were truly incredible and the guides and drivers made sure everyone had an incredible time. As an amateur photographer, I was worried about having enough time to capture my shots at some of the key locations like Cliffs of Moher and Giant's Causeway but I had absolutely no problem with the time we were … More given at each location. I wrote about my "wild" adventures with Wild Rover Tours in my blog if you'd like to read about both of the tours! https://shortstepsabroad.home.blog/2024/05/26/ireland-cliffs-of-moher-giants-causeway-and-more-wild-adventures/
• Alana Steer ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago Our first tour with Wild Rover tours was a great success! We loved the scenic drive through the winding roads of the Wild Altantic Way along with the breathtaking views of the Cliffs of Moher and the liveliness of Galway City! Our driver, Lisa, did an amazing job travelling the tight narrow roads and our guide, Ciara, was very engaging, timely, friendly and funny. Would definitely book with Wild … More Rover again!
• Ed Torres ★★★★★ 4 weeks ago This is the easiest and most stress free way to see some amazing sights in Ireland. We got to relax and let Wild Rover worry about the driving and details. Krishna and Brendan were absolute professionals and a joy to spend the day with. The bus was spotless and had USB charging ports at every seat. If I were to do this tour again, I'd pack a lunch to maximize my time at Giant's Causeway … More as the two food options there can get very busy.
• Bob Carey ★★★★ ☆ 2 months ago Our tour guide Barbara was great. She was very entertaining and informative. The Giants Causeway was beautiful and breathtaking. My only disappointment was the Black Cab tour. Our driver was not aware of our passengers, at one point we had to get back in the cab to go no more than 150 feet…. He presented the time of the Troubles from his perspective as a youth growing up. Otherwise, I highly recommend … More Wild River.
• laura taylor ★★★★★ a month ago Truly the best and most enjoyable experience on our trip to Dublin. Liam and JP were exceptional in their knowledge of the regions visited and making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. I wouldn't hesitate in booking another Wild Rover tour in Ireland again! Stop scrolling and simply book it!

Small Group Day Tours

• Cliffs of Moher Tour from Dublin
• Giant's Causeway Tour from Dublin
• Blarney Castle Tour from Dublin

Small Group Shore Excursions

• Shore Tour from Dublin
• Shore Tour from Cork
• Shore Tour from Belfast

Private Day Tours

• Private Giant's Causeway Tour
• Private Cliffs of Moher Tour
• Private Kilkenny & Wicklow Tour
• Private Galway & Connemara Tour
• Private Blarney & Cork Tour
• Private Belfast Tour
• Private Powerscourt & Glendalough Tour
• Private Kilkenny & Waterford Tour
• Private Multi Day Tours
• 2 Day Southern Ireland
• 2 Day Northern Ireland
• 2 Day Western Ireland
• 2 Day County Kerry
• 3 Day Southern Ireland
• 3 Day Northern Ireland
• 4 Day Southern Ireland

4 Day Northern Ireland

• 6 Day Ashford, Killarney & Dublin

Private Shore Excursions

• Private Dublin Shore Excursion (Wicklow)
• Private Half- Day Dublin Shore Excursion (Wicklow)
• Private Cork Shore Excursion (Blarney)
• Private Belfast Shore Excursion (Giants Causeway)

Golf Tours of Ireland

• South West Golf Tour
• Northern Ireland Golf Tour
• East Coast & Dublin Golf Tour
• North West Ireland Golf Tour

• Private Tours

Start Planning

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Your journey at a glance

Day 1: monasterboice - belfast.

Enjoy a relaxing chauffer transfer from your chosen Dublin location towards Belfast, with a stop at the fascinating early Christian settlement of Monasterboice en route. In the midst of beautiful landscapes, marvel at the historic Celtic crosses and round tower, as your guide takes you through a brief history of the site. Arriving into Belfast city center – there are a vast number of cultural sights for you to enjoy. A 'black taxi' tour of Belfast comes highly recommended – offering you a unique insight into the often dark political history of the city and how it has risen from its troubles to become the cosmopolitan and vibrant city that exists today. Following the tour, let your guide provide you with the best recommendations for what to see and do in the city. The Botanic Gardens, Albert Clock and Belfast City Tour are just a few of the numerous things that Belfast has to discover. Your first overnight stop will be here in the city, where you are sure to enjoy a night filled with food, music and extravagant nightlife.

Day 2: Glens of Antrim - Carrick-A-Rede - Giant's Causeway - Derry - Letterkenny

The second day of your adventure will begin with a relaxing morning in Belfast, before your guide collects you for a beautiful journey along the 'Glens of Antrim'. The route boasts stunning views out over the Irish Sea and frequent opportunities to see view the coast of Scotland off on the horizon! Stop in the scenic village of Ballintoy – home to the historic 'Carrick-A-Rede' Rope Bridge. Decide whether or not you're brave enough to cross this old rope-tied bridge – no need to worry though if a fear of heights gets the better of you –the views from both sides are incredible! Following a short onward transfer, you'll arrive at the UNESCO heritage site and world-famous attraction that is the Giant's Causeway. Comprised of thousands of hexagonal-shaped columns of basalt rock, the Causeway is believed to have been formed as a result of a volcanic eruption millions of years ago. Legend however tells a different story – that the ancient Celtic warrior Finn McCool constructed the causeway as a battleground for his encounter with Scottish giant Bennandonner! Which account will you believe..? Enjoy ample time to wander around the Causeway, taking in wonderful views and salty sea air. Make sure to visit the newly-opened exhibition center, which includes a café and outlet selling locally-made gifts and souvenirs. After your Causeway visit – continue on to Dunluce Castle – a haunted cliff-top ruin with a mysterious history. A short onward drive will take you as far as Derry city – a place, which plays a key role in Irish history. Your second overnight stop is in Letterkenny, where you can spend the evening at your leisure.

Day 3: Derry - Donegal - Glenveagh National Park

Begin the third morning of your journey with a tour of Derry city – learning the history of the city and the story behind its official title of 'Londonderry'. We then continue as far as 'Grianan an Aileacht' – a collection of ancient Celtic constructions situated atop a hill in picturesque Donegal. Enjoy the views of the ancient ring fort and other structures, making sure to capture plenty of photos as you go. Our journey continues on through the beautiful, barren landscapes of Co. Donegal, arriving at one of the highest cliff tops in Europe – the Slieve League Cliffs – where you can look down at the raging Atlantic Ocean below. There is an interesting, family-run visitor center to explore at Slieve League, with a café and small craft store which are well worth a visit. Next on the agenda is a chance to stretch your legs at 'Glenveagh National Park' – one of Ireland's six incredibly beautiful national parks –and which is sure to blow you away. With a day of incredible sightseeing coming to a close, enjoy your stop for the evening here in Donegal. Some of Ireland's most traditional pubs are waiting for you to explore – why not cosy up beside a roaring fire tonight and enjoy some traditional pub food and perhaps a pint or two of the 'black stuff'!?

Day 4: Ulster American Folk Park - Newgrange - The Hill of Tara

Your final morning of touring takes you on a drive south and back into the 6 counties of Northern Ireland, making a stop at Co. Tyrone's most famous attraction – the Ulster American Folk Park. The folk park takes you through the story of Irish emigration, which over the past centuries has sent millions of our ancestors to foreign shores all over the world. The story is told in an interactive way, with costumed characters, and is sure to be a hit with adults and children alike. Continuing south, we take you to one of Ireland's most fascinating historical sites – 'Bru Na Boinne' at Newgrange, Co. Meath. A passage tomb, dating back as far as 3,200BC and constructed with fascinating engineering for its time – the tomb of Newgrange is especially notable for the passage of light which shines meticulously through its central hollow on the morning of the 'Winter Solstice', (21st December) each year. The Hill of Tara is our final stop of the journey –a site famous for being the seat of the ancient High King of Ireland. With a magnificent four days of touring behind you – your guide will take you on the short return journey to Dublin city.

You will receive your ticket (featuring your booking number) via email immediately at time of booking. There is no need to print the ticket. If you wish, you can simply show it on your phone or tablet.

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Explore all the best the Emerald Isle has to offer on your trip filled with tales of mythical creatures and the troubled history of an island split in two. Beyond soul-stirring landscapes, there’s time with a local ‘Cabbie’ who’ll guide you through Belfast.

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A favorite Ireland trip for families combining happy travels with the luck of the Irish. Find your own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, cuddling sheep on the Wild Atlantic Way. Ever wondered if boats can fly? See it firsthand in Foynes, all with no schoolbooks in sight.

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"From the stunning, secluded lakes of Fermanagh to the monumental steps of the Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland affords luscious green scenery, charming countryside, vital cities and friendly locals"

Emma, Travel Director

See the City Hall in Belfast

Originally built to celebrate Belfast’s new status as a city, the City Hall is one of the most beloved   Belfast tourist attractions. We’ll show you around this grand monument to history, or you can relax on the grassy grounds, with the Belfast Wheel in the background.

Walk on the Derry City Walls

We’ll take you on a journey through history to the Derry City Walls, one of the most historically important   places to visit in Northern Ireland. Surrounding the old city center of Derry, the city walls are a 17th-century fortification with panoramic views of the region. Incredibly, most of the original structure is still standing.

Feel the Irish Spirit at St George's Market

Completed in 1896, St George’s Market is the last surviving Victorian market in Belfast and one of the oldest   Belfast attractions. There are markets every Friday and Sunday and you can explore local produce, secondhand treasures, traditional arts and crafts, Irish homewares, and live music in this beautiful building.

Explore the town of Donegal

With its wild mountains, sandy beaches and glittering lakes, Donegal is one of the most remarkable places in Europe. The scenic highlight of any Northern Ireland travel experience, we’ll take you through pretty Donegal Town, with a serene harbor, the 15th-century Donegal Abbey and the ancient Donegal Castle.

Admire 40,000 basalt columns at Giant's Causeway

Take a drive with Trafalgar up the gorgeous Antrim coastal road to the Giant’s Causeway, where you can see the natural spectacle of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It’s one of the most iconic things to do in Northern Ireland, and your trip will also ‘Make a Difference' by helping to preserve this natural wonder.

Our top 5 things to do in Northern Ireland

We show you the best things to do in Belfast and beyond, from the ancient Derry City Walls to the spectacular natural columns of the Giant’s Causeway.

Ulster Museum

Located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, the Ulster Museum is a vast display of fine art, botany, geology, culture and local and European history. It’s the largest museum in Northern Ireland with everything from dinosaur skeletons to an ancient Egyptian mummy.

The Titanic Belfast is an incredible museum, dedicated to telling the story of the Titanic, from her design and construction in Belfast in the early 1900s to her disastrous voyage. Located in the Belfast docklands, where the original Titanic was launched, you can explore over nine interactive galleries.

Downpatrick

Down County Museum

We’ll take you back through 9,000 years of history at the Down County Museum, a former prison now dedicated to documenting the history of Downpatrick. You can visit the original cells used to house prisoners in the early 1800s, and learn the legendary history of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Best museums in Northern Ireland

Our  Belfast tours  take in the best museums and galleries in Northern Ireland. See an ancient Egyptian mummy at the Botanic gardens and discover the vivid history of the Titanic.

Ardglass potted herring

This classic Northern Irish dish consists of Ardglass herrings rolled in a dish with vinegar, spice berries, raw onions, salt and pepper. It’s baked until the top of the fish becomes crispy, then served with crusty bread and butter to mop up the tasty juices.

One of the most well-loved dishes in Northern Ireland, Ulster fry is a traditional cooked breakfast with griddle breads (potato bread and soda bread fried until golden), small pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms, served with tea and toast.

Traditionally found in the north midlands such as Fermanagh and Donegal, Boxty is a Northern Irish potato pancake made with a blend of grated raw potatoes and cooked mashed potatoes with flour and buttermilk. Served with a smear of butter, this is a delicious favorite.

Best food in Northern Ireland

Our trips will let you in on the best places to try Northern Irish cuisine, filled with grilled bread, potato pancakes, bacon and sausages, and generous dollops of creamy butter.

What to pack for Northern Ireland

Water and windproof jacket

Northern Ireland is one of the wettest and windiest regions in Europe, with temperatures averaging just 15°C (59°F) in summer. Stay cosy with a sturdy jacket and warm layers.

A big appetite

With a hearty cuisine filled with delicious breads, meats, pancakes and potatoes in every form, you’ll need to bring your appetite for a tour of Northern Ireland.

Although the Republic of Ireland (the southern partition of Ireland) uses the Euro, Northern Ireland uses the Pound sterling, so you’ll need to change currencies at the border.

An adaptor plug

Voltage in Northern Ireland is 230V, and the sockets are of Type G, with standard British 3-pin plugs.

Northern Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you’ll want to bring a camera to capture all of this wild beauty.

Pack for sustainable travel

Consider your environmental impact when you next take a trip and go single-use-plastic-free by packing a reusable water bottle, a steel straw, your own shopping bags and reusable toiletry bottles.

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2024 Tour Packages:

• All Ireland Tours & Vacations
• Iconic Britain & Ireland Tour 18 Days | From €4390 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• Iconic Britain Tour 10 Days | From €2490 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• Iconic Ireland & Scotland Tour 14 Days | €3690 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• 14-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 14 Days | From €2890 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• 10-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 10 Days | From €1690 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• 8-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 8 Days | From €1590 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• 6-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 6 Days | From €990 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• Deluxe Irish Castles Tour 10 Days | From €2790 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• Historic Irish Castle Tour 7 Days | From €1790 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.
• Ancient Ireland & Scotland Tour 13 Days | From €5390 | 2024 | Max 8 ppl.
• Ancient Ireland Tour 8 Days | From €3390 | 2024 | Max 8 ppl.
• Discover Northern Ireland 6 Days | From €995 | 2024 | Max 26 ppl.

2025 Tour Packages:

• Iconic Britain & Ireland Tour 18 Days | From €4590 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• Iconic Ireland & Scotland Tour 14 Days | €3990 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• Highlights of Ireland & Scotland Tour 9 Days | €2490 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• 14-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 14 Days | From €2990 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• 10-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 10 Days | From €1990 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• 8-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 8 Days | From €1690 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• 6-Day Iconic Scenes of Ireland 6 Days | From €1090 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• Deluxe Irish Castles Tour 10 Days | From €2890 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
• Ancient Ireland & Scotland Tour 13 Days | From €5690 | 2025 | Max 8 ppl.
• Ancient Ireland Tour 8 Days | From €3290 | 2025 | Max 8 ppl.
• Discover Northern Ireland 6 Days | From €1090 | 2025 | Max 26 ppl.
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Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024

• Tour highlights
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Discover Northern Ireland Tour [2024] currently has no spaces available.

Be sure to check out the rest of our 2024 and 2025 shared tours of Ireland and Britain .

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The best of Northern Ireland in under a week

Over six comfortably-paced days, the Discover Northern Ireland Tour introduces you to the culture and countryside of Northern Ireland. Immerse yourself in the lives and histories of its people. Witness with wonderment the beauty of the wild northern coastline. This tour is fully inclusive, with no hidden extras or optional extras. Six days of discovery, and five nights of relaxation in the luxury of our hand-picked four-star hotels.

• 26 guests maximum
• Fully Inclusive Package
• Arrival & Departure in Dublin

Tour Gallery

• Belfast City Tour

On Day Two you will visit the the City of Belfast. The only city on the island of Ireland to have embraced the Industrial Revolution. You will meet up with your local Belfast City Guide who will explain all about the history of this once troubled city.

Titanic Exhibition

On Day Two you will also visit Titanic Belfast. You will have the opportunity to learn the history of the world's most famous ship, The Titanic. Completed in 1912 on Harland & Wolff's shipyard.

Derry/Londonderry

On Day Three you will visit Derry/Londonderry, a captivating city enclosed within ancient walls, possessing a rich and diverse past.

Old Bushmills Distillery

On Day Three you will also visit the Old Bushmills Distillery. It is the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Given a Grant to Distil in 1608 but thought to have been producing whiskey 200 years prior to that.

The Giant's Causeway

Day Three will also take you to The Giant's Causeway. One of Northern Ireland's most stunning sights. No amount of photographs can ever do the Giants Causeway justice. 37,000 basalt columns extend from cliffs down into the sea.

• Ulster American Folk Park

On Day Four you will visit the Ulster American Folk Park. Here you will hear the reasons why 2 million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

Cruise Lough Erne

On Day Five you will embark on the Lough Erne Cruise. Here you can enjoy the natural and historic sights of Northern Ireland on a leisurely cruise on picturesque Lough Erne.

• Devenish Island

On Day Five you will also visit Devenish Island. A stand-out feature of your cruise of Lough Erne. During the 6th Century, St. Molaise founded a monastery here which later became a centre of scholarship.

• Trim Castle

Day Five will also take you to Trim Castle. This is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period until its completion in 1206.

Tour Itinerary

Six days of remarkable locations and unforgettable experiences await on the Discover Northern Ireland Tour. Click on the days below to find out what adventures you can look forward to on each day of your tour.

Day 1: Arrival (Dublin)

Day 1 itinerary.

Welcome - On arrival in Dublin Airport, reclaim your baggage and enter the Arrivals Hall. Here, you will meet your Irish tour guide (who is also your driver). There will be three group transfers this morning between 7:00 am and 1200 noon. To ensure a smooth start to your tour, it is advisable to aim for an arrival time in Dublin Airport before 11:00 am, as clearing immigration and reclaiming baggage typically takes around 1 hour.

Board your luxury air-conditioned coach and make the short transfer to your hotel where you can relax and unwind after your flight.

3:00 PM Check-in time. Hotel reception will store your luggage prior to Check-in.

At 6:00 PM this evening all participants will gather for dinner in the hotel restaurant where you can become acquainted with your fellow travellers.

Dine & Overnight at the Clayton Hotel Charlemont .

Included Today

• Welcome Dinner

Clayton Hotel Charlemont

Day 2: titanic belfast & belfast city tour, day 2 itinerary.

After some much-needed sleep and a hearty full Irish breakfast, we will depart for Northern Ireland. The province of Northern Ireland was created with the partition of the island of Ireland in 1921.

Your destination today will be Belfast City , the only city in Ireland to fully experience the Industrial Revolution. Linen, rope making, tobacco and most famously shipbuilding including the building of the Titanic Belfast on the Harland & Wolff shipyard, were the main industries. The Troubles took their toll on the economic life of Belfast, but the past fifteen years of peace have returned much prosperity, while the genuine friendliness of the city never left.

Travelling north, your route today will take you through County Meath & County Louth. On arrival in Belfast, visit the Titanic Belfast . The world’s largest Titanic-themed visitor attraction, located on the very slipways where she was built in the heart of Belfast. In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of Belfast City with a specialised step on local Belfast City Guide to see and hear all about the history of this once troubled city — including the Belfast Murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road and Nationalist Falls Road.

Tonight you will overnight & dine at the Clayton Hotel Belfast in Belfast City .

• Irish Breakfast
• Evening Dinner
• Titanic Belfast

Clayton Hotel Belfast

Day 3: bushmills distillery & giant's causeway, day 3 itinerary.

This morning after breakfast, you will depart for Derry/Londonderry City .

Our route today will take you via the spectacular Antrim Coastal Route through the nine Glens of Antrim and picturesque villages of Ballygalley, Carnlough, Cushendall and Cushendun to Ballycastle. Continue onto Bushmills.

Here you will visit the Bushmills Distillery . Known around the world as the oldest licensed distillery. We will stop here for a whiskey tasting. Its grant to distil whiskey was given in 1608, but it is believed that the spirit was probably made here 200 years before that!

Further north, on the coast, you will visit Giant's Causeway . This prehistoric geological phenomenon is the subject of many myths and legends. There are an estimated 37,000 basalt columns extending from cliffs down into the sea.

This afternoon you will continue west to Derry/Londonderry City for an overnight stay at the Maldron Hotel Derry . Dine at the hotel tonight.

• Bushmills Distillery
• Giant's Causeway

Maldron Hotel Derry

Day 4: derry city tour & ulster american folk park, day 4 itinerary.

This morning, after breakfast, you will be joined by a specialised local guide for a walking tour of Derry/Londonderry City . The city fortifications are amongst the best preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal.

We will depart for the beautiful town of Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, which occupies an island between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

Your route will take you via Strabane and Omagh in County Tyrone, to the Ulster American Folk Park . An open-air museum located on the restored boyhood home of Judge Thomas Mellon, founder of the Pittsburgh banking dynasty. The Park's permanent exhibition, called 'Emigrants', examines why two million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

Dinner and overnight will be in the Westville Hotel located in the heart of Enniskillen's waterside historic quarter.

• Derry Walking Tour

Westville Hotel

Day 5: lough erne cruise & trim castle, day 5 itinerary.

After breakfast this morning, enjoy a Lough Erne Cruise . Boasting a rich combination of natural and historic sights, a haven for many species of water birds.

You will visit Devenish Island, where St. Molaise founded a monastery in the Sixth Century. The most spectacular sight on this tiny, windswept island is a perfectly preserved Twelfth Century round tower that stands 82ft high.

Your journey through Northern Ireland ends today when you cross the border into County Cavan and travel through the rounded hills called Drumlins that are typical of the border region between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The route will take you through Meath, known as the Royal County due to its history as the seat of the High King of Ireland. Your last stop today will be at Trim Castle . The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30-year period and finished it in 1206. Trim Castle was also a film location for the movie "Braveheart".

• Lough Erne Cruise

Day 6: Departure (Dublin)

Day 6: departure.

Today marks the end of the Discover Northern Ireland Tour.

After the final Irish breakfast this morning transfer by taxi (not included) to Dublin Airport for your return flight home. Turas sàbhailte dhuibh (safe journey).

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We are still Ireland's best-reviewed tour operator, with 97.3% five-star reviews.

Judith Wimberg

June 2024  •  Discover Northern Ireland

The tour of Northern Ireland in May was our second experience with My Ireland Tour. We enjoyed our first tour with the company and didn't think twice about using them again. Their tours are simply the best: knowledgable drivers with entertaining personalities, top notch accommodations (lodging and meals), and knowledge of cultural and historical spots not to be missed. Being part of a small group of tourists is very pleasant and gave us the opportunity to enjoy new friends. If we want to plan another tour of Ireland, England or Scotland, it will be with My Ireland Tour. Judy and Fred Reuter

Sara Palmer

My friend and I had a fantastic experience with My Ireland Tour! We did the Discover Northern Ireland Tour with Cathal as our driver. He was fantastic and shared so much history about Northern Ireland, as well as information about everywhere we drove through. The pace of the tour was perfect with a balance of planned activities and free time on our own, particularly in the evenings. Because we had a small group, we all had the chance to get to know each other, particularly during the included three course dinners, which was an added bonus. I've already told friends thinking about visiting Ireland about how wonderful our tour was and will continue to recommend My Ireland Tour.

Kathy Polcrack

May 2024  •  Discover Northern Ireland

I did the Northern Ireland tour. Tour went very smoothly; lovely accommodations, good food, very comfortable bus, and our guide, Colm Clarke, had an encyclopedic knowledge of Irish history. The step on guides in Belfast and Derry explained “the troubles” clearly and with no bias. This is a great tour at a very reasonable price. Good value. I would travel with this company again. No complaints.

herb chemerika

October 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

we did the discover northern Ireland tour on September 6Th Coln Clarke was the Bus tour guide /driver he was wonderful very knowledgeable about Irish history he also had a great sense of humor the trip was great the hotels ,meals and services was top notch the Tours in Belfast , the walking tours of Derry all gave a insight to the troubled times the tours of the titanic memorial was super all in all well worth the price and would recommend this trip

Robin Henry

We took the Northern Ireland tour this time and to our amazement, Colm Clarke was again our driver and guide. It truly felt like returning to see old friends. The tour was great, again Colm was so and made things so fun. Our guide in Belfast, Nollaig, was full of information and kept things lively even while talking about things like The Troubles. In Derry, our guide was Theresa, again a knowledgeable and passionate guide. We loved Bushmill's and Giant's Causeway. The Lough Erne Cruise and the trip to Devinish Island was almost magical with the mist rising up off the river as the sun got higher. Shannon set us up with a private tour from our wish list after Northern Ireland and it was everything we could have hoped for. We got to stay in the places we wanted to explore, stayed at great placed and the food was unbelievable good. We saw a lot in 6 days - Kilkenny Castle, Cobh and the Titanic Museum and the statue of Annie Moore, then on to Kinsale and the Lusitania Museum and Old Head, all the shops (such wonderful little hidden gems. Then we went to Dingle Peninsula and spent 2 days in a delightful BNB and explored. Our last days, we revisited the Cliffs of Moher and then to Galway and a day on the largest Aran Island. We couldn't have asked for a better day - water calm, no wind, and sunny. Our driver and Guide, Pat C. was great. He stopped for photos and had suggestions for others, always made sure we were well settled in our hotels and knew his stuff. Thanks for making our trip to Ireland, once again, a delightful and experience packed trip. We'll be back!

Alan Leathem

September 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

This is my second tour with this company. I did the Northern Ireland tour in September and Colm was the guide driver of the bus. He brought Irish history alive. The additional guides we had in Belfast and Derry were fabulous sharing their knowledge of these two cities and 'The Troubles'. Great hotels and meals also included in the tour. I would recommend this company and this tour.

Philip Mcmahon

July 2023  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland tour was great!

Steve Warfield

We took the Northern Ireland tour in early July 2023, and it was a fantastic experience. Setting aside the fantastic price, our tour bus was spacious, clean, and, comfortable, as were all our hotel accomodations. The breakfasts and dinners were consistently excellently tasting, and there were numerous choices for both. Our driver/tour guide, George, was definitely one of the best we have experienced in our travels, as he was personable, highly knowledgeable, and a very skilled driver. The excursions were included in the tour price (as was the lodging and morning/evening meal) and there was more than enough time at each location to do some exploring after the day had come to an end.

Jennifer MacLeod

October 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

My husband and I travelled to Northern Ireland with My Ireland Tours in September 2022. Our driver/tour guide, Garey, provided very concise instructions as well as informative commentary every step of the way. We had two interesting activities every day. While I booked the tour primarily for the Giants Causeway, every part of the trip provided us with fabulous scenery. The drive along the Antrim coast was spectacular. The Step-on Guides in Belfast and Derry were very informative, as they helped us to understand the turmoil in their cities. The travel between each stop was reasonable and we always arrived at our final destination in good time. Having our breakfast and evening meal included in our tour simplified everything. Lunch stops included the Titanic Experience, the Giants Causeway and the Ulster American Folk Park. We cannot praise Garey enough for the way he took charge of our group and his amazing talent for maneuvering the full-size coach. It would have been a far more stressful journey if we had attempted to do it on our own. The ease with which our booking was managed was also great. Kevin kept us posted on the payment deadline and ensured that our arrival and departure information was complete. Although we arrived two days early, he arranged for us to remain in the same room when we joined the tour group. If you haven't been to Ireland before I would highly recommend using My Ireland Tours. Your vacation will be trouble free.

July 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

In the past five years I have used My Ireland Tour twice, and they do not disappoint. First you can design your own itinerary, if you desire, if you do they will help you with suggestions, that will enhance your trip. They will book you into hotels that have great reputations, sometimes even 5 star at a reasonable trip cost. Last, they provide well respected tour guide drivers in great coaches. A great tour guide/driver makes all the difference in a tour. The most recent tour of Northern Ireland with driver guide Raymond Wilson was truly a great experience. The support and communication with the office staff was always helpful and professional. I would never consider a trip to Ireland without using My Ireland Tours.

Michael Hughes

May 2022  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Delayed by the pandemic, we've finally been able to take our THIRD tour with My Ireland Tour. This time we went to Northern Ireland and the experience was as wonderful, if not more so, than our previous two tours. As has been the case in all of our previous tours with My Ireland Tours, the superb service came into play even before our trip began. The staff provided all of the assistance we needed to arrange our journey and guided us skillfully through all of the new processes and procedures for travel. The tour itself was absolutely delightful! Our driver / guide, Garey, was knowledgeable and entertaining. He demonstrated great skill driving the coach on the sometimes narrow roads of the countryside and through the congestion and tight quarters on the cities. The schedule provided ample time to enjoy each of the sites that we visited and the walking tour of Derry was a highlight of the tour. We continue to prefer My Ireland Tour because of the value for money, excellent customer service, well crafted tours, smaller group sizes and superb driver / guides. When it comes time for our fourth visit, we won't look to any other tour company for our travel needs!

My very first trip with my ireland tours..booked a northern Ireland tour with them..was a little apprehensive as being a single elderly lady traveling on my own was not sure how it would be..I can't tell you it was one of the best tours I have taken..from the very start..the prompt interaction with eric via email was very reasureing as all my questions were answered promptly..it was good to be met by our guide/driver Garry at dublin airport..after that it was smooth sailing all the way to Northern Ireland! He took good care of us and gave us a full insight into the Irish way of life with stories and historical details of the places we visited..we were kept at very good comfortable hotels each night..all in all..a great memorable trip..will definitely book with them again..many thanks

October 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Tour of Northern Ireland. Brilliantly organised, right amount of time in each place. Led by Kieran who was extremely knowledgeable and personable. Very safe and professional driving. Good attention to detail throughout. Hotels of good standard. May well choose your company for another trip. Thank you.

Bob and Verna Wiebe

August 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

Our experience with our My Ireland tour of Northern Ireland was very good. We appreciated the well planned itinerary, which included interesting stops as well as some down time each day. The accommodations and food exceeded expectations. Our specialty guides were very informative and personable. Our bus driver/guide was outstanding, one of a kind – do you get me? We will take a piece of Northern Ireland home with us in our hearts.

Julie Heiple

March 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a marvelous experience! My husband and I were on the 5 day Northern Ireland tour from March 20-25, 2019 and enjoyed every minute of it! Our tour guide, Nigel O'Connor, was so professional and attentive to the group, always conscious of our schedule for the day but also allowing for slight changes as necessary. For example, two guests wanted to attend St. Michael's early mass one morning and that request was accommodated with an alternate pick up location for them. Thanks so much for a terrific, memorable vacation!

Brenda Holden

October 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

On our 24 day trek through the UK, Chuck and I picked up the Northern Ireland Tour through My Ireland Tours at the Belfast Titanic and continued on with the group of 26. Our driver /guide Nigel was entertaining and knowledgable about the history of the area we travelled through and answered questions for us. The countryside was spectacular, the people of Ireland warm and welcoming and the bus family entertaining. This was our first group trip in our 64 years and we both enjoyed leaving the thinking to a well organized company to do that for us for part of our trip. Cead Mile Failte is just one Gaelic saying we learned, but to all of you Go Raibh Maith Agat.

Alice Williams

September 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Northern Ireland with My Ireland Tours. Accomodations were excellent and the driver was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

July 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a great tour. We were fortunate enough to meet our daughter and son-in-law for the Northern Ireland tour. The weather was great, the food was good, and the scenery was fantastic. Our driver guide was David Breen. His knowledge and driving skills were brilliant. He was patient, informative, and funny. Not mentioned on the website is an included train ride along the coast from Coleraine to Derry-beautiful. We met some very nice people on our tour, as well as in the places we visited.

Teresa Donohue

30 October 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

We took a tour of Northern Ireland, and it was wonderful! Harry (the hat) our tour guide and bus driver was very good. He was knowledgeable, had a great sense of humor, and was totally unflappable. The tour guide we had in Derry (Ronan) was also very good during our walking tour. The hotels were great - very nice rooms and meals. Although, the menu offerings at each hotel were either the same or very similar so we were definitely ready for something else by the end of the tour. We will definitely utilize this tour company again!

Julie Magee Heiple

29 March 2019  •  Discover Northern Ireland

What a marvelous experience! My husband and I were on the 5 day Northern Ireland tour from March 20-25, 2019 and enjoyed every minute of it! Our tour guide, Nigel O'Connor, was so professional and attentive to the group, always conscious of our schedule for the day but also allowing for slight changes as necessary. For example, two guests wanted to attend St. Michael's early mass one morning and that request was accommodated with an alternate pick up location for them. The tour was just the right pace with drives no more than 2 hours at a time with an opportunity to stop and stretch once during the drive. The sites we visited were beyond our expectations... Titanic museum in Belfast, Giants Causeway, Derry/Londonderry wall tour, boat tour on Loche Erne, and Trim Castle were all highlights. Our accommodations and the meals were exceptional every night. Thanks so much for a terrific, memorable vacation!

Rita Donahue

10 October 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

I usually travel on my own with friends, but this Northern Ireland tour was way beyond my expectations. Nigel was an excellent tour guide and Peter, our guide in Derry, explained everything for me about The Troubles and how the area has moved forward. All the hotels were top notch, and plenty of choices for breakfast and dinner. I especially liked the train ride from Coleraine to Derry. I chatted with a Irish woman on her way home from work. The people on this tour were so friendly and fun to be with on each of the outings and we had wonderful conversations at meal times. I highly recommend this tour and My Ireland Tour.

Joanne Philips

25 August 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

We were thrilled with our Northern Ireland Tour thanks to our fantastic guide and driver, Barry Loe. He took excellent care of us and provided great information. We highly recommend both the tour and Barry to anyone considering touring Northern Ireland. Also,there were only 12 of us on the tour, making it a great experience.

Margie Boeangiu

09 August 2018  •  Discover Northern Ireland

After a lot of research with different tour companies, we decided to book the 6 day Discover Northern Ireland tour with .My Ireland Tour.. It was well worth it. Very well organised from the moment we were picked up from the airport. All local guides that the company used were amazing, as we were also pleased with our driver/guide Roy. The sights were well chosen, and the country is absolutely fascinating. It was a wonderful trip, also because we got to meet other group members from all over the world.

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Acting as a memorial of the ill-fated ship and a symbol of Belfast's past. Read more...

See how Belfast grew from its past political & religious divisions. Read more...

Derry City & Walls

Enjoy a tour of this historic city alongside a specialist guide. Read more...

Enjoy a little taste of history in Ireland's oldest licensed distillery. Read more...

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Cruise the serene waters of Lough Erne to the holy Devenish Island. Read more...

Prices, Availability & Payment

Reviews • What's included • Other tours

Payment terms

For payment terms click here . Alternatively, you can also view our full terms and conditions .

Flexible Cancellations

We have added extra flexibility to our cancellation timeline. This means you can now make unlimited changes to your chosen tour up to 60 days before your arrival . Our cancellation timeline is as follows. For more details, see our terms and conditions .

Up to 60 days before the start of tour:

The Deposit is non-refundable. However, before 60 days you can make unlimited changes for free, including changing your tour dates (including transferring to a tour in 2025), changing your tour and changing tour participants.

59 to 40 days before start of tour:

25% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

39 to 14 days before start of tour:

50% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

Less than 14 days before start of tour:

100% of total price is forfeited on cancellation

The Deposit for the Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024 is €250 per person.

Single Occupancy Supplement

For guests who are travelling alone and are therefore not sharing a room, the single occupancy supplement for the Discover Northern Ireland Tour 2024 is €250.

Balance Payments:

The full balance is due 60 days before your tour.

All payments are in Euros.

Credit Cards & Fees:

We do not charge any fees for paying by credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Children's Rate:

Children ages 8 yrs - 17 yrs inclusive receive a 10% discount on the prices. Children must share a room with a least 1 adult. Our tours do not cater for children 7 yrs or younger. You must be 18 or over to travel on our adults-only tours.

Participant Cancellation:

Once a partial or full payment has been made, cancellations will only be accepted in writing (either by email or standard mail) to My Ireland Tour. Cancellation terms will be applied based on the date that the written cancellation is received and based on the following dates prior to tour commencement. Cancellation fees apply as indicated below. All cancellation fees include the initial deposit.

About your Tour Guide

45% of our reviews mention their tour guide by name

Perhaps the most vital ingredient of any tour is your tour guide. Acting not only as your guide but also as your driver, their knowledge and experience, passion and personality form the foundation on which any successful tour is built.

That's why we only work with the very best guides in Ireland. As our past guests know, our tour guides are a big reason why we're Ireland's best-rated tour operator, with 1451 five-star reviews out of a possible 1490.

Irish born and bred

All of our driver-guides were born in Ireland and have lived here all their lives. What's more, they are passionate about our country, its culture and its heritage.

Qualified and experienced

Our driver-guides are qualified, experienced professionals who are committed to impeccable customer care and making your vacation memorable for all the right reasons.

Experts in Irish history & culture

Our driver-guides are true experts in their field. Their knowledge of Irish history, culture (and where to get the best pint of Guinness) is second to none.

Committed to your safety and care

Your safety and comfort are paramount to us and to all our driver-guides. All our guides are experienced coach drivers with impeccable safety records.

Tour accommodation

The hotels on this tour offer amazing quality and value to match. We are very selective in getting just the right accommodation for each specific tour, and we are very proud of the selection of hotels we have put together. Some of these hotels are family-owned, just like ourselves, and we have a long-standing relationship with them all.

Tour Vehicles

On a tour vacation, the journey can be just as important as the destination. That's why our tour buses are all of the highest standards, both in terms of luxury and reliability.

We choose our tour vehicles carefully. All our tour buses offer plenty of space to spread out, tinted windows, air conditioning and on-board fridges. It's what you should expect.

We deliberately leave some seats empty. In fact, we use 34-seater coaches, but limit the number of participants to 26. That's because we want all of our guests to be able to spread out, relax and enjoy the journey. This smaller group size is a core principle in our tours.

Please note: the bus shown in the gallery is one of the 34-seater coaches used on our tours for max. 26 guests. For any reason, should one of these become unavailable for your tour, we will endeavour to provide an equally luxurious and comfortable touring bus.

What's included in my vacation?

Tour attractions, hospitality.

• 5 nights accommodation
• 5 Full Irish Breakfasts
• 5 Evening Meals
• Irish Tour Guide
• Airport Arrival Transfers
• All local taxes
• Porterage of one suitcase per person
• Luxury Air-Conditioned Coach

Not Included

• Airport Departure Transfer on Day 6
• Airfares to and from Ireland
• Gratuity for your Tour Guide
• Travel Insurance (required)
• Beverages, except Tea / Coffee with Breakfast & Evening Dinner
• Room Service
• Telephone Charges

• Sample Itineraries
• Transport Options
• Genealogy Tours

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2025 Tour Packages

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Adare Village and Thatched Cottages

About Adare Village and Thatched Cottages

Adare is a small town in Co. Limerick, known for its quaint and colourful thatched cottages. Adare is considered to be one of Ireland's most beautiful towns so stop and take in the view. Don't forget your camera today - the perfect chance to capture the essence of old Ireland.

Explore Adare Village along the Wild Atlantic Way .

• Belfast City

About Belfast City

Since peace returned to Belfast in the late 1990s, Northern Ireland's capital has undergone an astonishing transformation. Once tied in with sectarian violence and, perhaps cruelly, lumped in with Bosnia, Beiruit and Baghdad on the list of places for globe-trotting tourists to avoid, the city is now a modern, thriving and cosmopolitan hub of hotels, restaurants and family-friendly attractions.

Find out more

Belfast Tour & Murals

About Belfast Tour & Murals

You will be joined by a local specialist guide on a city tour of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland. You will see and hear all about the history of this once troubled city including the murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road and Nationalist Falls Road.

Black Taxi Tour Belfast

About Black Taxi Tour Belfast

Take a journey through this once troubled city. See the murals of the Loyalist Shankill Road & Nationalist Falls Road. The Troubles took their toll on the economic life of Belfast, but the past ten years of peace have returned much prosperity while the genuine friendliness of the city never left.

• Blarney Woollen Mills

About Blarney Woollen Mills

Originally built in 1823, Blarney Woollen Mills was mainly used for the spinning and weaving of wool. After it closed in 1973, it reopened in 1975 — as an Irish heritage shop.

Visit their website...

About Bushmills Distillery

In the village of Bushmills, you will visit the old distillery, which was first permitted to distill whiskey in 1608 by King James I. Enjoy a whiskey tasting in what is thought to be the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Although its grant to distill was given in 1608, it is believed that the spirit was probably made here 200 years before that!

Culloden Battlefield

About Culloden Battlefield

The Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre commemorates the last pitched battle fought on British soil, in April 1746. Learn more about the Jacobite intent to overthrow the House of Hanover and return the House of Stuart to the British throne.

Derry / Londonderry City

About Derry / Londonderry City

Although Derry's recent transformation is perhaps less dramatic than that of Belfast, visitors who come to Derry expecting a city still darkened by the long shadows of The Troubles will almost certainly be pleasantly surprised. In anticipation of the city's status as UK City of Culture 2013, Derry received considerable investment and underwent a rejuvenating makeover. The famous city walls are up to 8 metres in height and, in places, are 9 metres wide. They were completed in 1618 and were never breached.

Derry City Tour & Fortifications

About Derry City Tour & Fortifications

You will be joined by a local specialist guide on a city tour of Derry and the famous city walls. The city fortifications are among the best-preserved in Europe and were completed in 1618 to defend the city from Gaelic chieftains in Donegal. Standing at up to 25 feet tall and thirty feet wide, it is little wonder that these fortifications were never breached.

About The Giant's Causeway

Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage site, known in Gaelic as Clochán na bhFomhórach or Clochán an Aifir, The Giant's Causeway is an area of 40,000 basalt columns, formed into a regular interlocking pattern by an ancient volcanic lava flow.

Glenveagh Castle

About Glenveagh Castle

Located within Glenveagh National Park, Glenveagh Castle was built by Captain John George Adair between 1870 and 1873. Having made his fortune through land speculation in America, Adair return to Ireland and began large amounts of land in County Donegal. The castle was built in the Scottish Baronial style and is surrounded by a garden and commands stunning views of the nearby mountains, lakes, woodlands and valleys.

Highland Folk Museum

About Highland Folk Museum

About Highland Folk Museum is a museum and open-air attraction located in the Scottish Highlands. It is designed to showcase the domestic and working lives of the early highland people.

King John's Castle

About King John's Castle

Located alongside the River Shannon in County Limerick, on King's Island. Dating back to 922, to a time when Vikings were the inhabitants of the island (Thormodr Helgason, the Viking sea-king, built the first settlement here. The castle itself was built in 1200, under the instruction of King John of England.

Lough Erne Boast Cruise

About Lough Erne Boast Cruise

To reach the Devenish Island monastic site, we will be travelling by boat across the beautiful Lough Erne, a journey taken by all visitors to this sacred place across the centuries, from faithful pilgrims to marauding invaders.

About Moriarty's

Located close to the Killarney National Park, Moriarty's is an Authentic Irish Gift Store and Restaurant. Hand crafted Irish jewellery, Waterford Crystal and classic and modern tweed fashions and furnishings are all on offer at the gift store. The restaurant is an 85 seater offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Mount Congreve Gardens

About Mount Congreve Gardens

Mount Congreve Gardens. Located in Kilmeaden, County Waterford, Mount Congreve Gardens is an 18th century Georgian estate and mansion. It was designed by the same architect that created both of Waterford's cathedrals, John Roberts.

Mount Stewart House & Gardens

About Mount Stewart House & Gardens

Recently recognised as being one of the top 10 gardens in the world, Mount Stewart is a rich tapestry of planting plant life and stunning walking trails. The house dates back to the 19th century, and was the Irish seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family.

Muckross House

About Muckross House

Located on the grounds of the expansive and idyllic Killarney National Park. Muckross House, and its 11,000-acre grounds, was donated to the Irish state in 1932.

Muckross House Traditional Farms

About Muckross House Traditional Farms

Located on the grounds of the picturesque Muckross House and its impeccable gardens. Take a step back in time and see the Irish farming lifestyle of the 1930s and '40s. A time when the horse was responsible for much of the labour and the weather was the be all and end all in terms of production.

The Quiet Man Museum

About The Quiet Man Museum

The Quiet Man Museum. A reproduction of the quaint thatched cottage from the John Wayne starring, John Ford directed movie of the same name. all costumes, artefacts and furnishings have been recreated in precise detail, to reflect the setting of the 1952 classic. Located in the picturesque village of Cong, County Mayo.

Titanic Belfast Exhibition

About Titanic Belfast Exhibition

An extensive multimedia tribute to the world's most famous ocean liner. The Titanic Experience is located at the top of the slipway from which the ship made its first and only descent into the Belfast Lough and the waters of the Irish Sea beyond. Opened in 2012 for the centenary of the ship's launch and tragic demise, the museum has rapidly become Ulster's most visited tourist destination, outstripping even The Giant's Causeway.

About Trim Castle

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Ulster American Folk Park, in County Tyrone, is an open-air museum located on the restored boyhood home of Judge Thomas Mellon, founder of the Pittsburgh banking dynasty. The Park's permanent exhibition, called 'Emigrants', examines the reasons why two million people left Ulster for America during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries.

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Game of Thrones Ireland: 16 Filming Locations From The Show (+ Handy Map)

By Author Keith O'Hara

Posted on Last updated: February 1, 2024

Although the show finished well over 10 years ago, each week, without fail, we get emails looking for info on the Game of Thrones Ireland connection.

In a nutshell, a whopping 25 different locations in Northern Ireland were used during the filming of the hit HBO series.

Some, like Dunluce Castle and the Dark Hedges , are well known while others, like the beautiful Tollymore Forest Park and Inch Abbey, tend to get missed.

In the guide below, you’ll discover where to find the different Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations, what scenes they appeared in along with info on Game of Thrones tours.

Table of Contents

Some quick need-to-knows about the Game of Thrones Ireland connection

Click to enlarge map

Below, you’ll find some quick info about the Game of Thrones Northern Ireland connection that’s worth a quick read before you scroll on past to see the locations.

1. Why Ireland

According to reports, the Game of Thrones Ireland connection could have easily been a Scottish one instead! It’s said that the producers were debating both places, but that Northern Ireland offered incentives (finance, tax relief, studio space and location access) to secure the deal.

2. The filming locations

Although there were reports of 25 Game of Thrones Ireland locations , the main ones are Tollymore Forest Park, Inch Abbey, Castle Ward, Toome Canal, Slemish Mountain, the Glens of Antrim, Cushendun Caves, Murlough Bay, Ballintoy Harbour and The Dark Hedges. Discover more below.

3. The writers met in college in Dublin

Yep, randomly enough, two of the writers for the show, Dan Weiss and David Benioff, met in Dublin while studying at Trinity College in 1995.

Game of Thrones filming locations Ireland map

The map above has the various Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations plotted out on it. As you can see, the bulk are in Antrim and Down.

However, there’s also one (Pollnagollum Cave) over in County Fermanagh. The only thing this map leaves out is the studios in Belfast where certain scenes were recorded.

An overview of each of the Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland

Photos via Shutterstock

It’s time to dive into the different Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland, and there’s plenty to get through.

Below, you’ll discover the places that were used to depict everywhere from Lordsport Harbour and The Stormlands to Dothraki Sea, Slaver’s Bay and more.

1. Murlough Bay (Slaver’s Bay)

The first of our Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations is the glorious Murlough Bay – arguably one of the most overlooked of the many Antrim Coast attractions .

It was here that Tyrion Lannister and Jorah Mormont happened upon on their way to Meereen. Alas, there journey hit a bump when they encountered slavers.

There’s a lovely ramble at Murlough Bay that’ll treat you to views of everything from the Scottish Islands to Rathlin Island on a clear day.

2. Fair Head (Dragonstone Cliffs)

The towering Fair Head Cliffs stand just up along the coast from Murlough Bay where the measure a dizzying 600 feet in height.

The cliffs were used to depict Dragonstone and it was here, on Antrim’s blustery coast, that Jon Snow had an encounter with Daenerys… and her big aul dragon!

If you visit, you’re a stone’s throw from both Torr Head and the town of Ballycastle , where you can grab a bite to eat, if you fancy.

3. Larrybane Quarry (Renly Baratheon’s Camp)

The next Game of Thrones Ireland location is the often-overlooked Larrybane Quarry , which can be found a short distance from the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge .

The quarry was used at Renly Baratheon’s Camp (a section of the Stormlands) and the scene showed Renly and his queen, Margaery Tyrell, watching a battle .

It was also at Larrybane Quarry that Renly met with Catelyn Stark . Now, a warning – this is one of several Game of Thrones filming locations in Northern Ireland that doesn’t really resemble what was shown in the show.

4. Ballintoy Harbour (Lordsport Harbour)

Westward from Larrybane Quarry lies Ballintoy Harbour . After descending a steep and narrow road (and I mean narrow)  you’ll reach a small fishing harbour.

The well-protected bay shields the harbour, nearly enclosing it on all sides and making for a very scenic rest stop. Ballintoy was used to depict Lordsport Harbour in Season 2 .

It was at Ballintoy that Theon Greyjoy returned home. It was at Ballintoy that Theon Greyjoy returned home. You’ll find a plaque at the harbour with info on the scene.

5. The Dark Hedges (Road from King’s Landing)

The Dark Hedges are arguably the Game of Thrones Ireland location that receives the most attention online. The trees here were planted in 1775 by James Stuart to make the approach to his Georgian estate more impressive.

The Dark Hedges were used Season 2, episode 1: On the King’ s Road to depict, unsurprisingly enough, the King’s Road.

The scene that they feature in shows Arya Stark escaping from the King’s Landing and travelling with the Night’s Watch, dressed as a boy. You’ll find it a stone’s throw from the Old Bushmills Distillery .

6. Portstewart Strand (Dorne Coast)

Portstewart Strand in Derry is arguably one of the best beaches in Northern Ireland, and it was here, on the nearly 2 miles of glorious sand, that Jamie and Bronn got into a bit of bother .

The pair were captured at Portstewart by some Dornish soldiers. It was also here were Ellaria and the Sand Snakes discussed a going up against the Lannisters .

There’s plenty of things to do in Derry after you visit Portstewart, from the historic Derry City to our next, very close by attraction.

7. Downhill Beach (Dragonstone)

You’ll find few temples in Ireland (or anywhere, really!) with a location as dramatic as Mussenden – a replica of Rome’s Temple of Vesta .

The temple offers a magnificent view over Downhill Beach, which is right next to Portstewart Strand.

If you cast your mind back, it was at Mussenden Temple that Stannis Baratheon rejected the old gods of Westeros and is proclaimed of the Lord of Light.

8. Cushendun Caves (The Stormlands / Shadow Creature Scene)

The Cushendun Caves are another of the better-known Game of Thrones Northern Ireland locations, and a quick glance above should give you an idea as to why.

Formed over a period of 400 million years , the caves can be found a stones throw from the little village of Cushendun , designed in the style of a Cornish village.

The Cushendun Caves were made famous by Game of Thrones in Season 2 Episode 4 where they were used as the Shadow creature’s birth site .

9. Castle Ward (Winterfell)

Photos courtesy of Tourism Northern Ireland

You’ll find the 16th-century Castle Ward , which was the backdrop for the series pilot and a chunk of season one, just 40 minutes from Belfast.

Castle Ward was used as ‘Winterfell’ – the home of the Stark family . Its towering medieval walls and now-iconic castle tower gate made it an ideal shooting location for the show.

It’s also here that you’ll find what is arguably the most popular Game of Thrones tour Northern Ireland has to offer. More on the tours later in the guide.

10. Inch Abbey (Riverrun)

You’ll discover the ruins of Inch Abbey situated on the northern bank of the Quoile River, where it has been since the 12th or 13th century.

You might recognise Inch Abbey as the setting for the Riverlands scenes , i.e. the beginning of the War of the Five Kings.

If you visit when the weather’s fine, keep an eye out for Downpatrick Cathedral. It’s said that this is where St. Patrick is buried.

11. Dunluce Castle (Pyke Castle)

Home to the House of Greyjoy , GOT fans may not immediately recognise Dunluce Castle as the filming location for Castle Greyjoy, AKA Pyke Castle. This is due to the fact that a fair sprinkling of CGI was used.

However, as you near the ancient castle – originally dating back to the 13th century – you’ll soon see how and why they filmed these scenes here.

Similar to nearby Kinbane Castle and Dunseverick Castle , the ruins of Dunluce Castle are located right next to the sea.

12. Tollymore Forest Park (The Haunted Forest)

Tollymore Forest Park is another of our favoiurite places to visit in Northern Ireland – few parks on earth pack a punch like this place.

This expanse of forest is home to medieval gates, bridges that look like they’ve been plucked from Lord of The Rigs and endless, beautiful red woods.

The park was used to portray The Haunted Forest and it was here where the Starks met their baby Direwolves for the very first time.

13. Slemish Mountain (Dothraki Sea)

Our next Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location has a mighty tale attached to it – it was here, on Slemish Mountain , where St. Patrick was taken…

After he was kidnapped by pirates as a kid! It’s right below the mountain that you’ll find Shillanavogy Valley, which was used to portray Dothraki Sea in the show.

It featured in a scene where Khal Drogo travelled to see his new wife, Vaes Dothrak (it was the land here that he rode across !).

14. Glenariff Forest Park (Runestone)

You’ll find our next location, Glenariff Forest Park , tucked away in the Glens of Antrim , where it’s home to woodland, waterfalls and stunning scenery.

It was here (or Galboly, to be specific) that was used as Runestone in the show . It was Runestone where Lord Yohn Royce took Robyn Arryn.

There was also a scene where Sansa Stark watched as Robyn Arryn tried his hand at dueling. There’s some great walks to tackle here!

15. Binevenagh

Binevenagh Mountain is a Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location that many miss! It was here that Daenerys fled to with her dragon after escaping Meereen.

Binevenagh sits at the outermost edge of the breath-taking Antrim Plateau, and those that conquer the hike here will be treated to views out over Armagh and Derry.

When you finish up, you’re a short spin away from Downhill Beach and Portstewart Strand. You’re also a handy 40-minute drive from the lovely little town of Portrush .

16. Pollnagollum Cave

Our final Game of Thrones Northern Ireland location takes us out to County Fermanagh and into the Marble Arch Caves Geopark (not far from the Cuilcagh boardwalk ).

It’s here that you’ll also find Pollnagollum Cave, where it’s hidden away behind a waterfall. It was here that the Brotherhood Without Banners hid from the forces of Lannister.

There’s plenty of unique things to do in Fermanagh , and the walk out to see the waterfall is just one of them!

Game of Thrones tours from Belfast

Thanks to the Game of Thrones Northern Ireland connection, a handful of tours have sprung up that make the perfect day trip from Belfast .

We’ve featured several of them in this guide over the years, but only one has maintained consistently good reviews – this one (affiliate link).

This is a 9-hour tour that’ll take you to everywhere from Dunluce Castle and Ballintoy Harbour to popular locations that weren’t used during filming, like Carrickfergus Castle and the Giant’s Causeway .

Review wise, they’ve racked up 4.6/5 from 890+ reviews, at the time of typing.

Check prices + read reviews here

Game of Thrones Northern Ireland FAQs

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where can you get a Game of Thrones filming locations Ireland map to what scenes were shot here.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What is the Game of Thrones Ireland connection?

The Game of Thrones Ireland connection is that many scenes for the HBO series were shot here over a number of years, for example, Ballintoy Harbour and Cushendun Caves.

Where are the Game of Thrones filming locations in Ireland?

The main Game of Thrones Ireland locations are: Tollymore Forest Park, Inch Abbey, Castle Ward, Toome Canal, Slemish Mountain and the Glens of Antrim. See above for the rest.

Where was Game of Thrones filmed?

Although there’s a strong Game of Thrones Ireland link, the show was filmed across the world, with locations in Malta, Iceland, Croatia and more.

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries . Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.

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PGA Tour reports ‘progress’ without details in meeting with Saudi wealth fund leaders

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, gestures after putting on the 17th green during the first round of the Memorial golf tournament, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan pauses while speaking about the death of PGA player Grayson Murray during the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, May 25, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

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The PGA Tour reported progress without details from a face-to-face meeting between its negotiating committee and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia as it tries to work toward a deal.

“We want to get this right, and we are approaching discussions with careful consideration for our players, our fans, our partners and the game’s future,” the tour said in a statement released Saturday morning.

The meeting in New York on Friday evening involved the “transaction committee” of PGA Tour Enterprises and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund that pays for rival LIV Golf.

Rory McIlroy is on the committee and said he was encouraged by the progress. He referred to the three-hour meeting as “very productive, very constructive, very collaborative.”

“Definitely things are heading in the right direction,” McIlroy said after the third round of the Memorial. He participated on a video call. “A lot of progress was made. I can’t really say much more than that, but it was really positive.”

PGA Tour Enterprises is the commercial group that came out of the framework agreement announced a year ago among the PGA Tour, PIF and the European tour.

PGA Tour Enterprises brought on Strategic Sports Group, which invested an initial $1.5 billion earlier this year. Negotiations are ongoing to bring in PIF as a minority investor, and there has been more activity than previously believed.

McIlroy, who joined Tiger Woods and Adam Scott on the transaction committee, said it has been meeting with PIF representatives every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over the last couple of weeks. The tour referred to negotiations as “accelerated” in recent months.

Friday’s meeting was the first in-person discussion since players and board members met with Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas the day after The Players Championship in March.

The tour said the committee and PIF have been meeting “multiple times weekly to work through potential deal terms and come to a shared vision on the future of professional golf.” It said only that “more progress was made” in New York.

“We remain committed to these negotiations, which require working through complex considerations to best position golf for global growth,” the tour said.

McIlroy said those multiple meetings are more about financials, such as the investment possibilities of PIF and SSG.

“But I think last night was more talking about the future of the game and the vision, and that was where I thought there was a lot of progress that was made,” he said.

Woods and Scott are on the full PGA Tour Enterprises board, along with player directors Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Patrick Cantlay and Peter Malnati.

McIlroy resigned from the PGA Tour board last November, and there was an unsuccessful attempt by Simpson to have McIlroy replace him. McIlroy, the strongest voice who has gone from heavy criticism of LIV to being more willing to compromise, is part of the transaction committee and ultimately does not have a vote.

But he has relationships with both sides of the table. McIlroy had said he would be more in listen mode when the business leaders — Al-Rumayyan and his team at PIF, a PGA Tour Enterprises committee that includes four SSG investors — sorted through details.

“We’re there to maybe give a perspective from player’s point of view,” McIlroy had said Thursday. “But, I mean, this is a negotiation about an investment into PGA Tour Enterprises. This is ‘big boy’ stuff, and I’ll certainly be doing more listening than I will be talking.”

He said Saturday he did weigh in on occasion.

“The mute button was turned off a couple of times to chime in,” he said.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Taylor Swift in Dublin: Everything you need to know as the Eras Tour arrives in Ireland

T aylor Swift is bringing The Eras Tour to Dublin’s Aviva Stadium for three sold-out concerts on Friday June 28, Saturday June 29 and Sunday 30.

Doors open at 5pm and the Tortured Poets Department singer is expected to grace the stage just after 8pm.

Here’s everything you need to know about tickets, what you can and cannot bring into the Aviva Stadium, and how to travel to the show.

Are tickets still available?

Thousands of fans were left disappointed in July last year when tickets went on sale but quickly sold out. Some lucky people have since managed to get tickets through accredited resale options. Ticketmaster resale is now open for ticketholders to resell tickets if they no longer want them.

If you keep an eye on Ticketmaster you might get lucky.

How do I get to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin?

Fans should allow sufficient travel time to and from the venue.

As traffic and parking delays in Dublin are inevitable, people are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport in and around Dublin.

Once you get to the city, the best way to get to the stadium is the Dart.

You then exit at Lansdowne Road station, which is a one-minute walk from the Aviva Stadium. There is no direct route to the stadium on the Luas, however, you can take the Luas to Connolly Station and get the Dart to the stadium.

The venue opens at 5pm and no queuing will be permitted prior to gates opening.

Coach and rail options to Dublin

Translink website shows their bus special to Taylor Swift’s concerts have sold out.

The Enterprise rail service between Belfast and Dublin is running throughout the event with tickets available to book online here .

There are plenty of commercial operators providing special return services from Northern Ireland to Dublin for the concerts including Buses to concerts , Belfast City sightseeing , Irish Tour Tickets and Giles Tours .

Travelling by car

No car parking is available at the stadium on concert days for security reasons. Commercial car parks are available around the city with limited spaces.

More information on traffic, transport and parking restrictions can be found on the Garda website.

What you can and cannot bring into the concert

The Aviva Stadium have warned attendees that only small handbags will be allowed into the concert and they may be searched.

Prohibited items include alcohol, umbrellas and laser devices are among banned items, alongside prams, cameras with lenses bigger than 7mm, fireworks, cans, bottles and anything which could or might be used as a weapon.

Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult (25+). Children aged 5-16 may stand on the pitch once accompanied.

Access to the stadium is via five coloured coded routes and the route you must take depends on your seat number. Your route colour will be written on your ticket.

Cashless payments

Aviva Stadium is now cashless across all bars and food. This means there will be no cash accepted but all bank cards, Apple, Android and Google Pay can be used.

Does Taylor Swift have a support act?

US pop punk band Paramore, fronted by Hailey Williams, will warm up the crowd from around 6pm.

Previous concerts suggest a set time of around 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, the average Taylor concert during The Eras Tour sees her take to the stage for 3 hours and 15 minutes on average.

Taylor has preformed 45 tracks within that time frame.

Getting home

Many coach operators offer a return journey.

The last train from Dublin Connolly to Belfast will leave at 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 9.08pm on Sunday.

Is accommodation still available

A studio apartment within a mile of the Aviva Stadium is available for £265 - £310 for an overnight stay during the tour dates.

An overnight hotel for two people within a mile of the stadium ranges from £230 to £716.

Randalstown named Ireland’s best kept town for 2024

Co antrim town took home awards in two category at belfast ceremony.

Tidy Randalstown volunteers at the awards ceremony in Belfast on Tuesday. Photograph: Facebook

Randalstown in Co Antrim has been named as Ireland’s Best Kept Town for 2024.

The winners of the all-island competition pitting SuperValu Tidy Towns competitors against counterparts in Northern Ireland’s Best Kept competition were announced at an awards ceremony in Riddel Hall in Belfast. This is the 29th year of the competition.

Among the winners were Malin in Co Donegal which won Best Kept Village and Roscommon which won Best Kept Large Town.

Randalstown was also named as the Best Kept Small Town category while Derry won the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category.

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Randalstown was previously named as the Best Kept Town in Ireland for 2018 and was awarded the Best of the Best award and the Best Kept Small Town in Northern Ireland in 2016 and 2023.

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys congratulated the winners at the awards ceremony on Tuesday.

Thirteen volunteers out this morning working in various parts of town. Looking forward to some great colour in the... Posted by Tidy Randalstown on  Monday 27 May 2024

“I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners and nominees in the all-island Best Kept Town competition, and in particular Malin, the winners of the Best Kept Village Category, and Roscommon for the Best Kept Large Town,” said Ms Humphreys.

“I would like to congratulate Randalstown, Irelands Best Kept Town for 2024 as well as being named Irelands Best Kept Small Town. Derry/Londonderry also deserves a special mention as the 2024 winner of the Best Kept Large Urban Centre category,” she said.

She went on to say how this competition recognises community spirit and is a positive example of a cross border initiative.

“I applaud the efforts made by all of the volunteers and local communities in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition and the Best Kept competition in Northern Ireland and wish all our community groups the very best in future competitions.”

Doreen Muskett MBE, chairperson of the Northern Ireland Amenity Council, the body that organises the Best Kept Awards said: “The competition is designed to reward those who take great pride in their communities and those who work tirelessly to make their surroundings a nice place to work, live and play in.”

“My sincere congratulations to all of this year’s awards recipients. The panel of esteemed judges from all over Ireland had a very difficult task in comparing and selecting the eventual winners, which is a testament to the stunning towns and villages that we are lucky enough to have here on the island of Ireland”.

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Ireland Tours  

Touring Ireland is like being welcomed into the family and feeling like you’ve been a part of it the whole time. Sitting in an Irish pub, sipping on a Guinness. You can listen to the locals talk in their incredibly thick accents about something dramatic that happened to such-and-such down the road, who doesn't want to be a part of it? Good old Irish charm. Much like the locals, a tour of Ireland is full of stories and history. This is the land where giants carved the coastlines, fairies dwell deep in the forests, and luck flows through every landscape. Join our master storytellers on small group tours from Dublin , Belfast, or our newly launched depature point of Killarney . Dive deeper into this fascinating island, have some craic along the way, and uncover the tales of time gone by being brought to life. Simply choose the adventure that calls out to you the most. Will you try to count the basalt blocks at the Giant’s Causeway when you depart for a tour or Ireland from Belafast ? Follow in the footsteps of monks at Clonmacnoise Abbey? Or listen to the roar of the Atlantic along the rugged West Coast? Whichever path you choose, you’ll come back home a storyteller yourself, with a head full of souvenir stories and memories that last a lifetime.

Explore Ireland Tours

Why you'll love an Ireland tour

Weird wonders lie in the landscapes

Giant’s causeway is 40,000 basalt columns. Cliffs of Moher is a 214m drop into the Atlantic Ocean. And the Dingle Peninsula is 75km of unspoilt beaches and jagged mountains. But the numbers don’t do it justice: you need to see it to believe it. And an Irish tour, led by knowledgeable driver-guides , can be just the answer.

Giants, leprechauns, and fairies

It feels as if every landscape you walk along on an Irish tour was crafted by a giant, ransacked by leprechauns, and traversed by a thousand banshees. So make sure to tune in to your guide’s tales. And who knows, maybe you’ll believe in some of them yourself.

Everyone wants to be Irish

Maybe it’s their accent, perhaps it’s their friendly nature, or it may even be their fantastic stories. But whatever it is, everyone loves the Irish. And after you tour Ireland, you’ll come home wishing you could be Irish too.

Atmospheric live entertainment

Vibrant, loud and exuberant. Irish cities are full of character and jam-packed with live entertainment venues. Whether it’s a traditional fiddle or a heavy guitar riff, an Irish gig is an energetic experience you cannot miss when touring the beautiful emerald isles.

Our Ireland Tours

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Escape to the South West - 5 day tour

Escape to the mystery and isolated splendour of Ireland's West Coast.

Prices from €389.00

DEPARTING FROM: Dublin

Roaming Ring of Kerry: Portmagee & the Skellig Ring - 1 day tour

Time to explore Ireland's famous 179km-long coastal route. Where will this dreamlike landscape take you?

Prices from €70.00

DEPARTING FROM: Killarney

The Wild Coast of Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head - 1 day tour

Glorious beaches. Stunning views. Welcoming Ireland. Dingle Peninsula will take your breath away.

Northern Ireland & Atlantic Coast - 5 day tour

Weave through Northern Ireland's rich tapestry of Gaelic history and spectacular scenery.

Prices from €559.00

West Coast Explorer - 3 day tour

Discover the soaring mountains, spectacular wildlife, and mystical history of Ireland's West Coast.

Prices from €399.00

All Ireland Explorer - 9 day tour

Cross between borders and myths as you weave through the Emerald Isle's stunning sights.

Prices from €1118.00

Dingle, Killarney & the Wild Atlantic Way - 3 day tour

Combine serene spiritual locations with wild natural landscapes on this journey to the west of Ireland.

Prices from €359.00

Blarney Castle, Kilkenny & Irish Whiskey - 3 day tour

Unearth Ireland's most unspoilt corner of beautiful beaches and ancient local history.

Discover Northern Ireland - 3 day tour

Be entranced by the Emerald Isle's historic wonder and majestic scenery.

Southern Ireland Discovery - 7 day tour

Get to the heart and soul of Ireland, this is the Emerald Isle's past and present on proud display.

Prices from €1048.00

Complete Ireland Experience - 11 day tour

Explore everything Ireland has to offer, from Dublin to Belfast and more.

11 DAY TOUR

Prices from €1697.00

County Donegal & the Wild Atlantic Way - 3 day tour

Whether you love history, literature, nature, or a good cosy pub, it's time you had it all.

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