This was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our entire trip to Ireland! We spent two incredible days exploring the west of Ireland, including Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, and so many beautiful places along the way.
The tour was the perfect mix of iconic sights and getting off the beaten path. We were able to see places and experience things we never would have found on our own, and everything felt so personal and thoughtfully planned. Our guide was incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and accommodating, and we felt completely comfortable and safe throughout the entire experience.
The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, but what really made these two days so memorable was how relaxed, fun, and personal the experience felt. These were genuinely our favorite days of the entire trip, and we would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone wanting to experience the west of Ireland!
Shepheard S.United States
First time in Ireland. Multiple time Tours by Locals custer. Was hoping for a knowledgeable guide willing to adapt as we went. Man, did we score!!
Our guide for the day was David Donnelly. We cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed our day!
David met us walking off of our train in Galway, and we were immediately off to the Cliffs of Moher. Along the way, David did a wonderful job speaking to history of Ireland and tying it into the small towns and various castle ruins along the way, making brief stop here and there for photos.
David's knowledge of the political and human history of the area as well as Ireland in general is outstanding. The ongoing stream of info about Vilkings, kings, queens, battles, wars, politics and revolution will fascinate and entertain you.
His geological historical knowledge is also quite impressive, discussing the landscape, the glacial period, and the creation of The Burren.
We drove the coastal road to the Cliffs (HIGHLY recommend!) to avoid the big coach traffic, seeing stunning scenery and vistas along the way.
The weather was borderline, so David made it a priority to get us to the Cliffs. Worth every minute. The skies were a bit broken and Grey, but we beat the incoming storms for some amazing views!
Afterward, he made a lunch recommendation in Lahinch for some fantastic seafood stew at Danny Mac's. Check out the crazy surface and likely surfers while you are there!
From there we headed inland to Burren, an amazingly bleak and beautiful landscape. Visited a parfumery oasis right in the middle of it all. Would be a great place to hang out and enjoy in warmer weather. Still, a great little surprise. My wife loved it!
Stopped at an ancient burial ground in the Burren. Fascinating to see and hear the history!
Worked our way back into Galway where David gave us a bit of tour of the city center. The Cathedral is beautiful! Took in a bit more before parted company.
Before we said goodbye, David made a couple of fantatistic dinner recommendations so.we could eat before grabbing our return train to Dublin. We would've gone to Kirwin's (menu looked excellent) if we didn't have a train, but for classic fare, a good pint and atmosphere, The King's Head was a great choice.
In summary, my wife and I agree this was one of our most informative and entertaining tours yet.
Martina and her team were amazing! Showed up on time and drove impeccably on the crazy roads with highlights throughout. Waaaaay better than a group tour and well worth the price to do the Aillwee Caves and Cliffs of Moher in a luxury MBZ van rather than a bus with 50 people. Recommend to everyone . Thanks Tony for making our day special!
Our guide was excellent. She was thoughtful, comfortable adapting to our needs, and she was knowledgeable and great company.
Martina is a fantastic tour guide! We were very impressed with her intimate knowledge of the local area including Irish history. She could answer any question we had. She is very personable, punctual, courteous and professional. She was able to adjust the schedule at the last minute. Martina has an even temperament and apparent concern about ensuring that her customers have the experience they want. We will use her again on our next trip to Ireland.