Private tour in Sligo Samuel B
5.0
(5) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Samuel B.
5.0
Guide rating
10
Reviews
Tours delivered
62 hrs
Avg. response time
As a third generation seanchaí (storyteller) I follow a rich family tradition in a region steeped in folklore and story. I am a native of Sligo town on Ireland's remote Atlantic northwest, a small town of about 20, 000 people that follows the river Garavogue from Lough Gill to the Atlantic Ocean. Sligo town is located only 5 mins drive from some of the best surfing beaches in Ireland and 10 mins from some of the most spectacular mountain and lake scenery anywhere in the country. I learned the craft of storytelling and woodcarving from my maternal uncle Michael an internationally renowned storyteller and woodcarver. The woodcarving shop is located in the old family butcher shop in Sligo town, established by my maternal Grandfather and storyteller John during the war period. My Mother's family grew up by the quayside in Sligo town and have shared memories of the days when Sligo was a busy port for steam and sail traders carrying from as far away as the Rio Plata in Argentina. My Uncle is my lifelong mentor and it is my honour and privilege to carry forward for the next generation the family tradition both in woodcarving and storytelling. I have worked for over 12 years as a freelance tour guide for some of the most successful tour companies in Ireland, incorporating storytelling and musical performances into the tour experience. In order to focus on the archiving and preservation of the family legacy and tradition I decided to pursue and develop the storytelling tour concept professionally and concentrate on developing the family legacy. In 2018 I was invited to perform at the Kansas city Irish fest and took the opportunity to perform private house performances for former clients in Washington DC, Virginia, Kentucky and Chicago. As a musician and spoken word performer I strive to bring the native tradition of spoken prose to life with professional musical accompaniment to the natural rhythms and 'song' of the original traditional Irish instrument, the human voice. I am the proud bearer of a family name and tradition that dates back to the dawn of settlement on the island of Ireland. So join me on a tour and be a part of a living legacy because stories are no good without ears to hear them. So the most important thing is to get in touch. All departures can be fully customized depending on your schedule as I am flexible and mobile. So just drop me a line here anytime and lets take this story on the road. - Coach Driving licence - 12 Years Driving and guiding experience - National tour guide qualification For larger or smaller groups please contact me for a customized tour
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Samuel B.
Take a step back 5000 years to some of the very earliest human settlements on the island of Ireland to the early neolithic period. Visit two of the oldest Megalithic sites in Northern Europe Carrowmore and Carrowkeel. Learn of state of the art genetic research that is shedding new light on the story of our earliest ancestors and rewriting the history of the island as we speak. The impact the earliest farmers had on the island of Ireland lives today in the complex cosmology that has been passed down through millennia via a rich folklore ingeniously encoded with ancient knowledge. Learn these stories directly from a local seanchaí or 'Bearer of ancient lore' Visit the dolmen fields of Carrowmore with their distinctive burial structures as well as the passage tombs of Carrowkeel and learn of ancient astronomical alignments and the myths that preserve their secrets. Visit the hidden Faery Glen and embark on a journey of the mind into the veiled faery realms of the shee and to the very dawn of myth and time.
Sam was just an incredible tour guide! His pace was gauged, with great sensitivity, to ours. His depth of knowledge of Irish history, science & horticulture was amazing. We learned so much and will be forever grateful to have found him for our two days of exploring in the West of Ireland.
We had a fantastic time! Sam is very personable and knowledgeable. He brought the mythic tales to life with his story telling and providing everything in context with the surrounding land. Our time flew by! We learned much and enjoyed Sam’s company. Highly recommended!
We could not have had a better day. Sam was very informative and a wonderful story teller. He was also extremely helpful by arranging a meeting spot closer to our location and I so appreciate him for giving me a break from driving for the day. I'd say Sam went above and beyond on our tour. We very much enjoyed our visit to Carrowkeel and Carrowmo and the added on visit to Sligo to see "the woodcarver/butcher". We highly recommend if you have the opportunity to have Sam as your tour guide that you do.
Our day with Sam visiting the ancient sites and legends of Sligo was, hands down, our best Tours By Locals experience ever! (And we have been on many TBL adventures!) Sam is not only a master storyteller and historian, but a gifted musician and artist who kindly shared his gifts with us in a beautiful way. This was exactly the kind of magical experience of western Ireland that I had longed for. Thanks so much again, Sam!
Sam was wonderful: funny knowledgeable, and charming . He created a custom Sligo tour for us , as we requested . He wove together a day that included a beach walk at the site of a Spanish Armada wreck, prehistoric monuments, the beauty of the land as well as the rich literary and faerie tales history of this remarkable region. He is a wonderful storyteller and is very passionate about Sligo, which came through clearly and made for a delightful day.
9:00am - Depart Sligo town or hotel pickup. 9:30am - Hill of Knocknarae and the fairy glen. An enchanted valley to the south of the hill and hear stories of where the fairy people came from and where they are said to live. 11am - Fairy glen to Carrowmore megalithic site for a guided walking tour of the standing stones and portal tombs that date back over 5000 years and hear the fascinating story of the first settlers in Ireland. 12:30pm - Lunch: Shells award winning cafe by the sea in strandhill 1:30 - 2. 15pm - Carrowmore - Carrowkeel tombs 1. 5 hour Walk/storytelling through the landscape of south Sligo. Visit the oldest man made structures on the island of Ireland, the passage tombs of Carrowkeel. Hear the origin myths of the pre-Celtic peoples of Ireland. 4:30pm - Return via Balindoon abbey, a picturesque ruin on Lough Arrow 6:00pm -Sligo/Hotel Feel free to contact me if you would like to customize this tour!
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Transportation is provided in comfortable Mercedes mini - van (2-6 people)* *For larger groups 6+ please give as much notice as possible and I can provide a quotation which includes the price details for the required vehicle (up to 25 people). (Vehicles are all modern comfortable and clean Mercedes or Ford)
Sligo, County Sligo, Ireland
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide:
SwedishWho is this private tour in Sligo best suited for?
What should I bring or wear?
Can this private tour in Sligo be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
What happens if a site is closed, crowded, or the weather changes?
What languages is this tour offered in?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works