We had two of Ireland’s sharpest travel storytellers — John and Cathal of the popular Instagram account @best_of_Ireland — join part of our 8-day Castles and Manors tour. Having traveled the Emerald Isle for the past seven years, they know Ireland inside out – but they’d never tried a guided multi-day trip… which made them the perfect testers.
So what happens when two locals road-test Trafalgar, explore their own backyard like travelers, and experience a guided tour for the very first time? Here’s what surprised our toughest critics the most.
Social connection is a big part of the touring experience
John and Cathal constantly explore the isle in their own van, but traveling in Ireland with a group changes the dynamic.
“You get to both see new places, but also make new friends,” says John. “That’s what I love about those group tours. It’s just like meeting new people and seeing new places at the same time.”
Cathal agreed: “When you’re on a tour with lots of people, there’s a social element that we don’t get the experience as much.”
He mentioned how dinners sparked unexpected conversations – once sitting beside a vet, another time an ex-military comms officer.
“How many bones does a snake have? [We had] some interesting conversations with the other guests, and I think they were also interested to hear about Ireland,” Cathal says. “The whole point of a tour group is the connection – with the guides, the place itself and the people you’re with.”
“Everything starts with storytelling”
“[Travel Director] Betty, being such an incredible tour guide, had so many stories to tell,” says Cathal. “Then each of the hosts had history to share, of where we were and what food we were eating. And then there’s the stories of the people who we were [traveling] with as well.”
John says one of the highlights was the Stays With Stories at the elegant country quarters of the Lodge at Ashford Castle, where the owner welcomed the group and set the stage. The estate’s history dates back to 1228, and the main castle was significantly expanded after the Guinness family bought the castle in 1852. It’s been a luxury 5-star hotel since 1939.
STAY AT ASHFORD CASTLE ON: Castles and Manors
Wolfhounds are friendly beasts
“Wolfhounds are having a bit of a moment in Ireland, between the House of Guinness and The Traitors Ireland TV shows that they were featured in,” says Cathal.
”People have probably met a wolfhound or two in their life in Ireland, but getting to actually walk with them was incredible.
“They were hounds bred to hunt wolves – they’re absolute units. They’re huge. They’re rapid. But they’re incredibly friendly to humans. So that was probably actually one of my highlights of the entire tour for me – but I love dogs in general.”
The experience, which took place on the grounds of Ashford Castle, the special Stays With Stories experience, where guests are invited for a morning walk through the woodlands on the estate with Irish wolfhounds, Mulligan, Molly and Dougal and their handler, James.
Cathal and John said James was brilliant – an Englishman, but with the grumpy, satirical sense of humour of an Irishman.
“He was fantastic with the group and very knowledgeable on the hounds themselves,” says Cathal. “That was really, really cool.”
Kylemore Abbey was even better in real life
John and Cathal had never visited Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery set on a lake with a lush green mountain rising behind it in Connemara.
“It’s one of the poster boys of Irish tours, and it’s obviously quite a massive feature on the Castles & Manors tour,” says Cathal. “It’s stunning. And we’ve seen so many shots of it that it was about time that we went and saw it – and it didn’t disappoint.”
Inside, Cathal said there was a cool exhibition of historic photos that had been recoloured too, which he loved, along with history about the building and its uses across time. While exploring the castle and grounds, make sure you leave time for the extensive Victorian walled garden.
There’s nothing like Irish hospitality
On Castles and Manors, guests visit Glen Keen Farm as a special Be My Guest Experience.
“That was brilliant,” says John. “We got to learn how the sheep dog listened to different types of whistle sounds. It was great to see it in action, albeit the lashing rain – but that’s truly authentic.”
After seeing the working border collies do a live herding demonstration, hosts Catherine and Jim, whose family has owned Glen Keen since 1600, then welcome guests in for a farmhouse-style lunch with homemade cake and tea.’
“The owners came out, told us their story and their background… and then entertained us with some Irish traditional music. The whole group loved that,” says John.
Cathal added: “Usually you travel anywhere you’re sat down in a cafe or restaurant and you’re ordering from a menu. But when you’re kind of brought out like a very authentic salad or an apple tart that’s been made in-house, it does very much feel like you’re being welcomed into the space.
“Honestly, it’s not that far from how my family like to host dinners.”
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Travel is about seeing the sights and something different
“The classics are the classics for a reason. I think it’s important for people to get a taste of that, so when they go home, they can say’ Oh yes, we did see the Cliffs of Moher, but we also went to an oyster farm and got to see how oysters are farmed’ – something that not a lot of people get to do,” says Cathal.
“If you’re an oyster fan like me, you know you’re going to get a lunch out of it! You’re happy the whole time.”
Cathal found the history side of things interesting, learning about the barriers, farming innovation, and changes.
“What was really good about the Trafalgar tour was how it leans into the stories through people,” he says. “[You hear] the story of their farm that’s been handed down generations.”
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The Travel Director genuinely knows their stuff
Leading the charge was Betty, one of our expert Travel Directors in Ireland, and John says he was genuinely impressed with her knowledge and skills.
“Betty was absolutely brilliant with everyone. When you’re traveling along the West Coast in Ireland, you can be on the bus for a little over an hour [between stops]. So having Betty at the front with the microphone, chatting about the area makes the journey go quickly because you’re you’re learning. You’re looking at the window and you’re hearing about the places you’re seeing for the first time.
“I thought she was excellent. She didn’t have a script – she was just seeing things and talking about them and the history behind things.”
Cathal added: “She was just so knowledgeable about it. I think it’s very easy for a guide to point at something and say this is what this is – but to bring it to life is a talent.”
Safe to say our Irish friends were impressed with the mix of experiences that connect travelers with the spirit of Ireland in a short time. If you’re ready to explore, check out our Castles & Manors tour.