Special Custom Experiences in Ireland

We find that the experiences enjoyed during a trip to Ireland can be most memorable, there are many to choose from and below we list a few ideas to whet your appetite. Some of the ideas are private, just for you, and others can be enjoyed as a part of a small group which can enhance the experience.

Plan a trip with Irish Luxury Tours and we’ll put your interests at the very heart of it, carefully crafting a bespoke itinerary that ticks all your boxes. You’ll see the sides of Ireland that genuinely interest you and thanks to the insider’s knowledge that comes from a personal driver-guide, opens your eyes to new discoveries and unexpected surprises. All within a timeframe and budget that works for you.

Mannings Food Emporium - tour with Andrew to a local farm/artisan producer

Located in the heart of West Cork, Manning’s is a famous food landmark on the Wild Atlantic Way. Manning’s was established in 1946 by Mr and Mrs Manning who reared Jersey cows on nearby pastures. Initially supplying local hotels and restaurants with milk, cream and butter, locals soon started asking for butter for themselves and Manning’s was born.

You will meet a local food expert who will talk about local produce, and serve some samples of what is produced locally including cheeses, smoked Salmon (if available), discuss the methods used to produce food and afterwards he will join you in the vehicle and travel to one of the local producers to see how they operate and enjoy some samples of their work.

Special Equestrian Experience

At Crindle Bespoke Equestrian, we specialise in crafting unique experiences for couples, elopements, families, small groups, bucket list seekers, and anyone looking for an authentic taste of farm life. What sets us apart is that no prior riding experience is required. Our rides are aimed at those seeking to explore Ireland in a very unique and relaxing way. In fact, we've had an 89-year-old gentleman on holiday with his family whose dream was to ride a beautiful Irish horse on the beach – and we made that dream come true. Our goal is to give our guests a behind-the-scenes look into our family business and to explore some of Northern Ireland's most beautiful places on horseback. Our experienced guides, gentle horses, and customised routes ensure an unforgettable journey through Ireland's picturesque landscapes.

Irish Folklore Storytelling and Fairy Tales

Experience an enchanting evening of Irish Folklore and Storytelling as you relax in an intimate setting above The Stag’s Head, voted ‘Ireland’s Best Traditional Irish Pub’ in 2019. We have been entertaining guests since 2006 with our wonderful dinner show which was consistently voted the Number 1 Dinner Theatre Entertainment in Dublin on ‘Trip Advisor’ from 2011 to 2021! Due to post pandemic circumstances, we have changed the format of the show and are now delighted to continue offering this unique folklore and storytelling experience as a pre-dinner show for you to enjoy before you head out for somewhere to eat in the many restaurants located nearby. Our new setting is the Stag’s Head Pub, a hidden gem in the heart of Dublin’s nightlife area. As you relax in a cosy private setting above this atmospheric traditional Irish Pub, we invite you to sit back and let our renowned storytellers take you into another world of the imagination with wonderful insights and mystical tales of Irish life in times past. You will leave this unique evening with a deeper understanding of Irish culture and the Irish landscape, bringing the stories of Ireland with you on your journey.

Woodland Folklore Walk with a Bean Feasa (Wise Woman)

This is a tour like no other! It is more akin to a rambling workshop as you discover a whole new world under the leafy canopy of the Woods. One of the 0.02% remaining ancient woodlands in Ireland it is a truly wonderful place to explore. Filled with mature specimens of our native Irish Trees, along with a forest floor bursting with edible delights! The tour blends simple foraging for seasonal herbs, nuts, and fruit along with leaves that taste like butterhead lettuce, flowers that can cured medieval virus's, a huge array of wild herbs perfect for teas and tinctures. You'll also discover which leaves turn to soap when they get wet! What flower cures a hangover and what tree was known as the Witches Tree for all the cures it holds! Walking along the ancient paths, you'll also hear a little of the history of the region, from pagan Druids to rampaging Knights. You'll learn about Ogham, Celtic Druidic Tree Worship, and how the trees were protected within the Brehon Laws of old Ireland, with huge fines for damaging a "Noble of the Woods" And as if that wasn't enough you'll also be introduced to the "Wood Wide Web" as you learn how the trees communicate, grow communities, share resources and even see and count! This 2.5hr woodland walking workshop will leave you with loads of new skills, a couple of cool bush hacks to show off and a deeper understanding of the forest environment, plus a refreshing drink to enjoy as you soak it all up!

Caherconnell Sheepdog Demonstration

No visit to the Burren is complete without experiencing the wonders of Caherconnell featuring Clare’s only sheepdog demonstration. Sheltered from the weather, enjoy our Caherconnell Shepherds showing great skill working with our clever captivating collies to provide phenomenal sheep dog demonstrations. Young and young alike are enthralled and enraptured by the collies’ skills and enthusiasm, better still there is always plenty of time for doggy cuddles and selfies after their hard work.

The Irish Dance Experience

In the company of an experienced local Irish dancer, learn a variety of different Irish dance styles and steps in a fun and relaxed environment. Visitors are introduced to sean-nós (Old style), Ceilí (group dancing) and the world famous Riverdance style. In 90 minutes unforgettable memories are created that allows participants to physically move through the history and embody the culture of Ireland.

The Gaelic Games Experience Dublin

Your tour will focus on the highlights of the city centre and give an informed and fun perspective of life and history in Ireland’s capital. Locations include Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast.

Farm and Bog Tour in Mayo

Meet Eddie Joe for a tour and demonstration on the bogs. Meet Michael for an incredible display of his working sheep dogs or meet Pat The Blacksmith Strahan to learn about The Nine Irons and try your hand at blacksmithing. Just some of the many wonderful experiences that can be found in Carracastle and the Ireland West Farmstay Experience.

Lough Hyne Night Time Bioluminescence Kayak Tour

This trip provides a unique experience of being on the water from dusk into darkness. There is always something to make you gasp on this trip, the sparkle of bioluminescence, the sounds of seabirds coming into roost, the sunset, the rising moon, the aromas of honeysuckle and gorse on the breeze, the panoply of stars overhead, and the deep, dark peace and serenity of night. It is a trip which feeds body and soul.

Galway Food Tours

Galway Food Tours is a national award winning 3-hour culinary walking tour of the city. It gives a great overview of our passionate people and our beautiful produce which combine to make Galway one of Ireland's gourmet jewels. During the tour you will get to experience a taste from artisan producers, cheese makers, creative beer projects, artisan chocolatiers, traditional family run businesses to young entrepreneurs with devotion and commitment to showcase the best of Irish produce. With experienced and local guides, giving you the insights to our favourite places and treasured ingredients. Treat yourself! Bring a little piece of Galway home with you...

Fire and Water Tour of Irelands Ancient East

Fire and Water Tour: On this tour, you will visit Ireland’s Ancient East and the River Boyne, a place that is rich in myth and lore. This tour is authentic, immersive, and a treat for the senses. Our fire and water tour allows you to connect physically, mentally, and emotionally with the Boyne Valley’s ancient past. It includes an immersive currach tour on the River Boyne and the opportunity to visit a Blacksmith’s Forge to experience a live demonstration of this ancient craft.

River Boyne Boat Tour: You will paddle into the serene beauty of the Boyne River on a Neolithic adventure that follows the same route as Ireland’s Stone Age ancestors. Immerse yourself in this natural landscape and hear the stories that are part of this magical place through Ross Kenny who is a celebrated local boat-builder and storyteller. You will be surrounded by the sounds and sights of nature from native trees, wild plants, and flowers, to birds and wildlife on this tour, and will be provided with period costumes for that extra sense of theatre!

‘An Gobha’: In the afternoon we will take you to ‘An Gobha’ an immersive experience of traditional iron age metal forging, demonstrated by Tom King, a local Blacksmith. This experience is delivered with theatre, stories, myth, history, and a bit of ‘craic’. Tom King specialises in the reproduction of early Celtic Ironworks. Here the ancient skill of metal forging is kept alive. Throughout history, blacksmiths were considered somewhat of mythical figures, with the ability to place curses with the help of an anvil and cure the sick. Tom has fascinating stories to tell.

Donegal Sea Adventure

Rosses Sea Safari: On this tour you will witness Rutland sound (the black hole), an 18th century fishing port, Arran roads channel and calf island. You will also get to see the Arranmore lifeboat station, the Arranmore lighthouse, sea cliffs and caves. On the tour, you will also pass the sites of several shipwrecks with sea stacks, the Green island, and all the channels through the small islands of the Rosses. This tour is history and wildlife and a bit of adventure as the boat will be traveling at speed for some of the tour and you will be in the most exposed parts of the Atlantic. We’ll see cliffs, caves, wildlife such as seabirds and whales and dolphins, seals, lighthouses, and explaining about wrecks and folklore. We’ll be taking a route through a lot of the islands and accessing a part of the coast that has only been seen by fishermen and seafarers until now!

What To Bring: Jackets with hoods because you may get wet, good footwear, warm clothing, camera and binoculars.

Connemara Oysters

Gather a group of friends and family and visit us here in Ballinakill Bay for a truly unique experience. A private oyster tour and tasting will be laid out exclusively for you, with prosecco to go with the oysters. Take your time visiting the farm, seeing where and how we grow our Connemara Oysters, then get the chance to shuck the oysters yourself, full of the flavours and tastes of the pristine hills and waters around the farm. Then you and your family and friends can benefit from a truly unique, curated, gourmet experience, with seafood platters and prosecco available on request, to be enjoyed looking over the water from the cottage deck.

Couples Walk with Irish Wolfhounds

You can meet up with Maggie Mae at Bertra Beach, outside Westport where I will introduce you to Spéir & Mairtín. You can meet, greet and cuddle the dogs. Learn how they like to be petted and scratched and watch them run and play. I will tell you stories about Grainne Uaile (Grace O’Malley), our legendary Pirate Queen! and of the Legends of Cuchulain & his wolfhounds, from Irish mythology. And explain why the past lords & kings of Ireland kept the wolfhounds around them. I can tell you about we take care of their personal needs and eating habits. Explain about their beautiful, deep personalities, and answer as best I can any questions you may have about these majestical hounds. At the end of your experience, you can take photos of the dogs or I will take photos for you, while you hold the dogs by yourselves. By that time, you may have made two wolfhound friends. You will definitely find a thing or two about them that is guaranteed to catch your interest. So, grab a coat and get ready for an amazing walk on Bertra Beach, in Westport with the Irish Wolfhounds Spèir and Maìrtìn.

Basket Weaving with Joe Hogan

Joe Hogan has been making indigenous Irish baskets such as the creel, at Loch na Fooey since 1978. A private demonstration of making a basket, beginning a base, then taking a made base and completing a basket) about 45 minutes to 1 hour, tea coffee and home baked treats included.

The Art of Distilling & Blending Experience at Pearse Lyons Distillery

Delve into the fascinating history of Dublin’s whiskey quarter and learn all about the process of creating whiskey on a bespoke, private tour of the Pearse Lyons Distillery. Guided by your own personal storyteller, you’ll walk the stunning grounds of the distillery (including the graveyard) before an in-depth tour of the distillery itself. You’ll learn all there is to know about creating an award-winning whiskey, on an immersive experience that showcases it all – the brewhouse, fermenters, pot stills and the whiskey maturation process. Guests enjoy up to four canapes, paired with our signature Irish Whiskeys and blend and bottle their own.

The Burren Farm Experience Jeep Safari

Visit an authentic Irish beef farm set on nearly 500 acres in the heart of the Burren amidst dramatic geological landscapes, fascinating archaeological sites and unique habitats. There is so much to explore! Enjoy a relaxed seated tour in our vintage Land Rover Jeep with a gentle stroll or strenuous hike in one of the most distinctive UNESCO designated landscapes in Europe with your own Conservation Ranger and fifth generation Burren farmer. We are delighted to warmly welcome you to our Farm in the heart of the Burren National Park. This private experience is not one for the masses, it is by appointment only and small groups taken personally by the landowners.

Let's make it happen

All Irish Luxury Tours are fully customisable. The tours illustrated throughout our site are some of our best-loved and most popular. They may provide inspiration for your trip or could just be a starting point.

Like the sound of an existing itinerary but want to build in a few extras? No problem. Stray off-route so you can take in something special that really inspires you? We’re right with you. Need to shave off a few days or, with the luxury of time, add a few more of them?

We’re here, with all the contacts, expertise and understanding to shape a bespoke vacation for you.