Irish Ancestral Group · Heritage Tours
Come For The Scenery.
Find A Connection.
If you have grown up hearing stories about Ireland, there can be a great deal of anticipation in finally visiting the places your family spoke about.
You may have a townland name passed down by your grandparents, a family connection you would love to explore, or simply a wish to spend time discovering the country and its people. We at Irish Ancestral Group bring these interests together in personally planned heritage tours of Ireland, with bespoke journeys to Scotland too.
Our tours are open to everyone, whether you have ancestral roots here or are coming for the scenery, history and the pleasure of experiencing somewhere new.
Begin Planning Your JourneyA visit shaped around you
A Journey With Your Interests At Its Heart
When we begin planning your visit, we want to hear about the things you enjoy and what you are hoping to get from your time here. You might be keen to follow your family’s story, visit castles and ancient sites, or spend a few evenings enjoying traditional music, local food and good company.
There is plenty of room to bring different interests together, particularly when family members or friends have their own ideas about what makes a great vacation. Whether you are travelling on your own, as a couple or with a group, we will take account of your available time, preferred pace and travelling companions as we work through the possibilities with you.
From the records to the road
Walk Into Your Family’s Story
For many people, the wish to visit Ireland begins with someone in the family who left long ago. Seeing the area where they lived can help you make sense of the names and places in your research, while giving you a better understanding of the community they belonged to and the life they may have known.
Where the evidence allows, we can include places associated with your ancestors, such as a townland, church or burial ground. You may already have research you would like us to work from, or you may wish to commission research before travelling so that the findings can help shape your itinerary. We will discuss what is known, what survives and what may be possible to visit, allowing you to plan with a clear idea of what to expect.
Explore Genealogy Research
Ireland
Experience Ireland Along The Way
An ancestral visit can sit very comfortably within a wider Irish vacation, with time to enjoy the coast, explore historic towns or discover the food, music and traditions of the areas you are visiting. You do not have to spend every day following family history, and there is plenty to enjoy for anyone in your party who has other interests.
We will suggest ways to bring your plans together, taking account of travelling distances and leaving time to enjoy the places along the way. Whether this is your first visit or you already know Ireland well, we are happy to help you explore a different area or try something you have always wanted to do.
Explore Bespoke Tours Of Ireland
Across the Irish Sea
Discover A Scottish Connection
Scotland may be another part of your family’s story, or somewhere you have long wanted to visit for its landscapes, castles and history. We also arrange bespoke Scottish heritage tours, with the same opportunity to discuss your interests and create an itinerary that suits the people travelling.
You can make Scotland the focus of your vacation or speak to us about including it alongside Ireland. If you are considering both, we will help you look at the time available and the journeys involved so that each part of your visit has the attention it deserves.
Explore Bespoke Tours Of ScotlandUnderstanding the people and places
Stories That Give Places Meaning
As you travel through Ireland, the history of the places you visit often raises as many questions as it answers. You may find yourself wondering how a community earned its living, why families left an area or what an old building can tell us about the people who used it.
Our background in genealogy, historical research and guiding allows us to explore these stories with you, drawing connections between the wider history and the everyday lives of local people. There is as much to discover in a small community or a quiet corner of the countryside as there is at a famous landmark, and we enjoy helping you get to know both.
Your journey, your pace
Time To Make it Your Own - Choose Your Own Adventure
We know that everyone has a different idea of how they would like to spend their vacation, which is why flexibility matters so much in planning a bespoke tour. You may enjoy full days of exploring, prefer to stay a little longer in each place, or want a mixture of organised visits and time to relax with your travelling companions.
Let us know about the places on your wish list, any particular interests and the practical things that will help you feel comfortable, including walking distances or access requirements. We can then make suggestions, talk through what will work well together and help you build a visit that suits your group. You are very welcome to bring your own ideas, including experiences you have not seen mentioned on our website.
Choose Your Own AdventureCome along together
Scheduled Tours, Shared Discoveries
If you would prefer to join a tour with the itinerary already arranged, we are developing a limited programme of scheduled departures each year. These will draw on our knowledge of Ireland to bring together history, heritage, scenery and local experiences, with time to relax, absorb your surroundings and enjoy the company of fellow travellers.
Each tour will focus on particular regions or themes, giving you the opportunity to explore one part of Ireland and return for another “leg” in a future year. The dates, itinerary, arrangements and price will be available before booking, and you are welcome to enquire about the programme as it develops. If a departure does not suit your needs, we can always discuss the possibilities for a bespoke tour instead.
Explore Scheduled ToursThe beginning of your next chapter
Let’s Begin With Your Ideas
You do not need to have your vacation planned before getting in touch with us. Tell us when you hope to travel, who will be coming and a little about the places or experiences you have in mind, even if you are still wondering where to begin.
Every bespoke tour begins with a free, no-obligation Zoom call, giving us a chance to meet, answer your questions and explore the many possibilities together. We can help you work through your bucket list, suggest places you may not have considered and explain the proposed arrangements and costs before you decide to book.
Tell Us About Your Ideal Journey