caseydriessen

We need a minimum of 20 and can take a maximum of 36.

9 nights hotel accommodations; 9 breakfasts; 3 group dinners; 2 group lunches; local guides, musicians, historians as appropriate; all group activity entrance fees; luxury coach; pickup in Dublin city centre (exact location to be determined); transportation from last hotel to Shannon Airport.

Check out the itinerary

Travel Insurance; pre-tour and post-tour accommodations; optional activities during tour; independent travel during tour; any transportation outside of tour dates; any transportation outside of designated tour pickup or drop off locations

Yes, so it’s important you are able to navigate small towns on your own. Maps will be provided.

Yes! but we hope that you’re a music lover. This tour focuses on the insider Ireland experience, of which traditional music is a huge part. There will be music every night, mostly in the local pub session scene…with a couple concerts thrown in.

No, all activities are optional, but we hope that you can enjoy as many as possible with us.

You must be able to carry or roll your own luggage over uneven surfaces from the bus to the hotel.

Not all hotels have elevators, and you may have to haul your own luggage up or down stairs to your own room.

You’ll need to be on your feet for 1-3 hours in some instances. (Remember all activities are optional). You will be walking on concrete that may be slippery if it is wet, and from time to time there will be stairs to maneuver.

You will need to be able to hop on and off the bus.

This is not a heavy walking tour. However…we have a couple optional activities that require more walking, including a visit to a monastic site with a stroll to a lake and a guided walk around medieval Kilkenny city (~90mins). Other than that, it’s generally about getting around, of which walking to the pub might be an important consideration.

We recommend arriving to Dublin on Sep. 3—one day before the tour begins. On the morning of Sep. 4, we will gather and launch on our adventure.

Cost of the hotel for the night before is the responsibility of the participant. However, we can offer a group rate at a Dublin hotel for the night before the tour starts. This rate will be available in 2023, and we’ll let tour participants know how to take advantage of it.

There are two popular options: 1) Fly into Dublin and out of Shannon, or 2) Roundtrip Dublin. The easiest is Dublin/Shannon. If you choose option #2, there are convenient ways to travel from Ennis to Dublin via bus or train—just make sure to double check all ticket and travel times before purchasing.

Ireland’s weather is very changeable and varied. Layering and comfort is key. There is a strong chance it may rain. All participants need to be ready for all weather conditions.

Ireland is a very casual country so there is no real need to bring dressy clothing. Again, comfort is key. While handbags are cute, backpacks are practical. If you want to bring a small bag for going out, we suggest a small cross the body bag, so it allows your hands to be free.

For starters, 9 nights of traditional Irish pub sessions and opportunities to participate or just enjoy as the mood strikes. On the 2023 tour, we heard from masters playing fiddles, button accordions, guitar, uilleann pipes, concertina, low whistle, tin whistle, and singing lots of songs. The locals always invited us to share some of our music with them.

If you’re looking for a deeper musical experience, I’m curating a series of 3 Irish music workshops given by local masters as an add-on.

Absolutely!

Probably! Irish music is a deep tradition and sessions are generally very welcoming to respectful enthusiasts. If you are familiar with some standard repertoire, there will be opportunities to sit-in on pub sessions. However, it is important to understand the etiquette surrounding the session tradition.

Casey will be holding a preparatory online workshop prior to the tour to learn a standard set of tunes and talk about the session scene.

Yes! For a modest up-charge, a series of three 1-hr Irish music workshops is being curated for this tour, all led by local musicians with Casey there to assist. Workshop leaders and focuses will be announced closer to tour, but rest assured, you will enjoy and learn. All instruments are welcome. Please see add-ons.

Sorry, we are not set up for this scenario. However, if you play a larger instrument (like the cello) I am willing to investigate. Please understand there is no guarantee an instrument will be available.

Limited 60-min private lessons are available as an add-on to the tour. Once these are gone, availability will be assessed case-by-case during the tour.

We say go for it!…as long as you arrive to Dublin by the night before the tour leaves, or go your merry way on the morning after the last night of the tour. Ireland is an amazing place and we hope you make the most of your time in the country.

Yes, for a private room. Hotels offer a very limited number of single rooms for an additional fee. If you want to be guaranteed a private room throughout the tour there is an additional charge of $500, which will be added on to the total of your tour price. If a private room is not available when we receive your tour order, we will contact you immediately, and you will have the option to cancel your tour reservation. Please note, a single supplement guarantees a private room and not a larger or upgraded room.

If you are traveling alone, and you are willing to share a room with another participant of the same sex, and there is availability, then you will not be charged a single supplement fee.

No travel insurance is offered through O’Sullivan Tours. We recommend you check with your health insurance provider or credit card company.

Based on past experience, buying directly from the airlines is better. If a situation should arise, access to customer service (such as it may be) is better directly from the airlines.

If you cancel your tour more than 6 months before the start date, we will give you a full refund less a $250 per person processing fee.

For cancellation requests made 5-6 months prior to departure, there is a full refund less the $250 per person processing fee ONLY if your place on the tour can be filled. If your tour seat cannot be filled, we will give you a 50% refund.

For cancellation requests made less than 5 months from departure, a 50% refund will be given only if your tour seat can be filled. If your place cannot be filled, then there will be no refund.