Mr. Michael O'Donnell, who's been running the tour for ten years, brings the story to life. Besides telling the story, pointing out the remaining sites, Michael pays attention to us, the visitors' responses. He also asks people have read the book to share their favorite part. It's a delightful experience, although the weather was not so cooperative. Two hours were too short. Thank you, Michael.

An excellent walking tour through Limerick, visiting several of the places mentioned in Angela's Ashes. The guide is from the area, and came from a similar background as Frank McCourt. He knows Frank and Malachy McCourt, and operates the tour with their permission. Malachy has been on the tour and given it the thumbs up -- Frank has not been on it yet, but is due to give it a go in August 2008. As well as visiting the sites, Michael (the guide) talks people through the book, telling Frank's story, so that it appeals to those who haven't read the book almost as much as it does to those who have. He also throws in some stories and tidbits that aren't in the book. Highly recommended for anyone on a trip to the area. It's been running for 10 years (since 1998), and hopefully it will continue to run for many more!!!

For those who love the writings of Frank McCourt, especially Angela's Ashes, then this tour is a must if you are in Limerick.

I had been living in Limerick for a few months, but my sister came to visit me so we went on the tour. I absolutely loved it! The tour guide was so funny and knows the McCourt family quite well. He indulged stories not in the book and it added to the tour. Most of the sites in the book are no longer standing, but you do go by where there once were. A lot of the stuff is still standing and you get a good idea of what life was like in Limerick back then.
I would do this tour again when in Limerick!

My family and I figured it was only fitting that it should rain, sometimes heavily, during the entire Angela's Ashes tour! The weather, however, did not dissuade our guide, Michael O'Donnell, from giving us a wonderful walking tour. He not only pointed out the different buildings that figured in the story, but also shared Limerick's history as we made our way through the wet streets. O'Donnell was able to quote parts of the book verbatim, answer questions about the book and share information about the McCourt family, as well as controversies regarding the different events that took place in "Angela's Ashes". The tour cost 10 euros, which O'Donnell did not collect until the end of the tour in case we wanted to "run away" during any part of his presentation. The tour lasted close to 2 hours, but I had the feeling that O'Donnell would have continued as long as we had wanted. Incidentally, I was the only one on the four person tour who had actually read the book, but everyone seemed to benefit from the the presentation.