6+ hours
Taking safety measures
Free cancellation
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from
€349.50
per adult
Desmond Tours
Desmond Tours
5
City Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Bus Tours
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09:00 - 17:00
Monday
09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday
09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday
09:00 - 17:00
Thursday
09:00 - 17:00
Friday
09:00 - 17:00
Full view
About
It's simple - we offer bespoke, fully customizable tours around the island of Ireland. Our passionate local tour guides will show you all the highlights as well as Ireland’s best kept secrets, whilst you travel in comfort and style in one of our Mercedes vehicles. Get in touch with us now and we will help you create memories that will last a lifetime!
Tours and Tickets by Desmond Tours
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5.0
40 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Nancymroz
Santa Fe, NM5 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Our experience last week with Desmond traveling around Ireland was truly amazing. We have roots in Ireland and we were able to include family history with our Irish cousins on our journey. Desmond was on board with whatever we wanted to include each day. We toured castles, ruins, amazing vistas, quaint villages and towns, the Jamison Distillery, spectacular countryside while learning about Ireland of yesterday and today. Des answered our many questions with enthusiasm and humor. We came away from this experience knowing so much more about Ireland than we ever imagined possible.
Written 16 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill M
Knoxville, TN11 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Desmond was an outstanding tour guide and driver for a 7 day private group. We travelled in a Mercedes small coach with 13 seats so we had room to spread out and store our stuff. Desmond was very knowledgeable about Ireland history and culture and accommodated us with itinerary changes, off the beaten path destinations, etc. he was very friendly and we enjoyed his companionship. We will contact him when we return to Ireland.
Written 14 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elibfg
Chatham, Canada3 contributions
Mar 2023
Desmond Tours is everything you could ask for and more! We toured Ireland for 10 days with Desmond Phelan of Desmond Tours and we could not have made a better choice. He was professional, kind, patient, courteous , witty, and a knowledgable Historian who not only toured us around, but also was a private guide with wonderful knowledge of the History of all the sites we visited. We learned so much about the beautiful country of Ireland! Over the ten days we laughed, joked and he became a friend, not just a tour guide. We were sad to part ways with him at the end of it all. Is a private tour more expensive than renting a car and driving yourself? (If your able to, however two Senior ladies from Canada weren’t comfortable doing that),yes it is. Was it worth it? Absolutely 100 percent and we’d do it again! We cannot thank Desmond and his wife Luisa enough for making our trip to Ireland so memorable and enjoyable! We can only hope to return to see them again someday. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! Louanne and Anita
Written 5 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello again!
Thank you so much for this lovely review - we are delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful experience.
Hopefully not your last time to tour around Ireland, there's lots more to see and do.! Many thanks again Louanne and Anita, for taking the time to write this review.
Best wishes from both of us.
Written 12 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Annette
2 contributions
Jul 2022
If you want to tour the beautiful country of Ireland without the hassle of renting a car and driving yourself, and have fun while being driven by a guide with a great sense of humor and lots of knowledge to share about the sights and friendly people of Ireland -- then Desmond is your guy. You can't go wrong with Desmond Tours. He offers tours that are custom tailored to your preferences. His Mercedes touring bus is immaculate and the perfect size for larger groups. I understand that if you have fewer people in your group there is another vehicle available as well.
Our group was comprised of family members of all ages and everyone had a great time. Desmond arranges for easy access to the Cliff's of Moher if someone in your group is not able to walk very far, and he arranged for a special dinner at Riva, a restaurant in the Europe Hotel and Resort in Kerry. We also were given a private behind the scenes tour of a woolen textile mill.
Desmond is very attentive, professional and always punctual for pick ups. I highly recommend Desmond Tours, and will definitely call him again if I return to Ireland.
Our group was comprised of family members of all ages and everyone had a great time. Desmond arranges for easy access to the Cliff's of Moher if someone in your group is not able to walk very far, and he arranged for a special dinner at Riva, a restaurant in the Europe Hotel and Resort in Kerry. We also were given a private behind the scenes tour of a woolen textile mill.
Desmond is very attentive, professional and always punctual for pick ups. I highly recommend Desmond Tours, and will definitely call him again if I return to Ireland.
Written 21 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Annette,
Thank you so much for your review - how great to read your review now, even though your tour was last summer. It sounds like we were able to provide a memorable tour, that's great to hear!
We are delighted that you enjoyed traveling around Ireland with Desmond and that everyone in your mixed family group enjoyed the trip.
Hopefully we will welcome you on one of our tours again!
Written 24 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Karen C
1 contribution
Mar 2022
Looking through all the reviews, I can not believe I never wrote one. I had the pleasure of touring Ireland with Des on two occasions. the only two times I have been there and I can not ever imagine going back and not having Desmond as my tour guide support. The first time was when the world was shutting down due to the pandemic and he was smooth and kind and kept us in the moment in an effort to minimize our stress. He was truly amazing! He focused on our needs when his own family was trying to navigate the changing world. That is something we will never forget, where were you when the world shut down? we were in the countryside of Ireland with Desmond!! The second time, COVID was not quite a memory and we again had to navigate changes, restrictions and Des shined through with his support, knowledge and flexibility to make it yet another wonderful, memorable trip. He is funny, he is kind, he can even sing quite well, he is full of stories and is interested in helping you find your family connection, because we all have one hahahaha . If you are planning a trip to Ireland, Desmond will make sure you have a trip you will never forget!!!
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Karen,
So wonderful to hear from you - We are so grateful to be back touring around Ireland again and what a busy season 2022 has been!
Thank you for this wonderful review, which made us think back of a much darker time for tourism businesses (and travelers!). It is good to see the tours back and we're glad to hear you felt supported during these difficult times.
Can't wait for Ireland x 3 !!!
Best wishes from Kilkenny
Written 11 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan M
1 contribution
Sep 2022
Our Ireland vacation with Desmond Tours was INCREDIBLE! We spent a week in Desmond's care and every day was FANTASTIC! He ensured that we saw everything that we wanted and much, much more. He took us to so many beautiful locations including Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Dingle, Killarney, Kilkenny, Kenmare, Galway and more. Our tour was the perfect mix of Irish countryside, castles, beautiful vistas, live music & Irish dance, Irish pubs, & shopping in the most quaint villages . Des is so knowledgeable about Ireland & its history. I came away having learned so much about my ancestry . Des is a wonderful storyteller and kept us all laughing for much of the trip. He took care of every possible need, was prompt, and was integral to the four of us having the trip of a lifetime!
We all feel that we made a friend for life with Desmond!
We all feel that we made a friend for life with Desmond!
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Dan,
Thank you so much for taking the time to post your review - it really means a lot. We are delighted that you got to see so much of our beautiful island.
Our tours are a great mix of entertaining and educational - it's great to hear that you learned so much about your ancestry and that you had a good laugh along the way.
We hope to see you soon again.
Greetings from Kilkenny!
Written 18 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Christine Tarantino
Boston, MA2 contributions
Sep 2022
Highly recommend Desmond as a tour guide. He is very knowledgeable, history buff, storyteller with a great sense of humor and all-around great guy!
Written 12 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello!
"Best Tour Guide" - WOW - you don't get to hear that every day! Many thanks for taking the time to post this review, we're delighted and proud to receive your wonderful feedback.
Hopefully we will be able to welcome you on one of our tours some time again!
Best wishes,
Des
Written 18 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dawn M
2 contributions
Sep 2022 • Friends
I love rocks, Desmond found plenty for me to enjoy along with many other varied and interesting sights. Enjoyed his stream of interesting tidbits of information and details as we toured. The scenery he showed us was fabulous. Lovely tour.
Written 28 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Dawn,
Thank you so much for your review - we are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour and of course the beautiful Irish countryside!
We would be delighted to have you on our tours again sometime in the future.
Best wishes from Kilkenny,
Desmond
Written 30 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Melinda W
4 contributions
Sep 2022
Our friend group spent 6 days with Desmond touring the magnificent country of Ireland. This was the first time we had used a touring company for any of our travels together, and there had been concern we might be too tied to a schedule or spend excessive hours in a bus. The worry was for nothing! We had such a great time exploring historical monuments, taking in beautiful scenery, drinking in local pubs and eating delicious food at all of our stops along the way. Prior to our arrival, a general plan for our trip was put together with the help of his wife, Luisa. Along the journey, Desmond would give us recommendations of what we might like to do, yet he was always flexible when we requested an impromptu stop or change in plan along the way. Desmond is admittedly an Irish history buff, and we heard so many great stories and learned so much about the Irish people and their heritage. By the end of our journey, Desmond felt like an old friend, and we look forward to a time when our paths should cross again. With Luisa’s pre-planning and Desmond’s guidance, you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. You are in good hands.
Written 27 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Melinda,
Thank you so much for your very detailed review - we really appreciate you taking the time to post it here. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed your time in Ireland with us.
It is great to hear that you appreciated the freedom and flexibility that our tours offer and most of all, the fun along the way!
Wishing our new touring friends all the best from Kilkenny,
Des (& Luisa)
Written 28 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Niyo R
Sunnyvale, CA7 contributions
Aug 2022
We spent 5 days with Desmond driving around Ireland and had a wonderful experience. He was knowledgable, funny, accommodating, and easy to get along with. He always kept the car clean, recommended places to eat (since we are vegetarian), and struck a nice balance b/w giving us free time and providing guided tours of the various sites.
Enjoyed the countryside, a Celtic show, petting lambs, and of course pubs and food.
Luisa was easy to work with and was very accommodating to our requests and customizing as needed. We highly recommend Desmond Tours!
Enjoyed the countryside, a Celtic show, petting lambs, and of course pubs and food.
Luisa was easy to work with and was very accommodating to our requests and customizing as needed. We highly recommend Desmond Tours!
Written 18 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Niyo,
It is great to hear from you again - we are delighted to hear you enjoyed touring around Ireland with us. There's not much to go wrong of you have beautiful countryside, culture and lovely food!
Thank you so much for taking the time to review your experience with us.
All the best from Kilkenny,
Des
Written 19 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience