Castle Island is not the largest on Loch Leven (St Serf’s is) but it is certainly the most famous, a distinction arising out of the island’s connection with Mary Queen of Scots. During the years 1567-8, she was imprisoned here, the unwilling guest of Lady...
Usually on the first day of your tour with Ireland and Scotland Luxury Tours we visit the “Rock of Cashel”. Crowning the plain of Tipperary, St Patricks rock marks one of the most important historical sites in Ireland. Legend has it that during Patricks ten year stay...
These distinctive tall slim towers are found at many of Irelands early monastic sites. They are almost entirely an Irish phenomenon. Thought there are a few in Scotland, specifically at Brechin. You will see them on your tours of Ireland and it is good to understand their purpose. Their...
Dublin’s Patrick O’Shea called his lawyer and asked, “Is it true they’s suin’ dem der cigarette companies fer causin’ people to git cancer?” “Yes, Patrick, sure is true,” responded the lawyer. “And now someone is suin’ dem fast food restaurants fer makin’ dem fat an’ cloggin’ their...
Ullapool is a large village with pretensions to the status of a small town. Certainly, although having a resident population of just over a thousand, it can claim to be the capital of a very extensive area of the north, there being no larger town...
This is a natural basin for rain and has created a lovely oasis in an otherwise desolate area. It is the source of the river Lee and was the location of a monastic centre founded by Finnbarr, the patron saint of Cork. The variety and species of...
It always surprises me how late some folks leave planning and booking their trips to Ireland and Scotland. As a small family company, we do not have a massive fleet of cars and drivers. We pride ourselves on an intimate, authentic experience with driver/guides that make for...
Wexford was founded by the Vikings. It is an interesting stop on your tours of Ireland. It was once an important harbour and has a long history of Irish suffering in times of conflict. It suffered badly at the hands of Cromwell. The silting up of the harbour limited...
One of the great historical counties in Ireland is Meath. It is home to Tara, seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Even more ancient are the Megalithic graves of “Brugh Na Boinne”, the most famous of which is Newgrange. Cutting across the county is the River Boyne,...
Ireland has the finest range of peatlands in Europe. They were formed following the last ice age, ten thousand years ago. The retreating ice sheet left the centre of Ireland covered by shallow lakes. Over the tens of centuries lakeside vegetation grew, died, and partly decomposed. The cycle changed...