Special Events

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TOURS

Hosted by Michael & Siobhan Reidy

In 2017, we started taking groups “off-the-beaten-track” in Ireland, and had A LOT of fun in the process. We added a Scotland tour in 2020, but Covid had other plans. Our sold-out 2020 tours were cancelled, and for more than two years, Covid restrictions kept us home. We’re back now and currently offer trips in April and October following a variety of itineraries. We’re always tweaking and adding new things to the itineraries, but, in general, our tours head either north or south from Dublin, or into the Scottish Highlands and Aberdeenshire from Edinburgh. We’ve also developed a new itinerary for visiting the gorgeous, historic, and rarely visited Scottish Borders (along with Northern England), but we’re still working on getting just the right hotels, so stay tuned…

If you want to kiss the Blarney Stone, look for leprechauns, and spend your nights at tourist-only pubs, we are NOT the tour for you. But, if you want to spend time with the locals, see the best sights at a relaxed pace, stay at charming small hotels, and hang out at real pubs and restaurants rather than tour bus mills, we might be what you’re looking for. We spend at least two nights at every stop to help you get a feel for each area, and we rarely start our days before 9:00 am…we are not rushing around the country trying to hit all the supposed ‘must-sees,” but we will definitely show you the best of Ireland and Scotland.

TOURS FILL UP QUICKLY. USE THE “CONTACT US” PAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO OUR EMAIL LIST TO RECEIVE INFORMATION DIRECTLY…WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US!

Next Tour: Southern Ireland (Tentative Dates: 9/30 – 10/13)

We know many of you were looking forward to a tour of Northern England and the Scottish Borders this fall, but we’ve run into some issues with the small, family-run hotels we like to use, SO — while we continue to work on this trip for 2026 — we’ve decided to offer our most popular itinerary (which heads south from Dublin), BUT with a lot of NEW stops as well as some old favorites…we’re excited about the additions and hope you will be, too

We are especially pleased to be back at The Step House in Borris, County Carlow, a gorgeous small hotel with a cozy bistro, located in a picture-perfect village which boasts two traditional pubs and the estate of the MacMorrough-Kavanaghs, a family who played a KEY role in Ireland’s early development. After the Covid lockdown, Step House re-opened with reduced hours focused on weddings and weekend staycations, BUT they’re expanding those hours just for us…and we can’t wait to get back.

We’re also adding a new stop at the Walter Raleigh Hotel in the old-fashioned seaside town of Youghal, and we’ll be returning to longtime faves the Brook Lane in Kenmare, County Kerry, The Old Ground in Ennis, County Clare, and the Grafton in Dublin

Tour highlights include:

A tour of Killruddery House & Gardens, a stunning and historic great house on an 800-acre estate in County Wicklow that has been home to the Brabazon family since 1618
A visit to Kilkenny, Ireland’s medieval jewel, and stops at some of the many artist and craft studios in the surrounding countryside
A walking tour of Ireland’s oldest city, the Viking port of Waterford, and a peek at some of it’s amazing treasures
Behind the Scenes Experience and lunch at The Tannery with chef-owner Paul Flynn
A visit to the Gaeltacht around Baile Mhuirne (Ballyvourney) and Cuil Aodha (Coolea), and lunch with Peadar O’Riada, a writer and musician, and the son of Irish music great Sean O’Riada (Michael’s first cousin)
A drive around the breathtaking Beara Peninsula (with lunch and sundowner pint stops at the best viewpoints), and walk in the gardens of Muckross House (with stunning views of Killarney National Park)
Traditional music with the locals in O’Sheas, Borris, and The Corner Bar, Kildysart
Lunch and a tour around the remote Loop Head peninsula, including a boat ride out to the early Christian settlement and abandoned village (among other historic sites) on Scattery Island
A visit to Ireland’s first modern-day whiskey bonder
A walk in the mysterious Burren region, a seemingly inhospitable landscape bursting with exotic flora and fauna, archeological remains, and other evidence of abundant life since pre-historic times
The history and on-going “renovation” of the intense Leap Castle
Guided tours of the atmospheric and historic Kilmainham Gaol and Glasnevin Cemetery, as well as a visit to the northside Dublin house whose architecture and re-development tell the story of the city

Plus lots of great beer, music, food and craic! Full details will be available toward the end of the year, including pricing and application form. Watch this website, or, better yet, join our email list and be one of the first to receive info on this and future tours.

Holiday Closings

Fourth of July: CLOSED

Memorial Day and Labor Day: CLOSED

Thanksgiving: CLOSED

Christmas Eve: Last orders at 7:30; CLOSED when it falls on a Sunday or Monday

Christmas Day: CLOSED

New Year’s Eve: Last orders at 8:30; CLOSED when it falls on a Sunday or Monday

New Year’s Day: CLOSED

ADDITIONAL CLOSURES MAY OCCUR. CALL THE RESTAURANT FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO

Stout Fest, Boxing Day, Nollaig na mBan???

We’d love to bring back these beloved traditions, but the amount of regular business since Covid does not support the amount of staff needed to put on these special events properly. This is also why we no longer use our private party space and why our St. Patrick’s Day celebration no longer includes indoor service. We don’t love it, but needs must….if the situation changes, you’ll be the first to know

ST. PATRICK’S DAY – March 17th, 2024

Tent Party 11 am – 9 pm….Cover Charge $10/person (cash only)

Under 21 MUST be accompanied by parent.

OUDOOR ONLY EVENT. There will be NO SEATING IN THE RESTAURANT OR BAR.

Tables inside and outside of the heated tent will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Food & drink (including beer, liquor, wine, soda and water) can be ordered and paid for at the bar. Food will be in carryout containers, and you will be texted when it is ready for pick up. A 20% gratuity will be added to all inside orders.

Beer, sodas, water, tee shirts, and brown soda bread can also be purchased at the outdoor beer truck. Beer Truck sales are CASH ONLY

NO OUTSIDE FOOD & DRINK

Reservations, call-ahead seating and online orders are NOT available on St. Patrick’s Day.

2024 Musical Lineup: 11:00 – Cloigheann 2:00 – Mrs. Doyle 5:00 – McClanahan Dancers 6:00 – Rashers

Photos by John Nation