This usually isn't my kind of thing, but it was part of our vacation package and I'm SO GLAD we did…read moreit! This was an amazing way to learn about Cobh its history and the Titanic. Our guide was local, friendly and knowledgeable. A great way to explore the town. I know it was a guided tour, but it felt like we were being shown around by a friend. DONT question, just book!

An enjoyable stop. Got to see the John F Kennedy Park, the dock where the Titanic passengers…read moreloaded, the White Star ticketing line, and a Titanic memorial. It was also a big Irish emigration port. What struck me the most was that our guide asked how many of us in our group had Irish ancestry. A good 75% of us raised our hands. She said, "Now, if you're one of the 35 million in the U.S. that claim Irish ancestry, you're family set sail for America with nothing more than courage and a dream". A wow moment right there. However, our guide was a little hard to hear, so we missed out on some useful facts. It also would've been nice to have spent a little more time at the Heritage Center during our tour (it's helpful to make a reservation if you want a more in-depth look at your genealogy)

This is not a distillery tour. It is an education in Irish whiskey -- and a genuinely memorable…read moreone. The Midleton Distillery Experience is home to seven iconic Irish whiskey brands: Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare, The Spot Whiskeys, Method and Madness, and Knappogue Castle. The site itself is the original Old Midleton Distillery, and walking through it means moving through restored 19th-century warehouse buildings where whiskey has been aged in oak casks for generations. The history is embedded in the walls, and the experience is designed to make sure you actually feel it rather than just walk past it. We booked the private premium tasting tour, and the decision to go private changed the entire dynamic of the visit. Our tour guide -- French by birth, now based in Ireland having moved to learn English -- was exceptional. His enthusiasm for Irish whiskey was completely genuine, his knowledge was deep, and his ability to translate that knowledge into something both accessible and fascinating made the experience far better than any standard group tour could have. The kind of guide who makes you leave knowing things you did not expect to know when you arrived. The premium tasting takes you through four prestige whiskeys from the distillery's range, each contextualised properly rather than just poured and moved on from. The difference between what's available here and what you find on a standard shelf is immediately apparent. The highlight, and the moment that made the visit stick: I purchased a cask strength expression at 61% and bottled it myself directly from the cask. That is a singular experience -- standing in a working distillery, filling your own bottle from a numbered cask, corking it by hand. It is not a gimmick. It is exactly what it sounds like, and it earns every penny. If you are in the Cork area, include this in your itinerary without hesitation. The experience here is more thorough and personal than anything the Dublin distillery offers. Go private if you can, and stay long enough to bottle something. Visited on Weekday Wait time No wait Reservation recommended Yes

We had a great time during the Jameson experience at cork. The tour itself was well executed and…read morevery interesting. They also provided lots of samples which was appreciated. We learned a lot and particularly enjoyed learning about their method and madness line. Our tour guide was great. Do note that you may need to stick around after the tour a bit before driving especially if you didn't have much in your stomach! We would definitely come back sometime.

Dermot O'Conner was FANTASTIC! 6 of us traveled to Ireland August 14 - 26 where our driver Dermot…read moreO'Conner met us at the Dublin Airport to start our fabulous vacation through South Ireland! He was more than we ever could have expected! His love for Ireland and his thirst for his country's history gave us an experience above and beyond all others! He took us to places we would never have known of. The Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance to honor the NYFD firefighters from 911 is just one of many. He shared the history and culture of Ireland and even got us on a ballfield to learn a wee bit about hurling! We will always remember Dermot for his genuine kindness and love. I hope he's available for your booking! You won't be sorry!

So glad that we booked a driving tour with Dermot O'Connor at Turas Eireann! We spent five lovely…read moredays in towns, villages, and countryside from Dublin to Galway, and back again. Relaxed and excited - small tour coach for up to ten (10) people, and the small vehicle, while not little, afforded access to so many places that the double deckers cannot handle. Dermot O'Connor (Owner) is well versed in the history and geography of Ireland, and shared information about every site that we visited. He is witty and funny, and so professional and honest. Our trip to Ireland would not have had the depth of experience nor the fun and magic if we had opted for a larger tour, or driven ourselves. There is just no way that we could have packed our time with all the sites and places we went to, and enjoyed so much in a relaxed tour with a gifted tour guide and driver. Email Dermot and book your trip - you will be happy you did! We sure are!!

I regret to inform everyone that I did not kiss the famous Blarney Stone. The queue was long and…read morethe wait time was two hours. Basically, the length of the drive to Blarney Castle. Plot twist, skipping the queue and exploring the grounds was the better decision. The castle grounds are basically a real-life fairytale mixed with a hint of tranquility. The walk around the property is peaceful, scenic, and picturesque. Highly recommend wandering over to the lake and stopping by the mansion.

I came on a very rainy day and was initially concerned that the Blarney Stone would be closed, but…read morewas informed at the entrance/ticketing booth that the line was actually very short at the time of my visit because of the hard rain, so it was actually a blessing in disguise. On my way up, I saw signs that indicated the approximate wait time from certain spots in line which reminded me of amusement park rides. I appreciated that the line up to the top isn't just a line, but an opportunity to check out different sections of the castle and read the informational plaques on your way up. The stairwells are narrow, steep and definitely not appropriate for those that are mobility impaired. The actual kissing of the stone was very quick and honestly I felt pressured to get in and out because the employees looked miserable in the heavy rain and would just shout "next!" after each person. I couldn't even reach the stone! But at least I got some photos (you are allowed to take photos on your own camera, but you can purchase the "official" photos at the end too). The official photos are quite grainy and also expensive, so I opted out. Overall, if you're visiting Blarney Castle & Gardens just to kiss the stone, the steep admission price (not including the paid parking) may not be worth the stop. However, the grounds includes many other attractions besides the castle, including plenty of walking trails, a Poison Garden, and even a cave. I came towards the end of the day and the rain was nonstop, so I only got to check out some of the other attractions, though I would've stayed a lot longer under better circumstances.

Kieran was an outstanding tour guide! He has deep knowledge of the area and it's history and we…read morethoroughly enjoyed our time walking with him--even in the rain! His tour prompted us to find out more about this period in Irish history, listening/watching documentaries while driving from place to place. He was spot on and really knows his stuff. Thanks, Kieran! Bob and Mary Larkin

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Kieran. He's got such a deep knowledge of the history of this…read morearea. I loved getting to see and learn about all the little hidden, sometimes invisible, historical spots around Cobh. I especially found the prison beneath the church interesting (and troubling!). Thanks Kieran! This was well worth the money and the time!

Simply amazing! Love that you get to walk through the fort underground and love the views. The tea…read morehouse is overlooking the water. The volunteers are a wealth of information.

Doing a Smithwicks tour on St. Paddy's day was quite the experience! Truly one we didn't know we…read moreneeded! We came here on a of a whim after the parade. It was something like $13 euro a piece for our family. The tour took about 45 minutes and our guide Evan was amazing! Very interactive, engaging, funny, informative, all the things you'd hope for from a guide. We learned a lot about the company, including how they're older than Guinness (who ironically bought them in the 60s). The tour ended with a stop at the tasting room - major tip - pay the extra $5 and get the three half pint tasting flight! They're lovely! It's a great spot to chill for a bit and chat with new friends! The gift shop has swag and plenty of cans to take home with you, as well as glasses that you can have custom etched. This was an amazing tour for the price and something that anyone visiting the area should consider!

I was staying in the area and happened to notice that they offered tours. Unfortunately, when I…read morestopped by, there were no spots available for the rest of the day or even the following day. So if the tour is something you want to do, definitely book in advance. Even without a tour, the bar is open and worth stopping by. You enter through the gift shop, and I was able to do a small tasting of their beers. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and the bartenders were great. If you're in the area, definitely stop in for a drink.

Excellent tour of the Dunbrody! Our guide, Adam, and the two re-enactors were perfect. We received…read morea great deal of information about the Dunbrody, and the living conditions onboard the voyage to Savannah. The actors represented a first class passenger and steerage passenger with her baby, talking to us in the middle of steerage quarters. They were wonderful! After Adam and the actors, we toured the quarantine area and quarters for first class passengers. We also posed by the bell and steering wheel. The section after the tour was a revelation of Irish who immigrated to United States - Maureen O'Hara, Walt Disney, JFK's great grandfather, and so many others. The gift shop had reasonably priced souvenirs. We bought shirts, necklaces, chocolate and a polo shirt for under $74. Leaving the ship area, we admired the emigrant flame, lit from the eternal flame at JFKs' sure in DC.

Somber, yet insightful. The living conditions for the poor Irish was disheartening. I enjoyed…read morelistening to the re-enactment of Mrs. White and Mrs. O'Brien, the poor and rich travelers of the Dunbrody. I also enjoyed the Irish hall of fame, which included several political figures, movie stars, JFK, and Walt Disney. Ironically, the "museum" part of the famine ship included a restaurant (in which we indulged in the carrot cake and some tea). We were given 3 hours here, which was probably a little too much time for the tour, gift shop, exploring the town nearby, and lunch

We lucked out weather wise as it was a beautiful day. There is a lot of driving to the cliffs and…read moresome narrow winding roads. Our driver was friendly and gave us a lot of information about the area and Irish history.

I booked the Blarney & Cobh half-day tour more than a month in advance, only to have it canceled…read moreshortly before my trip due to an "unforeseen issue." While I understand that unexpected situations can happen, what I cannot understand is the complete lack of transparency and poor customer service. I asked multiple times why the tour was canceled because the booking was made through Microsoft for a company event, and I needed to provide an explanation. Instead of answering a simple question, I was repeatedly told that "all information was provided in the first email"--even though the email never explained the reason for the cancellation. A company that cancels confirmed bookings at the last minute should at least be willing to provide a basic explanation. Instead, I received dismissive responses and no accountability. The cancellation itself was disappointing, but the way it was handled was far worse. If this is how Paddywagon Tours treats customers when something goes wrong, I cannot recommend booking with them. There are plenty of tour operators in Ireland that value communication and customer service more than this one.