I’ve been a Wild Rover for many the year but have yet to take the lead of an award-winning coach company which knows Ireland like, well the back of their paw.
Now Wild Rover Tours provide day tours from Dublin to all the favourites.
So that’ll be the Cliffs of Moher & Galway and their award-winning Northern Ireland Highlights tours.
Including Belfast, Titanic Quarter and the Giant’s Causeways.
All of which should be on every Hibernophile’s list.
The Garden of Ireland is rosy
But you’ll not be surprised to see that we’ve alighted on our old stomping ground of Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland.
Wild Rover has packaged in Glendalough, Wicklow & Kilkenny and even sheep farm and dog trials.
The 6th-century Kilkenny City is known for its 6th century monastery built in honour of St Canice and was once capital of Confederate Ireland.
These days it’s the capital of hurling.
Wild Rover will offer you a 45-minute guided walking tour of the narrow streets and the grounds of the Norman castle which dates from 1172.
And learn its storied history, the site of the earliest recorded witch trial, the battles with Oliver Cromwell’s Roundheads, the Vikings presence and its boast today of being the Cultural Capital of Ireland.
Braveheart territory
The Glendalough valley is of course a much-trodden path for anyone who has had the fortune to live in these parts.
And you’ll enjoy a 30-minute guided walking tour in the ruins of St Kevin’s Monastery.
And see the 30m 1th-century granite round tower standing over 30 metres, built by monks to protect themselves from those marauding Vikings.
Dog days
Now where Wild Rover scores above the other tours for us is that you can truly go native with. say the sheep dog trial.
A favourite of my Dear Old Dad’s when he was a-courting my Donegal mum back in the day… us Glaswegians know how to woo a woman.
And WR afford the visitor the opportunity to join a real Irish shepherd at work together with his best friend the Border Collie sheepdog.
The dog, listening to the whistling sounds from the shepherd, will herd the sheep across fields.
Through gates and fencing into corrals, out again over ditches around trees and right to your feet.
And depending on the time of the year you will also have the opportunity to hold and feed a baby lamb.
And all for just €40 from Dublin’s Fair City.