Seasonal Bus Tours with Kennedy Castles
BELTANE BUS TOUR 7-14th May 2027
Announcing a new tour, inspired by the Irish fire festival of Beltane which marked the beginning of Summer in the ancient Celtic calendar. May is a spectacular time to be in Ireland with the whitethorn blooming in all the hedgerows and we’re so excited to be hosting a group of fellow adventurers at this auspicious time of year. Jump on board with us! To find out more please email: bustoursofireland@gmail.com
SAMHAIN / HALLOWE’EN TOUR 2026 – SOLD OUT!
We are sold out for our annual Samhain Bus Tour in 2026, but please get in touch with us (bustoursofireland@gmail.com) if you would like to join our Samhain Tour 2027! The dates are 29 October – 5th November 2027.
Travel Ireland on a luxury bus tour with two professional traditional Irish musicians: Nuala Kennedy and Brenda Castles. We will share with you some of our favourite places and people, as well as our love of the song, music, history and mythology of Ireland. The Samhain Tour sells out fast – so book now if you are interested in joining this exploration of places linked to the origins of Hallowe’en, haunted castles, ghostly stories by a renowned seanchaí (storyteller!) visits to ancient neolithic sites, fairy forts and more of that ilk! We limit places on our tour as a smaller group gives us more freedom to explore these unique places where the veil is thin, and also to visit gourmet restaurants and areas of interest that are not available to larger tour groups.
We aspire to the highest level of comfort ‘on the road’ – you will be staying in beautiful hotels, eating gourmet food while going on some creative cultural adventures. Our activities are gently paced and if you have any mobility issues you can contact us to discuss your needs. Your safety is our number one priority, as well of course, as having maximum levels of fun!
Our evening entertainment features private performances from some of the finest musicians, singers and storytellers in Ireland. Because of our small group size, you will have the opportunity to meet with these performers directly. If you are a singer or play an instrument, you will have chances to play in sessions along the way, although our tour is primarily designed to cover a broad range of cultural interests specifically related to the season and scenic local area we visit.
TESTIMONIALS
Here’s what some brave members of our 2024 and 2025 tour groups had to say about their SAMHAIN experience – some of whom really took a chance and just hopped on board with little prior expectation! :
“I appreciated seeing Ireland through the eyes of two Irish musicians who seem to know EVERYONE” -Janice, New Mexico
“As I did not know what to expect, I was very pleasantly surprised at the depth of the tour. It was personal, hitting lots of highlights of tourism without being “the same old thing” -Carol, California
“ The experiences were so very unique and personal. The memories of this extraordinary trip will last forever. I will highly recommend this tour to everyone interested in visiting Ireland” -Sue, Arizona
“I loved the mix of traditional music, folklore, archaeology, history and mysticism that made this a very special spiritual journey for me as I research my ancestral roots in Ireland” -Shelby, Arizona
“Wonderful time; outstanding choice of cultural, historical and musical experiences. Over-the-top accommodations and meal offerings. Also, nice that it included both those who were musicians along with those of us who weren’t so it wasn’t skewed toward either.” -Steve, California
“I absolutely loved the tour guides, the entertainment, and the locales. Everything was well-planned out. We were treated to experiences ordinary tourists wouldn’t dream of, and we met the most interesting, eccentric, and talented people” -Cynthia, Arizona
“Thank you for a fantastic tour! Songs fill my head, memories fill my heart and gratitude abounds! I appreciated the intimate experiences you curated for us – this was deep and wonderful time!” -Diane, Massachusetts
ALL ENQUIRIES: bustoursofireland@gmail.com
Some photos from our SAMHAIN tour 2024, for enquiries please email bustoursofireland@gmail.com. Huge credit to Ren Nickson Photography for these wonderful photos.
SAMHAIN COACH TOUR 2024 I T I N E R A R Y Day 1 - Saturday 26th Oct WELCOME!! • Meet in the Old Ground Hotel lobby • Depart for our Burren Day Trip • Visit the Michael Cusack Centre to hear the story of the Púca • Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Trials • Group lunch at Caherconnell • Welcome ceremony with poetry and song at the ancient Poulnabrone dolmen in the company of Oliver O'Connell • Drinks reception and welcome dinner at the Old Ground Hotel Day 2 - Sunday 27th Oct • Coastal drive from Fore to Liscannor • Lunch: Famous fish and chips at Vaughan's, Liscannor • Tour of Quin Abbey • Music, dance & traditional báirín braic at the home of local musician, Maeve Donnelly • Dinner of your choice in Ennis • Storytelling session with the lauded seanchaí Eddie Lenihan Day 3 - Monday 28th Oct • Depart the Old Ground Hotel • Visit the marvel of the Seven Wonders of Fore • Group lunch at Fore • Ghost tour of Newry, Co. Down • Group dinner at Killeavy Castle Hotel • The legendary Tommy Sands in concert Day 4 - Tuesday 29th Oct • Depart for a full day of cultural experiences with the amazing Armagh Rhymers • Dinner of your choice in Killeavy Castle Hotel • Time to relax and enjoy the thermal suite at Killeavy Day 5 - Wednesday 30th Oct • Depart Killeavy Castle Hotel • Tour of NearyNógs Chocolate Factory • Lunch of your choice in the charming town of Carlingford • Stop at the Long Woman's Grave • Group dinner at the Knightsbrook Hotel in the historic town of Trim, Co. Meath • Concert performance with two wonderful sisters from the Meath Gaeltacht (Irish language region) who form the band 'An Chéad Ghluain Eile', Irish for 'The Next Generation'. Day 6 - Thursday 31st October HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! • Hill of Tara ceremony with poet and cultural activist, Siobhán de Paor • Lunch of your choice in Trim or at the Knightsbrook Hotel • Haunted walking tour of Trim • Group dinner at the Stockhouse restaurant in Trim • Púca Halloween Circus Show Day 7 - Friday 1 November • Brú na Bóinne and Newgrange passage tomb • Lunch of your choice at the Harvest market in Trim • Marcy Regan's bar - music session with local musicians • Closing blessing at Lough Gur ancient stone circle with the legendary singer and spiritualist Nóirín Ní Riain • Farewell Dinner at the Old Ground Day 8 - Saturday 2 Nov • Departures to Shannon airport
SAMHAIN COACH TOUR 2025 I T I N E R A R Y Day 1 - Tuesday 28th October WELCOME • Meet in Old Ground Hotel Lobby • Depart for Dysert O'Dea Castle • Welcome ceremony with Julí, the Dingle Druid • Music, lunch and craic at the home of Oliver O'Connell in the heart of the Burren • Welcome drinks reception and group dinner at the Old Ground Hotel Day 2 - Wednesday 29th Oct • Foynes Flying Boat & Maritime Museum • Activities and group lunch at Foynes • Visit historic King John's Castle, Limerick city with a performance by local Mummers • Dinner of your choice in Ennis. • Pub Music session with local musicians Day 3 - Thursday 30th Oct • Depart Old Ground Hotel • Explore the historic English Market (1788) in Cork city and enjoy lunch of your choice from the many market stalls • Dinner of your choice in the bar at Inchydoney Lodge & Spa Hotel. • Concert with sisters Dr. Aoife (flute) and Deirdre Granville (harp) Day 4 - Friday 31st Oct HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! • Mask making workshop with Geata Arts, Clonakilty • Lunch of your choice in Clonakilty village • Visit the Scarecrow Festival at Leap • A "Scare at Samhain", a guided walk into the haunting traditions of Ireland's true Halloween. • Hot chocolate and traditional "báirín braic" at Myross Wood House • Drinks and dinner together at Camus Farm with seanchaí Niall de Búrca Day 5 - Saturday 1st November • Depart Inchydoney Lodge & Spa. • Visit St. Gobnait's Well and monastic site in Ballyvourney • Arrive and check in to the beautiful 5 star Killarney Park Hotel • Relax, shopping & lunch of your choice in Killarney • Enjoy the hotel spa facilities and pool • Group dinner in Killarney Park Hotel • Concert in the hotel library with a family of local young musicians and All-Ireland champions Day 6 - Sunday 2nd November • Boat trip on the Killarney Lakes (Lovely Lough Leane) • Jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park with lunch • Enjoy the attractions in Killarney town: Killarney House & Gardens, Kerry Woollen Mills store and more. • Pub Music session with guitarist Mike Galvin and Friends • Dinner of your choice in Killarney Day 7 - Monday 3rd November • Depart Killarney Park Hotel • 13th century Desmond Castle with piper Mikie Smith and family • Arrive back in Ennis, check in to the Old Ground Hotel • Lunch of your choice in Ennis • Music and Straw Masquerade in the historic Lemenagh Room • Farewell Dinner at the Old Ground Day 8 - Tues 4th November • Departures to Shannon airport
