About Us
With Real Irish Travel, you don't just see Ireland, you feel it.
Real Irish Travel is a family owned and operated tour company located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that is dedicated to providing authentic and immersive experiences in the heart of Ireland. We pride ourselves on our small, intimate group sizes, that ensure each traveler receives personalized attention and a high-quality journey through the Emerald Isle. We understand the value of time and relaxation on vacation, so we've structured our itineraries to balance unforgettable sights with downtime for rest or personal exploration. Our commitment is to show you both the renowned landmarks and the off-beat gems, always respecting and emphasizing the rich heritage, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes of Ireland.
Real Irish Travel is not just about visiting Ireland; it's about experiencing the genuine spirit and hospitality of this beautiful island. We stand by our ethos of sustainability and community engagement, choosing locally-sourced food and utilizing local guides, thereby contributing to the local economy.
My background.
My family (Mum, Dad, Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Great Great Grandparents etc. are from Donegal in the rugged and remote north-west of Ireland. Due to the lack of economic opportunities at the time, my Mum and Dad like 80% or 500,000 of their generation, left Ireland in the mid 1950's to seek work and create a new home for themselves in mainland Britain. This was the second largest emigration of people from Ireland, second only to An Gorta Mór.
After spending some time in Birkenhead on the Wirral, near Liverpool, they settled in the town of Fflint (not a typo, that's just the Welsh spelling!) North Wales. Some of their Brothers and Sisters settled there too, marrying into Welsh families. Growing up surrounded by Irish ex-pats I had a mixed upbringing of being born in Wales but from a 100% Irish family and background.
I'm very fortunate to have had the cultural experiences I was brought up with and to be a part of two great Celtic nations. Is breá liom Éire and Dwi’n Caru Cymru!
Hello, America
Looking for adventure and fortune I came to the United States in 1989 and have been here ever since. While I'm still looking for my fortune I did find adventure and love. I met my wife, Meredith, at a Hothouse Flowers concert in Philadelphia and in 1993 we moved back to her home state of Michigan to raise our family. We now have two grown children, Liam and Áine.
That's our kids, Liam and Áine, in the middle. Both are graduates of the University of Michigan and living in CA and TX.
Bringing Ireland to the people.
In 1998 we started our business Real Irish (called Out of Ireland at the time), importing unique and well-made Irish goods to sell at festivals at a time when most items being sold were rather lacking. In 2004 we started selling online, now able to bring our varied collection of Irish goods to an even larger audience. We've grown a lot since then and 2014 saw us open our first storefront in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Since 2022 we have focused our attention exclusively to our website, Real Irish.
Hitching a ride near Ballydehob, West Cork, June 1991. Meredith and I backpacked around Ireland, Scotland, and northern England before returning to Wales.
And we want you to come along. I return to Ireland several times a year so it only made sense to bring others with me. As Real Irish Travel I lead personalized, small group tours of Ireland (and Wales) designed to give you a true Irish experience and forever leave you with treasured memories of a magical, green island I'll always call home.
Now we’re headed back to our roots.
Above: At Glenveagh National Park on our family trip to Donegal in March 2016. Meredith, Áine, myself (Stuart), and Liam.
Below: At Clonmacnoise June 2022. Áine, Meredith, Liam & Stuart.
