Irish Ancestry Tours
Uncover the footsteps of your Irish ancestors.
We help you discover the places of your ancestors. Tracing your past to Ireland is exciting and revealing. We are experts at exploring the treasure trove of villages, churches and communities of Ireland. Let us help you re-connect with your past. We work with you or a professional genealogist to help you trace your Irish family. We then draw up a tour that follows their footsteps. We will combine sightseeing with activities and off the beaten track travel to unearth your family history.
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As featured on CBS Sunday Morning
10 Reasons to include an ancestry trail on your private tour of Ireland
1. Create more than a tour - A journey of self discovery and a more meaningful tour experience.
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2. Gain a deeper insight into yourself and your family roots.
3. A shared, bonding family experience.
4. A personalised & unique perspective of Ireland.
5. A great way of getting off the beaten path & away from the crowds.
6. Support local enterprise off the main tourist trail.
7. Develop new long term, family relationships and make Ireland a home away from home.
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8. Gain a better understanding of Ireland, it's culture, history and people.
9. You get to explore ancient graveyards & churches.
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10. And remember, you can also get to see the main attractions along the way.
Litle Gem & Geneology Expert Claire Bradley
Claire Bradley is a professional Irish genealogist working with both paper records and genetic genealogy. She holds a Certificate in Genealogy from University College Dublin and a Masters in History of the Family from the University of Limerick. Claire is passionate about teaching people how to research their own ancestry. She teaches a beginners’ adult education course now running for over a decade covering all the Irish major sources in Dublin. She is also the Director of Irish Studies at the International Institute of Genealogical Studies and regularly lectures both in person and online to a wide range of family history and historical societies in Ireland and countries with Irish diasporas.
Her website is www.cbgenealogy.ie
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Don't forget to mention - Little Gem Tours
Ancestry Tour Example 1 -
The Quinn's 7 Day Northern Ancestry Trail
The Tour Feedback
Having been to Ireland 3 previous times, we had visited all the ‘coach’ venues, so we were looking for an off-the-beaten path experience. My wife also had a list of hamlets to explore for family genealogy.
So how to combine these interests into a meaningful trip?
We had heard positive things about Little Gems tours doing small custom tours. From our initial contact it was obvious they truly were interested in understanding what we really wanted to do and see…or not see. Rural Ireland…farms…local crafters…country pubs and local meals…historical sites…and the genealogy destinations. A few contacts followed as a trip outline was developed.
AND THEY DELIVERED…a fantastic trip ensued. Led by our knowledgeable and thoroughly engaging driver/guide Martin, we went on small roads to see Jakob sheep; learned the history of fairy trees and the Otherworld, learned to cut peat out of a bog; saw ring forts; and visited the impactful Famine Museum at Strokestown. On the genealogical front, my wife’s highest hopes were not only met, but exceeded. Martin used his local Irish charm at key moments to go into shops and knock on house doors…and we ended up at what we are all certain was the very street and property of the ancestor at the heart of her search…a truly touching highlight of a marvellous customized trip.
If you are looking for a customized Irish trip, Little Gems Tours should definitely be contacted.
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Betty & Doug Quinn - June 2023
Ancestry Tour Example 2 -
The Flanagans 6 Day Ancestry Discovery Tour
The Tour Details
6 Day Private Tour - Day 1 - Dublin to Killarney via a day finding the family in County Limerick / Day 2 - The Ring of Kerry / Day 3 - Dublin to Bunratty via The Dingle Peninsula / Day 4 - Bunratty to Galway via The Cliffs of Moher / Day 5 - Galway to Dunboyne Castle via Ashford Castle / Day 6 - Dunboyne to Dublin via Newgrange
The Tour Feedback
" ....We then proceeded to try to find the tiny town of Mountcollins where my husband's grandfather was from. It's not on any maps to speak of (including Google!) so Maggie being the trooper that she is, would stop and ask the locals. Thanks to her translating the Limerick County accent, we were able to find it. Located the cemetery, talked to a Mr. Naughton who knew the family and gave us directions to my husband's relative's farm, but not until we tried a Guinness at Tommy Mick's Pub ( wonderful local village pub). Robbie found the farm - and we met our relative - Out tour ended eventually ended but the knowledge and experiences that Little Gem through their adept and kind guidance will give us lots of great memories and stories or years to come... "
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The Flanagan family of 5 from Maryland, United States, April 2017
Ancestry Tour Example 3 -
The Kiminskys Ancestry Discovery Day Tour
The Tour Details
Boyne Valley and Drogheda Family Ancestry Day Tour from Dublin
13 Hour Day Tour including - The Boyne Valley, Newgrange, Trim Castle, The Hill of Tara, The Hill of Slane, Mellifont Abbey & Family Meet & Greet
The Tour Feedback
" ....We took a tour around the Boyne Valley area and Drogheda areas of Ireland to trace some ancestry. Robbie made wonderful suggestions as to which locations to visit and we felt that we had a busy day filled of exploration. One of our favourite visited of our entire time in Ireland was Newgrange, as per Little Gem Tours' suggestion. It was a bit tricky as we were trying to meet some relatives in Ireland as part of our ancestry, but Robbie was easy going and able to meet our last minute requests. He filled in the remainder of our time with additional stops along the way which worked our perfectly! The additional suggestions by Robbie included Mellifont Abbey, Hill of Slane, Trim Castle an 8th Century Celtic cross and more. At the end of the day, Robbie dropped us off at a restaurant he suggested and we all thoroughly enjoyed.... "
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The Kiminsky family of 6 from Pittsburgh, United States, July 2017
Recommended Activities & Resources
Below we have compiled a list of the activities that Little Gem recommends to help you discover your Irish ancestry whilst you travel Ireland. By taking in some of these excellent and informative museums, exhibitions and local experiences you will gain a great sense of real Ireland both present day and during the times of emigration. Whether it be the great Ulster emigration of the 18th century or famine emigration of the 19th century, through to the present day these activities will help you complete your Irish exploration. Add these to your ancestry discovery tour and enhance your private tour of Ireland experience.
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum is an interactive experience located in Dublin’s Docklands. It will inspire and guide you on a journey to discover the stories of Irish emigration around the world, from early times to the modern day.
Dublin City
Follow the trail of thousands of emigrants from the thatched cottages of Ulster, on board a full-scale emigrant sailing ship to the log cabins of the American Frontier.
Omagh, Northern Ireland
Explore a real working Irish village and meet the locals including beef farmer and amateur historian Eddie-Joe, blacksmith Pat Strahan and sheepman Michael. A true Irish experience off the beaten path and away from the crowds.
County Mayo
The National Library of Ireland in the heart of Georgian Dublin may be your first port of call in your Irish Ancestry journey.
Dublin City
Visitors to this restored Georgian house in the heart of Dublin City today, are acquainted with the story of its first occupant, Mrs. Olivia Beatty who moved here in November 1794
Dublin City
Learn about the Irish Emigration story, trace your ancestors, hear about the ill-fated Titanic and the Lusitania, and immerse yourself in Irish naval and military history at Cobh Heritage Centre.
Cobh, County Cork
Check Out Our Ancestry Tour Blog....
Have a read of our travel blog and find more about our private ancestry tours of Ireland.
Little Gem 10 - Reasons to try an Ancestry Tour of Ireland...
A Little Gem guest favourite is our personalised, ancestry trails of Ireland. Uncover your family roots and gain a deeper understanding of Ireland's history and culture. This highly personal addition to your family private tour of Ireland provides you with a completely unique, private Irish experience. Below we have put together our top 10 reasons to try our ancestry tour of Ireland along with lots of useful links...
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