Happy New Year to all my wonderful family and friends.

Happy New Year everybody.

Another year coming to an end, and a New Year on the way in. What can i say. Like most years, there were the ups and the downs, but we survived the downs and enjoyed the ups. Business wise, it was a good year, and i have added many new friends to my growing list of fellow travelers. Thank you all for coming to me and sharing those days with me. I often feel that in my job i really just have to bring my customers to all those wonderful places in Ireland which i love so dearly myself. Ireland does the rest for me, and never lets me down. How could you not love Connemara, the Burren of County Clare, the Cliffs of Moher, the wonders of the Kingdom of Kerry with the famous Ring of Kerry, the Dingle peninsula and the Beara peninsula. The offshore islands, Aran, Achill, and many more, delight many tourists, and a visit to any of those is like taking a trip back in time.

Donegal in the far north with its mountain ranges and fantastic coastline is also very popular and of course spending time in the major cities of Dublin Cork Limerick and Galway is something you have to include.
I could go on and on.

Make no doubt about it, Ireland is special, and has a magic about it that is impossible to describe. I always ask my clients if Ireland was as they expected it to be, and they always tell me that it was far more than that. Even people with no Irish ancestry seem to be taken by the magic of Ireland, and i always put that down to the fact that it was here that the Garden of Eden really was, and therefore they too have come home. Maybe the Leprechauns have a little to do with it as well.

Seriously though, i think that it also has a lot to do with the Irish people and their humour and welcoming nature. Visitors feel comfortably at home here, they feel that warmth and that honest Irish welcome. It is genuine, and the Irish like nothing better than to have a chat with a stranger over a pint of Guinness.

You have to be here to experience it, to feel it for yourself, to journey through a land that has known so much hardship and pain.
We are survivors, and the Ireland that we live in today is the land that emerged from all of that pain and suffering, to rise up to become a home for our present generation, and a place where all are welcome.

Come and see it for yourselves. If you need me just send me an e-mail, and we can take it from there.

I wish you all the happiest of years ahead, and the best of health to enjoy those days.

Happy Christmas from Dave and Dovechauffeurdrive tours in Ireland

This magnificent Cathedral is located in Cove County Cork at the entrance to Cork Harbour. It was from this harbour that the vast majority of our emigrants departed as they began their sad yet hopeful journey to the New World and the USA. The view from their ship as they sailed by this wonderful church must have been a stirring and very emotional experience, and i am sure that many silent prayers were on their way to the heavens from the heartbroken passengers.

Every church in Ireland will be packed to the doors for the Christmas Eve celebrations tonight, as they will once again tomorrow morning for the Christmas day mass. Catholic Ireland remains loyal to what Christmas is to Catholics, a celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus. It does not mean that we do not believe in Santa Claus. I myself am patiently waiting to see what he has for me tomorrow, but the kids will still congregate around the cribs in the churches to see the baby in the manger in the stable in Bethlehem.

No matter who you are, no matter where you are, no matter what form your Christmas may take, i wish you all a Happy and a peaceful Christmas.
And for all of you who know me personally, let me just say that my church visits over the coming days will include prayers for all of you.
Thank you sincerely for being my friends, imy life is richer as a result of that.

Take care and enjoy this special season.

Dave

Christmas in Ireland with Dovechauffeurdrive and Dave Hogan

Just a reminder to all of you out there that he will be on the way shortly.

Nobody celebrates Christmas like we do in Ireland. I accept that the fact that we are mainly a Catholic country has a lot to do with it but the vast majority of people of all denominations join in and the objectors are few and far between. Long may it remain so.
When we talk about the Christmas holiday period in Ireland, we really do mean "holiday period" as literally everything closes down for at the very least 2 days, Christmas day, and St Stephens day, also known as Boxing day. Was St Stephen also a boxer?
You would have a real problem here if you needed a plumber or an electrician or anybody in the trades at any time during the Christmas period and the self employed go missing also.
The big multi national companies are of course in a different bracket as the only thing they are interested in is making as much money as the can at all times and i would imagine that if you mentioned Santa Claus to them they would think that you had maybe never grown up or else that you were "In the Union" and a trouble maker.
In Ireland we believe that first of all we are celebrating,

(1)  the birth of Jesus

 (2) the arrival of Santa Claus

and in that order.

Those of us here who celebrate just the arrival of Santa Claus are just as much a part of our celebrations and we all party. If that means that we have not grown up, then long may we remain  childish and fun loving.

Personally, i love what Christmas does to people. The vast majority of us seem to become a part of the spirit of the whole thing, and the moods are upbeat, and people are far more friendly and generous to one another, regardless of denomination, creed colour, or race.You will find that many more people visit hospitals and nursing homes, people donate far more to all of the charities, and the school children bring all sorts of toys and gifts into their schools so that they can be passed on to those children who would get nothing otherwise. Would it not be lovely if we could only be like that to one another all of the time?  Would that not be a nice new year resolution, instead of giving up ice cream or something? I am not giving that up anyway.
It will not be long now before the enquiries will be coming in from far away places, and, for me, that will be 95% from the USA. The forecast for the coming year for our tourist industry is very positive, especially after the last year seeing a jump of around 10% in the numbers over the previous year.
If you are seriously thinking about coming, then it would be wise to make your enquiry as soon as possible, as we can only handle so much, and we never want to disappoint anybody.
You can just e-mail me and we can take it from there.
In the meantime, i would like to wish everybody a Happy and Peaceful Christmas, and a New Year full of everything that is good for you. If you come to Ireland, especially if you come to me, then i will do my very best to help to make your visit the highlight of 2015.

For all of my dear friends in the USA,and elsewhere, i want to send very special greetings, and a huge thank you for your ongoing support. You are the backbone of my business, but have also become very much a part of my life in many ways that you would not imagine. Your continuing referring of family and friends to me, and the pleasure that i get from making sure that i look after them for you, so that they too can have the memories that you yourself have of Ireland and its people,is immeasurable.

Thanks again for everything, and the blessings of Christmas be on all of you, wherever you are.

Your friend in Ireland always.

Dave

Chauffeurdriven Tour Ashford Castle Falconry

Falconry is a favourite pastime at Ashford, and here we have Carrie thoroughly enjoying her first experience at this sport. Sorry for the delay in posting these pictures as i had to wait until they were sent to me as i had not been with Carrie and David on this special occasion.

David also took part, as you can see here in the picture above. This was shot as a video.and i have to get a little advice as to how to download the video on my Blog.

If you do get to Ashford Castle, then you will also get to meet this wonderful owl.
My.....what beautiful eyes you have.

Ashford castle is my own personal favourite Irish castle. This famous castle hotel is one of the most spectacular five star hotels in the world, and has undergone substantial renovations in recent times. Many people who travel with me, request a night or two in an Irish Castle, and my first recommendation is always Ashford. Maybe you can also try your hand out with the falcons.
Carrie and David loved it. Indeed i had a most flattering message from them since they returned home last week, thanking me for what they said was a really wonderful visit to Ireland. The pleasure was also mine and thank you both sincerely. You will always be welcome back.

Happy Thanksgiving from Ireland and Dovechauffeurdrive Irish tours

Thanksgiving in Ireland,if we did have such a holiday, would undoubtedly be seen as a Catholic celebration i this country, but i am aware that in the USA it is not connected to any particular religion or creed, and is celebrated by all. Ireland is of course a mainly Catholic country, but i feel that my strong connection with the USA,  through family connections, and also my business, that i myself have many reasons to celebrate this day with all of you in the USA, and thank you for simply being there. When i do give thanks tomorrow (Thursday), i will do so with a prayer for all of my family and friends in the USA, and elsewhere.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, and may you have a most enjoyable and peaceful holiday.

Dave

Ashford Castle and Connemara with David and Carrie Edwards

David and Carrie Edwards, pictured at Ashford Castle during their happy stay here over the last few days. They absolutely loved being here, and could not say enough about their magnificent suite. What a very special place Ashford is. Many of my clients like to include a stay here during my tours, and a night or two in an Irish castle is always a highlight. Ashford is my number one and never lets me down. Maybe you can come there with me?

The sun was no help when i took this photo, but i still think that it is a nice one. The lake behind David and Carrie is the Corrib lake, and is directly behind Ashford castle. It is the largest lake in the Rep of Ireland and is said to have 365 islands.

Connemara is one of my favourite Irish regions, and i took this picture in Maam in the heart of the Maam valley.

Here we have David and Carrie at the fjord at Leenane. This is the most westerly fjord in Europe, and a very important area for fish farming.

Connemara is know for its bogs, the areas where the population dug their peat to fuel their fires down through the centuries. Here we have a trailer of cut and dried peat ,ready to be bought and taken away to keep some family warm for the Winter months ahead.I think the price for this load was Euro 360-00.

The Sky road near Clifden, the most westerly town in Ireland, and behind Carrie and David we have the offshore islands with nothing beyond that until you reach the east coast of the USA.

This is a great time of the year for rainbows, and we had an abundance of them as we made our way around this country that we call God's country.

This rainbow was really special and made a complete arch. My camera was not able to take the whole thing in, but i am sure that you can picture that yourself.

David and Carrie were really lovely to be with, and i am most grateful to my dear friend, Ann Mullen, for sending them to me.  Referrals from past clients are a major part of my business, and it makes my job so much easier. When future clients are making enquiries, these past clients play a big part in recommending me to such people. That really does help to put peoples minds at rest. I recommend this to many people as these days you just cannot be too careful when dealing with anybody you do not know. I myself am always much happier when my prospective clients are also happy.
Keep coming back, i will be keeping you updated again very soon.

Make sure to have a look at my updated website. You can check it out from here on my Blog.

Ashford Castle, the Burren, and the Cliffs of Moher.

Today was our day in county Clare, where we drove through the Burren, a barren region of limestone mountains, which were once upon a time the ocean floor. This area is bordered on the western Atlantic side by the awesome cliffs of Moher.

We began our journey at Ashford castle,where David and Carrie, had stayed last night, and the picture above was taken in one of the ground floor lounges.

This beautiful room, also on the ground floor, is used mainly for private groups for meetings or for special dining.

The day today was extremely foggy as we set out on our journey, and that is just about the worst type of weather you could have when going to see the Cliffs. In the picture above we have David and Carrie together at the memorial bronze in the town of Cong which commemorates the great "Quiet Man" movie.

Miracle of miracles, the sun broke through as we neared the cliffs .The town of Lisdoonvarna, in the heart of the Burren, is famous for its matchmaking ,where people would congregate after the harvest in the fall to find a partner, wife or husband. It was a time of great celebrations, and the professional matchmakers would try to find the perfect match for people. Believe it or not, this still goes on, and September is the month, if you are thinking about testing your luck. Many men travelled from the USA over the years, and travelled home again with a good hard working Irish girl.

Unfortunately the sun was behind David and Carrie here, which did not help my photo, but you can still see the great cliffs.

Now with the sun behind me, you can clearly see just how lovely our day was. This tower, O'Brien's tower, is located at the top of the cliffs

I think that this is a lovely picture, and it shows Carrie and David, relishing the superb sunshine, the fresh air, and the magnificent views at the top of these very special cliffs.

The flags wave proudly in the wind at the cliffs today with the Irish flag in the centre, accompanied by the flag of the European Union on the left, and the County Clare banner on the right.

Today was another great day for all of us, and we were truly blessed by the weather.
David and Carrie send their love to all back home and hope that they are enjoying following us on our tour in the west of Ireland.

Irish vacation at Ashford castle

This morning i travelled to Dublin to collect David and Carrie at their hotel there, as they had spent their first two days taking in all of the main sites in that historic city. The morning was overcast, but as we made our way across the middle of the country on our way west, it brightened, and the sun broke through. By the time we reached our destination at Ashford castle in county Mayo, the sky was a bright blue with not a cloud in the sight. Is there anywhere like Ireland when the sun shines?

The main entrance to the castle, with my Lexus parked outside the door after our arrival. This picture does not do justice to Ashford as the castle is far larger than what you see here.

Our journey from Dublin to Ashford was quiet a long one of about four hours, and i think that we were all glad to get there,especially as the weather was so lovely. 

Here we have David and Carrie; pictured on the hillside overlooking the magnificent Ashford Castle down on the lakeshore in the background. The lake to the left is Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Rep of Ireland, and it stretches from the castle all the way down to Galway city, approx thirty miles away.
David and Carrie were immediately enchanted by the magnificence of the castle and wonderful grounds, and the surrounding forests. After they were checked in, and relaxing in their superb suite, i left them in peace to enjoy one another's company, and was on my way.
This was for me a really nice day, and a most pleasant start to what i know will be a fun few days in the company of two happy and really friendly people.
I know that they will be telling their families and friends about my Blog, and hopefully they will all follow along with us as we tour over the next few days. They send their fond regards to all. We should be able to post a lot more exciting photos for everybody back home to enjoy.

Ireland in early Winter/Chauffeurdriven vacations in Ireland

I have been in the chauffeurdrive business now for a number of years, and i do love the job, but i would have to say that i look forward to the winter when things at last slow down, and i am able to have time for myself to relax and enjoy this wonderful country. I live in a rural area, and i am surrounded by the natural beauty surrounding the place where i live. My neighbours are mainly farmers, and of course a farm is not a farm without animals.
This morning i took a stroll with my wife down to our little harbour, and on the way i took this collection of lovely photos for you  to enjoy.
The picture above shows my small local harbour, with one of the traditional west of Ireland currachs, a  canvas covered fishing craft especially designed to handle the rough waters of the Atlantic off our western shores. This particular boat was designed for three oarsmen, and when handled by experienced boatmen, these were excellent boats in the unpredictable waters where these men had to navigate to reach the fishing grounds far out in the ocean. These boats are still in use by the men in the west, and on the many offshore islands in the Atlantic.

We stopped to talk to these fine fellows along the way, but unfortunately they were not too pleased as we forgot to bring along any carrotts or treats for them today. I will make up for that again very soon. The two grey ones are Connemara ponies, a breed that thrives on this side of the country. The black one i am not too sure about, but the one in the background is a piebald pony, a multi coloured pony and one of the breed most popular with the travelling community here, who love their horses.

They say that when you see the cattle lying down, that rain is on the way, but today that was not the case, so either it is just not true, or else these guys got it wrong. I think myslef that they have a lot more intelligence than we give them credit for, and they just do not see any sense in having to stand up when they can just lie down in comfort and nibble away at the grass around them.
Stone walls are one of the outstanding characteristics of the west of Ireland, with hundreds of thousand's of miles of them to enjoy, and here you can see a typical one in the foreground.There is no mortar involved, just loose stones piled on top of one another. They may not look like they are very secure, but it is just amazing how they withstand the weather, and the animals are afraid to go near them as they have learned that they are a danger to themselves if they knock them down. The wind has little effect on them also as it blows through them, and they have been with us now,standing firm, for hundreds of years.

I may have been enjoying a break today, but i begin a winter tour on Wednesday for a few days with a couple from California. The forecast is really nice, cool, but dry and sunny. Who was that clown who said that it always rains in Ireland. We do pray for rain so that we can keep our vegetation plentiful and colorful for our visitors but we do like our sunshine too.
Maybe you would like a winter break? If you like a peaceful type of vacation, maybe you could enjoy a day like i had today. I might even introduce you to my fine animal friends, but bring your own carrots please.

If you need me then just send me a message.

Dovechauffeurdrive new website

My Lexus 450Hybrid, a really nice comfortable touring car, just one of my range of vehicles.

Touring in a car like this you are going to have a lot more comfort than in your average rental vehicle, and of course you will not have to do the driving yourself either. I do have larger vehicles available also for bigger groups.

My new website is now up and running so have a look there for more information on my services.

The link to the website is here on this Blog.

Now would be a great time to start planning for that 2015 vacation in Ireland. I have the time to talk to you and to work with you on that Holiday of  lifetime. Every year i have people coming to me who have left it to the last minute to look for my services and who end up disappointed when they find out that i have already been booked for that very period. When you enquire early, then i will always hold that period for you, eventhough you have not committed, and if somebody else enquires about the same period, i give the one who enquired first the first option on taking it. You do not have to be the one who ends up disappointed.

Planning for an Irish chauffeurdriven vacation for 2015

Torc waterfall in Killarney, located on the Ring of Kerry,and one of the sights worth seeing as you tour the Wild Atlantic way.

This is the time of the year when many of our American friends begin to plan for that special trip to Ireland. In many cases,this has always been something that they have dreamed of down through the years, and something that could not be accomplished until all of their other responsibilities had been dealt with. A large proportion of our visitors are of Irish descent  and have been hearing tales of their homeland since they were babies. Many of them have grown up listening to grandparents, uncles and aunts, and their own parents, singing old Irish songs, listening to stories about Ireland, its battles and the horror of the hardship of living under foreign rule, and the cruel famine which swept the country back in the mid eighteen hundreds.
Ireland has been imprinted on their memories and this maybe once in a lifetime visit has to be given extra special attention and planned in the best possible way so that when they are ready to head back to their homes again in the USA, they will feel that their mission was all that they hoped that it would be.
What is the best way to go about this.
First of all, when i am dealing with prospective clients, i want to know just how much they know about their family history, whether or not they have any living relatives in Ireland and where their ancestors were located before they emigrated. I always feel that the more information i get the better my plan will be. Many of my clients have very little or no information but still it is quiet amazing how much i can i can help them with in this regard. Even if you do not know the exact area you may have an idea of the county they left from, and from there we can dig deeper. If they came from a remote area in a particular, county, then visiting towns in these regions can be quiet emotional as they can be quiet sure that their ancestors did pass through these very same towns and indeed walked the same streets.If it was a city, then when  they explore these towns or cities, they walk past old buildings, cross bridges, maybe walk along seafronts, or visit harbours, that have not changed to any great degree in the last hundred years or more, and know that their ancestors stood and took in the same views.
I find out exactly what is important to them, what they most want to see or do, and then i can tell they how we can do all of these things, if at all possible. Many people make their own plans and find that for one reason or another they got it wrong. Be careful where you get your advice. Be careful who you hire,if you are hiring a chauffeur, or a car and driver. I am a member of the NCDA of Ireland, the National Chauffeurdrive Association, and as such approved by Failte Ireland, our national Tourist Organization. Therefore i have all of the necessary licenses and insurances and cars or vans that are fully checked and passed by the road authorities. I can also supply you with the names and phone numbers of satisfied clients who have toured with me in the past who will be more than willing to tell you all about me and my service.
There is a lot more to planning your Irish vacation that you may know so be careful, and if you need help, let me know.

How much time will you need?
How much time can you afford to spend here? No matter how much time you can agree to, it has to be well spent, and in order to do this you need advice from somebody like me who knows exactly how long it takes to accomplish all the you want to accomplish. You will never be able to figure this out from guide books or magazines, never to the degree of accuracy that somebody like me who was born and reared in this country can anyway. I am not just a driver. I am a professional who will put together for you a plan that can and will be fully implemented.
Just tell me what you have in mind, and i will tell you, first of all, if it is possible, then exactly what we can do in the time you have available. I will look after all the arrangements, your accommodation and all the basics, so that all you have to do is get yourself here. Then let me do the rest.

This Norman round tower castle can be seen between the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin on the Wild Atlantic way route. The Aran Islands are in the haze at the top of the picture.

If you are having any specific problems in planning you visit just write to me and i will help you in any way that i can.

Dave

Irish Chauffeurdriven vacation specials for 2015

The years do fly, by and as we near the end of what has been another great year for tourism here in Ireland, i have to, first of all, sincerely thank all of you for your wonderful support in both having toured with me this year yourselves, or having been instrumental in sending your friends to me. Without this support i would find it difficult to survive in this business.
It takes a leap of faith to commit to leaving your vacation planning and indeed safety, in the hands of a total stranger, as you have to do when you plan an overseas vacation without the proper help.  Be it a tour company, a package holiday, a cruise, any form of vacation, you still have to rely on that company being real, being secure, being in business long enough to know what they are doing, having a reputation that you can rely on, being members of the organizations that oversee their type of business.
I provide that and more.
I am recommended and accepted by the Irish tourist board, Failte Ireland as a member of the NCDA, the National Chauffeurdrive Association of Ireland. This association is comprised of honest and reliable members of the main body representing our chauffeurdriven business. You know what you are getting when you employ one of our members. There will be insurances, the proper required licensing, the proper mechanically checked cars or bus, and a fully qualified public service vehicle driver in charge of your safety. If you book anybody without these qualifications you may have serious problems if anything happens. BEWARE.
My company qualifies on all of these counts, and not only can this be checked out by Googling the NCDA website, and there you will find me under Dovechauffeurdrive. Dave Hogan. When you contact me by phone or e-mail, i can give you phone numbers of real live contacts in the USA who have traveled with me and who will be only too glad to confirm this, and share with you the first hand experience of their vacation with me. How better to find out what you need to know than from somebody who has experienced the adventure which you are looking forward to enjoying yourself.  It rarely fails when my enquiring potential customers follow this suggested route. You need to be totally happy that you are going to get what you are going to pay for. The way i am suggesting is simple and foolproof. I am confident that you will be free from any concerns when you check me out properly.

The photo at the top is of course of the Cliffs of Moher,where there was a great celebration today when the one millionth visitor, since the building of the new centre there, was completed. The winners were a husband and wife from Florida, and the prize was a Euro 5000-00 prize return trip to Ireland next year. What a great surprise for them. I must say i was disappointed that i was not their driver, and guide, but maybe you will be my two millionth guest when you come to me.

For the moment, thank you all, my very special pals, for your custom and your help. I miss you all and would love to hear from you anytime. Stay well, and stay happy. A smile works two ways, in and out.
Back soon

God bless.

Dave

Chauffeurdriven/priveat tours of Ireland 2015

A typical West of Ireland fishing boat, known as the Galway Bay Hooker, pictured moored in Kinvara in Galway.

I have been away from Blogging recently but i will be back and filling you in on some ideas for Irish vacations for the coming year ahead. Already 2015 looks most promising after already seeing a rise in tourism in the year just coming to an end.
I will be writing and offering some tips on how best to go about planning your Irish adventure, and hopefully helping you to avoid some of the pitfalls which are waiting to mess up your vacation. Taking the advice of somebody who was born and reared here in Ireland has to be better than depending on the guidance of someone who was here for a week or two, or relying on something written by somebody on Facebook or Twitter.
I appreciate that not everybody can afford to use chauffeurdriven services, but when you examine it all in detail, and calculate the difference between driving yourself and using my service, you may be very pleasantly surprised. Add in the comfort od being driven around in a nice car, and the freedom that gives you in both body and mind, and you may be very impressed indeed.
No harm investigating it anyway, and i charge nothing for advice.
You may write to me if you need help from me. I would be delighted to hear from you.

Your friend in Ireland

Dave Hogan

Have a look at my website for more information and contact information.

Chauffeurdriven vacations in Ireland. Why Dovechauffeurdrive and Dave Hogan.

There are many good reasons why selecting me and my company for your special Irish chauffeurdriven vacation. 
When you choose my service, you deal directly with me from start to finish. We will plan your vacation together, and we will put together the vacation of your dreams.
I can put you in touch with past customers in the USA who will gladly answer any questions you may have with regard to me and my company.

We are members of the NCDA.com, the National Chauffeur drivers Association. This you can check out for yourself. All members of our association are approved by our National Tourist Board. That means that you are in safe hands. All of my drivers are selected by myself, and are not only top drivers, they are all wonderful guides.
( The top picture i took at Ladies View in Killarney. Would you like me to take you there? )

The above picture i took at Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula, one of the many wonderful places you will see if i take you on the "Wild Atlantic Way", that ever increasingly popular route on our western seaboard.
One day tours.
There are many areas where having your own qualified driver to not only take over the driving, but to be your guide also, allowing you to be free to enjoy the scenery, not having to worry about the type of roads you see in the photo above.

  The round tower and old abbey at Monasterboice, one of many ancient monastic settlements.

There is so much to see in Ireland,. Being able to rely on experts who know their country and who can make sure that you get to see as much of what you yourself have looked forward to seeing for many many years, makes life a lot easier. Some people want Castles, some want Abbeys and monasteries, some want mountains and rugged coastlines and offshore islands, and some want a visit to their ancestral counties even if they have very little information. It is amazing just how much we can help.
The great and historic cities are also a must, and of course places like the Guinness Brewery in Dublin is top of many peoples list. We will cover as much as we can for you, depending on the time you have available.

Selecting my company means that all you have to do is get yourself here. I do the rest, your accommodation will be in the type of places that you yourself want to stay in. If you want hotels, you will have hotels. If you want castles, then you will have castles. I know the best places to stay in and i will get better prices than you will get yourself. I do not include your main meals but i can recommend all of the best places for you to eat where you also get the best value.

The picture above was taken at Gougane Barra where St Finbarr built his little settlement and where the famous River Lee rises, finally reaching the sea at Cork, and Cove, from where the vast majority of our emigrants set sail. St Finbarr was the founder of Cork city, our second largest city.

As a golfer myself, Golf tours are another part of what i do. I know the best courses, and can help you to plan the type of golfing holiday you want. Maybe you just want one or two days for golf, and maybe some of your party want to enjoy something else while you are enjoying your golf. It is all a part of what i can provide.

Finally, we know our job, we know our history, ancient and modern, our music, our customs and traditions. I a a native Irish speaker. We love our country, and we love to show it to all who want to see it in our company.

Come and see for yourself. Just send me a message and we can take it from there. An enquiry costs you nothing.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Chauffeurdriven vacations/private tours Ireland with Dave Hogan Dovechauffeurdrive

My company, Dovechauffeurdrive Irish Tours, is based in the West of Ireland, but we do cover all of the Republic of Ireland. We do not have any set tours, and tailor our tours to our clients time frame and their special wishes. We plan our tours directly with our clients and include whatever they see as their priorities. We know our country, and take great pride in showing it off to many new friends every year.
If you want to see the real Ireland, come to us. Who knows what we will find for you. You will certainly be coming home when you travel with us.

Yes, that is me pictured with the lovely Kathleen outside the Killarney Plaza Hotel. I know that all those special Texas ladies who toured with me last year are wishing that they could have come back with Kathleen again this year but unfortunately it just was not possible. Hopefully they will be back again in the not too distant future. we both had to wear our sunglasses in this picture due to the bright pink of my sweater. If your comments are nice, they will be very welcome.

 This time around, Kathleen came with her sister, Jamie, whose lifelong ambition was to visit Ireland and the land of their ancestors. They had been to England for a few days before coming across to Ireland, and therefore this tour was not for that long a duration.
Here they are pictured outside the old Tridentine Church in what is considered by many to be
Ireland 's most beautiful town, the town of Adare.

Here we have them returning to Ross Castle and the town of Killarney at the end of their journey in, firstly, the jaunting cars, up through the mountains to the Gap of Dunloe at the very top, and then the  boats for the final leg, back to Ross Castle and Killarney on what is known as the Gap of Dunloe Tour. Kathleen is the lady in the lemon colored jacket, with Jamie directly behind her.

Kathleen sends all her fondest regards to the girls, Tee, Robin, Johnna, Karen and Marcie, along with my own special best wishes. My tour with my Texan ladies was right up there with the best.

Our weather this fall has been exceptional, as indeed was our Summer. The old much overstated remark that "it always rains in Ireland " was well and truly buried this year.
My touring continues, and there is still plenty of nice touring time ahead for anybody with the time and inclination to come before our Winter sets in.
Send me a message, if you have any queries that i can help you with. I am already dealing with tours for next year. The early bird catches the worm.

Touring Ireland with Dovechauffeurdriven private tours and Dave Hogan.

Larry, Gigi, Pam, Neil, Don and John, pictured after arriving back to Ross Castle on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney after disembarking from their boat at the end of their Gap of Dunloe tour. This particular tour is one i would recommend to anybody. There is only one way to really enjoy this journey and that is to travel the first part in the horse drawn buggies, and the second half in the boats which take you down through the lakes of Killarney. You will miss the best of it if you attempt to drive the Gap. First of all, it is extremely dangerous,and secondly you will miss the boat section, which is amazing.

My happy friends pictured with the famous Ross Castle in the background.

My party are now back home safe and well in the USA once again and have all expressed their gratitude for their lovely Irish adventure.
Thank you all sincerely. I also had a really nice time with all of you.

If you are planning a visit to Ireland anytime, just let me know, and maybe we can work out a satisfactory plan together. I would love to show you around.

Touring West of Ireland with own chauffeur/car and driver

From the Cliffs of Moher in the sun

to the beehive huts on the Dingle peninsula in the rain

From golf on the famous Killeen course in Killarney

to a pint at Coome in the highest pub in Ireland.
That's what you can do when you travel with your own car and driver/chauffeur.
My present tour ended tonight after i left my party at Bunratty, where they will be enjoying the Irish night in the barn at Bunratty castle.
This latest tour was really enjoyable for me, and i know for them also.I like nothing better than to travel with a fun group, and we did have many great laughs together. Gigi and Larry had travelled with me before, but the rest of the party, Pam and Don, and Fr John and Fr Neil, were first timers who were tailor made for this group. Thank you Gigi and Larry for coming back to me, and for bringing such nice people to share this tour with you. You were all stars.
I will post some more pictures from this tour later in the week, hopefully.

If you want to have a very special experience, and a fun tour of your own, then feel free to contact me at any time and we will plan your own special tour for you.
I would love to hear from you.

Killarney on chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan and dovechauffeurdriven tours

On Saturday we left Kinvara for the wonderful Cliffs of Moher and the Burren of County Clare. Unfortunately due to a technical problem I cannot show you any photos until I get home on Tuesday next but I will post them then.
Having spent some most enjoyable time at the Cliffs we made our way to Killarney and the Plaza Hotel, where many of my readers have stayed during their tours with me. As it happened, Mayo and Kerry were competeing in the All-Ireland Gaelic Football semi-final having drawn the first game last Sunday. We sat and watched the game in the bar in the company of a group of fanatical young girls from the local area and I do not think that my friends hadever witnessed such wild and fun support for a team. To cap it all off, their team,Kerry, won what was the best football game I have ever watched. If I was ever to pick a game for newcomers to our national game to watch, I could not have picked a better one. It was a shame that anyone should have to lose but poor Mayo can return to their county today covered in glory and bask in the honour of having been a part of what to me and to many others as the best game of football ever played in our magnificent National Stadium, the legendary Croke Park. Well done Kerry and Mayo.
This morning we all go to Mass together in the magnificent Killarney Cathedral. Then we are off to Dingle. As I write this morning, the sun is shining in my Killarney bedroom window.

The weather forecast for the coming days is really good and how beautiful Ireland is, and how fortunate are those who choose Fall to travel to Ireland. September and October can be really nice here, not quiet so busy, and still with good weather and plenty of daylight to enjoy it.

If you cannot wait to get here, then why not contact me and we will see what we can do.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Make sure you come back in midweek to see the photos of our tour to date. I will be posting them, and they are worth seeing. After all they are a good looking, and very happy group. Am I not the lucky man.

Dave

Touring Ireland with own car and driver/personal chauffeur.

Knock Shrine, and Ballintubber Abbey, on chauffeured tour of the west of Ireland
The old Knock church at knock,and the large Celtic cross which was erected to Commemorate the visit of Pope John Paul 11 in 1979.

 The Basilica at Knock which was named the Basilica of Mary, Queen of Ireland by the Pope in 1979 during his visit.

My happy party, inside the Basilica, with the raised altar in the background.
From the left
Larry and Gigi, Fr Neil, Don and his wife Pam, and Fr John.

Later we drove from Knock to thee ancient Abbey at Ballintubber near Castlebar in County Mayo. This ancient Abbey dates back to 1216, long before Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World. It has a great history, including being burnt and desecrated by Cromwell, but it survived, and is known as the Abbey which refused to die.

Fr Neil pictured in the cloistered area at the old Abbey.
This was another special day and one which i know we all enjoyed.