Off-The-Beaten-Path - Traveling Around Ireland with Patricia Tunison Preston

Photos: The serene beauty of Connemara is ideal territory for Gerry MacCloskey (inset) who combines native Irish wit with his love of Ireland and his archeological knowledge to provide an unforgettable walking tour.

Are you looking for a "different"
way to experience Ireland?

Maybe you've been to Ireland before and have already taken the escorted tour or rental cars routes. If this is the case, nothing beats walking — follow your feet to "off-the-beaten-path" places that can't be reached by a bus or car. Meet the locals, explore ancient ruins, see wild dolphins, grey seals, gannets, basking sharks, and more.

Although there are many different walking tours of Ireland, here's one that stands out — Connemara Safari Walking Holidays — a combination of walking in the remote parts of Galway and Mayo and sailing/boating to offshore islands. These tours are led and hosted by Gerry MacCloskey, who really enjoys walking around Ireland and sharing his knowledge with visitors.

Gerry, who is a native of Derry and trained as a chef, has had a rich and interesting past. For many years, he lived in NY and worked at the Irish Tourist Board (that's when we first met). That was followed by a return to Ireland and running two very successful restaurants (in Co. Cork and Co. Clare) with his late wife Marie. After her death, Gerry did not give up — he returned to university and earned two degrees in archaeology. "I was always interested in rocks," he smiles. Then he teamed up with two other walking enthusiasts — Brian Hughes (a native of Connemara) and Gerry Greensmyth (an expert on Co. Mayo) to offer this series of unique walking and island-hopping tours of the West of Ireland.

5 Day Tour - this trip starts in Clifden followed by a walk along Killary Harbour; then by boat to explore/walk four offshore islands — Inishbofin, Inishshark, Inishturk and Clare Island. Departures: June-Sept., 2009. Cost: 699 euros per person plus airfare.

7 Day Tour - this trip starts in Westport and covers the same territory as the 5-Day tour plus 3 days in County Mayo — Clew Bay, Inagh Valley and Pilgrim's Path from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick. Departures: June-Sept., 2009. Cost: 895 euros per person plus airfare.

Prices for both trips include all walking activities, boat trips to islands, accommodations, breakfasts, dinners, picnic lunches, musical entertainment, and more. Lodgings provided include the 4-star Abbeyglen Hotel at Clifden as well as family-run island hotels, country homes and bed-and-breakfasts.

Off-The-Beaten-Path Walking and Island-Hopping

Off-The-Beaten-Path
Walking and Island-Hopping