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Find My Ireland Based in Donegal, our trips always include history, culture, folklore & locals. Individuals & groups. You want to visit Ireland. But you want the real deal.

Maybe you've been before, or maybe it's your first time. You want to see the Wild Atlantic Way, Stone-Age Temples, Monasteries and Abbeys, Castles and Caves. You want to be with people who can tell you about the history and culture, explain things to you about Irish language, Irish music, Irish life. You want to know the authentic places to see, to bypass the 'tourist' trail and get immersed in the local. Meet Niamh & John. We are based in County Donegal, and we work with students, teachers, groups and organizations to plan and deliver fantastic visits in Ireland that include history, culture, fun, authenticity and a personal and friendly experience. We customize trips for families, clubs, and all kinds of groups. And if you don't have a group, we have several opportunities for you to join in with other people. You'll spend a lot of time in the North-West with us, which is truly the most beautiful, unspoiled and friendly part of Ireland, but you will see other parts of the country too. We've been doing this for 25 years, and we have thousands of friends who will verify that one visit to Ireland with us, and Donegal is your home from home. No need to look any further. This is how you find your Ireland.

Some mountains are beautiful. Others feel like they belong to another world. Ben Bulben is a little of both. Come ramble...
13/10/2026

Some mountains are beautiful. Others feel like they belong to another world. Ben Bulben is a little of both.
Come ramble with us into the Dartry Mountains, where enormous limestone cliffs rise dramatically across Sligo, Leitrim and south Donegal. And towering above them all is Ben Bulben, its unmistakable flat-topped summit watching over the Sligo coast like something out of an ancient legend. And perhaps it is. This mountain country is rich with Irish mythology, fairy folklore and stories passed down through generations. Fionn Mac Cumhaill, St Colmcille, the Yeats family and the Sí - the mysterious fairy folk of Irish tradition - are all woven into its cultural history. Even the mountain’s name has its own story, traditionally linked to an ancient Ulster chieftain.
Bring your walking boots, your curiosity, and perhaps a little room for magic. You never know what stories the mountains might have for you.

A walk in Donegal is never just a walk.You might get spectacular views, salty air and a friendly wave from a local — or ...
10/10/2026

A walk in Donegal is never just a walk.
You might get spectacular views, salty air and a friendly wave from a local — or sideways rain, zero visibility and an umbrella that gives up within five minutes. But there’s always something worth discovering.
Today’s ramble takes us to Ballyshannon, along a little riverside path to Catsby’s Cave - a quiet spot with a remarkable history. In the 18th century, when Irish Catholics were banned from churches and schools, this hidden cave was used as a Mass Rock, one of many secret places where people gathered to worship.
Long before Christianity arrived, places like caves, rivers and stones already held spiritual significance in Ireland. Perhaps that’s why, in difficult times, people returned to the landscape for refuge.
So next time you’re wandering around Donegal, don’t just follow the main road. Take the little path, look around, and see what stories you stumble upon. You never know what might be hiding just around the corner.

The harp is one of the most recognisable symbols of Ireland - from the President’s seal of office to the pint of Guinnes...
07/10/2026

The harp is one of the most recognisable symbols of Ireland - from the President’s seal of office to the pint of Guinness.
But the story behind it is a little more complicated. In medieval Ireland, harpers were an important part of Gaelic royal life. When the Gaelic system collapsed, poets, singers and musicians lost their place at court and many became travelling musicians.
By 1792, when a harp festival was organised in Belfast, fewer than fifteen harpers could be found. Somehow, the tradition had survived.
And one of the people who helped keep that tradition alive was Turlough O’Carolan, Ireland’s most famous harper and composer.
Today’s ramble takes us to Kilronan Abbey, where O’Carolan is buried, and through the lovely town of Keadue, where his memory is still very much alive.
I particularly love this bog oak sculpture by Brendan Collum — its roots spreading beneath the harp feel almost like a symbol of the music itself: deeply rooted, enduring, and still part of Ireland’s landscape.

Perhaps not everyone loves a stone wall quite as much as I do, but you couldn’t help wondering about the maze of walls s...
07/10/2026

Perhaps not everyone loves a stone wall quite as much as I do, but you couldn’t help wondering about the maze of walls surrounding this beautiful 18th-century house in Termon, a tiny village beyond Donegal.
The house has stunning sea views and is now cared for by the Irish Landmark Trust, which rescues historic buildings - lighthouses, schoolhouses, castles and houses - preserving their character while giving them a new life as holiday homes.
But it was the walls that really caught my attention.
They turned out to be Famine walls, built during the Great Famine as part of public works projects. Local people were given work in exchange for food or very small amounts of money.
So these beautiful, carefully built walls are also a reminder of something much darker: they were built by the hands of people who were starving.
Beautiful, and chilling.

Irish in the WildToday we’re rambling the roads between Rann na Feirste (Rannafast)and Mín na Leice (Meenaleck), in the ...
04/10/2026

Irish in the Wild
Today we’re rambling the roads between Rann na Feirste (Rannafast)and Mín na Leice (Meenaleck), in the Donegal Gaeltacht, where Irish is still spoken as the first language.
Look at those place names. The Irish names often tell us far more than simply where a place is. They can describe the landscape, the land itself, or preserve stories about people, folklore and events from the past.
The English versions came later, created through the anglicisation of Irish names for mapping and pronunciation. In the process, some of that meaning was lost.
Thankfully, many Irish places are still signposted in both languages, so next time you see one, have a look at the Irish name. There might be a whole little story hiding in it.
And your homework today: can you work out what Rann na Feirste and Mín na Leice actually mean?
Meanwhile, the doggie was clearly impressed by the scenery. His response? A standing ovation.

The Erne River has been an important route through this part of Ireland for centuries, flowing through two great lakes b...
02/10/2026

The Erne River has been an important route through this part of Ireland for centuries, flowing through two great lakes before reaching the sea at Ballyshannon. The islands of Lough Erne still hold traces of that long history, including early Christian sites.
Today we’re at Portora Castle, built where the Lower Lough opens into the river. This was an important crossing point for thousands of years, with Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age finds discovered nearby.
The castle we see today was built in the early 17th century by Sir William Cole. Its English-style design sits on Irish stonework, suggesting it may have incorporated an earlier structure -something that happened surprisingly often during the Ulster Plantation.
Portora later became a strategic military outpost before falling into ruin. And the military story continued nearby: during WWII, the area was used by the British forces, and Eisenhower visited the US 8th Regiment here in 1944.
For the best view of the ruins, head to the riverside, where you can also see the sluice gates controlling the lake’s water levels.

02/10/2026

A little look back at our Taste of Ireland — days spent eating, learning, exploring and, naturally, talking about food. Based in Donegal & Sligo, most of our visitors came from the Madison College Culinary Program in USA, as well as a group of general foodie folk from all over the USA.
From Irish food history and mythology to seafood, wh***ey, local producers and some very good dinners, we got to see just how many stories can sit behind what ends up on the plate.
Madison College Anderson’s Boathouse Restaurant, and accommodation, Killybegs.
Danny Minnies
Leo's Tavern
Bacus Bakery
Wild Fuschia Bakehouse
Ballyholey Farm Shop
Sonder
Sligo Oyster Experience
Food Coast Donegal

A visit to Leo’s is always good craic but we were also there for good food- both were delivered in the usual super frien...
01/10/2026

A visit to Leo’s is always good craic but we were also there for good food- both were delivered in the usual super friendly style. Bartley is the perfect host, telling the story of Moya, Clannad and Enya with obvious pride - Johnny and Jimmy played us some great tunes, and we had special as Gaeilge performances from Séan Mac Ruaírí and Katie Brennan, and our own Niamh too. And John got the Emmy!
Óiche iontach mhaith ar fad, GRMA
Leo's Tavern
Madison College

29/09/2026

Our foodies had a fabulous treat in store today - chef Martin Anderson of Sonder prepared a three course ‘Taste of Donegal’ lunch at Ballyholey Farm, using fresh produce from the farm - we were treated to a rainbow carrot and new potato soup, with rich brown bread and butter, bacon, cabbage, roast carrot and parsnip, beef casserole, mashed potatoes, and for dessert, pear and apple crumble - well OMG we gobbled up every bite, it was truly deee licious! Farmer John spoke to our group about his family’s work on the land- chef Martin answered many questions about the recipes and methods he used for the meal, while also being hugely entertaining. A fabulous farm to table experience, thank you John, Tracy, Martin, Lina


Ballyholey Farm Shop Madison College

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