CIE Tours

21/03/2025

March is a big month of celebrations for Ireland's descendants around the world. The immigrants who settled in North America and around the world left a powerful legacy, and links that still hold meaning today. If you're one of the tens of millions of people with an Irish ancestor or two, you might be interested in some of the places we visit that tell aspects of the story of the Irish diaspora - let's take a look!

20/03/2025

If St. Patrick's Day has you dreaming of Ireland, consider the Irish Supreme! It's our new-for-2025, luxury trip, complete with five-star hotels featuring fine dining and relaxing spas.

On this 9-day tour, we'll show you classic sights like the Book of Kells, the Cliffs of Moher, Glendalough, and Kilkenny Castle. You'll also sample artisanal specialties on the Cork Tasting Trail, encounter magnificent birds of prey at a falconry demonstration, and feed champion racehorses at the Irish National Stud and Gardens - and so much more!

Plus, every departure of this deluxe tour is a small group, limited to 26 guests. See all the details at https://cie.tours/IrishSupreme

18/03/2025

We had a big St Patrick’s Day yesterday in NYC - and it started early!

We kicked off the day with Q104.3 FM at Jim Kerr's 21st Annual Irish Breakfast at Connolly's Pub & Restaurant on East 47th Street, just steps away from the parade route! Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein started at 5 a.m. for a special live broadcast. Attendees got a free Irish breakfast and lucky listeners were in with a chance to win a trip to Ireland sponsored by CIE Tours and Aer Lingus. Our colleague Mary was on hand to represent CIE Tours.

We've got a few snapshots below - be sure to join us next year for your own chance to win!

17/03/2025

Happy St Patrick's Day to all from your friends at CIE Tours!

As the world celebrates the patron saint of Ireland and the rich heritage that brings us all together today, we're hope you're feeling some of the joy. Whether you're marching in NYC, listening to some Irish music at home, lifting a glass in your local, or even on tour in Ireland with us, we wish you a wonderful day filled with laughter and a hint of Irish luck!

16/03/2025

Marcher’s eye view of the Morris County St Patrick’s Day Parade! ☘️

16/03/2025

CIE Tours staff had a great day out yesterday! ☘

CIE Tours was the Leadership Sponsor of the St. Patrick's Day Parade of Morris County, New Jersey - the home of our US office - and our team turned out with gusto. We joined Grand Marshal Keith Wood, 20 bands, 4,000 marchers, and countless spectators for New Jersey's largest parade.

We brought along friends and family, and Managing Director Stephen Cotter even flew in from our Dublin office to join in. We didn't have a marching band, but we did have some great tunes from local band Lagan's Love as they played folk songs from the back of a truck driven by our colleague Gene Folsom

Hats off to the whole team for the enthusiastic turnout - and a big thank you to our chief parade organizer Lea Walsh (a proud native of Kiltimagh, County Mayo!).

Happy St Patrick's Day to all! (And we've still got so much to look forward to in this festive season, as we gear up for our sponsorship of the biggest parade of them all - in New York City on Monday!)

14/03/2025

St Patrick's Day is around the corner! If you're in the mood for soaking in some of the beauty of Ireland, we think this video from our friends at Tourism Ireland may set the perfect tone. Enjoy!

We're getting ready for St Patrick's Day, a time celebrated around the world in green. ☘️💚 ​​Ireland’s beauty is evergreen, with landscapes and scenery tha...

13/03/2025

Táimid ag ceiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge! We're celebrating Irish Language Week!

This international festival celebrating the Irish language was first celebrated in 1902. The name hasn't changed, but it's now a seventeen-day event, from March 1 to 17 every year.

Irish is one of Ireland's two official languages - and when you visit, you're likely to see lots of it, on street signs, shops, post offices and pubs. You might hear it out and about in places like the Aran Islands, Connemara, and Di**le - all in the Gaeltacht where the locals use it every day.

Below are just a few snapshots that show how you might come across the Irish language yourself!

11/03/2025

The best tour directors from Scotland, England, and Wales gathered last week, as CIE Tours kicked off a busy travel season! They're ready to welcome our guests for 2025 - and maybe even you! Do you spot any old friends?

Thanks to our colleague Ronan for the snapshots!

10/03/2025

See iconic Ireland on Best of Ireland South, our . Check out scenic Di**le and charming Adare, Galway's great vibe, the stunning Cliffs of Moher. Sample whiskey at Teeling, watch a sheepdog demonstration, and enjoy traditional music in an old Irish schoolhouse and savor a medieval feast in a genuine castle.

Enjoy two-night stays in Killarney and Newmarket-on-Fergus, and choose one, two, or three nights in Dublin for a trip of six to eight days.

Check the comments for the details on the trip and see how to save!

07/03/2025

In honor of both tomorrow and , let’s shine a spotlight on Annie Moore, the first immigrant to go through Ellis Island when it opened on January 1, 1892.

Traveling with her brothers, 17-year-old Annie was on a journey to join her parents who had already settled in New York. When she was the first to stride through the gates at Ellis Island, an official gave her a gold coin that symbolized the opportunity that America offered – and that would draw so many of Annie’s countrymen and women in the decades to follow. Her story has come to represent the resilience, hope, and courage that defines much of the Irish-American experience as they made new lives in America.

Annie married and had children, and spent the rest of her life in New York’s Lower East Side. She is remembered today with a sculpture in Cobh, where a heritage center tells the tale of the port city that was the departure point for millions of Irish emigrants for America.

06/03/2025

It's ! And Ireland's Trinity College is the home of one of the most precious books in the world - The Book of Kells.

This stunning 9th-century manuscript was painstakingly crafted by Irish monks when Ireland was the "land of saints and scholars". Painted on to calfskin vellum, it's renowned for its intricate Celtic designs and vibrant illustrations. Remarkably well-preserved, the 1,200-year-old volume was taken to Trinity College for safekeeping in 1661, and it's been there since.

Come along and see this marvelous treasure for yourself on our new-for-2025 Irish Supreme!

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04/03/2025

If you'd like to dive deep into Ireland's wealth of culture and spectacular beauty, Irish Spirit might be your perfect tour. Our offers castles, Connemara,and romantic ruins. Take in a sheepdog demo, nights of lively entertainment, a visit to Jameson Midleton Distillery - and so much more.

Take a peek at all it has to offer in the images below! And check the comments for more information...

03/03/2025

It’s March – St Patrick’s month....and time for our Emerald Escape Sale!

Save up to $1,400 per couple ($700 per person) when you book land and air together. Choose from 18 of our expertly crafted guided vacations in Ireland, Scotland & Ireland, and Britain & Ireland. Or design your perfect adventure with a custom Private Driver experience!

Book by March 24 for travel between May and December, 2025. See all the details at https://cie.tours/EmeraldEscape.

And let the images below fuel your travel dreams!

28/02/2025

Wales is wonderful! We were reminded of Wales' wonders when driver Mark Beard sent us the below picture of the coach on a recent Highlights of Britain tour, taken by a guest as they admired the glorious weather.

And on today, March 1st, we celebrate St David's Day! This special day honors the patron saint of Wales, Saint David, and it's a time to celebrate this wonderful nation and all it has to offer!

Here are a few more glimpses of Wales - come along and see this land of majestic mountains and legendary castles for yourself. Whether you're exploring Snowdonia National Park or visiting historic sites like Cardiff Castle, Wales has something for everyone.

27/02/2025

Marine Bar Dungarvan is one of Ireland’s best pubs – and one of our guests’ top favorites! Singer and guitarist Christy O’Neill owns the 300-year-old institution, which was once regularly frequented by Liam Clancy of the world-famous Clancy Brothers.

Christy and his son, Eoghan, regularly welcome CIE Tours visitors to his cozy hearthside. Once they’re settled in with an Irish coffee, Christy and Eoghan treat them to the history of the pub and a performance of some traditional songs.

And for the last three years, our guests have rewarded the pub with the accolade of “Best Tour Feature” at our annual Awards of Excellence – the latest given at our ceremony in Dublin a few weeks ago. Come along and see this wonderful gem for yourself on our Irish Pub Tour, Irish Gold, or Scottish and Irish Gold!

26/02/2025

Of all the wonderful places we love to bring our guests, Friðheimar stands out. This enchanting eatery is in Iceland’s Golden Circle. It’s a family-run, eco-friendly establishment in a lush greenhouse, filled with the very plants that provide the food you’ll be dining on. Towering stalks stretch towards the ceiling, and bumblebees gently hum overhead, busy at their hard work of pollinating!

The tomato is the star of the show here. Tomato soup, tasty breads, fresh herbs, and a host of accompaniments are on offer – with surprising desserts including tomato ice cream. The greenhouse harnesses the geothermal power so freely available in Iceland – and the food couldn’t be fresher!

Come along on our Taste of Iceland or Northern Lights Quest of Iceland guided vacations. Or perhaps make it a stop on your Private Driver tour of Iceland with us!

24/02/2025

Come along on our new-for-2025 Classic Sicily tour, our ! Immerse yourself in 8 days of coastal charm, ancient architecture, stunning landscapes, and culinary delights. Explore lively Palermo, marvel at the romantic ruins of the Valley of the Temples, take in breathtaking views of Mount Etna, and enjoy food and wine visits.

Check out a few of the highlights below...