Make it Happen
Irish family tree photos

Ireland Genealogy & Family Heritage

Genealogy Tours of Ireland Find your heritage

Researching your Irish family tree is a richly rewarding venture. Tracking down and seeing, first-hand, the places of interest takes the experience to the next level. Visit ports of emigration, graveyards, locations of birth and churches of marriage... walking the same roads as your ancestors did all those years ago.

Irish Genealogy places of interest

To whet the appetite, here are just a few of the most popular historical attractions enjoyed by visitors looking to reconnect with their own Irish history. Your own tour will be completely unique, composed of the attractions and destinations which are most relevant for you and your group.

Cobh Heritage Centre, County Cork

Cobh Heritage Centre County Cork

Of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America from 1848 to 1950, almost half departed from Cobh. Annie Moore, having left Cobh in 1892, became the first ever person to pass through the Ellis Island Immigration Facility in New York City. Today, a statue dedicated to Annie, alongside her brothers Anthony and Philip, stands outside Cobh Heritage Centre.

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Cliffs of Moher County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher, on Ireland's west coast, gave people the perfect vantage point to watch, with heavy hearts, their loved ones disappear over the horizon — on their way to North America.

Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone

Ulster American Folk Park County Tyrone

Telling the story of Irish emigration during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The museum features over 30 exhibit buildings, costumed guides and samples of food, including soda bread and pumpkin pie, cooked using traditional methods of the time.

Titanic Shipyard, Belfast

Titanic Exhibition Belfast

Perhaps the most famous ship of all time has its roots firmly planted in Irish history. Built on the shipyards of Belfast City before docking in Cobh, County Cork — for what would become its final port of call. The Titanic Exhibition and Shipyards in Belfast City allow you to uncover every detail of the doomed vessel. Learn about its construction and demise and about the people who boarded it, during its one and only voyage, with hopes of a new life awaiting them in North America.

National Famine Museum, County Roscommon

National Famine Museum County Roscommon

During the Irish famine, from 1845 to 1849, 1.1 million Irish people lost their lives while the same number emigrated from the country. The population of Ireland which stood at 8.2 million in 1841 fell, ten years later, to 6.5 million. The National Famine Museum, in County Roscommon, houses over 55,000 documents and exhibitions that reveal the true desperation of the era.

Kennedy Homestead, County Wexford

Kennedy Homestead County Wexford

The homestead of former U.S President John F. Kennedy's great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy is located in New Ross, County Wexford. The use of archival documents, unique memorabilia and state-of-the-art audio-visual displays allows visitors to step back in time to 1848; when Patrick Kennedy left Ireland to start his new life in America.

Dunbrody Famine Ship, County Wexford

Dunbrody Famine Ship County Wexford

Dunbrody Famine Ship is an authentic reproduction of an 1840s emigrant vessel, retracing the steps Irish people had to take in fleeing a hopeless situation—for their chance of a new life in the New World.

Fastnet Rock, County Cork

Fastnet Rock County Cork

Fastnet Rock is the southern most point of Ireland, lying 8 miles off the coast of County Cork. Known as "Ireland's Teradrop" because it was the last part of the homeland that many Irish emigrants saw as they set off towards North America.

Kerry Bog Village Museum

Kerry Bog Village Museum County Kerry

Located along the world-famous Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Bog Village Museum offers a fascinating look back at life in rural Ireland during the late 19th century. Featuring fully furnished thatched cottages and farm equipment of the time.

Map of County Meath, National Archives in Dublin City

National Archives County Dublin

Housing official records, documents, papers, letters and numerous other artefacts, the National Archives of Ireland, in Dublin City, is an invaluable resource in helping people of Irish heritage discover their family tree.

Cobh Heritage Centre, County Cork

Cobh Heritage Centre County Cork

Of the six million Irish people who emigrated to North America from 1848 to 1950, almost half departed from Cobh. Annie Moore, having left Cobh in 1892, became the first ever person to pass through the Ellis Island Immigration Facility in New York City. Today, a statue dedicated to Annie, alongside her brothers Anthony and Philip, stands outside Cobh Heritage Centre.

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Cliffs of Moher County Clare

The Cliffs of Moher, on Ireland's west coast, gave people the perfect vantage point to watch, with heavy hearts, their loved ones disappear over the horizon — on their way to North America.

Ulster American Folk Park, County Tyrone

Ulster American Folk Park County Tyrone

Telling the story of Irish emigration during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The museum features over 30 exhibit buildings, costumed guides and samples of food, including soda bread and pumpkin pie, cooked using traditional methods of the time.

Titanic Shipyard, Belfast

Titanic Exhibition Belfast

Perhaps the most famous ship of all time has its roots firmly planted in Irish history. Built on the shipyards of Belfast City before docking in Cobh, County Cork — for what would become its final port of call. The Titanic Exhibition and Shipyards in Belfast City allow you to uncover every detail of the doomed vessel. Learn about its construction and demise and about the people who boarded it, during its one and only voyage, with hopes of a new life awaiting them in North America.

National Famine Museum, County Roscommon

National Famine Museum County Roscommon

During the Irish famine, from 1845 to 1849, 1.1 million Irish people lost their lives while the same number emigrated from the country. The population of Ireland which stood at 8.2 million in 1841 fell, ten years later, to 6.5 million. The National Famine Museum, in County Roscommon, houses over 55,000 documents and exhibitions that reveal the true desperation of the era.

Kennedy Homestead, County Wexford

Kennedy Homestead County Wexford

The homestead of former U.S President John F. Kennedy's great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy is located in New Ross, County Wexford. The use of archival documents, unique memorabilia and state-of-the-art audio-visual displays allows visitors to step back in time to 1848; when Patrick Kennedy left Ireland to start his new life in America.

Dunbrody Famine Ship, County Wexford

Dunbrody Famine Ship County Wexford

Dunbrody Famine Ship is an authentic reproduction of an 1840s emigrant vessel, retracing the steps Irish people had to take in fleeing a hopeless situation—for their chance of a new life in the New World.

Fastnet Rock, County Cork

Fastnet Rock County Cork

Fastnet Rock is the southern most point of Ireland, lying 8 miles off the coast of County Cork. Known as "Ireland's Teradrop" because it was the last part of the homeland that many Irish emigrants saw as they set off towards North America.

Kerry Bog Village Museum

Kerry Bog Village Museum County Kerry

Located along the world-famous Ring of Kerry, the Kerry Bog Village Museum offers a fascinating look back at life in rural Ireland during the late 19th century. Featuring fully furnished thatched cottages and farm equipment of the time.

Map of County Meath, National Archives in Dublin City

National Archives County Dublin

Housing official records, documents, papers, letters and numerous other artefacts, the National Archives of Ireland, in Dublin City, is an invaluable resource in helping people of Irish heritage discover their family tree.

3 types of Genealogy Tours of Ireland

Whether you're looking for a general sightseeing visit to Ireland or you're hoping to base a tour around the finer details of your family tree, we can help put together the perfect private tour of Ireland and Northern Ireland for you. Or, indeed, if you're just beginning your research and would like to know the first steps, we can get you started there as well.

1. General Tour of Ireland

If you know that you have Irish heritage but you're not sure of the specifics then a sightseeing tour of Ireland, covering all of the most popular destinations, could be the ideal option for you.

Based on what you know about your connection to Ireland, however little, we can design an itinerary which shows you the very best of the country we call home. If you're not sure where to start, just let us know and we can put together a tour package which showcases the very best of the Emerald Isle north, south, east and west. Using our years' experience in creating tours of Ireland we will put together the vacation that would suit you best, from the most cost-effective transport to the best accommodation choices for your group. All you have to decide is how long you'd like to stay in Ireland and the budget for your tour.

Blarney Castle, County Cork

2. Following your family tree

If you have compiled your Irish family tree and have drawn up the regions that you would like to visit, then we can help you put together your perfect tour of Ireland. Ensuring that every item on your list is ticked off, in a seamless and cost-effective manner.

The amount of detail you can give us while planning your tour is up to you. All we really need to know is what your budget is and how long you would like the tour to be. If you'd like a fortnight stay but only have three places of interest on your list? No problem, we can join the dots between the locations and offer ideas for other attractions you might like to visit. Equally, if you have a long list of places to visit over a short period of time, we can work with you in finding the most effective way of bringing everything together.

Survivors of the Lusitania, Cobh County Cork

3. Starting your research

If you are only beginning to look into your Irish family tree and would like some advice on how to take the first steps, please get in touch and we will be happy to advise. While we don't undertake any genealogy research ourselves, we can point you towards some organisations that do. For a look at some of the websites that help you research your Irish heritage, please click here.

After you have researched your Irish family heritage and would like to visit, we can then work with you in creating your private tour of Ireland. If there are locations in Ireland that you would like to visit to further your research, we can incorporate those into your tour as well.

Writing close up

Thanks for making us Ireland's top-rated tour company

A big thank you to all our past guests who have left so many amazing reviews. With 1881 five-star reviews out of a total of 1933, we are proud to call ourselves Ireland's top-rated tour operator.

See our reviews

Our guests rated us
5.0★★★★★
Based on 1933 guest reviews
★★★★★ (1881)
★★★★★(45)
★★★★★(3)
★★★★★(2)
★★★★★(2)

Your unique genealogy tour of Ireland

As an independent family business, we understand that your group is unique and that your genealogy tour of Ireland should be too. Let us know what you have in mind. We will plan a genealogy vacation customised just for you. We offer a very personal service and we will be here to help with every aspect of your visit to Ireland. We will take care of everything for you, including visits to attractions, chauffeured transport and accommodation.

How it works...

  • You get in touch

    Get in touch. You tell our small team about your ideal genealogy tour of Ireland. We cater for all group sizes, interests and budgets.

  • We listen

    We listen and design a customised genealogy tour to match your needs, drawing on years' experience, contacts and local knowledge. We can work within your budget, see what works best for you and quote you a price.

  • We do all the legwork

    Once you're happy with the design, we'll arrange everything for you. All you have to do is book your flights.

  • You enjoy your vacation

    Final step: Just relax and enjoy your vacation. The hard work is done, you can now enjoy everything Ireland has to offer...

What's Included?

Most of our private genealogy tour guests ask us to design an all-inclusive tour, with all the attractions, breakfasts and evening meals included. And it's easy to see why. As well as offering amazing value, our all-inclusive packages give you the peace of mind that everything is budgeted for and that there will be no nasty surprises or hidden costs along the way.

Our private genealogy tours usually include all of these benefits as standard:

Airport Transfers

Arrive in style, depart in comfort. Your driver-guide will meet you at the airport.

All Accommodation

With many years in the business, we can offer the best accommodation choice at the best price.

Driver-Guide

Our driver-guides are real Irish experts who know how to make your vacation truly unforgettable.

Meals

All meals during your stay are usually included. From breakfast, lunch and dinner.

North & South

Just let us know where you would like to visit, across Northern and Southern Ireland, and we can organise it for you.

Anything Else?

Is there something that could make your memorable journey truly unforgettable? Just let us know so that we can include it in your tour.

Irish Genealogy Resources

It is important to note that My Ireland Tour do not offer genealogy research services and we ourselves are not genealogists. The following websites are examples of services that you might find helpful in your own Irish family research and build a clearer picture of your genealogy - the family names, the places, the history-making events.

Please note; we are not responsible for the content of third-party websites. We do not offer recommendations or vouch for quality. If you would like your business to be added here, please contact james@myirelandtour.com

Useful Websites and Resources