Join the IRISH BY ANCESTRY SPRING TOUR 2026
Deluxe accommodations confirmed! Spots are EXTREMELY LIMITED, since this is our inaugural trip.
Move beyond the virtual and experience REAL IRELAND with us!
Join your Irish by Ancestry friends and hosts Shelagh Braley Starr and Jonathan Beaumont for an expert-guided seven-day adventure around Ireland.
Our Irish by Ancestry Spring Tour will follow the path of our ancestors through nine counties, from Dublin to Galway and back.
Imagine stepping onto Irish soil with your virtual cousins—and a very personal mission in your heart.
This is not just another bus tour of Ireland.
This is a 7‑day, 9‑county Irish by Ancestry Adventure created specifically for our Facebook group … for people who don’t just love Ireland, but feel called back to it.
Your Ancestors Walked Here. Now You Will, Too
We’ve heard far too many of you say, It’s the trip of a lifetime, and maybe I’ll never get there.
We have made this as reasonable as we can, to make it more possible. For $3,400 per person double occupancy, you’ll join a small group of fellow Irish genealogy enthusiasts as we trace roots, share stories, and soak in Ireland’s breathtaking landscapes and culture. We’ll stay in four-star-or-better resorts that are as safe as they are relaxing.
We set off April 26-May 3, 2026
In just 7 days, we’ll visit 9 remarkable counties:
Kilkenny – Medieval streets, castles, and echoes of your ancestors in stone and story
Wexford – Emigration stories, coastal beauty, and deep ties to the diaspora
Waterford – Viking roots, sparkling harbor city, and centuries of departure and return
Cork – Rebel County, ports of departure, and rich records of those who left
Kerry – Wild Atlantic views, traditional music, and timeless rural life
Clare – Cliffs, céilís, and communities that still remember the old names
Galway – Colorful streets, Irish language, music, and the soul of the west
Westmeath – Hidden heartland, old parishes, and ancestral townlands in the quiet fields
Dublin – National treasures, history, archives, and the heartbeat of modern Ireland
You’ll see plenty of the favorites visitors dream about. We’re building an authentic experience, with genealogists and Irish family-history fans in mind. Full itinerary here
A Tour Built Around Your Story, Not Just Ireland’s
Most tours give you a guide, a bus, and a microphone. This tour gives you a map and a mission. As a bonus, you get Jonathan and his lifetime of expertise in Ireland’s Routes and Roots!
Before we go, Karlee Twiner, our professional genealogist, will prepare a mini-research project just for you.
You won’t just stare at parish registers and plaques, you’ll walk into Ireland with specific clues and questions about your own ancestors:
A parish to visit
A locality or townland to look for
A surname cluster or family story to dig into on the ground
Historic context to help you “see” what life looked like when your people lived there
Then, as we travel, you’ll have opportunities to:
Compare notes with fellow travelers who truly “get it”
Ask questions and get guidance from experts on where to look next
Stand in townships, villages, and streets that may be woven into your own family’s story
We’re not just sightseeing—we’re connecting.
Meet the People Who Bring Irish Roots to Life
Meet Ireland Reaching Out expert Noreen Maher, who has reunified countless descendants with their Irish communities and heritage. Learn how locals in Ireland are actively reaching out to the diaspora—and how this can help your own research.
Hear from on-the-ground voices who live and breathe Irish history and genealogy.
Experience traditional Irish music in the best locations, not to mention the incredible Celtic Steps show. This trip is full of cultural entertainment that provides the emotional backdrop to your family story.
You won’t just leave with photos of castles; you’ll leave with context for your ancestors’ lives.
A Once-in-a- Lifetime Moment: the 1926 Census Release
Timing matters—and we chose ours on purpose.
We will be in Ireland the week after the release of the 1926 Census, the very first census of the Irish Free State. This is a monumental event for genealogists and family-history lovers:
New names. New addresses. New clues.
A fresh chance to move your brick-wall ancestors forward a generation.
The first snapshot of families as Ireland stepped into its new identity after independence.
We’ll celebrate the release together, with guidance, discussion, and support as we explore what it might mean for your own Irish lines.
If you’ve ever dreamed of “being there when the records open,” this is that moment.
What’s Included (and What’s Not)
INCLUDED in your $3,400 per-person double occupancy ($4,450 single occupancy, subject to availability) tour price:
All hotel rooms for 7 days / 7 nights across our 9-county adventure
Gorgeous breakfast each morning
Private luxury coach transportation throughout the trip
Carefully planned itinerary featuring both key tourist stops and genealogy-rich locations
A personal mini-research project from Karlee Twiner, tailored to your family
Cultural experiences including music, Celtic Steps show, and other entertainment
Time with Noreen Maher from Ireland Reaching Out and other local experts
A beautifully curated Memory Photo Book after the trip, filled with photos and highlights so you can relive the journey and share it with your family
NOT INCLUDED (so you can customize your experience):
Flights to and from Ireland
Lunches and dinners, so you’re free to eat where you like, when you like. Grab a quick bite, linger over a pub session, or splurge on a special restaurant without being tied to group menus
Cash tips for those who show you hospitality
Return-to-airport transportation
We cover your beds and your bus.
You choose your airline and your meals.
Who This Trip Is For
This Irish by Ancestry Spring Tour is perfect if:
You’re a member of our community who feels deeply connected to Ireland
You’re curious about your roots, whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned genealogist
You want more than “selfie at a castle”—you want meaning, context, and maybe even goosebumps
You’re excited to travel with people who love to talk about ancestors, records, DNA, townlands, and “my great-grandfather who left from Cork …”
This is for OUR IRISH BY ANCESTRY COMMUNITY and friends, not the general public.
You won’t have to explain why that Famine exhibit made you emotional.
Everyone on this trip already understands.
What You’ll Take Home (Besides Souvenirs)
By the time you fly home, you’ll have:
New leads and understanding of your Irish family story
A completed mini-research project and a clearer plan for what to do next
New friendships with fellow group members who share your passion
Memories of music, laughter, and landscapes sometimes too beautiful for words
A professionally designed memory book of the trip, so your photos and stories don’t disappear into your camera roll—and so your children and grandchildren can see the land their people came from
Most of all, you’ll take home a feeling:
“I didn’t just visit Ireland. I visited my Ireland.”
This is Your Invitation
Out of 108,000+ members in our group, only a limited number of seats are available for this first Irish by Ancestry adventure.
If your heart sped up reading this, if you’ve ever stared at an Irish record and wished you could step through it onto the actual ground—
This is your moment.
**Come with us. Walk where they walked.
Ask questions where they once answered to their names.
Celebrate the 1926 Census release in the land it was taken.
Turn “I’ve always wanted to go” into “I finally went home.”**
Ready to claim your seat?
You’re halfway there … email shelagh@byancestry.com for your booking details 😉 Or if you know you’re ready to book, click this link here:
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