Mai's
Secret Ireland Tours
With your authentic, local Irish Guides.
Mai Hernon
The Threshold of Your Dreams
Imagine yourself enjoying an adventure in the Irish countryside, rich in history, music, song and dance. From value-packed great tours to luxury once in a lifetime tours, we can give you that choice.
Secret Halloween Journey to Ireland
With
Vanessa Hogle
Oct 26th to Nov 3rd
2022
Oct 26th to Nov 3rd 2022
Cost $1750 per person sharing.
Supplement for Single traveler $200.
To sign up for this tour please click the link below in green box
Below you will find links to a PDF itinerary book that you can print out and keep, and you also have a link to the ebook too!
Click each icon on the map to see videos and info.
Link to see map
We are delighted to offer you an amazing Halloween journey to Ireland where we share our traditions originated from ancient harvest festivals in Ireland particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain (sow an). It celebrated the harvest, end of summer and welcomed in the winter. Its roots are pagan and many of the customs associated with Halloween come from pagan Ireland. Traditions such as lighting fires on the land the night of Oct 31st and driving the cattle between the two fires to cleanse them of evil spirits. Throwing the tea leaves from the tea pot out to the fairies. Blessing the house with holy water to protect it from angry spirits coming through on Nov 1st when the veil is at its thinnest.
We want to share our customs, traditions, culture, our haunted Castles, Abbeys, houses and land with you. Come with Secret Ireland Tours and Haunted Journeys to Ireland and experience the Irish spirits for yourself.
Scroll down past itinerary to learn about Costs/payment methods/ what costs does/does not cover.
Itinerary Subject to slight change.
Day 1
We pick you up at Dublin airport and bring you into Dublin city. Our first stop is the very haunted Kilmainham gaol. The is now a very famous historic museum but during the 1916 rising this is where 16 of the rising leaders were executed by the British forces. There are many historic documents housed in the jail and you might even catch a glimpse of a ghost or two. We then visit the very haunted Dublin Castle. Dating back to the 13th century on the site of a Viking settlement, Dublin Castle served for centuries as the headquarters of the British administration in Ireland. Apparently the castle is said to be absolutely packed with visitors of the supernatural variety, so well worth a visit for those who love ghost hunting. We finish off the day with a pub crawl around the famous Temple Bar area of Dublin. We stay in two hotels in Swords, The Forty Four on Main St, and the Carnegie Court Hotel for two nights.
Day 2
We take a very scenic drive south of Dublin today to Wicklow where we visit Wicklow Light house and Wicklow Jail. Both places have a long and dark histories. Wicklow Jail has been a prison since the late eighteenth century. Prisoners from the 1798 rebellion and the Great Famine were held there. It also held some republican prisoners during the Irish war of Independence and Irish Civil War. The last prisoners left in 1924. It is now a museum but it is reported to be one of the worlds most haunted buildings due to the long history of suffering associated with it.
Hell Fire Club is on Montpelier Hill, Dublin. It is believed to be the first Freemason lodge in Ireland. It dates back to around 1725 and is reputed to be very haunted.
Day 3
Today we leave Dublin and go across the country to Sligo in the North West. But on the way we visit a few places with dark and troubled histories. Our first stop is Belvedere House in Co Westmeath. This house was owned by the Rochforts, a very old and influential family who came to Ireland during the 13th century. The 1st Earl of Belvedere was a member of Parliament for Westmeath. He married Mary Molesworth who was a very talented lady and was known in the theatrical circles in Dublin. The Earl was well known for his selfish qualities. Lady Belvedere gave birth to a son but was very lonely because her husband spent much of his time in London and was known for being unfaithful to his wife, but he was also a very jealous man and he accused her of having an affair with his brother. He took their son from her and locked her in a room in the house where she stayed for 30 years until she died.
His brother built a bigger mansion in the valley and Lord Belvedere could not stand to look at it so he built a "jealous wall" between the two mansions which is there to this day.
We then call into Strokestown House and gardens. Again a very troubled history built on the site of a 16th century castle, home of the Pakenham Mahon family. The landlord Major Denis Mahon was assassinated in Nov 1847 at the height of the Great Famine. The National Famine Museum is housed there now and it is very fitting because it houses many of the original documents which came to light during the restoration of the house. The house has a galleried kitchen, elegant vaulted stables, a six-acre walled garden, mausoleum and a lodge. Many haunted stories abound about this house.
Our last stop today is Lough Key Forest Park. Here you will see from the shores of Lough Key an 11th century castle on an island on the lake. There are many stories about the castle and many songs written telling the story of Una Bhán who was the daughter of the King. Lots of history here and we will tell you all about it and we might even sing a song or two that tells you the love stories too!
We stay in two rural, family run hotels two mins from each other in Sligo while there.
Day 4
We take another scenic drive west this time to Westport house and Gardens and then on to Kylemore Abbey.
Even if the sun is not shining you are going to enjoy the journey through the luscious green countryside today. Our first stop will be Westport house which is full of history. Its history goes as far back as the 16th century when Grace O'Malley the pirate Queen of Connacht ruled the land and seas around the estate. Built upon the foundations of one of her many castles which can still be toured in the dungeons today, the original Westport House was built in 1650.
We then go further West to Kylemore Abbey and walled garden. Kylemore Abbey has a history of tragedy, romance, education and spirituality. It has a 6 acre Victorian walled garden, beautiful lakeshore walks, neo-Gothic Church and a Mausoleum where Mitchell and Margaret Henry are buried side by side. Breath-taking scenery and you have dining and shopping options also. Its a must see.
Day 5
We take another scenic drive today, we go to North Sligo and take a coastal drive around the Mullaghmore coastline, then we drive around the horseshoe drive at the back of our famous mountain Benbulben and we visit Glencar waterfall too!
Day 6
Morning trip to an underground passage tomb that pre-dates the pyramids by 800 years. The is an amazing place called Carrowkeel passage tombs. You will feel like your have been transported back in time when you visit this place. We then go back to our accommodation and relax for a while because we will be leaving again in the evening to go to Sligo town where we will be brought to some of the most haunted places. You will get to see where Bram Stoker's parents are buried. You will see the ruins of Lisheen house that is reputed to have a poltergeist. We will then take in a traditional session of music held in the oldest pub in Sligo.
Day 7
Today we take a journey to the world's most haunted Castle, Leap Castle. Leap Castle is in Co Offaly.
A turbulent and bloody history, used as a fortress, home and tomb. Leap Castle is home to many fascinating and sometimes horrific spirits.
Built in the early 1500’s under the supervision of the powerful and warring O’Carroll clan, Leap Castle has been the centre of much bloodshed and brutal atrocities. We will spend the day here.
Day 8
We make the journey back to Dublin today and say goodbye to the North West. We are going to visit Malahide Castle and the very haunted Brazenhead pub before settling into our own Castle accommodation in South Dublin. We are staying in a 17th century real Irish castle called Fitzpatricks Castle. All the old world charm of a castle but is a 5 star hotel with all the modern conveniences. It is also haunted.
Day 9
We bring you back to the airport today, and we don't like saying goodbye so we won't. We will say until you come to Ireland with us again, we wish you well and safe journey home.
Costs and methods of Payment:
1st payment method,
One payment of $1750 per person sharing on or before May 20th. 2022
2nd payment method:
Pay a deposit of $250 by May 20th and pay balance by July 9th 2022
3rd payment method:
Deposit paid ASAP and we can start installment payments as soon as you choose.
Click the links below to learn more about your accommodation for this trip
Click this link to book and pay online
We accept Checks, bank draft, postal order, payment through Venmo or we can send you a invoice and you can pay online at mai@secretirelandtoursllc.com
Please make your check out to:
Secret Ireland Tours
P.O. Box 75059
Ft Thomas
Kentucky,
41075-0059
What your cost covers:
1 Airport transfers.
2 8 breakfasts.
3 Luxury Coach.
4 Expert Driver.
5 Expert Secret Ireland Tours guide.
6 Expert Medium.
7 Fee's into all venue's on itinerary.
8 Snacks and soft drinks on bus.
9 Accommodation in a rural, family run hotels both in Dublin and Sligo and 1 night in a 5 star Castle.
10 All taxes and charges associated with accommodation.
11 Musical entertainment some nights.
Contract for this tour
Please click on link below to read our contract for this trip. You can print it out and post it to our address or sign in and email it back to us.
What is not included.
1 Airfare
2 Evening meals
3 Entry fee's into venues not on itinerary.
4 Travel insurance.
Travel Insurance
We recommend that you purchase a travel insurance protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer Travel Insurance through Travelex Insurance Services, or our second option is Trawick International. For more information on available plans on or to enroll, Click either the links below or the icons.
https://www.trawickinternational.com/?agent=12831
https://www.travelexinsurance.com/index.aspx?location=17-0074&go=bp
Travelex Insurance Services, INc CA agency Licence#oD10209. Travel Insurance is underwritten by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC #22275 55Y
