9days / 8 nights of Music, + Sightseeing in Ireland
with COMPTON + NEWBERRY
Small Group Tour - maximum 25 people!
MAY 30 - JUNE 07, 2026
EARLY SUMMER 2026...
🍀 Step into the heart of Ireland like never before! Join us on an unforgettable journey, where centuries-old traditions, breathtaking landscapes and new friendships come together for an immersive cultural experience. Discover Ireland’s soul, one incredible stop at a time.
Spend close-up time with bluegrass favourites Compton + Newberry, along with special guests, in a most unique setting, in one of the most beautiful and friendly countries in the world!🍀
🎉 Highlights include: Authentic Irish traditional music in cozy pubs / visits to Castles, Cliffs + iconic landmarks / Irish Cuisine
Bring a little bluegrass to Ireland with the Mike Compton + Joe Newberry and discover Ireland's beauty together!
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
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Private motorcoach with professional driver
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Dedicated local historian / tour guide
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8 nights accommodation in castles / manors / boutique hotels
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14 meals - 8 full Irish breakfasts plus 6 group dinners
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Entrance fees into historic sites
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Entrance fees into scheduled music events
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Bluegrass jams and Irish traditional sessions with guest musicians
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ADDITIONAL NIGHTS ANYWHERE IN IRELAND CAN BE ARRANGED BEFORE OR AFTER THE TOUR - ask us about special deals!
Mike Compton / Joe Newberry
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Visit the beautiful, historic sites of Ireland!
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Enjoy Irish music and experience traditional Irish sessions in quaint Irish listening venues!
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Travel with bluegrass favourites Compton + Newberry, along with special guests, in a most unique setting, in one of the most beautiful and friendly countries in the world!
MEET JOE - our resident Archeologist + Tour Guide!
Joe is widely recognized as one of Ireland’s most respected archaeologists, bringing a depth of knowledge and passion that few can match. With a lifelong dedication to archaeology and Irish history, he offers guests an understanding of the region that goes far beyond what’s found in guidebooks or typical tour experiences.
What makes time with Joe truly unforgettable is his ability to bring Ireland’s past to life. He shares stories shaped by years of hands-on work, research, and exploration—often in places well off the traditional tourism path. These lesser-known sites are rich with cultural significance, hidden history, and authentic glimpses into Irish life across the centuries.Joe’s commitment to preservation is central to his work. He is deeply involved in protecting and revitalizing historical monuments for future generations, and he actively supports community engagement with sites of archaeological and historical importance.One of his most meaningful current projects is the restoration of the medieval Killilagh Church in the Doolin area. His long-term efforts focus on stabilizing the structure, preventing further deterioration, and honoring the heritage of this remarkable site. Alongside this, he is conducting a comprehensive graveyard survey at Killilagh and strives to strengthen the connection between Doolin and the Irish diaspora in the United States.Guests who tour with Joe not only see historic Ireland—they experience it through the eyes of someone who has dedicated his life to understanding and preserving it. It’s an opportunity to explore Ireland with a guide whose expertise, passion, and perspective create a journey you simply won’t find anywhere else.
FAQs:
DO I HAVE TO BE A BLUEGRASS FAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TOUR?
Absolutely not! All are welcome - spouses, partners, friends, travel enthusiasts etc! This is an enjoyable tour of Ireland, visiting many historical sites. The tour will encompass sightseeing, shopping, attending bluegrass and Irish music events and many other activities!
WILL THERE BE IRISH MUSIC JAMS/SESSIONS?
Yes, absolutely!
There will be opportunities to attend (and participate if you wish) in Irish music sessions, hosted by local Irish traditional musicians along the way.
WHAT IF I WANT TO EXTEND MY TRIP IN IRELAND?
We are happy to arrange additional nights anywhere in Ireland for you, for before or after the tour! Just ask us for further details.We have some great recommendations and deals!
ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED?
No. Participants may be departing from various locations, and as many people prefer to choose their airline / flight routing, and also add extra days in Ireland before or after the tour, this is a land-only package. We're happy to refer you to an American based agency who can assist you with the flights if you require.
Mike Compton, a Grammy-winning mandolinist, is widely recognized for his mastery of the Monroe-style mandolin playing. With a career spanning over four decades, Compton has collaborated with legendary artists such as John Hartford, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Elvis Costello, Ralph Stanley as well as a featured performer on the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack as well as a mainstay in the two highly successful tours that followed. Mike has done two consecutive years Artist in Residence at East Tennessee State University's "Appalachian Studies/Bluegrass and Old Time" Program. His unique blend of bluegrass, old-time, and traditional music has captivated audiences across the globe.
Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” won the IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared the IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.” A longtime and frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was also a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions tour of the U.K., and at the Transatlantic Session's debut at Merlefest. Growing up in a Missouri family full of singers and dancers, he took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned tunes and songs from mentors from coast to coast.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
(subject to change)
(29May)-depart from your chosen location (if coming from North America or Australia/Asia)!
DAY1 -
(Sat 30May) - COUNTY WICKLOW
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Arrive in IRELAND... MEET in Dublin Airport
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Meet and greet the tour guide and board our coach to travel south to County Wicklow. Glendalough is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. From 1825 to 1957, the head of the Glendalough Valley was the site of a galena lead mine. Glendalough is also a recreational area for picnics, walking along networks of maintained trails of varying difficulty, and for rock climbing. It's also where a number of movies have been filmed, due to its 'timeless' landscape.
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Tonight's accommodation t/b/c.
DAY2 (Sun 31May) - KILKENNY
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Today After breakfast, we'll visit the medieval city of Kilkenny. Built on the banks of the River Nore, Kilkenny began with an early 6th century ecclesiastical foundation within the Kingdom of Ossary. Following the 12th century Norman invasion of Ireland, Kilkenny Castle and a series of walls were built to protect the burghers of what became a Norman merchant town. Kilkenny is a welcoming city, with plenty of shops, pubs and eateries.
DAY3 (Mon 01Jun) - MIDLANDS / ATHLONE / LEITRIM
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Today we will head northwest toward the beautiful county of Leitrim. Leitrim has a hilly and mountainous landscape to the northwest, and flat terrain to the southeast, although it encompasses numerous lakes and waterfalls. For 400 years, Leitrim was also home of the Arigna coal Mines.
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Tonight's accommodation will be at Lough Rynn Castle, where we will stay and dine in luxury for 2 nights.
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DAY4 (Tue 02Jun) - LEITRIM / LONGFORD / SLIGO
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After breakfast, we can relax and enjoy the grounds and gardens of Lough Rynn Estate. In the afternoon, we'll head off to explore the county of Sligo, part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
DAY5 (Wed 03Jun) - SLIGO / DONEGAL
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After breakfast, we check out of Lough Rynn Castle, explore Sligo + Donegal, taking in the Wild Atlantic Way...... in Donegal, we will check in to Lough Eske Castle, where we will dine and stay tonight.
DAY6 (Thurs 04Jun) - SOUTH DONEGAL / MAYO
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After breakfast, we check out of Lough Eske Castle, and head south to County Mayo, stopping along the way to visit the Country Life Museum, and finally arriving in the seaside heritage town of Westport. This friendly, quaint town is nestled between Croagh Patrick (regularly climbed by adventurous visitors as a pilgrimage to the Saint it's named after), Clew Bay’s islands, and the Nephin Mountains.
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We will arrive in time to explore the town at night and attend Westport's Folk + Bluegrass music festival. Plenty of Irish and bluegrass music in the pubs throughout the town tonight.
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Tonight's accommodation will be at the beautiful, family run Westport Plaza Hotel, where we will stay and dine for 2 nights.
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DAY7 (Fri 05Jun) - WESTPORT
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After breakfast, you'll be free to spend the day taking in Westport's Folk and Bluegrass Festival.
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Tonight we'll attend the festival's main concert featuring COMPTON + NEWBERRY, along with some other great talents. Your tour package already includes tickets to tonight's show, so enjoy the festival!
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DAY8 (Sat 06Jun) - CONNEMARA / CLARE
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After a well-prepared breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head south through the historic region of Connemara, taking in the west coast of counties Galway and Clare. On the way to tonight's hotel, we'll journey through a portion of the ancient Burren - a unique landscape characterised by vast limestone pavements, deep fissures and underground caves. The area, also known as "Boireann" (meaning 'great rock') encompasses over 200 square miles and is one of Ireland's great archaeological sites. The Burre is full of ancient ruins, diverse flora, unique geological formations, stone forts, tombs and cooking sites, dating back thousands of years to the Stone Age and Bronze Age.
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Tonight we'll settle in to our final night's hotel, in the great music town of Ennis where you will be free to enjoy one of the many traditional Irish sessions, which take place in the local pubs as well as within the hotel itself.
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DAY9 (Sun 07Jun)
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Final morning to start the day with a full Irish breakfast , then check out of the hotel and we say goodbye until next time….! Our bus will shuttle passengers to Shannon Airport. We will, of course, assist with anyone wishing alternate travel arrangements.
CUSTOMARY GRATUITIES FOR TOUR GUIDE AND DRIVER NOT INCLUDED.
FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW!
THIS IS A LAND PACKAGE ONLY.
FLIGHTS/ AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED.
TOUR BEGINS IN DUBLIN and ENDS IN SHANNON <coach picks up on first morning of tour at arrivals hall in Dublin Airport and finishes up in Shannon at end of tour>
RESERVE YOUR SPOT FOR A SMALL DEPOSIT (350 FOR SINGLE / 500 FOR DOUBLE/TWIN ROOM
Deposits are non-refundable
TOTAL TOUR ORICE 3695 P/P/S, based on double or twin occupancy.
Price quoted in Euros. Due to currency fluctuation, the dollar amount is not guaranteed and is subject to change until time of final payment.
Deposits are non-refundable. Final payments will be non-refundable within 120 days of start of programme.. It is advisable for participants to secure their own travel/health insurance in the event of illness or cancellation. IATW reserves the right to alter or change any and all details of this trip as necessary. /
Further information at
IrelandAlongTheWay@gmail.com PH: 615-955-4575
