Cœur de l'Irlande — Connemara — May 2027
The Connemara Tour
Irlande & Connemara — guided bilingually in French & English by Shane Hayes.
From Dublin to the Atlantic edge — the Ireland that stays with you.
The dark peat bogs of Connemara.
The crashing waves of Achill Island.
The narrow laneways of Galway.
This seven-day journey moves through the west of Ireland in the company of Shane Hayes — musician, guide, Connemara native — who leads the tour bilingually in French and English throughout.
From Dublin's legendary pubs and the Guinness Storehouse, west to Westport and Clew Bay, then deep into the landscapes of Achill and Connemara, through Galway and the limestone plateau of the Burren, and on to the Cliffs of Moher — this is a complete portrait of the island's Atlantic coast.
Seven days. Two languages. One unforgettable landscape.
Book Now'Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla clíste''Broken Irish is better than clever English' — Irish proverb
This is our first Connemara tour — below are some images from our other Ireland journeys to give you a flavour of what a Shane Hayes Ireland tour looks and feels like.
A Journey in Three Chapters
Dublin to the Atlantic. The wild interior of Connemara. The ancient limestone south — seven days through the Ireland that endures.
Dublin & Westport
The journey opens in Dublin — Ireland's capital at its most hospitable. The Guinness Storehouse. The legendary pubs of Temple Bar. A pint and a session to set the tone.
Then west to Westport — one of Ireland's most charming towns, set on Clew Bay with its 365 islands. A cruise across the bay. Westport House. The beginning of the Atlantic world.
Day 1: Dublin — arrival, Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar music session.
Day 2: Westport — Westport House, Clew Bay cruise, group dinner.
Achill, Connemara & Galway
Achill Island is one of the great Atlantic experiences — dramatic cliffs, deserted beaches, and a whiskey distillery that uses the island's Atlantic air in its production. Matt Molloy's pub in Westport for a music session afterwards.
Then into the heart of Connemara — bog and mountain and the particular silence of the west. A stop at Leenaun. Kylemore Abbey on its lake. Clifden, the capital of Connemara.
Galway — the city of tribes. Ancient streets, a living traditional music scene, the warmth of a university city that takes its culture seriously.
Day 3: Achill Island — distillery, Achill cliffs, Matt Molloy's.
Day 4: Connemara — Leenaun, Kylemore Abbey, Clifden. Group dinner.
Day 5: Galway & the Burren — Poulnabrone Dolmen, group dinner.
Ennis, the Burren & the Cliffs of Moher
Ennis is the heartbeat of traditional Irish music — the county town of Clare, where every pub has a session and the music is lived rather than performed. Shane's connection to this town runs deep.
The Cliffs of Moher need no introduction, but they deserve time — 214 metres above the Atlantic, stretching for eight kilometres along the Clare coast. In May, with the spring light, they are extraordinary.
Doolin, below the cliffs, is one of the great traditional music villages. The farewell dinner brings the journey to a close in the best possible way — around a table, with music, in the west of Ireland.
Day 6: Ennis, Cliffs of Moher, Doolin — farewell group dinner.
Day 7: Departure — breakfast, transfer to airport.
The Shape of the Week
Seven days. Dublin to the Atlantic and back.
The tour begins in Dublin and moves steadily west — through Westport and Achill Island, deep into the landscape of Connemara, through the cultural energy of Galway, and down to the limestone plateau of the Burren and the drama of the Cliffs of Moher.
What makes this tour unique is Shane's bilingual hosting throughout — French and English — designed for French-speaking travellers who want to experience Ireland at its most authentic. Not translated signage, not a French-language audio guide: a genuine bilingual host who speaks both languages fluently and knows both cultures well.
May is a beautiful time on the west coast. The days are long. The countryside is at its greenest. The Atlantic sea-light is extraordinary.
Private coach throughout.
4-star hotels throughout.
Four group dinners included. Shane with the group every day.
Shane Hayes
Led by Shane — internationally touring Irish musician, bilingual French/English host, Florence-based resident and founder of award-winning folk band Socks in the Frying Pan. Shane grew up connected to the landscapes and music of the Irish west. He hosts this tour in both French and English throughout the full seven days — providing not just cultural context, but the kind of access to places, people and sessions that only comes from knowing Ireland from the inside.
The Offer
Airfare not included
Single supplement available on request
Bilingual hosting in French & English throughout
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FAQ
Everything you need to know before booking. If you have a question that isn't answered here, use the contact form below.
The tour is hosted bilingually throughout — French and English — so it's designed to be fully accessible to French speakers, while also being perfectly enjoyable for English speakers in the group. Shane moves naturally between both languages. Nobody feels left out.
This tour is for people who want to see the real west of Ireland — Connemara, Achill, Galway, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher — in the company of someone who knows it deeply. It's particularly suited to French-speaking travellers who want an authentic, fully bilingual experience rather than a translated version of a standard tour.
Yes — traditional Irish music is woven throughout the week. Shane performs himself during the tour, and the itinerary includes evenings at some of the west's most celebrated music pubs — including the legendary Matt Molloy's in Westport and sessions in Doolin and Ennis, the heartland of Irish traditional music.
May is one of the best months on the Irish west coast. The days are long and the countryside is at its most vibrant green. The summer tourist rush hasn't arrived yet, so the roads, pubs and sites are at a much better rhythm. The Atlantic light in late spring is extraordinary.
One coach. The group is kept to a single private coach — small enough to feel personal, large enough to feel social. Shane is with the group throughout every day of the tour.
Absolutely. Solo travellers are very welcome and the small group format is naturally sociable. A single supplement applies for private rooms — available on request.
- Bilingual French/English guide (Shane Hayes) throughout
- Private coach throughout
- 4-star hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Four group dinners
- Guinness Storehouse visit
- Achill Island Distillery visit & tasting
- Westport House & Clew Bay cruise
- Kylemore Abbey
- Traditional music sessions throughout
Airfare, other admissions not listed, and single supplement are not included.
Thank you!
Shane will be in touch with you personally within 24 hours. We can't wait to start planning your journey.
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