Tom Deasy runs Tom’s Tours. Creating Bespoke tours around Ireland he also documents his journeys on his YouTube Chanel and social media pages. Follow this guy for some travel inspiration and you will definitely be hooked on exploring Ireland.

1. When did you decide you wanted to become a tour guide? Was there a particular “Aha!” moment?

Back in 2016 I took a week long holiday to show friends from Canada around Ireland and while I did so I remember thinking how I’d love to do this on a full time basis. Two weeks later I handed in my notice and have been slowly building Toms Tours ever since

2. What makes a great tour group for you?

Open mindedness is by far the most important factor in a group. This goes for a number of things such as open to other travellers views, hiccups in weather, transport and to be able to accept that things while travelling will be most definitely be a little different to how you’re used to them at home.

3. What parts of your tour still excite you?

Seeing travellers reactions at certain points of a tour, whether it’s walking into a 12th century castle, playing with a new born lamb or simply watching the Irish countryside open up in front of their eyes as we travel around.

4. Every guide brings unique strengths or special interests to their tour. What are yours?

You might have to ask my past travellers this but I would hope that they would agree that I try find a happy mix of history, rest time and activities. When on tour it is like a juggling act to try keep everybody happy but thankfully I’ve somehow managed to pull it off so far.

5. Where in Ireland do you want to travel that you haven’t gone yet?

Honestly there’s not too many places I have not been to yet. I travel around Ireland not just while on tour but also myself and my dog live the van life as much as possible so I’ve been lucky enough to have been to every corner of Ireland. If I was given a free pass doe a few days away right now I’d head up to the Causeway coastal route in Northern Ireland because it is a truly remarkable area and it has been a couple of years since being up there.

6. Here’s what “this tour guide” won’t tell you…but his customers will:

“Tom is the best tour director you could ever ask for. He was kind, funny, informative, and had outstanding patience for a group a mostly girls that ran a tad behind schedule hah. You can tell he is passionate about travel and that this isn’t just a job for him this really is his passion. I highly recommend Tom for your Ireland tour as you want someone who actually cares and loves the land they are guiding you through. Thank you Tom”