I’m delighted to say that Irish travel journalist Conor Power returns to tell us all about his recent trip to the Maldives – a place he calls “paradise". Conor paints a magical picture for us on what it is like staying in those over tropical water villas in two hotels – the Kandima Maldives https://kandima.com and Nova Maldives https://nova-maldives.com. You can see pictures of these exquisite resorts on my @traveltaleswithfergal Instagram page.

This is the 5th year and 7th season of this podcast and for any new listeners, I would point you to over 80 great episodes of destination specials, adventurer stories and celebrity travel recommendations. I’ve some great trips already planned for 2025 that I’m looking forward to sharing with you over the year.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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As the 2025 Austria Alpine ski season begins, I interview travel ski journalist Cian Byrne about our recent December trip to the towns of Maria Alm in the Hochkonig region and Bad Gastein in the Gastein region, which are both part of the huge 760km ski area of Ski Amade near Salzburg. Visit https://www.skiamade.com/en for tips, trips and deals.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

#IrelandsBlueBook   #Meath 

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Welcome to my Co Meath destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, where we will be celebrating and discovering the historic and magical Boyne Valley with two local hoteliers over two episodes.

Today I am chatting to Tadhg Carolan from Tankardstown House, a Meath native and board member of Ireland’s Blue Book collection of family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. For more details go to https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/houses.html/station-house

Tankardstown Estate comprises an 18th Century Manor House, adjoining Orangery and a central courtyard of Cottage Suites. Tucked behind the Main House is the ‘Garden Village’, where classic evening dining takes place in the 2AA Rosette Restaurant, ‘Brabazon’, as well as serving casual lunch and Afternoon Tea.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

#IrelandsBlueBook   #Meath 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to my Co Meath destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, where we will be celebrating and discovering the historical and magical Boyne Valley with two local hoteliers over two episodes.

Today am chatting to Suzanne Mullen from the Station House Hotel, the newest member of Ireland’s Blue Book collection of family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. For more details go to https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/houses.html/station-house

The Station House Hotel is an award winning boutique hotel located in the heart of Ireland’s Ancient East and is set on 12 acres of manicured gardens and woodland and offers an idyllic country escape, approximately 40km from Dublin airport.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

#IrelandsBlueBook #TheStationHouseHotel #Meath

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I’m delighted to say my guest is the esteemed Irish travel journalist from print, radio and television Ed Finn and we discuss our recent trip to Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon in Spain.

Zaragoza is the fifth largest city in Spain. Zaragoza has impressive sites like the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar, the Cathedral of the Saviour, known as the SEO and the Aljafería Palace, the northernmost Spanish-Moorish palace in Europe.

Zaragoza is home to Aragon's Mudejar architectural treasures, which were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, including the SEO and the Aljafería.

Zaragoza is also famous for his links when chocolate came to Europe and as the world capital of Garnacha wine.

For more information on Zaragoza visit https://www.zaragoza.es

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest travel writer Conor Power shares his experiences from our recent trip to the wonderful region of Extremadura in south west Spain on the border of Portugal. We chat about the Ribera del Guadiana Wine and Cava Route, in the region of Extremadura and its wine-growing tradition and exquisite regional gastronomy, historical Roman and Moor heritage, archaeological sites, monasteries and castles.

This area is where the Spanish go on holidays for a cultural and food fix. It is in a way an idealised version of Spain with open planes of fields of vines and olive oil as far as the eye can see to the distant horizon. Think spaghetti westerns landscape where farms are often 1,000’s of acres. Where brilliant sunsets blaze the land orange every night. 

The capital Mérida is a destination you should put at the top of your list when it comes to visiting Extremadura. As the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania, Mérida boasts an impressive collection of Roman ruins that have earned it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Roman Theatre, still used for performances today, is a remarkable testament to the city’s ancient past. 

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In celebration of the 4th anniversary of this podcast, we have a US Election Special with Daniel Gilmore, a Republican and Sean O’Neill, a Democrat who discuss the current state of America in the lead up to one of the most anticipated elections in US history. They give a topical, informative and entertaining insight into the Trump v Harris campaigns, exactly 4 years after their last two episodes before and after the 2020 election.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Porto is gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s coolest cities both as a holiday destination and as a gateway to northern Portugal.

I explore this great city and the Minho region above Porto with lush green hills and Vino Vert vineyards and the stunning medieval towns of Braga and Ponte de Lima. I also talk about the areas below Porto including the Douro Valley, the Arouca region and the River Paiva which is great for rafting.

Check out my Instagram for more detailed info on the trip.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have just returned from a family holiday to Provence in France and I am in love with all things French. I discuss this magical part of France with my favourite returning guest and wife Eimer.

We talk about the glitzy beach town of Cassis on the coast,following in the footsteps of author Peter Mayle around the medieval hill towns of the Luberon and the city of Aix en Provence. We also cover the Alpilles region around St Remy and Beaucaire and the wonderful ancient Roman cities of Arles and Avignon. We talk about the great markets, restaurants, food and wines and the friendliness of the people of Provence. This is the episode for Francophiles!

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to my Donegal destination special, in conjunction with Ireland’s Blue Book, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches 2,500 kilometres along the west coast of Ireland from Donegal to Cork. The Blue Book is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Today we are focusing on Donegal, which is the start of the Wild Atlantic Way, with an interview with Karoline Sweeney from the Castle Grove Country House. Castle Grove is a family-run Georgian house, built in 1695 and set is its own 250-acre estate.

Castle Grove Country House is one of the few remaining private estates in the northwest of Ireland which overlooks Lough Swilly and is ideally placed between Letterkenny and Rathmullan so it’s the perfect base from which to explore beautiful Donegal and Wild Atlantic Way. For further details go to https://www.castlegrove.com

I love the Blue Book because they are generally family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. You really get to see Irish hospitality at its best and the properties are generally old country houses, so you get a real sense of the history of the area you are staying in and their website is https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.