Travel with Brack Tours

In this latest Episode we chat with Tom Sweeney. Tom is a balladeer, songwriter and storyteller from Omagh, County Tyrone and a genuine ‘rarity’ in the field of Irish singing. He has spent nearly twenty years in Nova Scotia, Canada plying his musical trade. In 1998 he accepted a personal invitation by then president, Bill Clinton, to perform his song 'Anthem for the Children' in the White House. His audiences range from four and five year-olds right up to the thousands who regularly attend his performances on the stages of the U.S. and Canada’s premier Irish music festivals. Tom has an extensive back-catalogue of recorded music and continues to release albums for children and adults alike. He is a frequent traveller with Brack tours and organises many tour with his fellow musicians Brian Doherty and Kevin Evans. He talks to us about his life, his joy of music and love of Ireland. We hop you enjoy his story. Also check out there new tour for 2022 on our website www.brack tours.com 

In our latest episode we are joined by Donal and Cliona from Standun’s, a Family-Run Clothing & Gift Department store that was founded in 1946 by May and Máirtín Standún, and has been a landmark in Spiddal, Connemara, Co. Galway ever since. The store is now run by May & Máirtín's Grandchildren - sisters Clíona & Laragh Standún and previously by their son Donal. But the story is what our podcast reflects on and how from romance a family business blossomed which reflects all that is best in Irish and International produce marrying the traditional and contemporary to stunning effect. A remarkable Irish success story. A must listen to podcast. We hope you enjoy. 

In this Episode we head to the Sunny South east of Ireland and Waterford city where we chat with our good friend, Jack Burtchaell. Renowned for his excellent walking tours of Waterford's Viking Triangle, Jack enlightens us with his sense of humour and brings his story alive through his narrative and interaction with his guests. A natural storyteller (or what we call a seanchaí in Ireland) he has many awards and also publications to his name. Always a big hit with Brack tours clients. We are also joined by Peter Clarke from Brack tours, a long time friend of Jack. We hope you enjoy this episode. 

In our latest episode we talk with Eimear Flannagan from A Way A Wee Walk on her walking tours along the stunning Giant’s Causeway and her Clifftop experience now part of Tourism Northern Ireland's Giant Experiences initiative. Eimear's passion for the outdoors and sustainable tourism shines through and we are delighted to have her on this episode. We then talk to Mary Magee, Tourism Business Engagement Officer with the Mid Ulster Council. Mary has a passion for tourism and has been a driving force for the tourism industry in the region. She also tells us about the many Giant Experiences developed in the Mid Ulster region in cooperation with Tourism Northern Ireland and how her role has been crucial in helping local industry partners develop their tourism offerings. We hope you enjoy. 

Welcome to this special podcast Edition of Travel with Brack Tours. With St Patricks Day just around the corner we caught up with Ireland’s only Leprechaun whisper, yes you heard me right, a Leprechaun whisper. His name is Kevin Woods and he lives in the Medieval heritage village of Carlingford in County Louth situated in Irelands Ancient East. Know locally as ‘McCoillte’ Kevin Woods is Ireland’s last Leprechaun Whisperer. In 2002 he found the gold coins in a stone wall on Ghan Road Carlingford which enabled him to communicate  with “Carraig” the elder of the 236 surviving leprechauns. To hear the rest of the story you'll have to tune in...!

In this Episode we chat with Dr Tim Campbell, Director of St Patricks Centre Downpatrick, the only permanent exhibition to St Patrick in the World. The centre is open 20 years in 2021 and Tim explains his role and how the centre has developed over the years. We also chat with Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly who have designed a new Camino-style pilgrim walk during lockdown to encourage people to come and enjoy the countryside and to experience the rich legacy of our patron saint and the beauty and history of Downpatrick. Martina has taken on a marketing role at the St Patrick Centre. Brack tours own Peter Clarke also joins in on the conversation. It turns out to be a really uplifting story. We hope you enjoy!

In this episode Colm talks to Laura Hoover Lamb, owner of Ireland Equestrian Tours. Laura chats to us about her Irish Equestrian tours, her love of Ireland and why she has partnered with Brack Tours to help her develop and create exciting products that add to her Unique style of showcasing Ireland.

In our latest Episode we talk to Rory Makem and Donal Clancy, sons of the Folk singers Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy who along with Liam’s brothers, Paddy and Tom are widely credited with popularising Irish Folk music in the United States and creating a boom in Irish Folk music back home in Ireland after their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Listen to their fascinating story of growing up around their famous fathers and their own musical journey. They are also joined by Peter Clarke from Brack tours where they talk about their upcoming tour in 2021.

Episode 4 Travel with Brack Tours

In our latest Episode we travel to the North West of Ireland and the City of Derry where we talk to Ronan McNamara of McNamara Tours and Karen Henderson of Visit Derry.

Ronan talks about his City tours and his love of the Walled City and his background growing up in Ireland. He is a natural storyteller and breathes life into each and every word. Born of Buddhist and Irish extraction his uniqueness lies in his cultural mix and his great Irish accent.

Karen, a native of County Armagh is a vibrant part of the Team at Visit Derry. She gives an insight into her role within the organisation and the unique experiences offered. She also talks about the new Visit Derry Visitor Centre and Unlocking the Walled City Experience. We hope you enjoy their story.

In this Episode Colm talks to Timmy Donovan of Sean’s Bar Athlone. The bar is situated on the Banks of the River Shannon in the centre of Athlone and is Ireland’s oldest bar, verified by the Guinness Book of Records and a favourite on Brack Tours’ itineraries. Timmy tells the story of how he got involved with the bar and how it earned the title of The Oldest Pub In Ireland, and perhaps soon The Oldest Pub in the World. Recently Sean's Bar has become famous for its own whiskey and Timmy touches on how the origins of whiskey began around Athlone in the 6th Century on the Islands on Lough Ree on the River Shannon. He also mentions other fascinating facts about the bar and why it has become so popular with visitors from far and wide. We hope you enjoy the listen.