The final day of my Wild West Clare-Connemara-Galway Tour was a quiet wrap-up to a week of history, myth, legend, song and breathtaking sights.

But quiet doesn’t mean dull! Far from it, in fact. It was a perfect day for anyone who,…

A lovely day for a cruise…and that’s exactly what we did!

We left our B&B early and drove through gently-rolling, sheep-dotted hills, while the clouds chased the sun and the sun chased back in a wind-blown game of “Catch me if you can.” There is no sky quite like an Irish sky!

And as we drove…

But according to our alumni “Wild Westies”; or people who travel with us on a Wild West Irish Tour, nothing is more surprising than these top three [technically four] things:

1. The Fairy Glen…

As of today, you now have the opportunity to virtually visit The Wild West of Ireland.

The Heart of the Wild West!

Wild West Irish Tours…

By John Yacobian

Special to TheWildGeese.com

John Yacobian, producer for Grace Pictures' documentary, "An Unreliable Witness," offered tips on travel to Ireland's spectacular north country—Derry, Donegal, and Antrim for us back in 2004.

(Right: The author at Donegal's Horn…

As the crisp air blows down the rocky hills and shadows creep on across Western walls of leaning stones, the great Celtic Pilgrimage finds itself in the home stretch.

The Westies of the Wild Irish West Tours came to Ireland visitors -- some returning, some new -- with a specific focus in mind: to tap into Irish…

The oratory of St. Colman echoes with hundreds upon hundreds of years worth of worshipful memory.

In a secluded glade of ancient trees nestled against the breast of the Burren, a landscape so surreal and old it seems the surface of a planet in a galaxy far, far away, the ruins of yet another holy structure keep…

To fully experience the Celtic spirit, one must embrace not only the essence of a pilgrim, but also the land the pilgrim walks upon.

Places such as Galway's Brigit's Garden are sacred keepers of beloved earthly traditions. A calendar year in the form of gardens lovingly corralled by their keepers, the Garden…

All Souls Night. A time of bonfires bursting to life beneath a cloudy sky. The grass wet from late Autumn mists that tumble haphazardly down the mountainsides as if driven by reckless celestial abandon. The soft moan of wind as it rushes through the caverns and craggy hills, meeting the water trickling into emerald…

There is poetry written into this land. Much like there is poetry written into the Irish soul. Poetry is not, as many think, a pretty art of whimsy and folly. Poetry, more oft than not, is the rawest and freest means of expression a person can have. I have always written poetry, but I began writing it…

The ritual of cleansing oneself with water to begin anew is an old one.

From the seemingly simple act of taking a shower to the tradition of baptising a baby, water is seen as a nurturing source of life and a cyclical element. Its passage through the world, be it fresh or saltwater, is a constant variable…

There is something deeply engrained in our makeup as a species to seek out our roots. To water them with knowledge and expressively branch out into the universe with greater understanding. To discover what makes us grow. We are constantly reaching for the stars, the skies, the freedom to be and encompass all we…

Lights of Boston trail away,

wisps on winds born of steely birds

which skim the oceans with shadows stray

and bring with them one thousand words.

Soft chime the bells of sojourn's song,

Through leaves aflame in glorious hue,

Far be it from me to to wonder long

And wander on cosmic cue.

The curtain call of Autumn's end

In her one last elegant bow,'

Gestures on to something…

In 2011, I explored the farming area of Ardsallagh in the Clashmore parish of Waterford. My Hogan ancestors farmed in this area, which overlooks the Blackwater River. We enjoyed crossing the bridge to Youghal in County Cork and doing research in the Waterford library in Dungarvan, where my Whelan ancestors lived. Would love to…

I cannot Thank Gerry Regan, Michael and Trish of Wild West Irish Tours and the staff at WOW Airlines enough for the trip of a lifetime!  I've been without Internet access, and will be getting together with Dan again over Thanksgiving to retell the trip to family and friends and get our pics together ... I was able to get some great shots before my camera quit, and luckily Dan was able to get what I did not. I'll also be showing him how to upload and attach pics to e-mail!

BUT THE…

In Irish mythology, a "thin place" was a divider between the physical, tangible world and the "otherworld" of dreams, the afterlife, and other unseen but very real dimensions hiding behind the veil of reality. Thin places could be actual places or they could be seasons of change. The night of Samhain (sow-in), the Celtic…

The Wild Atlantic Way waters are alive with all kinds of marine creatures ... with their own interesting stories to tell.…

Among the many islands that scatter the coastline of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, you'll find traditions and cultures proudly being kept alive. Explore just some of these incredible stories!…

Whether a seasoned waverider or a novice to a surfboard, the Wild Atlantic Way is home to some of the most exhilarating surfing locations in the world including Lahinch, Strandhill and Bundoran. Have a look at …

Exploring the expansive 2,500-km route of the Wild Atlantic Way can be a formidable prospect.Take a look at our 10 must-see locations to visit along the route! (Pictured here…