Travel Tales with Fergal

The 2nd Connemara Destination episode is an interview with Henry Hodgson from Currarevagh House, whose family were founding members of Ireland’s Blue Book collection, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Currarevagh House is an early Victorian Country House, set in 180 acres of private parkland and woodland bordering on Lough Corrib. Visit here https://currarevagh.comThe Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches from Donegal to Cork, over 2,500 winding kms of glorious scenery, beaches, villages and hotels, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and we will be interviewing famous hoteliers along this world famous route over the coming months. I love the Blue Book because they are mostly 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. A Blue Book voucher would always be my top travel gift recommendation 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 100 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

The Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches from Donegal to Cork, over 2,500 winding kms of glorious scenery, beaches, villages and hotels, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and we will be interviewing famous hoteliers along this world famous route over the coming months. The first two Connemara Destination episodes focus on Connemara with interviews with two hoteliers Brian McEvilly from the Cashel House Hotel and Henry Hodgson from Currarevagh House who are both founding members of Ireland’s Blue Book collection, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.I love the Blue Book because they are mostly 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. A Blue Book voucher would always be my top travel gift recommendation and their website is https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie.Situated in the heart of Connemara, the Cashel House Hotel overlooks the majestic Cashel Bay on the west coast of Ireland. This classic country house retreat was built in the 19th century and converted to a family-run four-star hotel in 1968 by the McEvilly family. I had a great chat with Brian all about Connemara, the Wild Atlantic Way, tip and recommendations and the history of his family’s hotel. Check them here https://www.cashelhouse.ieIf 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 100 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal 

Irishman Dermot Cosgrove lived the life of an old school adventurer by leaving home as a teenager to join the mythical French Foreign Legion before the Gulf War. Dermot served in some of the most dangerous conflict zones during the 90's in the Middle East and Africa. He has since worked as a security consultant in many conflict zones around the world. He takes us through his life from the arduous training as a legionnaire to being in the middle of firefights in Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a true adventurer and anyone who grew up reading about the renowned French Foreign Legion will find this episode fascinating.Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in over 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

I am delighted to say that my first guest of Season 6 is the legendary Irish adventurer Damian Browne, who was my very first guest on Season 1. Damian talks about his New York to Galway row and the subsequent documentary Man v Ocean which Damien is currently touring as a one man play around Ireland. Please subscribe or follow the podcast so you don't miss an episode this year and you won't want to miss the great guests and destination specials I have lined up for Season 6.Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in over 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

Check out my review of 2023 with my travel buddy Eimer. 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 over 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal 

I am interviewed today my Eimer my travel buddy all about our trip to the Turkish Turquoise or Lycian Coast. The blue-green hues of the sparkling sea of the Turkish Riviera has deservedly earned its moniker “the Turquoise Coast”. In fact, the word turquoise comes from the French word for Turkish. Turkey offers unique attractions where east meets west and the ancient meets modern. Everywhere you go along the Turquoise Coast you practically bump in ancient ruins and for me the highlight is the Turkish people themselves who have perfected the art of good hospitality. We chat about Kalkan, Kas, Fethiye - Olundeniz, Dalyan and Gocek.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 over 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal 

As we close out the year I chat about my fvourite travel books and as often happens on my travel slot on Clare FM I went off on many tangents. Keep an eye out next week for my espidoe on the Turkish Riviera and the annual end of yerar review.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 over 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal 

My guest today is Longford native Senator Micheál Garrigy, Seanad Spokesperson on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, and Media and previously the Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council. He is also chairperson of the County Longford Tourism Committee so the perfect guest to tell us now all about what Longford has to offer for tourists with its rich history, literature & culture.There are many more attractions and activities in Longford for tourists including the Royal Canal Greenway from Clondra to Dublin, which is the longest linear greenway in Ireland. The National Famine Way from Strokestown is also a great trail in Longford for walkers.For history buffs there is the Corlea Trackway Visitors Centre in Kenagh, which is home to an ancient Iron Age bog road which dates back to 148BC. Then there is also the Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre in Granard which is a Norman Ireland interactive visitors centre adjacent to Ireland’s tallest motte. Another great place to visit is the Maria Edgeworth Centre in Edgeworthstown which is located in the old schoolhouse in the town. The centre tells the story of one of Ireland’s leading female writers and is home to many original artifacts from the 18th century.Longford is home to Center Parcs Longford Forest, Ireland’s largest tourist attraction with over 100 activities on offer for up to 2,500 guests in luxurious guest lodges on-site and Ireland’s largest Spa – Aqua Sana Spa in the beautiful surrounds at Newcastle Woods. Longford is part of the Hidden Heartland brand and for more information on what makes Longford so special please click on https://www.longford.ie/en/see-do. 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 every Tuesday. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 100 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations. Please follow me onInstagram @traveltaleswithfergalFacebook @traveltaleswithfergalTwitter @FergalTravelYouTube @traveltaleswithfergal