The Beery Soul of Ireland — Galway · Westport · Sligo · Donegal
$3,795.00
* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.
Description
Ireland: Beer, Music & Culture on the Wild Atlantic Way
May 31 – June 10
Trip Price (land-only, based on double occupancy): $3,795 per person (2027) · Single room add $895 · International airfare not included.
Travel with a small group of beer-loving humans along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, where pints, fiddles, and Atlantic winds all seem to blow in the same direction. We’ll drink modern Irish craft at some of the country’s most interesting breweries, soak up trad sessions in legendary pubs, wander historic streets with local guides, and watch green hills and stone walls roll past from our private mini-coach.
Beer is our lens, but Ireland gives us much more than beer alone. Expect Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival nights, oysters and chowder, Yeats country and Donegal’s wild cliffs, sheepdog demos and mine tours, and long evenings where a tune matters as much as what’s in your glass. It’s beer, music, and culture in perfect Irish balance — small-group travel at a relaxed pace, structured enough to show you the best of the west, open enough to follow the music wherever it leads.
Perfect For: Beer lovers, music fans, pub-culture enthusiasts and culturally curious travelers who enjoy the Wild Atlantic Way and small-group travel.
Galway, Westport, Sligo and Donegal — craft beer, trad sessions and Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival on Ireland’s west coast.
At a Glance
- Duration: 11 days total / 9 nights on the ground, plus overnight flight from the U.S.
- Group Size: Maximum 12 travelers
- Beer Focus: Modern Irish craft beer, farmhouse-influenced ales, barrel-aged stouts and classic pub culture
- Pace: Relaxed, with brewery visits, festival time, trad sessions and free days built in
- Walking Level: Easy to moderate walking, including historic towns, coastal paths and occasional uneven surfaces
- Transport: Private mini-coach throughout, with a friendly driver who knows the back roads
- Overnight Locations: Galway (2 nights), Westport (3 nights), Sligo (2 nights), Donegal Town (2 nights)
Your price is confirmed once your deposit has been accepted for this departure. Prices may vary based on hotel, transportation, supplier and currency costs.
Please select your room type above when joining the trip. Space and single-room availability are limited.
Future Trips
- 2027 | May 31 – June 10 | Early Booking
- 2028 | Early June | Interest List
Why BeerTrips?
For more than 25 years, BeerTrips has helped curious travelers experience great beer destinations through local culture, food, history and the people behind the breweries. Our small-group journeys are designed for travelers who want more than a checklist of sights and tastings.
This BeerTrip explores Ireland’s west through craft breweries, iconic pubs, live music and the landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way. Each day balances guided visits and cultural touring with free time for festival shows, coastal walks, museum stops or simply sitting with a pint and watching Ireland roll by.
- Small groups, typically 8–12 travelers
- Brewery access and local connections built over decades
- A balance of guided experiences and independent time
- Beer, food, culture and history woven together
- Led by people who genuinely love these destinations
Beer
Galway Bay at Oslo and The Salt House, farmhouse ales at Mescan, IPAs and barrel stouts at Lough Gill, Kinnegar on the Donegal coast — modern Irish craft beside centuries of pub culture.
Food
Galway oysters shucked at the table, Mayo lamb, Sligo chowder, Donegal boxty and coastal seafood — regional flavors built for long evenings with a pint and a tune.
Culture
Trad sessions at Tig Cóilí, Taaffes and The Crane Bar, Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival nights, Yeats country and Donegal’s Reel Inn — music as essential as the beer.
Why You’ll Love This Trip
Four classic Irish bases — Galway, Westport, Sligo and Donegal Town — linked by private mini-coach along one of the world’s great coastal routes. Brewery visits and tastings at Mescan, Lough Gill and Kinnegar; Galway Bay beers at Oslo and The Salt House; trad sessions at Tig Cóilí, Taaffes, The Crane Bar, The Reel Inn and more.
Along the way you’ll tease Connemara, Croagh Patrick, Yeats country and Donegal’s cliffs and glens; taste oysters, chowders, lamb, black pudding, farmhouse cheeses and coastal seafood; and spend the heart of the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival right in town — one of Ireland’s most rewarding combinations of beer, music and craic.
What makes this trip special: Modern Irish craft brewing meets centuries of pub and session culture on a route designed for beer lovers who also care about fiddles, landscapes and the people behind the pint. You’re not rushing from sight to sight — you’re living in four towns long enough to know them.
Trip Highlights
- Four classic Irish bases: Galway, Westport, Sligo, Donegal Town
- Private mini-coach throughout, with a friendly driver who knows the back roads
- Walking tours with local guides in key cities
- Brewery visits & tastings: Galway Bay, Mescan, Lough Gill, Kinnegar
- Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival — you’re in town for the heart of it
- Trad sessions in iconic pubs: Tig Cóilí, Taaffes, Crane Bar, The Reel Inn & more
- Teasers of Ireland’s wild landscapes: Connemara, Croagh Patrick, Yeats country, Donegal’s cliffs and glens
- Local flavors: oysters, chowders, lamb, black pudding, farmhouse cheeses, coastal seafood
Signature Beer Experiences
- Galway Bay Brewery: Pints at Oslo (Salthill) and The Salt House
- Mescan Brewery: Belgian-inspired farmhouse beers from an ex-monk and a vet, near Croagh Patrick
- Lough Gill Brewery: IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, creative small batches in Sligo
- Kinnegar Brewing: Farmhouse-influenced Irish craft at one of the country’s top breweries
- Craft-friendly pubs in every town, plus thoughtful local food pairings along the way
Food, Wine & Spirits Experiences
- Welcome seafood dinner with Galway oysters and brown soda bread
- Included group meals featuring lamb, chowder and farmhouse cheeses
- Coastal seafood and boxty in Donegal
- Traditional pub dining at Hargadon Bros. and local favorites
- Oysters, chowders, black pudding and regional cheeses throughout the west
- Beer pairings at Kinnegar and brewery lunch tastings
Places, Beers & Traditions We’ll Explore
Galway, Westport, Sligo and Donegal Town each offer a different angle on Ireland’s west — medieval lanes and student energy, festival-fueled Georgian charm, Yeats country and table mountains, then Donegal’s windswept northwest. Modern Irish craft beer runs through all of it, served alongside trad sessions, coastal scenery and the kind of hospitality that makes you want to stay one more night.
Galway — Latin Quarter lanes, trad pubs and Galway Bay craft beer.
Galway
The “City of Tribes” — Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, Claddagh and riverside walks. Galway Bay Brewery’s Oslo and The Salt House anchor the craft side; Tig Cóilí, Taaffes and The Crane Bar anchor the music.
Westport
A handsome Georgian town built around the Carrowbeg River, with Croagh Patrick on the horizon and the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival bringing musicians to pubs like Matt Molloy’s and The Porter House.
Sligo & Donegal — Yeats country, Benbulben views and Kinnegar on the northwest coast.
Sligo & Yeats Country
Benbulben, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, coastal Strandhill or Rosses Point, and Lough Gill Brewery’s modern IPAs and barrel projects — Sligo rewards slow wandering and late-night trad.
Donegal Town
Donegal Castle, harbor walks and Kinnegar Brewing on the windy northwest coast — farmhouse-influenced ales, crisp lagers and wild Donegal landscapes close out the journey.
Beer Styles & Brewing Traditions
Travelers encounter Belgian-inspired farmhouse ales, hop-forward IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, saison and lager projects, and the evolving story of Irish craft brewing — always alongside the pub culture that predates and surrounds it.
Food & Local Traditions
From Galway oysters and soda bread to Mayo lamb, Sligo chowder and Donegal boxty, regional food and live music are as essential to this trip as what’s in the glass.
Trip Itinerary*
Click or tap each day to expand the details. Daily schedules may vary depending on supplier availability, local events and transportation schedules. (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
Day 0 – Monday, May 31, 2027 – Depart the United States
Depart North America on overnight flights toward Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way — Galway, trad sessions, craft breweries and festival nights await. Rest up, hydrate and let the anticipation build.
Overnight: Plane
Day 1 – Tuesday, June 1, 2027 – Arrive in Galway: City of Tribes & Street Music
Arrive in Galway, the “City of Tribes,” where medieval lanes meet student energy and street musicians. After settling into our Galway hotel, we’ll head out on a guided walking tour of the compact city center: Latin Quarter, Spanish Arch, Claddagh, and the riverside.
In the early evening, we kick off the beer fun at The Salt House, a Galway Bay Brewery taproom with an excellent rotating list. Dinner tonight is a welcome group dinner featuring local seafood, brown soda bread, and perhaps a tray of Galway oysters for the adventurous.
After dinner, you’re officially in Ireland: we drift into Tig Cóilí for your first proper trad session.
Overnight: Galway | Meals: D
Day 2 – Wednesday, June 2, 2027 – Galway Bay Beers & Galway Trad
Breakfast at the hotel, then a relaxed morning on the Salthill Prom. We’ll stroll the seaside, “kick the wall” like locals, and then drop into Oslo Bar, home territory for Galway Bay Brewery, to talk Irish craft beer and taste what’s fresh.
The afternoon is mostly free: explore shops and cafés in the Latin Quarter, pop into the Galway City Museum, or simply sit with a pint and watch Galway roll by.
Dinner is on your own tonight with lots of suggestions provided. After dark we reconvene for a casual trad crawl: starting at Taaffes and ending at The Crane Bar, where fiddles upstairs and bodhráns downstairs provide the soundtrack.
Overnight: Galway | Meals: B
Day 3 – Thursday, June 3, 2027 – Galway → Glengowla Mines & Sheepdogs → Mescan Brewery → Westport
We leave Galway by private mini-coach and head northwest into Connemara, all bogs, lakes, and stone walls.
Our first stop is Glengowla Mines & Family Farm near Oughterard. We’ll explore the restored 19th-century silver and lead mine underground, then step back into the light for a sheepdog demonstration on the surrounding hills. This is where geology, history, and everyday rural life intersect.
Continuing through the Maam Valley and past Loughs Corrib and Mask, we skirt the slopes of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain, and arrive at Mescan Brewery for a private afternoon visit and light lunch with tastings. Mescan’s bottle-conditioned ales — Belgian-inspired blondes, triples, and specials — show how Irish brewers are riffing off monastic traditions in very local ways.
By late afternoon we roll into Westport, a handsome Georgian town built around the Carrowbeg River. Tonight the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival comes to life, and you’re in the middle of it. After check-in, we dive into opening sessions at pubs like Matt Molloy’s and The Porter House. Dinner is on your own, with plenty of great spots to choose from.
Overnight: Westport | Meals: B, L
Day 4 – Friday, June 4, 2027 – Westport: Festival Day & Town Walk
Snack on a full Irish or a lighter breakfast, then join a local guide for a walking tour of Westport: its Georgian layout, bridges, views of Croagh Patrick, and the story of how this little town became such a music hotspot.
The afternoon is mostly free to enjoy the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival: ticketed concerts, workshops, informal jams in pub corners, and musicians wandering from set to set.
Dinner tonight is an included group meal in town — think lamb from Mayo hills, chowder, and farmhouse cheeses — followed by more festival music. Expect fiddles, banjos, and plenty of craic.
Overnight: Westport | Meals: B, D
Galway to Westport to Sligo to Donegal — four towns, one coastal arc, private mini-coach all the way.
Day 5 – Saturday, June 5, 2027 – Westport: Free Day for Music & Optional Excursions
Today is left deliberately open. You can spend the day immersed in festival highlights, cycle a stretch of the Great Western Greenway, or join an optional excursion out to Achill Island for Atlantic cliffs and Keem Bay’s jaw-dropping scenery.
We’ll share a curated list of festival shows, pubs, and optional activities, and help you make the most of your final full night in Westport. Meals are on your own so you can follow your ears and nose wherever they lead.
Overnight: Westport | Meals: B
Day 6 – Sunday, June 6, 2027 – Westport → Scenic Stops → Lough Gill Brewery → Sligo
After breakfast, we say farewell to Westport and point the mini-coach north toward Sligo.
On the way, we’ll choose one or two scenic or cultural stops (we’ll confirm closer to departure) — possibilities include a haunting glacial valley, a riverside waterfall, or a historic woollen mill that tells a post-Famine recovery story. This turns a short transfer into a day’s gentle adventure.
We arrive in Sligo in time for a private visit and tasting at Lough Gill Brewery. Here, modern Irish craft flexes its muscles: IPAs, barrel projects, and limited releases, all rooted in local water and story.
Tonight, we check into our Sligo hotel and gather for an included group dinner — perhaps at Hargadon Bros., one of Ireland’s great traditional pubs — followed by an optional wander to Shoot the Crows for late-night trad.
Overnight: Sligo | Meals: B, D
Day 7 – Monday, June 7, 2027 – Sligo: Benbulben, Ancient Tombs & Coastal Air
This is your Yeats country day. After breakfast, we head out to admire Benbulben, the iconic table mountain that looms over Sligo. Weather permitting, we’ll stop at a viewpoint or take a short walk.
From there it’s on to Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, a cluster of prehistoric tombs older than the pyramids — an ideal place to talk about Ireland’s deep human story.
We’ll then push out to the coast, either Strandhill or Rosses Point, for a seaside lunch (on your own), coastal walks, and maybe a seaweed bath or two for the truly committed.
Back in Sligo, the evening is free: revisit a favorite pub, return to Lough Gill’s beers in town, or just soak up the relaxed vibe. Dinner on your own with recommendations.
Overnight: Sligo | Meals: B
Day 8 – Tuesday, June 8, 2027 – Sligo → Scenic & Literary Stops → Donegal Town
We bid farewell to Sligo and head into County Donegal, one of Ireland’s most beautiful and least visited regions.
Along the way, we’ll tease in one or two short stops, chosen closer to departure — maybe a churchyard where Yeats lies under Benbulben’s gaze, a wild headland with Atlantic waves and castle views, or a small craft village where artisans still work leather, glass, and textiles by hand.
By afternoon we roll into Donegal Town, check in, and enjoy a brief guided orientation walk: Donegal Castle, the town square, and the harbor.
Tonight’s group dinner is included, followed by a short stroll to The Reel Inn for one of the best trad pub experiences in the country.
Overnight: Donegal Town | Meals: B, D
Day 9 – Wednesday, June 9, 2027 – Kinnegar Brewing & Donegal’s Wild Landscapes
We start with a drive toward Letterkenny for a private tour and tasting at Kinnegar Brewing. Expect farmhouse-influenced ales, crisp lagers, maybe a saison or two, and lots of stories about brewing on Ireland’s windy northwest coast. A light lunch with beer pairings is included here.
After Kinnegar, we head into Donegal’s wilder corners. Depending on weather and road conditions, we’ll choose between dramatic options like a cliff-top coastal route or a lake-and-mountain national park — both spectacular, both very “Ireland.”
Back in Donegal Town, we gather for a farewell group dinner with plenty of seafood, boxty (northwest potato pancakes), and last-night toasts — then end, as all good nights here should, at a pub with live music (likely back at The Reel Inn).
Overnight: Donegal Town | Meals: B, L, D
Day 10 – Thursday, June 10, 2027 – Departure: Slán go fóill
After breakfast, your Ireland BeerTrips adventure officially ends. Depending on onward plans, you may transfer back toward Dublin or elsewhere in Ireland.
You’ll leave with a head full of tunes, a notebook full of beers, and a strong desire to come back and do it all again.
Meals: B
Ready To Experience Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way Through Beer, Music & Culture?
Join fellow beer travelers for craft breweries, trad sessions, festival nights, coastal scenery and unforgettable pub culture across Galway, Westport, Sligo and Donegal.
What’s Included
- 9 nights accommodation in carefully chosen hotels and guesthouses
- Private mini-coach transportation for the entire itinerary
- Brewery visits and tastings as described (Mescan, Lough Gill, Kinnegar; Galway Bay pubs)
- Walking tours with local guides in at least Galway, Westport, Sligo, and Donegal Town
- Breakfast each morning
- Selected group lunches & dinners (see daily itinerary for details)
- Beer-savvy BeerTrips trip leader throughout
- All local taxes on included services
Included Meals
9 Breakfasts | 3 Lunches | 5 Dinners
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed as included
- Drinks beyond tastings and specific inclusions
- Personal expenses and tips
- Optional activities (e.g., Achill Island excursion)
Where We Stay
We anchor the route in four walkable west-coast towns — not airport hotels or anonymous chains — so you can step out the door and into trad pubs, festival sessions and harbor walks. Expect comfortable, well-located hotels and guesthouses with real Irish character: central Galway within easy reach of the Latin Quarter; Westport right in the heart of festival week; Sligo as a stylish base for Yeats country and Benbulben views; and Donegal Town close to the castle, the harbor and The Reel Inn. Properties will be very similar to past departures — the kind of places we’d happily book for friends.
- Galway (2 nights): City of Tribes energy — medieval lanes, riverside walks and trad pubs on your doorstep
- Westport (3 nights): Handsome Georgian town on the Carrowbeg River, with Croagh Patrick on the horizon and festival nights all around
- Sligo (2 nights): Walkable town center and a natural launchpad for Benbulben, Carrowmore and the Atlantic coast
- Donegal Town (2 nights): Castle, harbor and northwest character — a charming base for Kinnegar and Donegal’s wild landscapes
Specific hotel names are TBD and will be confirmed closer to departure. Final properties may vary by year but will always be of equal or greater quality. Exact names provided in Final Trip Documents.
Is This Trip Right for You?
Great Fit If…
- You love beer, live music and pub culture as much as scenery
- You enjoy small-group travel with a relaxed but organized pace
- You’re happy with some free days and festival time to make your own choices
- You’re comfortable with easy to moderate walking in historic towns and coastal areas
- You want modern Irish craft breweries alongside trad sessions and local food
May Not Be Ideal If…
- You prefer a fast-paced, fully scheduled tour every hour of every day
- You’re not interested in music sessions or pub culture
- You prefer luxury resort-style travel over boutique hotels and guesthouses
- You are uncomfortable with coach travel on winding rural roads
Frequently Asked Questions
Click or tap a question to expand the answer.
How physically demanding is this BeerTrip?
This tour involves easy to moderate walking, including historic city centers, coastal paths, festival venues and occasional uneven surfaces. Travelers should be comfortable walking several miles over the course of a day at a relaxed pace.
What beers will we try?
Travelers can expect modern Irish craft beer — IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, farmhouse-influenced ales, lagers and saison — at Mescan, Lough Gill, Kinnegar and Galway Bay venues, alongside classic pub culture throughout the west.
Do I need to be a music fan?
You don’t need to play an instrument, but this itinerary is built around trad sessions and the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival. If live music and pub atmosphere aren’t your thing, another BeerTrip may suit you better.
What airport should I fly into?
Most travelers arrive via Shannon or Dublin, then make their way to Galway for the tour start. Departure is flexible on Day 10 — many guests continue toward Dublin or Shannon for onward flights. Specific recommendations will be provided before departure.
How much free time is built into the itinerary?
Plenty. Galway, Westport (including a full festival free day), Sligo and Donegal all include independent time for pubs, coastal walks, museum visits or simply following the music.
Can non-drinkers join?
Yes. BeerTrips journeys are equally focused on food, culture, music, history and regional experiences. Non-drinkers and light drinkers are welcome.
Breweries, Festival & Travel Resources
Official websites for breweries, festivals, museums and regional tourism boards — useful for planning extra time before or after the tour.
Featured Breweries & Producers
- Galway Bay Brewery — Galway
- Mescan Brewery — Westport area
- Lough Gill Brewery — Sligo
- Kinnegar Brewing — Donegal
Festival & Museums
Official Tourism & Beer Resources
- Wild Atlantic Way — Tourism Ireland
- Visit Galway
- Westport — Heritage Island
- Visit Sligo
- Go Visit Donegal
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Small groups, shared tables and one more toast before the next BeerTrips adventure.
Ready To Join This BeerTrips Adventure?
Explore craft breweries, trad sessions, festival nights, coastal scenery and unforgettable pub culture with fellow travelers along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
*Final brewery lineup and scenic stops subject to confirmation. Substitutions will always be of equal or greater quality.
BeerTrips has been crafting small-group beer, food and cultural journeys for over 25 years.
Additional information
| Room Type | Sharing, Single |
|---|
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please confirm the trip’s operation before purchasing air tickets.
Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you’ll receive 2 – 3 weeks before the trip.
How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.
REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:
We don’t mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants — tried and true — have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please – including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy — a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
A BeerTrips beer tour is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally “guided”. Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.
THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense, or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don’t worry, the beer is always good!
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