- Day 1: Derry Tour
- Day 2: Antrim Coastal Tour
Unit 3, Village Pump, Rathregan, Batterstown, Meath
Enjoy an Unforgettable Tour Discovering Ireland’s Rich History with Our Family-Owned Business in County Meath.
Visit the Isle of Saints, Scholars and Sounds, enjoy multi day tour packages throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. Be collected at your hotel reception and chauffeured throughout Ireland by our certified tour guides and embark upon a magical journey creating family memories that will last a lifetime. Only your party will be on tour, exclusively designed with you and for you. Discover Ireland’s breathtaking coastlines, unique history and heritage of this wonderful island and it’s cultural delights.
Discover the cost of your personalized tour experience
Royal Historical Tours qualified tour guide will pick you up from your hotel reception in our luxury vehicle for a customized tour for your party only.
Discover what our satisfied clients have to say about their unforgettable tour experiences
Marsden2023-07-02 Private tour with Ian We were fortunate enough to book a private tour with Ian, I can’t say enough great things about the guy! I have (and I say this with all the love in my heart) a Nerdy hubby who’s a history buff, well, Ian knew EVERYTHING! and my hubby, who’s never impressed could not have been happier to have someone so knowledgeable… also, I have shy teenagers who couldn’t be bothered at first, but thanks to Ian snd his amazing conversational skills, he got them to engage which is a true miracle! We are back home now and the three boys STILL talk about Ian, who’s become a celebrity in our household really! I sit and smile when I hear them say “remember when Ian told us about the church?” And they start speaking with his delightful accent❤️ I have since recommended him personally to a lot of my clients if they are ever in Dublin! We did many tours in Scotland and Dublin, but never had a more knowledgeable or delightful guide than Ian! Ask for the dude by name and you’ll thank me! The Marsdens are fans and we can’t wait to go back and do another one with him soon! Cristen Carr S2023-02-27 Undeniably the BEST Guide Experience out there! I travel A LOT for work and try to hire local guides as I work my way around the globe so have a pretty good reference point for what makes for an exception guide experience. Without a doubt - THE best experience I've ever had. The plan was to tour about Louth on a saturday and to hopefully find some record of my ancestors who I was pretty sure hailed from one of two small townlands as well as get more acquainted with a county in Ireland I had not spent time in before. To that end I hired Ian Darragh as my guide for the day. Not only is he incredibly engaging, funny and personable but astutely experienced in genealogy and Irish history - the good, bad and ugly. There was not a moment that I wasn't fascinated with the tales. BUT what took it over the top was his perseverance in the goal to help me locate some kind of trace of my ancestors. With a stop at the Louth County Library and a few friendly calls on some local elders we headed to Monasterboice to see the High Cross. What was wholy unexpected was to find my ancestors memorial just yards away in the same graveyard! The day was beyond memorable and I cannot wait to book another adventure with Ian as I continue to research my Irish Ancestors and discover more about the amazing isle of Ireland. Thank YOU Ian & Aisling for making a dream come true! Connie S2022-12-06 A Great Experience I believe Ian was my favorite part of our tour. Meeting Ian for the first time was like meeting one of your relatives that you haven't seen for a while. HIs humor and wit kept the family engaged and his knowledge of Ireland and its history is truly amazing. I would highly recommend a tour with Ian. Therese D2022-10-08 Family never to be forgotten Ian is a true treasure! He gave us insights into our family genealogy that I never could have imagined! He put so much heart and energy into making our tour an experience of a lifetime! 389josefinam2022-09-25 Amazing trip..our tour guide Ian…..Fantastic! This was my first trip to Ireland and although we had a rocky start with our flight, Ireland did not disappoint. Thank you to Ian who made this trip so special and memorable for years to come. His historical knowledge of the County Meath, my husband Ancestors and the beautiful Cliffs of Moher was beyond my expectations. For 5 days, Ian drove the four of us from Dublin to Galway sight seeing, laughing and bonding! We learned so much in such a short time! We hope to return and connecting with Ian again. Thank you Aisling for your hard work in organizing the tours. laarchitect2022-09-21 Another Great Tour.... Another excellent tour! Our second time with them and I can't say enough about Ian, Aisling and Sean. We did a historical tour, heritage tour and a tour to the Cliffs. Ian is impressively knowledgeable on the many particulars of Irish history. All are very personable I highly recommend and plan to again on our next trip. Kwlui2022-09-08 Excellent guide and host Ian was a superb guide and host. We spent the day with him in search of my Irish ancestors. The research conducted by his organization resulted in an enjoyable day in County Westmeath. Enroute we stopped by Trim and Delvin Castles, Lough Lene, St Feichin's Church, Fore Priory, & Bective Abbey. My plan is to return for a 6th trip to Ireland and I look forward to reconnecting with Ian. Jacob G2022-07-15 Can't wait to go back! Ian was the most thorough, knowledgeable, and enjoyable tour guide and historian. The one-on-one tour of County Wicklow shows you the beautiful countryside that Ireland has to offer. Royal Historical Tours is not your average tour company. You won’t be stopping at busy tourist traps. Instead, you will see Ireland’s hidden gems and visit what locals covet the most. Ian is a great storyteller and historian that will not only leave you never taking a crowed group tour bus again but will also leave you with a new friend. Christy Y2022-06-28 Absolutely the best Tour Guide and Company you'll ever have! My sister booked a tour with Aisling at Royal Historical Tours as we have been doing genealogy for the past 30 years. She was great to work with, very professional and wonderful personality. Ian met us at our hotel and took us first to Bonmahon, Waterford as Ian had found out they went there from Avoca, Wicklow before immigrating to America. He took us all over the area, went to old churches, gravesites, old mining ruins where they had worked and last to the workhouse where some of our relatives stayed. He had the best sense of humor, a vast knowledge of Irish history and stories that were relevant to our family history. The next day he took us to Avoca, Wicklow and again showed us places we never would have found or been able to get to. He showed us the church where our family would have worshiped, gravesites, old ruins of mines, The Mottee Stone, and Miners Cross. He did so much research before we got there, we were so impressed with what he had learned. He was the most delightful guide we had ever experienced and will definitely come back and use Royal Historical Tours again. He went the extra mile and took us to get groceries before dropping us off at our cottage. I can't say enough about how much fun we had and so worth the trip. Lauren P2022-06-05 Meath, et cetera We booked a historical tour of county Meath with Ian, acting on a tip from another company. He was a great guide and traveling companion, not thrown off by vagaries of weather or change of plans. He took us to Newgrange, which we had heard of, and to a bunch of places I knew little about: Monasterboice, Mellifont abbey, hills of Slane and Tara, the village of Kells (where the book was completed), Trim castle, and to the site of the 17th century Battle of the Boyne. He taught us the history and told us the stories, and even the 18- and 21-year-olds were fascinated. We all came away wiser and with the sense we’d met a friend. If I’d had enough time on this visit, I’d have booked him for the Wicklow tour as well—but I guess I’ll just have to schedule a return. Highly recommended.Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 17 reviews
Explore our range of customizable tour options tailored to suit your preferences and interests
Explore Our Range of Packages, from Day Tours to Multi-Day Experiences, Designed to Elevate Your Irish Adventure and Create Cherished Memories for You and Your Loved Ones
Treat yourself to an enriching exploration of Ireland’s Royal County with Royal Historical Tours. Our meticulously curated tours offer an insightful journey through the historic landmarks and cultural heritage of County Meath, providing a professional and informative experience for every traveller.
Alternatively, our Meath Historic Tour offers a comprehensive overview of the region’s ancient past and medieval splendour. Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Newgrange, built around 3200 BC, delve into the rich history of Monasterboice’s intricate High Crosses (10th century), and explore the medieval stronghold of Trim Castle. With stops at Mellifont Abbey (1142), and the Hill of Tara, this tour showcases the diverse cultural tapestry of County Meath.
Join us at Royal Historical Tours for an amazing exploration of County Meath’s captivating history, where every site is steeped in significance and insight.
Explore our range of customizable tour options tailored to suit your preferences and interests
Our certified genealogist and tour guide Ian, will take you on an immersive experience to see where your ancestors once worshipped, worked, lived and loved. We have various tour options available to you. Have you completed your genealogy research and know where you want to visit? Driving in Ireland can often be challenging as searching for your ancestors on local roads can be difficult and time consuming. Royal Historical tours qualified tour guide and certified genealogist can take you ‘home’. Do you require genealogy research? We are partnered with award winning genealogy company, My Ireland Heritage that can undertake your genealogy research as they specialize in finding your ancestors exact location in the 1800’s.
I hired Ian Darragh as my guide for the day. Not only is he incredibly engaging, funny and personable but astutely experienced in genealogy and Irish history – the good, bad and ugly. There was not a moment that I wasn’t fascinated with the tales.
BUT what took it over the top was his perseverance in the goal to help me locate some kind of trace of my ancestors. With a stop at the Louth County Library and a few friendly calls on some local elders we headed to Monasterboice to see the High Cross. What was wholy unexpected was to find my ancestors memorial just yards away in the same graveyard!
The day was beyond memorable and I cannot wait to book another adventure with Ian as I continue to research my Irish Ancestors and discover more about the amazing isle of Ireland.
– Cristin Carr Strubbe, USA, 2023
Discover what our satisfied clients have to say about their unforgettable tour experiences
Marsden2023-07-02 Private tour with Ian We were fortunate enough to book a private tour with Ian, I can’t say enough great things about the guy! I have (and I say this with all the love in my heart) a Nerdy hubby who’s a history buff, well, Ian knew EVERYTHING! and my hubby, who’s never impressed could not have been happier to have someone so knowledgeable… also, I have shy teenagers who couldn’t be bothered at first, but thanks to Ian snd his amazing conversational skills, he got them to engage which is a true miracle! We are back home now and the three boys STILL talk about Ian, who’s become a celebrity in our household really! I sit and smile when I hear them say “remember when Ian told us about the church?” And they start speaking with his delightful accent❤️ I have since recommended him personally to a lot of my clients if they are ever in Dublin! We did many tours in Scotland and Dublin, but never had a more knowledgeable or delightful guide than Ian! Ask for the dude by name and you’ll thank me! The Marsdens are fans and we can’t wait to go back and do another one with him soon! Cristen Carr S2023-02-27 Undeniably the BEST Guide Experience out there! I travel A LOT for work and try to hire local guides as I work my way around the globe so have a pretty good reference point for what makes for an exception guide experience. Without a doubt - THE best experience I've ever had. The plan was to tour about Louth on a saturday and to hopefully find some record of my ancestors who I was pretty sure hailed from one of two small townlands as well as get more acquainted with a county in Ireland I had not spent time in before. To that end I hired Ian Darragh as my guide for the day. Not only is he incredibly engaging, funny and personable but astutely experienced in genealogy and Irish history - the good, bad and ugly. There was not a moment that I wasn't fascinated with the tales. BUT what took it over the top was his perseverance in the goal to help me locate some kind of trace of my ancestors. With a stop at the Louth County Library and a few friendly calls on some local elders we headed to Monasterboice to see the High Cross. What was wholy unexpected was to find my ancestors memorial just yards away in the same graveyard! The day was beyond memorable and I cannot wait to book another adventure with Ian as I continue to research my Irish Ancestors and discover more about the amazing isle of Ireland. Thank YOU Ian & Aisling for making a dream come true! Connie S2022-12-06 A Great Experience I believe Ian was my favorite part of our tour. Meeting Ian for the first time was like meeting one of your relatives that you haven't seen for a while. HIs humor and wit kept the family engaged and his knowledge of Ireland and its history is truly amazing. I would highly recommend a tour with Ian. Therese D2022-10-08 Family never to be forgotten Ian is a true treasure! He gave us insights into our family genealogy that I never could have imagined! He put so much heart and energy into making our tour an experience of a lifetime! 389josefinam2022-09-25 Amazing trip..our tour guide Ian…..Fantastic! This was my first trip to Ireland and although we had a rocky start with our flight, Ireland did not disappoint. Thank you to Ian who made this trip so special and memorable for years to come. His historical knowledge of the County Meath, my husband Ancestors and the beautiful Cliffs of Moher was beyond my expectations. For 5 days, Ian drove the four of us from Dublin to Galway sight seeing, laughing and bonding! We learned so much in such a short time! We hope to return and connecting with Ian again. Thank you Aisling for your hard work in organizing the tours. laarchitect2022-09-21 Another Great Tour.... Another excellent tour! Our second time with them and I can't say enough about Ian, Aisling and Sean. We did a historical tour, heritage tour and a tour to the Cliffs. Ian is impressively knowledgeable on the many particulars of Irish history. All are very personable I highly recommend and plan to again on our next trip. Kwlui2022-09-08 Excellent guide and host Ian was a superb guide and host. We spent the day with him in search of my Irish ancestors. The research conducted by his organization resulted in an enjoyable day in County Westmeath. Enroute we stopped by Trim and Delvin Castles, Lough Lene, St Feichin's Church, Fore Priory, & Bective Abbey. My plan is to return for a 6th trip to Ireland and I look forward to reconnecting with Ian. Jacob G2022-07-15 Can't wait to go back! Ian was the most thorough, knowledgeable, and enjoyable tour guide and historian. The one-on-one tour of County Wicklow shows you the beautiful countryside that Ireland has to offer. Royal Historical Tours is not your average tour company. You won’t be stopping at busy tourist traps. Instead, you will see Ireland’s hidden gems and visit what locals covet the most. Ian is a great storyteller and historian that will not only leave you never taking a crowed group tour bus again but will also leave you with a new friend. Christy Y2022-06-28 Absolutely the best Tour Guide and Company you'll ever have! My sister booked a tour with Aisling at Royal Historical Tours as we have been doing genealogy for the past 30 years. She was great to work with, very professional and wonderful personality. Ian met us at our hotel and took us first to Bonmahon, Waterford as Ian had found out they went there from Avoca, Wicklow before immigrating to America. He took us all over the area, went to old churches, gravesites, old mining ruins where they had worked and last to the workhouse where some of our relatives stayed. He had the best sense of humor, a vast knowledge of Irish history and stories that were relevant to our family history. The next day he took us to Avoca, Wicklow and again showed us places we never would have found or been able to get to. He showed us the church where our family would have worshiped, gravesites, old ruins of mines, The Mottee Stone, and Miners Cross. He did so much research before we got there, we were so impressed with what he had learned. He was the most delightful guide we had ever experienced and will definitely come back and use Royal Historical Tours again. He went the extra mile and took us to get groceries before dropping us off at our cottage. I can't say enough about how much fun we had and so worth the trip. Lauren P2022-06-05 Meath, et cetera We booked a historical tour of county Meath with Ian, acting on a tip from another company. He was a great guide and traveling companion, not thrown off by vagaries of weather or change of plans. He took us to Newgrange, which we had heard of, and to a bunch of places I knew little about: Monasterboice, Mellifont abbey, hills of Slane and Tara, the village of Kells (where the book was completed), Trim castle, and to the site of the 17th century Battle of the Boyne. He taught us the history and told us the stories, and even the 18- and 21-year-olds were fascinated. We all came away wiser and with the sense we’d met a friend. If I’d had enough time on this visit, I’d have booked him for the Wicklow tour as well—but I guess I’ll just have to schedule a return. Highly recommended.Tripadvisor rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 17 reviews
Stay informed and inspired with our latest blog posts, providing insightful glimpses into the heritage and attractions awaiting you on our tours.
From the historic landmarks of Meath and Wicklow to the cultural hub of Dublin and beyond, discover the captivating stories behind renowned sites like Trim Castle, Glendalough, and Temple Bar. Our articles offer expert perspectives and practical tips, ensuring you’re fully prepared for an enriching exploration of Ireland’s most iconic destinations.
Unit 3, Village Pump, Rathregan,
Batterstown, County Meath
At Royal Historical Tours, we’re dedicated to showcasing Ireland’s rich history and culture through personalized tours. Founded by Ian and AislingDarragh, our family-owned business in County Meath offers exclusive, tailor-made experiences led by certified guides. Whether exploring ancient landmarks like Trim Castle or soaking in the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, we ensure each journey is informative, engaging, and unforgettable.