About
Hi, I'm Darragh, born and raised in Dublin. I love my city, even more now after returning to live here after 20 years in the US. Sometimes it takes moving away to appreciate what you always had.
Sheepish Trails
I get frustrated in Dublin seeing tourists crowding like sheep along the tourist trail of Guinness, Jameson, Book of Kells, Temple Bar, and the Brazen Head.
Yes they can be fun but this isn't Dublin! If this is all you do in Dublin, sorry, but you haven't seen Dublin. You've just gone to overpriced manufactured corporate tourist experiences where Dubliners never go.
See A Better Dublin
I want everyone to leave here raving about Dublin. So I wrote a guide to Dublin where you'll visit Dublin's beautiful coastal villages, sea walks, parks and markets. You'll meet Irish people over a Guinness in its natural environment of a local pub, not trapped behind a surging entrance ticket.
Then something unexpected happened. My little guide started ranking higher than TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet on Google. It turns out that people like seeing the real Dublin. Fan mail (occasionally) poured in. Then I started doing tours of Dublin. Some of the day tours stretched into the evening as groups became friends, not in Temple Bar though!
See A Better Ireland
From that, the idea for Ireland By Locals was born. Helping visitors see Ireland the best possible way with people who know Ireland, not travel influencers parachuting into Ireland for a quick Instagram shoot.
Dec 2024: This site is a labor of love and the guides take a lot of time so bear with us as we add more. Currently working on the Kerry guide and working my way up the west coast.
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What We Offer
Only Ireland
We write about one thing. Ireland. Nothing else.
Genuine Irish Insights
You'll get only authentic advice from locals living in Ireland.
Help You Avoid the Big Mistake Visitors Make
With our smarter way to see Ireland.
Beyond the Typical Tourist Spots
While we cover the famous attractions, we prefer to show you local favourites.
Practical and Personal
I've flown from Dublin to the US more than 100 times, learn from my mistakes, so you don't make your own!
Welcome to the real local Ireland.
Darragh
