Irish Oak Tours

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Irish Oak Tours Nigel O'Connor is an established tour director, leading tours of Ireland and Scotland since 2016. Before guiding, Nigel supported tours as their coach driver.

Delivering guided, group summer tours and pilgrimages to Ireland - packages and customized tours available - our focus areas include history, genealogy, faith, and agriculture. Nationally certified through ATGI, he specializes in history, culture, and religion. His skills behind the wheel and microphone guarantee a wonderful experience. His experience and knowledge lend themselves well to crafting

a well-organized, enjoyable tour. Jessica O'Connor is an educator. She has coordinated educational experiences her entire career, including one to Ireland and Northern Ireland that focuses on the horse industry. As a certified spiritual director, she loves to engage others in the rich, religious history of Ireland and its people. She looks forward to guiding others into a new encounter with God through pilgrimages. Equally, she is excited to offer "adult study abroad" options with a few agro-tourism offerings. In 2017, Nigel and Jessica met while on tour. Jessica was traveling to Ireland for the first time on pilgrimage - and Nigel happened to be the driver-guide! Jessica's trip to Ireland was one focused on healing and resurrection, as it had been one year since her husband's passing. She encountered that - and more. There is something magical about Ireland - and we hope to provide that encounter for our guests.

Individual game tickets for the Iowa State/Kansas State game go on sale to the US public today through Feb 28. We have s...
05/02/2025

Individual game tickets for the Iowa State/Kansas State game go on sale to the US public today through Feb 28.

We have space for 4 more couples/pairs of friends on our tour August 17-24! Sign up by March 1!

August 17 - 24, 2025 Taste your way through the Irish heartland on this agricultural tour before cheering on your team during ‘Farmaggedon’ in Ireland Book Now! As an Iowa State College of Agriculture alum, the opportunity to host fellow Cyclones to Ireland excites me. (Check out the picture of ...

All right, friends, it’s time to find out who’s the GOAT! After two stellar bowl game victories, Farmageddon in Dublin w...
30/12/2024

All right, friends, it’s time to find out who’s the GOAT! After two stellar bowl game victories, Farmageddon in Dublin will be a promising showdown!

We have spots for 5 more couples/pairs of friends on our Farmaggedon tour, highlighting the Irish heartland! Secure your spot by following the link below. Contact us with any questions!

August 17 - 24, 2025 Taste your way through the Irish heartland on this agricultural tour before cheering on your team during ‘Farmaggedon’ in Ireland Book Now! As an Iowa State College of Agriculture alum, the opportunity to host fellow Cyclones to Ireland excites me. (Check out the picture of ...

Merry Christmas from the O’Connors!One minute, you’re young and fun…the next you’re suggesting to watch Handel’s Messiah...
25/12/2024

Merry Christmas from the O’Connors!

One minute, you’re young and fun…the next you’re suggesting to watch Handel’s Messiah while preparing Christmas brunch. At least it was first performed in Dublin in 1742… 😆

We are thankful for those of you who’ve chosen to travel with us in the last 3 years, making memories to last a lifetime, and becoming new friends to us (or strengthening those bonds that already existed)…and we thank God ahead of time for those who will travel with us in the future.

Most especially, we thank all of you who support and encourage us in many ways. Your presence is our present.

Nollaig Shona Dhuit! (Peaceful Christmas to you)

Tis the season for our favorite warm beverage: the Irish coffee!This is our “party piece” - bringing our traveling “Iris...
22/12/2024

Tis the season for our favorite warm beverage: the Irish coffee!

This is our “party piece” - bringing our traveling “Irish coffee kit” to parties this time of year.

To enjoy one yourself follow these easy steps:
1) heat the glass (Nigel will tell you this is essential; Jessica will roll her eyes)
2) add 1tsp instant coffee & 1 tsp dark brown sugar
3) add water to the handle line, and stir
4) add 1 Tbsp Irish whisky (Jameson, Paddy’s, Powers, or Tullamore Dew) - DO NOT STIR
5) lightly whip heavy cream — do not make whipped cream — this needs to be pourable, yet thick
6) pour the cream over the back of a spoon into the cups
7) enjoy! DO NOT STIR. drink through the cream; tryst us.

If this is too complicated, just invite us to your next party! 😆😄🕺🏼🎅🧝🏼

While shopping at Trader Joe’s today, this product caught me eye. is one of our planned visits on our Farmaggedon tour,...
11/12/2024

While shopping at Trader Joe’s today, this product caught me eye. is one of our planned visits on our Farmaggedon tour, Aug 17-24. When I say we’ll be tasting our way through the Irish heartland, this is what I mean!

Join us! Seats are still available!

https://www.irishoaktours.com/farmageddon-tour-2025

One of the best parts of an Irish tour?BREAKFASTS! Every place we stay, you’ll have access to “a full Irish.” Rashers, s...
03/12/2024

One of the best parts of an Irish tour?

BREAKFASTS!

Every place we stay, you’ll have access to “a full Irish.” Rashers, sausages, eggs, broiled tomato half, mushrooms, toast, and hash browns. (NO beans!) The hashbrowns remind me of the McDonalds’ triangles - but sooo much better.

It’s fun to see the different puddings; some are tastier than others. It took my 5th visit to Ireland to try black & white pudding, and I was pleasantly surprised! Making our own breakfasts when not on tour, we’ve even made a black & white pudding frittata.

Not only will you get to experience an Irish each morning, you’ll get to sample some too, on the Farmaggedon tour!

01/12/2024

Happy Farmaggedon to all who celebrate!
Help us promote our Farmaggedon Tour for next August! Tag us in a post with the link to our tour in the next week to be entered into a raffle for an Irish coffee set!

One aspect of our Farmaggedon Tour that we are excited about is the chance to feature small towns & small businesses. On...
30/11/2024

One aspect of our Farmaggedon Tour that we are excited about is the chance to feature small towns & small businesses.

One such business is Inch House Pudding and farms - which has a family connection. Inch House, run by the Egan family, has it all - a Georgian farmhouse B&B, black & white pudding sold throughout the country featuring a family recipe, and a farming enterprise featuring lambs and grains like maize, oats, beans, hay/silage and more.

On our visit here, we will be able to meet the farmers, sample the puddings, and take in the beauty of the gardens. Check out Inch House Pudding & the rest of our tasty itinerary!

https://www.inchhousepudding.ie/about-us.html

https://www.irishoaktours.com/farmageddon-tour-2025

Guess who has a family link to Iowa?? Our very own Irishman! One of Nigel’s hobbies is genealogy. While exploring a link...
18/11/2024

Guess who has a family link to Iowa??

Our very own Irishman! One of Nigel’s hobbies is genealogy. While exploring a link to a family member who settled in Massachusetts, Nigel found through his will that his daughter and her husband settled in Iowa. After a bit more digging, he discovered that they settled in an area near present-day Osceola, at the time, Groveland.

Just one of the perks of traveling with us - connections to Ireland and Iowa! (Plus you may benefit from Nigel’s vast knowledge to explore your family’s roots)

August 17 - 24, 2025 Taste your way through the Irish heartland on this agricultural tour before cheering on your team during ‘Farmaggedon’ in Ireland Book Now! As an Iowa State College of Agriculture alum, the opportunity to host fellow Cyclones to Ireland excites me. (Check out the picture of ...

We are so excited to announce our “Farmaggedon” tour prior to the Iowa State-Kansas State showdown in Dublin!Our tour wi...
21/10/2024

We are so excited to announce our “Farmaggedon” tour prior to the Iowa State-Kansas State showdown in Dublin!

Our tour will run Sunday, August 17-24, 2025. Taste your way through the Irish heartland on this special tour focused on Irish agriculture, featuring some great small towns! If this tour had a soundtrack, it’d be John Mellencamp. 😎

We will be limiting the tour to 20, so sign up today! Check out the details in the link!

13/10/2024

As we’ve hosted tours over the years, it’s always fun to learn what each person’s “quintessentially” Irish thing is to do or see.

My first trip, I wanted to have a REAL conversation with an Irish person. (And not at a bar)

My second trip it was to stay in a castle. The unexpected thing I realized was that “having to stop for random sheep in the road” was too.

Sometimes, the item can be planned in your itinerary, like staying in a castle…and sometimes, we just need to say yes and let God surprise us.

What’s yours?

27/09/2024

Nigel O'Connor and I are putting together a great farm-to-fork ag-focused tour of Ireland for the week before the Iowa State/K-State football game…and we need some help finalizing it.

So - if you’re interested in being on an “advisory council” to help us wrap up the last details - comment below. We will put together a private group where we can do polls & ask questions. Being part of the group isn’t a commitment to traveling, but we do hope you’ll consider it….

Slainte!

Sun setting at the end of another wonderful, fun day with Irish Oak Tours...
17/07/2024

Sun setting at the end of another wonderful, fun day with Irish Oak Tours...

Irish Oak Tours paid a visit today, to the very historic 12th Century Kilmalkedar Church, on Di**le Peninsula in County ...
16/07/2024

Irish Oak Tours paid a visit today, to the very historic 12th Century Kilmalkedar Church, on Di**le Peninsula in County Kerry.

A very happy and contented goat, at the famine cottages on Di**le Peninsula in County Kerry!
16/07/2024

A very happy and contented goat, at the famine cottages on Di**le Peninsula in County Kerry!

When we said this trip was about “resting & relaxing” this is exactly the view we had in mind! Not pictured: a towel war...
15/07/2024

When we said this trip was about “resting & relaxing” this is exactly the view we had in mind!

Not pictured: a towel warming bar so that there’s a warm towel awaiting after a shower…

We love The Lake Hotel Killarney!

To Ireland, of course! 🇮🇪
11/07/2024

To Ireland, of course! 🇮🇪

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As we’ve hosted tours over the years, it’s always fun to learn what each person’s “quintessentially” Irish thing is to do or see. My first trip, I wanted to have a REAL conversation with an Irish person. (And not at a bar) My second trip it was to stay in a castle. The unexpected thing I realized was that “having to stop for random sheep in the road” was too. Sometimes, the item can be planned in your itinerary, like staying in a castle…and sometimes, we just need to say yes and let God surprise us. What’s yours?

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