It Was Epic – Golf & Music Ireland 2026

Ballybunion Golf Club remained relatively unknown until 1971, when the famous American golf writer Herbert Warren Wind published an article in The New Yorker declaring Ballybunion to be “nothing less than the finest seaside course I have ever seen”. This endorsement immediately put it on the international map.

Unforgettable golf destinations

Except for Old Head, we were immersed in PURE LINKS GOLF. However, any trip to Southwest Ireland MUST include a round at Old Head — in our case it was two! The diamond-shaped promontory sits 300 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. The course is challenging and the views are spectacular. If you catch it on a glorious day, such as we did, you can drink in the sight of the iconic lighthouse along with a pint outside on the spacious terrace.

Golf around the Ring of Kerry included Waterville, a favorite of the late Payne Stewart, where his legacy is honored with a life-size bronze statue just outside the clubhouse. We also played Tralee, where Arnold Palmer famously said: “I may have designed the first nine, but surely God designed the back nine.”

Next up: Ballybunion. From the downhill first hole (stay out of the graveyard!) to the severe dogleg left with an uphill blind shot to the green on the 18th hole, you are guaranteed an unforgettable round, worthy of a souvenir from the pro shop.

Our itinerary included Doonbeg, which sits directly on the rugged coast of the Atlantic Ocean and spreads out over 400 acres of massive sand dunes along the shoreline.

The final round was played at Lahinch, as pure a links course as you will find anywhere in Ireland, which is home to a quarter of the authentic links courses in the world. The rumpled fairways weave between the spiky tufts of marram grass all over the towering dunes of the windswept coast. Lahinch, founded in 1892, will be featured prominently on TV when the prestigious 51st Walker Cup will be played there September 5th & 6th of this year. If you are watching, you’ll be able to say, “I remember playing that blind par-3 fifth hole!” Without a doubt, it is an Old Tom Morris museum piece!

Sightseeing and relaxing

On a lovely weather day, our guests had a chance to sightsee around Killarney National Park — it was Ireland’s first, established in 1932. The 26,000 acres incorporate lakes, woodlands, waterfalls and historic buildings.

One whole day was devoted to the Dingle Peninsula. Along with a visit to Aedáns Farm on Slea Head Drive, where you can cuddle a baby lamb, the highlight most definitely was the music session at Dick Mack’s pub. Established in 1899, the family-run venue is famous for its old-world atmosphere. It is still a vibrant hub for traditional live Irish music, storytelling, and local socializing.

You cannot come to County Clare and not at least try to see the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Rising 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, attracting visitors from all over the world, the Cliffs feature wide viewing areas paved with Liscannor stone. This is a marvelous place to understand that the land that would become Clare lay near the equator millions of years ago. I’m not kidding! And in the stone, you can see that when sediments hardened, they also captured the imprints of plants and squiggly sea creatures. If you missed it, you need to c’mon back.

Dinners and drinks

Since Ireland is an island nation, you can be sure there will be a lot of seafood on every menu. From salmon, to a delicious, flaky white fish called Hake, to the common fish & chips, you really are spoiled for choice. For meat lovers, it is great to know over 80% of Irish beef is grass-fed and pasture-raised. Surprisingly, curry dishes are hugely popular in Ireland and have become part of the Irish culinary culture. Everyone in our group who ordered a curry was very pleased. For a country not known for salads, I found the caesar at Ballybunion to be one of the best I’ve had over here.

Twice during the week, I had warm goat cheese and beetroot salad. They were prepared very differently and I devoured every last morsel both times.

Most people think that in Ireland you will find everyone drinking Guinness. Oh, you will find the famous pint glasses filled with the creamy head, forming a dome above the rim…sometimes spilling over. It’s better in Ireland than anywhere else. However, you will also find there is a cocktail culture, and IPA culture, and every restaurant will have at least a modest wine list. When he is parched after a round of golf, Kevin loves to have a shandy. He prefers this low-alcohol drink made with Carlsberg and red lemonade.

Live music that makes our tours even more special

At last we get to the music. We started with music and ended with music with our brilliant Irish musicians, who travel with us, playing everywhere along the way. By the end of the week, we all know the words to the favorite songs like Dirty Old Town and The Wild Rover. We even get the clapping right after a little practice.

But the grand finale, in the beautifully remodeled clubhouse at Lahinch, was everything — and more — that we hoped it would be. Our full-time Irish golfing musicians, Paul Carroll and Fergie Begley, were joined by Gabriel Donohue and John Keane, who brought the music to another level. All the lads played guitar and were engaging singers, but it was Gabriel who elevated the sound, switching from banjo to piano on numerous occasions. Whether it was an Irish standard, country-folk, or Beatles tune, the lads really put on a show, the likes of which Lahinch clubhouse may never see again.