Irish Theatre Tour
July 19 – 29, 2027
$3950 (double occupancy) / $4950 (single occupancy) (airfare not included)
A fully refundable $100/person deposit holds your place. Subsequent tour payments will be due Dec 1, 2026, and February 1 & April 1, 2027.
Led by Gemma Whelan and Adam Liberman
Attend eight performances by both Irish and international playwrights and theatre companies at world-renowned theatres in Dublin and Galway (during the Galway International Arts Festival). Meet with leading playwrights and theatre artists, and engage in lively discussions. A tour for anyone who’s interested in theatre, literature, or the arts. And, there’s plenty of time for you to explore on your own as well. Led by Irish-born director Gemma Whelan and Adam Liberman.
Participant Comments:
“If you think you could plan a tour yourself and have anything close to this experience, you’re wrong.”
“Just a lovely and lively experience. I am so grateful for the opportunity.”
“What a great experience to learn about Irish theater, Irish culture, and Irish history! Worth every moment.”
“My favorite group trip ever…”
Highlights from the seventh tour (2026):
by Shauna Carrick, directed by Muireann Kelly (An Taibhdhearc)
“Terrific performances all round, with first-rate singing and perky moves” —Irish Independent
by Dion Boucicault, directed by Garry Hynes (Druid)
“A beautifully knit ensemble bring infectious, giddy fun ... finding a delicious balance between whimsy and sincerity” — The Guardian
by Ralph McCubbin Howell, directed by Hannah Smith (Trick of the Light, New Zealand)
“From start to finish, the Bookbinder is an incredible watch.” —Theatre Matters
by Jim Cartwright, directed by Andrew Flynn (Decadent Theatre Company)
“Jim Cartwrights series of vignettes balances bawdy tavern comedy with a bleak sense of how badly life can turn out.” —Irish Times
by Lennox Robinson, directed by Annie Ryan (Abbey Theatre)
“Fresh, vibrant and incredibly exciting” —Sunday Independent
by Eva O'Connor, directed by Jim Culleton (Fishamble)
“An impossible, impeccable, irresistible joy.” —The Arts Review
written and performed by Nuala McKeever (Bewley’s Cafe Theatre)
“An uplifting show and its star, Nuala McKeever, is razor sharp.” —Mail on Sunday
written and directed by Conor McPherson (The Gate Theatre)
“A masterpiece from a superb dramatist” —Morning Star
Maria Tivnan has 19 years of experience performing, writing, and directing for theatre. She is the artistic director of Fregoli Theatre and the director of Macnas Youth Theatre. Maria was awarded a Theatre Bursary Award from the Arts Council in 2025 to explore the relationship between theatre and ecology. Her special interests are performance in public/outdoor space, community participation, social and ecological justice, and performance as acts of resistance and resilience.
Orla Mc Govern is an award-winning storyteller, improvisor, performer, and writer. She is the artistic director of Moth & Butterfly, a storytelling and arts collective based in the west of Ireland. Órla’s plays have been produced in Ireland and the US, including at First Irish Festival (New York), Key City Theatre (Washington), Fregoli Theatre (Galway), The Abbey Theatre (Dublin), and more. As an actor, Órla has worked with numerous theatres around the world, including Red Kettle, the Abbey Theatre, Punchbag Theatre, Glasshouse, and Moonfish Theatre.
Anna Healy Dow is an award-winning Irish actress with an expansive 35-year career across screen, West End theatre, and Irish stage. In 2022 she won Best Supporting Actress at the Irish Times Irish Theatre Awards for her performances in Abbey Theatre's Portia Coughlan, Druid Theatre’s The Last Return, and Corcadorca Theatre Company's The Spin Actress. She is appeared in the Abbey Theatre production of The Whiteheaded Boy, which we saw.
Jim Culleton is the Artistic Director of Fishamble: The New Play Company, for which he has directed productions on tour throughout Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US. His productions for Fishamble have won Olivier, The Stage, Scotsman Fringe First, and Irish Times Best Director awards. Jim has also directed for numerous theatres and has taught at universities in Ireland and the US. Jim directed For Dolores, which we saw.
The Cliffs of Moher rises over 700 feet and provides spectacular vistas over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands. Formed from rock deposited over 300 million years ago, the area is considered a geologic laboratory. At peak season, there are 30,000 pairs of birds living on the cliffs, representing more than 20 species.
Kylemore Castle was built in 1868. The bottom floor is open to the public, while the top floor is occupied by Benedictine Nuns who have occupied it since 1920. The grounds feature a six acre Victorian walled garden. While we aren’t a sightseeing tour, we do include a couple of trips in the west of Ireland to learn about the culture and history and to see the beautiful landscape.
The Abbey, Ireland's national theatre, was founded by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory in 1904. On the backstage tour, we learn about the past and present of the theatre as we explore areas such as the costume shop, wig room, props room, green room, and stage.
Each year we go on a private two-hour walking tour of Dublin, led by an expert from the Abbey Theatre. We visit and learn about significance places and people in Dublin's rich theatrical and literary past and present.
McSwiggans has been a local institution in Galway for over 30 years, and is the Irish Restaurant Awards 2025 winner for Best Gastropub. We had dinner here the first night in Galway so that we could all get to know each other.
Quite a storied history with wonderful stained glass images of famous Irish writers, poets, and saints.
The Trocadero is known as Dublin's “theatre restaurant” and has attracted stage and screen actors (and others!) for over 68 years. We celebrated the end of the tour here.
Adare Guest House was the first purpose-built guesthouse in Galway, and is known for hosting both theatre makers and goers. Hot breakfast is included, and we also frequently have our after-show discussions downstairs. It's located about a 10 minute walk from the historic center of Galway, and about 10–20 minutes from our theatres.
Wynn’s was opened on this same spot as a boarding house by Phoebe Wynn in 1845. It served as a meeting place for Irish Nationalists in 1913, and burned down during the Easter Rising of April 1916. The hotel was rebuilt and reopened in 1926. It's located one block from the Abbey Theatre, and about 5–20 minutes from our other destinations.
Galway (Days 1-5)
- Tickets to four performances (such as Druid Theatre, An Taibhdhearc).
- Private meetings with playwrights and other theatre artists.
- Discussions with Gemma about the plays we see.
- Day trip to see and learn about the region (such as the Cliffs of Moher & the Burren, and Kylemore Abbey & Connemara).
- Free time to attend the Galway International Arts Festival.
- One group dinner.
- Accommodations at Adare Guesthouse near the center of town, with full Irish breakfast.
- Galway was the 2020 European Capital of Culture, BBC Good Food top foodie destination in the world for 2020, and one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities to visit in 2020!
Dublin (Days 6-10)
- Tickets to four performances (such as Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, Project Arts Center, Bewley’s Cafe Theatre).
- Private meetings with playwrights and other theatre artists.
- Discussions with Gemma about the plays we see.
- Various events, such as a theatrical walking tour of Dublin, backstage tour, etc.
- Two group dinners.
- Accommodations at the historic Wynn’s Hotel in the center of Dublin, with full Irish breakfast.
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