Absolutely recommend Derek for your Irish excursions! Timely, polite & blended with our group vibe perfectly…. even curated a playlist for our time together ☺️
Thank you for a wonderful time together with warm memories!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star review! It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with you all and showing you some of the highlights of Ireland.
I’m especially glad the playlist went down well! A great soundtrack always makes the journey that little bit more memorable.
Thank you for choosing Evergreen Private Tours Ireland and for allowing me to be part of your Irish adventure. I really enjoyed the laughs and great company, and I hope those warm memories stay with you for many years.
Safe travels, and hopefully our paths cross again in Ireland someday!
Warm regards,
Derek
Owner, Evergreen Private Tours Ireland
3
302nastassiam
August 5, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience
We had the pleasure of spending two days with Derek during our trip to Ireland, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.
From the very beginning, he was punctual, professional, attentive, and a pleasure to spend time with. His vehicle was spotless, comfortable, and made every mile of our journey enjoyable. He was also wonderful with our 7-year-old daughter, making her feel included and helping our entire family feel at ease.
We booked him for two very different days. The first followed one of his regular tours from Cork that included Blarney, Jameson, and Cobh, while the second was a completely customized itinerary with a transfer from Cork to Kilkenny. Throughout both days, he was flexible, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on making sure we had the best possible experience.
What truly set him apart happened while we were planning our custom day. I had my heart set on a whale-watching tour and explained why it was important to our family. Rather than simply booking the transfer to the tour I asked for—or trying to sell us something else—he took the time to understand what we were hoping to experience. Then he gave us his honest opinion that whale watching in this part of the country wasn't the best fit for our family or our expectations. That level of honesty is rare. Many guides would have seen it as an easy sale, but he chose to put our experience first.
When I asked if he had any alternatives, he suggested two options. We chose one of them, and it turned out to be the absolute highlight of our entire trip to Ireland. It's a memory our family will treasure forever, and we are incredibly grateful that he cared enough to steer us in the right direction.
If you're looking for someone who is reliable, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and genuinely invested in making your trip unforgettable, look no further. We would book with him again without hesitation and recommend him to anyone visiting Ireland.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful and generous review. Reading your words genuinely means a great deal to me.
It was an absolute pleasure spending those two days with your family. From exploring Blarney, Jameson, and Cobh to creating a completely bespoke journey to Kilkenny, I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you all. Your daughter was a joy to have along, and I’m delighted she felt included throughout the experience.
Your comments about the whale-watching conversation are especially meaningful. I’ve always believed that my job isn’t simply to take guests where they ask to go—it’s to help them make the very most of their time in Ireland. Sometimes that means recommending something different if I truly believe it will create a better experience. Knowing that the alternative became the highlight of your trip is incredibly rewarding and reminds me why I love what I do.
Thank you for trusting my recommendations and allowing me to be a small part of your family’s Irish adventure. Memories like these are exactly what I hope every guest takes home with them.
I truly appreciate your kind words and your recommendation. It would be a pleasure to welcome you and your family back to Ireland someday. Until then, I wish you many more wonderful travels together.
Warmest regards,
Derek O’Keeffe
Evergreen Private Tours Ireland
T
travelbysami
July 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Private Driver for Blarney Castle, Jameson & Cobh
We booked this private tour while our cruise ship was in Cobh, and everything went very smoothly from start to finish.
Before our trip, Derek was excellent to communicate with. He confirmed our pickup time and location by email, answered our questions, and made everything very easy. On the morning of the tour, he was exactly where he said he'd be, and finding him at the cruise terminal couldn't have been simpler.
Our first stop was Blarney Castle. It happened to be a very busy day with several cruise ships in port, but one of the advantages of booking with Derek was that he got us straight onto the castle grounds while the large coach tours were still lined up outside. It definitely saved us time.
We spent about two hours exploring the grounds, and they were absolutely beautiful. The gardens are worth the visit alone, and we also had time to walk over and see Blarney House, which is stunning.
We had hoped to kiss the famous Blarney Stone, but the wait was close to two hours. Rather than spend most of our visit standing in line, we decided to blow it a kiss from below and hope that counted!
Before leaving Blarney, we asked Derek if he could make a quick stop at the Blarney Woollen Mills. He didn't hesitate. The ladies did a little shopping while the guys wandered over to the pub for a pint. It worked out perfectly.
Our next stop was the Jameson Distillery Midleton. Derek had already made our tour reservation, so all we had to do was purchase our tickets when we arrived. We grabbed lunch at the café before the tour, which was convenient and surprisingly good.
Throughout the day, Derek was friendly, professional, and happy to adjust the schedule to fit what we wanted to do. We never felt rushed, and he made the day easy and enjoyable.
He had us back at the ship with plenty of time before departure, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a private tour in the Cork area.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such an honest and detailed review! Coming from a travel professional, your feedback truly means the world to me.
It was an absolute pleasure hosting you and your group while your ship was docked in Cobh. I'm delighted we were able to get you straight onto the grounds at Blarney Castle to explore the beautiful gardens and Blarney House. I'm also so glad we could easily squeeze in that detour to the Blarney Woollen Mills so the ladies could shop and the guys could grab a well-deserved pint. That is exactly what a private tour is all about, setting your own pace and making the day yours!
I'm thrilled that the afternoon at the Jameson Distillery and the café lunch hit the mark for you all, and most importantly, that you felt relaxed and never rushed throughout the day. Getting you back to the ship stress-free and on time is always my top priority.
Thank you again for trusting me with your day ashore, and for your wonderful recommendation. I would be absolutely delighted to welcome you, or any of your future clients, back to Ireland anytime!
Warmest regards,
Derek O'Keeffe
Evergreen Private Tours
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wrxdrew2002
March 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Spectacular
Derek and team are absolutely amazing. Prompt and responsive during the planning phase and prompt and knowledgeable during the tour. He also does a good enough job of leaving you on your own to take the sights and scenery in on your own. All in all a 10/10, we will be booming with him again on our next trip to Ireland.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your kind words—it truly means a lot to us! It was an absolute pleasure hosting your family and sharing some of Ireland’s most iconic highlights, from the breathtaking Rock of Cashel to the rich heritage at Jameson Distillery Midleton, and the charm of Cobh, Blarney Castle, and Kinsale.
We’re delighted to hear that you appreciated both the planning process and the balance of guided insight with time to explore at your own pace—that’s exactly the experience we aim to create.
A “10/10” recommendation and knowing you’d book with us again is the highest compliment we could receive. We’ll be ready and excited to welcome you back on your next Irish adventure!
Safe travels until then,
Derek O'Keeffe
D
doneens2026
March 15, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic Day!
Derek gave us an absolutely amazing day! He is super friendly and knowledgeable. Our experience was a thousand times better than it would have been on our own with all the tid bits he could add. He was personable and a pleasure to spend the day with. We will definitely try to travel with him again!!!!
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It truly means a lot to hear that you had such an amazing day. It was an absolute pleasure spending the time with you and sharing some of the stories and little details that make the experience special. I’m really glad I could help make the day even better than you expected.
Your kind words about the tour and the company are greatly appreciated. I had a fantastic time as well, and it would be an honour to travel with you again whenever your adventures bring you back this way.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience—it really means a lot!
Warm regards,
Derek O’Keeffe
B
B3840BYnancym
October 13, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Wonderful
Tour was wonderful, enjoyed the itinerary. Derek was an amazing guide. We will have great memories of our time in Ireland.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your lovely review! I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the Jameson and Blarney tour and that you had such a great time in Ireland. It was a real pleasure showing you around. I’m so glad the itinerary made for great memories. Wishing you all the best, and hopefully we’ll cross paths again on your next visit!
Warm regards,
Derek
O
O454VPdawnh
September 28, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great guide and tours
Derek picked us up promptly. He shared the rich history of Cork while on our way to and from the castle and distillery tour. Would highly recommend.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for joining us on the Whiskey, Castles & Coast private tour. We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the day and the stories of Cork along the way.
It truly means a lot to know you had a great experience and would recommend us. We take real pride in sharing the history and charm of this beautiful part of Ireland, and your kind words are greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Derek
C
Charolyn_M
September 4, 2025 · via Viator
Very nice tour and our...
Very nice tour and our guide Derek was very knowledgeable. Appreciated all the tips Derek shared with us and his musical history.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your kind words and for joining me on the Whiskey, Castles & Coast: Jameson, Blarney & Cobh Private Tour. I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed the experience and found my tips and stories—musical and otherwise—helpful along the way.
It was truly a pleasure spending the day with you, and I hope the memories of Ireland’s history, landscapes, and a bit of good whiskey stay with you for a long time to come. Should your travels bring you back this way, I’d be honoured to guide you again.
Warm regards,
Derek
J
J3233QOellent
September 4, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great & Memorable Experience!
We had a great experience with our tour guide, Derek. He was very knowledgeable and informative with the places we visited that you cant get from books or media. We love his positive energy that radiated how much he enjoys his job. We were also impressed how respectful and friendly with the people from Ireland. This is a must to experience.
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was an absolute pleasure spending the day with you in Blarney, Jameson Whiskey, and Cobh. I’m delighted to hear that you enjoyed not only the history and stories but also the little details you can only pick up from being there in person. I truly love sharing Ireland’s heritage and spirit, and it means a lot to know that my energy and passion came through.
I’m also glad you felt the warm Irish welcome along the way—that’s something we’re very proud of here. I hope you’ll take home some great memories (and maybe a taste of Jameson too!) and that Ireland will be calling you back again someday.
Warm Regards
Derek
M
Mike_A
August 21, 2025 · via Viator
Cork Day Trip
Wonderful trip visiting the various sites around Cork. Would highly recommend this tour for a lovely day trip
事業者からの返答
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m delighted to hear you enjoyed your day exploring Jameson, Blarney, and Cobh with me.
My goal is always to make the experience memorable and enjoyable, and I truly appreciate your recommendation.
I’d love to welcome you back to Cork again in the future for more adventures.
Warm regards
Derek
