The Genesis of an Idea

A question we have been asked a lot since we launched our business a few months ago is “How did this all come about, what was behind you setting up a tourism business?”.

This got us thinking, so we have decided to start a blog detailing our journey to date, our journey from here, as well as other content we think will be really insightful for people planning a trip to Ireland. We hope this will allow followers to join us on our journey and get a feel for the passion we have for Ireland and the vision we have for this business.

Roots in Irish Tourism

So back to the initial question – why did we go about the crazy idea of setting up a tourism business, even in the midst of a global pandemic of all times. Bottom line is we have always had a passion for tourism and a passion for West Cork, our homeplace. Back in college I believe I had the best summer job going as a caddy at The Old Head Golf Links, Kinsale. As the more senior caddies used to say “it wasn’t a bad office”.

While working there I got to walk one of the most picturesque, jaw-dropping courses in world golf on a daily basis while meeting interesting people from the four corners of the globe. Listening to stories of their travels across Ireland — meeting the locals, visiting traditional Irish pubs, going off the beaten track and visiting famous sites — really got me excited and made it very obvious what a unique world class tourism offering we have in Ireland.

My father has worked in the tourism sector for over 40 years. This involved setting up his own business over 30 years ago which is still trading successfully to this day. This most definitely sparked an interest in the sector for me — from both discussions around the dinner table as well as the family holidays we were lucky enough to go on, tourism was in my blood from an early age.

Building Our Expertise

This travel bug remains with me today and has taken me to places such as USA, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, South-East Asia as well as many countries across the European continent. All of this life experience has given me invaluable insight into the logistics of travel and how detailed planning can go a long way towards having a successful trip.

In 2022 I also completed a course in National Tour Guiding and Tour Management. This qualification has provided me with vital skills to plan and manage groups visiting Ireland. It has also opened a wide network of knowledgeable tour guides who we will be partnering with as we establish and grow as a business.

From Accounting to Adventure

Before I started out on this adventure, I was determined to get a good business background by qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. While this was both a challenging and rewarding time of my career, it was never going to be my forever job – I always had a drive to set up my own business. So, roll forward over 10 years since my caddy days in Kinsale and now is the right time to take the leap.

The Launch of Dunes & Drams

In doing so I was determined to find a co-founder who was just as passionate about West Cork, about Ireland and about showcasing the best of what we have to offer to the world. I was lucky that my good friend Noel O’Donovan agreed to get involved and the journey has been all the more enjoyable for it.

We have combined our joint passions of golf, whiskey and the island of Ireland to establish Dunes & Drams, a niche tourism business. We realise we will not be the right fit for every tourist travelling to Ireland, however we are driven to become a world class tour operator focussing on private bespoke tours of Ireland. All of our tours will be tailored and customisable to each individual group’s preferences.

Our Journey So Far

The journey we have been on in setting up this business has been thoroughly enjoyable. We have played some of the best golf courses in the world (Old Head of Kinsale, Waterville, Ballybunnion, Portrush, Machrie), visited established as well as up and coming whiskey distilleries and bonders, met artisan food producers and even took a trip to the Scottish Highlands and the whiskey mecca of Islay to do a bit of “market research”.

The most satisfying and fulfilling part of this journey was without doubt meeting the people. We have seen first hand the passion and dedication people have for their craft as well as their willingness to educate others. We are excited to introduce our clients to these craftspeople and experience what we have been lucky to over the last while.

Our Vision for the Future

Hopefully by reading this blog you get a good understanding of our drive and motivation to establish this business as well as the reasons why we believe we will be good at it! What we do want to make clear is that our ambition is to become much more than a tourism business; we want to become a brand that is trusted and respected in the market amongst our clients, our partners and our peers.

We want to connect with likeminded people who will engage and contribute to the growth of our brand. We want to nurture a sense of community and camaraderie amongst our clients and make them feel that they are part of our journey. We are determined to achieve this while at all times providing best in class tour services with attention to detail and customer service to the forefront. All these factors combined will be the essence of the Dunes & Drams experience.