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About me – Jack Ward

Driver guide – cultural curator – travel planner

Enjoy the glory of the story around Ireland

The sacred isle of Ireland has an infinite amount of stories and lore. Indeed, Ireland’s greatest natural resource is just that – what comes out of our mouths. Over the course of the last 30 years, I’ve either read or heard many of them from the locals direct.
 
In those years, be it producing a radio series or creating audio tours, I’ve been a good listener. However, I now wish to bring that compendium of knowledge and indeed wisdom to you direct.
 
I seek to bring all of these stories to life in what I call a sound and vision extravaganza – when you take a tour with me, you are immersed in a mix of my direct narration, stories from the archive and of course the best Irish music going.
 
For years, I’ve matched tales with the landscape and have finally twigged that the best way of really doing this beautiful island’s past is to get out there and showcase it myself with a ready smile and a sense of adventure. Join me this year?

 

Highly Qualified 

Jack is a nationally qualified tourist guide and a proud member of the Approved Tourist Guides of Ireland. With limousine and minibus licences, you’ve flexibility on how to get around the island. See his skillset here.

Personalised Travel Experiences

Whilst we’ve a series of specialised tours, we will endeavour to facilitate any request you may have. so visiting an ancestor’s grave or tying in a big set-piece for a birthday? very Doable!

 

Social Responsibility

We’re committed to reducing emissions, conserving reserves and minimising waste. Where possible, we’re partnered with businesses who support sustainable practices on our small group tours. We adhere to Leave No Trace Ireland’s core principles.

Our Travel Services

Heritage Appreciation

Heritage Appreciation

Besides over 30 years involvement in heritage projects, Jack is qualified in cultural heritage and has a Masters in Irish Studies. Most importantly, he is passionate about Irish heritage, but is not blinded to our many shortcomings! He is comfortable talking about everything from Amergin to the Abhartach.

Cultural Archive

Cultural Archive

Jack started off as a story collector and has amassed a cultural archive covering many facets of Irish life. On trips, he will play a relevant excerpt allowing for a ‘deep-dive’ on a subject. This will either be delivered by a local expert or an actor. You’re welcome to hear our Racontour Archive for yourself below.

Audio Guides

Audio Guides

Not just audio guides, but a serious reboot on what a guide can do. We offer the most innovative and user-friendly guides possible. With audio, music, text and GPS coordinates offered in our Spotify playlists, we can (legally) offer the listener not just a guide, but a veritable soundscape.

Extra-Curricular

Extra-Curricular

What sets Racontour apart is that your tour of Ireland does not simply compose of the tour itself. If you’re interested, Jack will ensure you have a list of books, films and music for you to look into before you visit based on your tastes. Better still, he will send on relevant articles he finds that he feels you may enjoy based on what you enjoyed on your tour.

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Tour Guiding

Tour Guiding

After years of gathering a wealth of information, we branched out into dedicated tour guiding in 2023. Since 2024, we’ve offered bespoke tours to small groups in a number of specialised subjects in folklore, literature and mythology. However, we are happy to design an itinerary that suits the culturally curious tourist, one that goes off the grid to offer the real Ireland.

Destination Planning

If you wish to design your own itinerary, that can be done. If you like what you hear from our initial free 20 minute consultation, we can then set about building a bespoke schedule that allows you to go at your pace and to where you like the sound of or indeed wish to return to. Jack will do all of the reserving and route planning allowing you to prepare without stress.

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in good hands

Having organised everything from festivals to international tourist fairs, exhibitions to parades, theatre productions to storytelling nights, we are confident in helping to bring a new angle to your tour. Meticulous planning and an eye for detail are key of course, but so is the ability to allow some creativity and flexibility. See our reviews and our other projects.If you like what you see and hear, let’s get that special tour planned.

Testimonials

Comments from our associates over the years

Contact Us

Want to book a tour? Want to devise a tour just for you?

Get in touch and let’s bring it life this year so!  

Your opinions are important to us. Whether it is a simple question or a valuable suggestion, we are here Monday – Friday: 9 AM – 5.30 PM.

+353 89 222 3812
info@racontour.com
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