Private Tour of Blarney Castle, Kinsale and Cork

It was an absolute amazing tour . Derek was a great tour guide with his sense of humor,excitement and information,yet gave us plenty of time to just experience the beautiful surroundings and the moment . Highly recommended this tour !!

What an amazing day. Darren was an incredible driver. When he picked us up at our hotel, I asked him of we could add a stop, reduce time somewhere else. He told me he was here to help us see what we want. We moved things around a little and got to see everything. He made sure each stop, he took us in and made sure we knew where to go to get tickets, even would show us some things before the tours. He was so knowledgeable and very interesting. If and when we go back, my first call will be here to book rides. On our way home, my wife told me this was her favorite part of the trip and it was as much about Darren as what we saw.

We had an great tour experience with Derek visiting key areas of Kinsale, Cobh and The Blarney Castle. Derek was an extremely engaging tour guide, worked well with all of our family and made great recommendations for our lunch in Kinsale as well as dinner when we got back to Cork. Derek gave us some great history, told interesting stories and it was really evident that he loved his work. We appreciated that he used a headset to project his voice so that those in the far back seat could easily hear him. We were pleased that he joined us for lunch in Kinsale. Derek made our day, even though we experienced some strong rain later in our trip. Working with Derek in advance was smooth and he accommodated our various thoughts around planning our day. We felt very well cared for throughout the process.

We had booked and were arriving on a cruise ship which changed itinerary due to bad weather. Derek was so polite and acted with lace and called me personally. I just want to write a review how organised and polite they are. As said we had booked, we were looking forward to our first trip to Ireland. We are visiting by cruise ship and at short notice the ship cancelled the port and amended itinerary. Derek called personally quickly organised a refund, and was very personable and attentive. We do hope to get to Cobh and Cork one day. Thank you.

Derek O’Keefee gave our family the best private tour tailored to all our wishes! He designed a tour just for we were looking for. He told us to enjoy and relax because it was vacation time. It was a wonderful peaceful vacation for our family! There’s so much detail and care that went into our trip! Derek’s fun loving personality touched us all!! He took us places that typical tour guides don’t go. He knows so many of the local folks and we were treated with “too shelve service” but truly felt that everyone we met that they were our friends immediately! If you are looking for once in a lifetime experience to see Ireland, than Derek is your experience & delightful guide!! He touched our hearts with the beauty of his country and his kind and fun professional manner! This wad the best trip she had ever been on as a family! It will be forever in our hearts!! Thank you Derek!!!

Three generations toured from Cork, and Derek's expert advice is all the difference. First class service saved us time, and his relationships and insights with the destinations we visited enhanced our experience. Highly recommend.

Derek was awesome! Very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Very funny as well! Would highly recommend this tour and if you get him you will have a wonderful time!

This tour was amazing. Derek met and exceeded all of our expectations! He is so knowledgeable and funny. He taught us a lot about Irish history and the Gaelic language. He seems to know every other guide in the country and can skip every line because he is so well-known and loved. He customized our tour to our wishes. He took us to a lunch spot where we had some delicious food. He also took us to some "bonus" stops that we would not have seen otherwise. Thanks, Derek, for an amazing day! You are the best and we are grateful to have met you! We highly recommend this tour company!

Derek was wonderful. Waiting for us at the cruise terminal, flexible and helpful when we wanted to change our tour itinerary, and exceptionally knowledgeable/friendly. We travel a lot. This was simply our best experience with a tour guide.

We had the pleasure of taking a private tour with Private Tours Cork, and it was the highlight of our time in Ireland. From start to finish, everything about the experience lived up to—and exceeded—the promises described on the website. Our guide, Derek, was not only knowledgeable and professional but truly passionate about the history, culture, and hidden gems of Cork. He didn’t just drive us to the sights—he brought the stories to life with rich context, historical insights, and fascinating local lore that you simply wouldn’t get from a big group tour or a guidebook. Of course, Blarney Castle was a showstopper, but Derek took it a step further. He showed us vantage points, secret spots, and quiet corners of the castle grounds that most tourists completely miss. It felt like we had VIP access to a part of Irish heritage that only locals know about. The vehicle was comfortable, spotless, and perfectly suited for a relaxed and personalized day. It even held a massive amount of luggage. The town of Kinsale was beautiful. It’s beautiful!!! From hotel pickup to the last drop-off, the entire day was seamless. Moore was incredibly flexible with timing, gave excellent lunch and shopping recommendations, and adjusted the pace of the tour to match our energy and interests. Was it worth the price? Without a doubt. This wasn’t just transportation—it was a curated cultural experience, a chance to see Cork and its surroundings through the eyes of someone who loves and understands the area deeply. If you’re looking for a tour that goes beyond the brochure, this is it. Highly recommended to anyone who wants more than a typical day trip—this is how to do it right.