About John
Discovering Ireland Tours
We specialize in tours that are all about stimulating your interest in all things about Ireland and the Irish people while at the same time making sure you have the very best experiences and memories to take home. We also know that you are on holiday and will make sure that you connect with the real Ireland while enjoying yourselves
Member of The Approved Tour Guides of Ireland (ATGI)


Extended Holidays of Ireland
Private Guided Tours for the Thinking Traveler
We are licensed to transport you throughout Ireland and will happily bring you on a wonderful bespoke holiday anywhere you fancy. Email us for suggested itineraries
We are happy to tailor itineraries to suit your individual preferences.
Our tours are lead by Failte Ireland (National Tourist Authority) Approved Tour Guides who are also university educated historians.
Professional Genealogists and Family Historians
We can work with you to produce expert Genealogical Research for your Irish family and devise an itinerary for your holiday that will bring you walking in footsteps of your ancestry. Tours are very personal and focus on understanding the meaning of being Irish as well as exploring your own family history. We also understand that researching family history may only be part of the reason for visiting Ireland and that you will want to take in all the sites and experiences that make a visit to Ireland so special. We are well qualified to guide to all of these as well.
National University of Ireland Professional Certificate in Genealogy and Family History (The highest level academic qualification in Ireland in genealogy)
Member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)


Transport
Transport is by Mercedes Viano Limousine (seats 5-6) . Larger groups can be transported by arrangement by minibus, email for a quotation.
Sightseeing Day Tours From Dublin
Extended Tours of Ireland
Pick up can be arranged from your cruise ship or hotel. We offer wonderful day trip itineraries that take in the best that the area has to offer.
John Ducie
As as well being an experienced guide John Ducie is a native of Dublin with a passion for his country and explaining both it and its history to visitors. He has had a life long interest in cultural and natural heritage of all kinds and really knows his way to all the best and most interesting places.
John retired as Properties and Conservation Manager of the National Trust for Ireland in 2012 to devote himself to a full-time career as a tour guide and is a officially recognized Irish Government Approved National Tour Guide, holds a National University of Ireland Professional Certificate in Genealogy and Family History and is licensed to drive up to 16 people in both limousines and mini buses.
In the past he has chaired the Heritage Gardens and Designed Landscapes Committee for ten years, has served as Vice Chairman of The National Trust for Ireland, President of the European Network of National Heritage Organizations, a member of the Executive Committee of the International National Trusts Organization and the Council of Europa Nostra (the pan European Heritage Alliance). He is a founder member of both The Irish Garden Plant Society and The Tree Council of Ireland.


Qualifications
Hons. Bachelor of Business in Entrepreneurship with First Class Honours
Failte Ireland Tour Guiding and Tourist Management Certificate with Distinction
The National University of Ireland Certificate in Genealogy with first class honours (ordinary degree level certificate awarded after three years study, level 7 QQI)
Graduate of The National Botanic Gardens in Amenity Horticulture.
Member: Approved Tour Guides of Ireland (ATGI)
Member: Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
What our customers say
We did a one-day tour of Killruddery and Powerscourt gardens with John as our guide. John's knowledge and enthusiasm are infectious and insightful. You really need a guided tour to... read more understand the garden's history and fully appreciate what your looking at. John is also a lecturer at the Garden Design Academy of Ireland and is a fountain o horticultural information!!
PhilG1234567
December 6, 2022With 5+ days touring Ireland with John, you'll gain an authentic understanding of Ireland's history, while also fully experiencing the country's culture and beauty. We preferred a more immersive... read more experience rather than choosing to see every possible sight -- and John helped us narrow our focus and then shared his expertise on nearly every facet of the country. He recommended excellent restaurants, and also the Castlewood and Heaton's in Dingle, both providing an amazing unique small hotel experience in Dingle, Ireland. IWe stayed at Castlewood, our friends stayed next door at Heaton's -- both are owned and operated by the Heaton family. We reviewed the Castlewood separately and give it our highest reviews -- simply amazing). John's pride in his home country and the Irish shine through, with indepth knoweldge in nearly every facet of Ireland's past and life in Ireland. He monitored the later October weather closely to optimize our experience, well recognizing that experiencing certain vistas required sufficiently clear skies. He adapted to our appetites/culinary tastes, demonstrated extremely safe driving skills, and made certain that we had the level of information we required when deciding whether to forego a particular activity (e.g., did we wish to tour a particular castle or manor?). Thanks to John, we fell in love with this breathtaking country and its people. Indeed, Ireland's beauty is surpassed only by the extraordinary and friendly Irish people who make every visitor feel welcome and at home.
Tuscanysoccer
November 1, 2022- PVP001
Our party of four booked a full day tour of Powerscourt and Glendalough, including a drive through Sally Gap and terrific lunch at a beautiful Irish pub. John is a... read more fountain of knowledge on a vast variety of subjects, ranging from horticulture to genealogy and of course the history of Ireland. Highly recommend John for both is intellect and driving skills around the Irish countryside.
July 28, 2022 - Tourist87226
A group of us with an interest in Gardens took a private tour with John to visit Kilruddery and Powerscourt Gardens. With John's expert knowledge of both history and horticulture... read more the experience was excellent, he made each part of the day and every element of the gardens interesting and a great learning experience.
May 15, 2022 - GeorgiaK27
We had a fabulous day with John driving south from Dublin through beautiful coastal villages to Powerscourt and then up into the Wicklow mountains with the final stop in Glendalough.... read more He is a wealth of knowledge and we learned about Irish history, politics, society and flora and fauna. We would love to travel more with him when we are back in Ireland which we hope will be soon!
April 21, 2022 - Cory K
We had a fabulous day with John driving south from Dublin through beautiful coastal villages to Powerscourt and then up into the Wicklow mountains with the final stop in Glendalough.... read more He is a wealth of knowledge and we learned about Irish history, politics, society and flora and fauna. We would love to travel more with him when we are back in Ireland which we hope will be soon!
April 21, 2022 - 607leannd
The McAllister Family is so grateful to have been connected with John via Approved Tourist Guides Ireland (ATGI)! John transported us from Dublin to Kerry with stops including the Rock... read more of Cashel and a recommended nearby lovely lunch spot. John's depth of knowledge and love of country shined through and made our Irish-American family feel connected to The Land of Saints and Scholars. Highly recommend!
November 10, 2021 - nkreikemeier
Great day with John Ducie. I’d describe him as passionate and knowledgeable, what else could you want in a tour guide!
Very well spoken, and easy to understand (hard... read more for my mother sometimes depending on accents), we very much enjoyed jump starting our knowledge of Dublin shortly after arriving so we can effectively get a handle on the city early on.
Would recommend John to anyone for anything, but that Dublin tour seemed like home for him.
September 5, 2021 - mark d
My wife and I just finished an 8 day tour of Ireland with John. We saw Ireland from coast to coast with so much in between! Be it... read more the City of Dublin, Galway, The Cliffs of Moher, The Dingle Peninsula or the many quaint towns and villages along the way we saw it all and more. We had never been to Ireland and had no clue as to where to go, what to see or where to stay. With John's help and guidance we had a wonderful flawless experience. John's fantastic knowedlge of Irish history is a real gift that we greatly appreciated.
My wife and I highly recommend John Ducie as your tour guide for Ireland!!
September 26, 2019