About
About Scotia Ireland
Scotia Ireland was founded by husband and wife team, Con and Samantha O’Leary in 2012. Con O’Leary has worked for many years in the Irish Tourism industry as a Fáilte Ireland National Tour Coach Driver/Guide and has travelled the length and breadth of Ireland with groups large and small from all over the world, especially with groups from the United States and Canada.
Con is a very well know figure within the travel industry in Ireland and can provide many testimonials from delighted clients down through the years and has made numerous long-time friendships with members of his tours and visitors to Ireland from around the world. Con is passionate of his Irish heritage and his aspiration is to provide the discerning traveller an experience that incorporates true Irish tradition, culture and heritage and the genuine warmth of local hospitality.
Samantha holds a first-class degree in business information systems with experience in the hospitality and travel sector. Both Samantha and Con have a very deep love of Ireland, its history and landscape and really enjoy creating exciting new itineraries each year. More often than not, during the winter months both Sam and Con enjoy scouting out quality locations, hotels and exploring Ireland and Scotland for quality hospitality and leisure pursuits.
Con’s decision to create Scotia Ireland came in response to the many requests from previous clients and visitors, asking Con to create luxury chauffeur driven coach tour vacations in Ireland which combined the essential elements of the Irish cultural experience, i.e. in-depth local knowledge, history, music and poetry and the very best of what Ireland has to offer in accommodation and fine dining.
The name Scotia Ireland Tours came about from memories of Con’s childhood and trying to reflect the richness of Ireland’s history. The Milesian warrior queen, Scotia was an Egyptian princess and daughter of a pharaoh of Egypt, died in battle on Kerry’s Slieve Mish Mountain. In a wooded valley just south of Tralee town where Con grew up a large long red sandstone rock is reputed to mark the final resting place of the Milesian warrior queen and thus inspired Con.
We continuously strive to seek out the very best of Ireland’s adventure, wellness, and photography locations and the highest standard of luxury guest houses, castles or boutique hotel accommodations. Cuisine along the various routes is carefully sampled and selected by both Samantha and Con.
We offer luxury sightseeing, adventure and guided photography vacations where quality of hospitality and service throughout is never compromised. Committed to providing a unique memorable cultural experience, allow us to take you back to over 350 Million years ago and forward to 8 - 10,000 BC when man first stepped on to the Irish shore and to when the Irish race as we recognise it today, began. We have a story to tell……
Con, Thank you for the trip of a lifetime. Will treasure the memories always…
...Your extraordinary level of service, kindness and consideration to our needs and expectations during our trip to Ireland is so much appreciated…
...Your kindness and love of Ireland made me come to love it, even more than I already did.…
...I never had such an appreciation for history until this vacation. You have opened our eyes to the fine details.…
...You are a very adept driver, a wonderful guide and an astute historian. We did learn a lot about Irish history, customs and traditions on our trip. Thank you for a truly wonderful time…
...You shared your extensive knowledge and appreciation for the land. It helped my understanding of the culture and its people…
