By Shane Gannon, G Golf

I spent a good part of April and May back home in Ireland, and I came away convinced of something I already half-believed: there has never been a better moment to bring a group of golfers here. New courses are opening, old favourites are being reborn, and the welcome — The Guinness, the live music, the food, the people , the lot — is as good as it has ever been.

This spring’s travels fall into two parts: a FAM (familiarisation) trip through the wild north-west, hosted by Tourism Ireland; and the trips I hosted with my own people — a group of guests over from Switzerland, and a family trip with my Dad, brother-in-law and his father. Three completely different flavours of Ireland, and itineraries you can lift straight off the page.

Stranhill – Co.Sligo

Part 1 — The FAM Trip: The Wild North-West

Hosted by Tourism Ireland in April. Four days, Sligo to Galway, along the Wild Atlantic Way.

If you only know Irish golf through the south-west and the famous Dublin links, the north-west is the revelation. Big, raw, empty country — and dunes that make you laugh out loud. This was the trip that reminded me just how special this corner is, and why it deserves a spot on more itineraries.

Day 1 — Sligo: Strandhill, The Glasshouse & Shoot the Crows

We opened at Strandhill (pictured above), a proper Atlantic links tucked under the shadow of Knocknarea, with the ocean on one side and surf rolling onto the beach. A gentle, honest warm-up for the week — and a beautiful spot to find your feet.

That night we checked into The Glasshouse, right on the Garavogue river in the heart of Sligo town, and ate at Eala Bhán — modern Irish cooking, local seafood and beef, a few steps from the water. We finished, as you should in Sligo, with a creamy pint of Guinness and live trad music in Shoot the Crows, one of the most characterful little pubs in the country.

Day 2 — Carne (Belmullet): the one they call “golf at the edge of the earth”

Then the drive out onto the Mullet Peninsula to Carne, and honestly this is why people make the journey. Carne was the last course the legendary Eddie Hackett ever designed – opened in 1993 – and many believe he saved his best for last. The newer “Wild Atlantic Dunes” routing weaves through some of the most enormous, untamed sandhills you will play anywhere on the planet, looking out over Blacksod Bay. Recent work to the tees and bunkering has only sharpened it.

It is remote, it is wild, and it is unforgettable. Post round we travelled back to Mount Falcon , a fabulous deluxe hotel set on stunning grounds.

Day 3 — Enniscrone, then a night in Galway City

Back towards Sligo for Enniscrone, another set of towering dunes on a promontory jutting into Killala Bay at the mouth of the River Moy. Pure, classic links golf with Hackett’s fingerprints again — wonderful natural shape and serious drama from the elevated tees.

From there the bus rolled south to Galway City, and we did Galway properly: pubs, music, good food, the whole lively soul of the place. My personal favourite city in Ireland (and I’m from Dublin…..)

Day 4 — Galway Bay → The Hawthorn (and a hard-hat tour)

We finished at the course now reborn as The Hawthorn by Galway Bay (the former Galway Bay Golf Club). Christy O’Connor Jnr’s championship layout sits on the Renville peninsula with views across the bay to the Burren and, on a clear day, the Aran Islands. The real story, though, is the €60-million redevelopment around it: we got a hard-hat tour of the brand-new five-star hotel, due to open this spring (114 rooms, destination spa, the works). When it lands, it will be a genuine luxury anchor for the whole west coast.

Why this itinerary works: it strings together four of the most naturally beautiful links courses in the world, bookended by two of Ireland’s most fun towns. Wild, scenic and a little off the beaten track – exactly what serious golfers are looking for.

Part 2 — The Trips I Hosted: Swiss Guests & a Family Adventure

The FAM trip is the scouting; this is the real thing. Over the spring I also hosted two very different trips in Ireland — a party of guests over from Switzerland, and a family trip of my own – and between them they show off two more sides of Irish golf entirely.

A — Dublin & the East, with our Swiss guests

Four days, based at Portmarnock Resort.

This is the easy-access trip: world-class golf within forty minutes of Dublin Airport, and the city itself on your doorstep for the evenings. We made Jameson Golf Links at Portmarnock Resort our home for the week.

Day 1 — Afternoon golf at Roganstown

A relaxed start: an afternoon round at Roganstown near Swords, a mature parkland course that’s a perfect leg-stretch after the flight. Then a short hop to base for the first night.

Day 2 — Corballis Links & Killeen Castle

An early start for Corballis Links at Donabate – a charming, natural seaside links and a lovely surprise for the group. With 36 holes to play, we decided on taking 6 clubs and playing a scramle to keep ourselves moving and fresh – before heading inland to Killeen Castle in Co. Meath. This is one of only two Jack Nicklaus Signature courses in Ireland, host of the 2011 Solheim Cup, all played out in the shadow of a 12th-century castle. A big, modern, photogenic test of golf.

Dinner that evening at the Greedy Goose, and pints afterwards at the famous Gibney’s in Malahide.

Day 3 — Carton House (O’Meara) & a night in Dublin

Over to Carton House in Maynooth for the O’Meara Course, Mark O’Meara’s elegant parkland on a grand old estate. The O’Meare course is a beautiful parkland course, that winds itself through rolling hills, leading to the stunningly dramtic finish – holes 14,15, & 16 are amongst the best 3 hole stretches anywhere in golf . The bar is a beautiful spot to recount the round, before heading straight into Dublin city centre  – a pint of Guinness in Grogan’s, the classic literary haunt off Grafton Street, and dinner at Fade Street Social. A proper city night to round things off.

Day 4 — Jameson Golf Links

We closed on our home course, Jameson Golf Links – recently rebranded and given a multi-million-euro overhaul. Raised tees and greens have pulled the sea right into play, with panoramic views over the Velvet Strand and Ireland’s Eye, and a lovely nod to the Jameson whiskey dynasty who helped bring golf to this stretch of coast.

Why this itinerary works: premium golf with almost no travel time, a mix of links and parkland, and Dublin’s restaurants and pubs every evening. Ideal for a group that wants the golf and the craic without long transfers.

B — The Sunny South-East: a family trip, and a region on the rise

A family trip — my Dad, my brother-in-law and his father. Two nights at Druids Glen.

The south-east is where I’d point anyone planning ahead, because it’s about to become one of the most exciting golf regions in the country.

Druids Glen — the “Augusta of Ireland”

We based ourselves for two nights at Druids Glen in Co. Wicklow, the Pat Ruddy & Tom Craddock masterpiece that’s been a four-time Irish Open host and is rightly nicknamed the Augusta of Ireland. Freshly renovated, it was in immaculate shape – manicured, dramatic, and home to that famous downhill par-3 12th played over a Celtic-cross flowerbed. The five-star hotel and spa make it a brilliant family base, too.

Arklow Links

Next morning we played Arklow Links on the Wicklow coast — a hidden, old-school links gem that flies under the radar and shouldn’t. A lovely contrast to Druids Glen’s polish.

What’s coming next — why I’m so bullish on the South-East

Two developments make this region one to book for:

• Curracloe Links (Co. Wexford) — opening April 2027. A genuine rarity: a brand-new championship links, designed by Dana Fry and Jason Straka (their first in Ireland), set right beside Curracloe Beach — the strand Spielberg used for the opening of Saving Private Ryan. Part of the new Ravenport Resort and a sister property to Druids Glen.
• The European Club → the Brittas Bay Club. Pat Ruddy’s celebrated links has been acquired by new owners and is being reimagined by acclaimed American architect Kyle Phillips under a new name. One to watch closely.

Pair those with established classics — Mount Juliet in Kilkenny (a Jack Nicklaus parkland) and Rosslare in Wexford (links golf in the sunniest corner of Ireland) — and you have the makings of a truly spectacular south-east itinerary.

Let’s build yours

Three adventures, two very different ways to experience Ireland — and every one of them can be tailored to your group, your handicaps and your budget. Whether it’s the wild dunes of the north-west, an easy-access Dublin escape, or getting in early on the south-east before everyone else does, I’d love to put something together for you.

Get in touch and let’s start planning.

Shane