I'm Patrick Hughes, and I've lived in Ireland for over 30 years.
Ireland Explore started because I kept seeing the same problems: visitors arriving with itineraries cobbled together from outdated guidebooks and generic "top 10" blog posts written by people who'd spent a long weekend in Dublin and called themselves Ireland experts. People were missing the best parts of the country because the information they found online was wrong, recycled, or written by someone who'd never actually been there.
So I started writing what I wished visitors could find: practical, honest guides based on actually living here. Not "the 47 BEST things to do in Ireland!!!" listicles, but real recommendations from someone who drives these roads, eats in these restaurants, and knows which tourist attractions are genuinely worth your time - and which ones are overpriced disappointments.
What I Believe
Travel writing should be honest. If something is overpriced, I'll say so. If a famous attraction isn't worth the detour, I'll tell you. And when I recommend a hotel or tour, it's because I've stayed there or done it - not because someone sent me a press release.
I run a Facebook community of over 7,000 Ireland trip planners where people help each other daily. It's the most genuinely useful Ireland travel group online, because it's full of real people sharing real experiences.
The Network
Ireland Explore is part of the Planet Patrick network, where I also write about flights, airports, and travel logistics. You might also know me from YouTube.
Get in Touch
The best way to reach me is through the Facebook group. I'm active there daily and happy to help with trip planning questions.