At Silver Strand, County Donegal
The person behind the guides
I live here.
That changes everything.
I'm Patrick Hughes, and I've lived in Ireland for over 50 years. I started Ireland Explore because visitors kept arriving with itineraries cobbled together from outdated guidebooks and generic blog posts written by people who'd spent a long weekend in Dublin.
So I write what I wished visitors could find: practical, honest guides based on actually living here.
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.
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 7,500 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.