Amazing! - What a lovely experience and highly highly recommend! Derek was so knowledgeable and passionate about his country and even went out of his way to show us the gems you wouldn’t otherwise see on your own. We were there for 9/11 and he took us to the memorial garden that was erected for the fallen firefighters. It was beautiful. So if ever you see yourself headed to Ireland, I would definitely consider this, was the best decision we did to see the area. Thanks Derek!

Great tour, great memories, great tour guide! - This tour was most definitely the best excursion me and my sisters took on our 10-day cruise! Derek was amazing! So personable, knowledgeable and engaging. We spent hours together (that seemed to go by too fast!) as he shared interesting stories and history along the way. Wasn't until our tour ended that we realized he actually owned the tour company! Definitely would sign up with him on our next trip!

Well worth it. - Derek met us at the pier and was parked about 50 feet away. How nice! He drove us all over Cobh and to Blarney Castle, the woolen mills and to Kinsale. During the drive, we had great views of the Irish countryside and wonderful commentary about everything we saw and a brief history of Ireland. I would definetly recommend using his services!

Cork was amazing - Our tour guide and driver, Derek, met us at the port of Cobh. Unfortunately the weather was against us and the rain was pouring down. He therefore advised us to go to Kinsale first in the hope the weather would brighten up. We had morning tea with scones in The Blue Haven (delicious) and the made our way to the dramatic coastline to experience beautiful scenery. We visited the Lusitania Museum and Old Head Signal Tower which was very moving and gave us time to reflect and remember with respect those lives lost and changed by such an awful event. Ringfinnan Garden of Remembrance a place to remember 343 firefighters perished in 9/11 was our next stop - very quiet, overwhelming and beautiful. Then a tour of Cork visiting the cathedrals, the cities oldest sweet shop, the ‘Four Faced Liar’ and finally the obligatory glass of Murphy’s. What an amazing day, Derek is a great guy and a friend for life. If you are going to Cork you must do this tour with this guide - you will love it!

Cork in a day - What a fantastic tour! We were met by Dereck, and knew we were in for a great time. He showed us all the highlights of Cork and then some. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited. This included the Blarney Castle, Kinsale, and the Cobh Cathedral. The line to kiss the Blarney stone was over 1.5 hours so we skipped it and spent the time walking around the grounds. We were not disappointed as the grounds are beautiful and worth seeing. Dereck was also very accommodating to things we wanted to see and took us to a great place for lunch. Be prepared for a once in a lifetime experience.

Amazing day near Cork - The views were amazing! We took so many photos. Our guide Derek made our day wonderful with his knowledge, kindness, and gracious hospitality. We enjoyed the gardens of Blarney Castle, had a FABULOUS meal in Kinsale, and took in the beautiful Irish countryside. Derek made sure we had plenty of time for coffee breaks and photo stops. Today, I got to see the Ireland of my dreams. Thank you, Derek!!!

Best private tour in Cork! - Derek is the best private tour guide you can get in Cork. He grew up in the area, knows all the history and the hidden gems of the city. Besides visiting the Blarney Castle and its beautiful gardens, he also took us on a scenic route that is not on a normal bus tour. We got to see the seascape and the cliffs. We enjoyed our tour and all the stories Derek shared with us immensely! Thank you, Derek! We hope to return in the future!

Amazing Day Tour - We had the “luck of the Irish” to have booked our tour with Private Tours by Derek O’Keffe. He was professional and extremely knowledgeable of the area. We had an amazing, memorable experience we will never forget! Not only would I recommend this tour but I will use Derek again when back in Ireland.

Fabulous day in Cork, Kinsale and Blarney Castle! - We had an amazing day and Derek was a fabulous guide! He was personable, professional, and knowledgable. He was a safe driver and his vehicle was nice and clean. We had great conversations, learned about the area, culture and visited some amazing sights. He was very good at tailoring the day to our interests. We saw everything on our list without feeling rushed. Both Cork and Kinsale were beautiful places and the Blarney Castle was magnificent and the grounds were impressive! We even stopped at a 9/11 memorial which was very touching. Thanks Derek for a fabulous day!

Fantastic Day - Derek is an outstanding tour guide. His history of the area was amazing. Everyone knows Derek…even the bag piper at the Castle where we enjoyed a chat with him! We had a fantastic lunch in Kinsale and a walk through this lovely town. Thanks for a wonderful day.