Travel Tales with Fergal

Today, 25 June, would have been Anthony Bourdain's 70th birthday, and in this special episode I'm marking it with a conversation with the writer and broadcaster Brin-Jonathon Butler about the man, the myth, and everything in between. I couldn't pick a better subject and guest for my final episode of this season. We chat about the life and legacy of a man who changed the way so many of us think abo...

My first guest in my new series “The Meals that Made Me” is Robbie McCauley, chef-proprietor of the Michelin-starred restaurant Homestead Cottage in Doolin, Co Clare in the west of Ireland. In this episode, Robbie shares five memorable meals that shaped his life and career from a Sunday lunch in Emilia-Romagna to a night market in Bangkok, a Christmas dinner in Burgundy in France, a Michelin-starr...

What do you get when you combine a prime Dublin city centre location, compact Scandi-inspired design, and Ireland's most ambitious sustainability credentials? The Wren Urban Nest — and this week, Fergal sits down with Phoebe Fairbairn, the General Manager behind one of Dublin's most talked-about boutique hotels. Tucked onto the former site of Andrews Lane Theatre, the Wren's 137 rooms sit steps fr...

On this week’s episode of Travel Tales with Fergal , I’m joined by Chef Karl Wilder , co-founder of The Chef Tours , for a fascinating conversation about f ood tourism and the stories behind some of the world’s most iconic dishes. The Chef Tours offers small-group food and wine experiences in Seville, Paris, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Berlin and Mexico City, with local chefs guiding guests to the hid...

My guest this week on the Travel Tales with Fergal Podcast is Les Walsh, Head Concierge at the stunning Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, County Waterford. Ardmore is a beautiful seaside village that is close to my heart, and a place I return to every summer for swims off the pier. Taking its name from the Irish Aird Mhór, meaning “great height”, Ardmore is steeped in history and local tradition, with...

In this episode of Travel Tales with Fergal , I talk all about the city of Pittsburgh in the USA, ahead of Aer Lingus’ new direct Dublin–Pittsburgh service, launching on 25 May 2026. My guest today is Aadam Soorma, Head of Marketing at Trace Brewing, for a local’s guide to a city that has transformed from steel and industry into one of America’s most creative, welcoming and community-driven destin...

In this episode of Travel Tales with Fergal, Fergal chats with Aaron Brennan of JustCover about what travel insurance really covers, why it matters, and how it can help when plans go wrong.  From claims tips and medical emergencies abroad to repatriation, the EHIC, and cover for older travellers or those with pre-existing medical conditions, this episode is packed with practical advice. ...

In this episode of Travel Tales with Fergal , we journey to the spectacular Causeway Coast in Antrim to explore one of Northern Ireland’s most exciting new luxury destinations: Dunluce Lodge.   Overlooking the 4th fairway of Royal Portrush Golf Club and the wild North Atlantic Ocean, Dunluce Lodge has swiftly earned its place among the region’s finest hotels. Opening its doors in April 2025,...

In this episode of  Travel Tales with Fergal , I’m joined by legendary Irish DJ, musician, author, photographer and rock’n’roll insider BP Fallon, known to many simply as “The Beep.” With a career spanning decades at the very heart of music history - working with The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T. Rex, U2 and more - BP Fallon has witnessed some of the most iconic moments in rock’n’roll firsthand....

After staying in a luxury treehouse in France, I began to wonder what Ireland had to offer beyond the traditional hotel experience. The answer? Quite a lot. In this episode of Travel Tales with Fergal , I explore four truly unusual stays around the country — each offering something distinctive, memorable and a little out of the ordinary. First, I revisit my summer stay at Trinity College Dublin Ro...

Today, I’m joined by Conor Dillon, the General Manager of the Dylan Hotel to explore what makes this renowned boutique five-star hotel located in the heart of Dublin 4 so special. Conor shares his professional journey through the hospitality industry, including time spent working internationally in exotic places like Australia and Bermuda, before returning to Ireland to lead one of the city’s most...

In this episode, I’m taking you to Switzerland and to the Valais Canton. I recently returned from a trip to three very different ski resorts: Les Marécottes, Verbier, and Bettmeralp. Each was beautiful in its own way, but it was the Aletsch Arena that truly stayed with me. It has been described as an insider’s secret resort or a hidden gem. But it is well known to the Swiss and it’s where they go...

I am delighted to have travel journalist Ed Finn back to talk about magical Seville and the surrounding region and towns in Andalusia.   The Andalusia cities of Seville and Cordoba are magnificent but there are small villages and towns between these cities are real gems full of character including Alcalá de Guadaíra, Cazalla de la Sierra, Almodovar del Rio, Palma Del Rio and Montilla.  ...

Welcome to my first episode of Season 9 and I have a ski special where I chat to ski expert journalist Rob "Robsski" Rees all about the stunning Austrian ski resorts of Zee Am See - Kaprun. Austria is the number one ski destination for Irish skiers — and once you visit, it’s easy to see why. Great value, reliable snow, great modern infrastructure, the best après-ski in the alps, and resorts for ev...

Welcome to the final epsiode of 2025 and Season 8 of the podcast where I go through my recommendations for my favourite European Christmas markets. I also go through other other options to do over the Christmas period inclusing River cruises on the Dabnube and Rhine, pre Christmas skiing in Austria and exploring warm countries like French Polyneia and Australia. I have some great episodes coming o...

I am delighted to have Pádraig McGillicuddy, the third-generation proprietor of the Ballygarry Estate Hotel and Spa set over 100 aces outside Tralee in Co. Kerry as our guest this week.   Ballygarry has recently been voted in the top 10 of the Irish Independent hotel awards, number 6 in the Tripadvisor awards and included recent Irish Examiner and Sunday Times Top 100 awards.   I recentl...

For an Irish travel podcaster, I have never dedicated a full episode to Ireland, so it is great to have as my guest today travel author Cian Byrne, who has just completed a new Moon Travel Guide to Ireland. This is a real insider’s guide to travelling Ireland. As Cian said to me “This book is the culmination of two years of hard work and a lifetime spent in Ireland. I’m lucky enough to travel to m...

Today, I’m joined by Conor Power — travel writer, historian, and the author of Hurling 1810 , a remarkable deep dive into the origins and cultural significance of our national game. Conor’s work uncovers stories, characters, and passions that shaped hurling decades before the foundation of the GAA and long before the modern rules we know today. Conor’s book traces how the game evolved and its surp...

Welcome to part 2 of my Cordoba Special series with tour guide Paco Gonzalez as he tells us about the best places to visit in Cordoba and he guides us through the beautiful countryside, villages, forts, palaces, olive farms and vineyards around that stunning area between Seville and Cordoba.   The Cordoba Region Most tourists go to the cities like Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga but ther...

This is my 100th episode and I wanted to make it a very special episode, so I am delighted to have Christina Ybarra of Palacio Portocarrero in Palma del Rio, Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain. Christina's story is a story of Andalusia taking in Roman, Moorish and Christian heritage, history, archaeology, architecture, culture and art. Palma del Rio is a town with the most stunning countryside surrounded b...

Today I am delighted for part 3 of my Belfast special series to have Barney Gribbin - Founder & Tour Guide of the If Buildings Could Talk tour If Buildings Could Talk Tour reveals all the best kept secret stories wrapped up in the history of Belfast, so if you want a city tour that is a little off the beaten track and full of hidden stories, this is the tour for you. That’s because when you jo...

I am delighted to have renowned hotelier Melanie Harrison for part 2 of my Belfast Special series. Melanie's hotel is the Harrison Chambers of Distinction which is located in the heart of the vibrant Queen’s Quarter of Belfast and is a restored, landmark Victorian merchants’ residence dating from 1879 designed to serve the culturally curious traveller. This is a boutique hotel is curated by the ch...

I am delighted to have Irish travel writer Erin McCafferty to tell us all about the highlights of her recent trip to Belfast including the Titanic Music and a Black Cab tour with Billy Scott. Belfast feels like a young, vibrant city full of life with great food, nightlife, festivals and of course history. It feels like a city on the cusp of something special with lots of new hotels and bars openin...

I have always loved the idea of the great American road trip, romanticised in so many films and books. So, this episode I am delighted to have photographer Ben Geier to tell us about his decade traveling America on the road, his tips for the perfect great American road trip, and the nostalgia of America's forgotten towns. Ben shares his tips for the perfect cross-country road trip, why the ar...

I have a very special episode today with travel journalist Deirdre Mullins to cover the Dalmatian coast of Croatia from Zadar to Split to Dubrovnik. We chatted about the wonders of island hopping to Korcula, Vis, Hvar and Brac with the Jadrolinija ferry company. We discuss how each island and town has its own personality that makes this a perfect country to tour by land or boat. Deirdre also tells...