Keith O'Hara

About

I was born in Dublin in the late 80s. Like a lot of kids growing up in Ireland, most of my holidays were spent here (mainly in Kerry and Wexford).

Now, I could lie to you and say that travelling around Ireland 'has always made my heart tick', or something cheesy like that, but I'd be lying to you.

It wasn't until I started to head off on trips to Cork and Kerry with my dad during my mid 20s that I really fell in love with Ireland.

In all honesty, The Irish Road Trip began as a 'head clearer' for me.

I started it at a time when most of my friends were in long term relationships and I was struggling to decide what to do with my life.

Tipping away at this website helped me clear my head more than meditation ever could.

I started writing the first version of what is now the Irish Road Trip in 2010. It was called 'Instaireland' and it was cat!

It wasn't until 2018 that I made a proper go of it, leaving a 'looks-great-on-paper' job to try and turn 'this yoke' into a business.

While we won't be listed on the Nasdaq any time soon, The Irish Road Trip now (thankfully!) pays the bills.

Experience

I've spent the last 35 years travelling around Ireland in some shape or form.

Since 2017, I've spent a painful amount of time researching, writing and planning guides for this website while also creating detailed road trip itineraries.

In 2023, we published 20+ million words of Ireland itineraries... my fingers will never be the same again.

It is now (I hope...) the largest selection of Irish Road Trip Itineraries available anywhere.

Favourite places in Ireland

There's some stiff competition. The first place that popped into my mind is the viewing point at Geokaun Mountain and Cliffs on Valentia Island in Kerry. There's no where like it in the world, especially as the sun starts to drop.

I've always loved Doolin. It's been the base for many memorable weekends away with friends and it's a stone's throw from endless things to see and do.

In recent years, I've spent an awful lot of time in Sligo. Although it's part of the Wild Atlantic Way, many tend to bypass it and head straight to Donegal.

No county, in my opinion, has as many walks, hikes and attractions that are worth seeing in such close proximity to each other.