Proprietor Paul McQuaid enjoys a high repeat business, particularly among North American clients. "People come and cycle with us every year or every second year. They know when they sign up for a Celtic Trails ride they will get the best of everything — accommodation, food, back-up, and good old-fashioned Irish craic. And our Nine Centuries tour is unique in the world, so there's a lot of interest out there", said Paul, a former top bike racer and winner of the prestigious 'Ras', a race around Ireland's beautiful countryside.

"We have experienced guides who know how to have a good time, while also ensuring people enjoy their trip around Ireland. We take great care to give the visitor a world class cycling holiday experience they will never forget.

The McQuaid family is synonymous with cycling in Ireland, and Celtic Trails organizes quality cycle adventure holidays in the beautiful and remote west of Ireland. But their involvement doesn't stop at the Irish shores. The eldest brother, Pat is the President of the world governing body of cycling, the 'Union Cicliste Internationale' in Switzerland. Quite an achievement, and the only Irish person, in the history of their country to preside over a world governing body.

This year Celtic Trails are expanding their Ride Nine Centuries of Ireland Tour, where cyclists ride nine centuries (100-mile spins) around Ireland's coastline—while exploring nine centuries of Irish history en route. Each night a local Irish historian gives the group an informal talk about what went on in Ireland's vast history through each century.

"Cyclists love to ride centuries, and the tie-up with the centuries of Ireland's convoluted history gives the word 'century' an extra appeal," says Paul.

Read more about the McQuaids and their cycling tours at: www.celtictrails.com.


For more information email: tours@celtictrails.com

Testimonials:
Well, we have just come home from what I can only describe as, the best trip of our lives.

Last year, when trying to decide which other of the Celtic Trails tours to do Paul, the owner of Celtic Trails suggested I check out their new 'Donegal' tour. So I did. And it didn't take too long before my husband Tim and I send our booking.

Here's how it all started - 5 years ago we went on a Celtic Trails tour with the McQuaids, (Ireland's 'biking family. Read all about them on their website). We had done quite a few biking tours before we met the McQuaids and quite simply their tour knocked the socks of every one we had ever done previous to it. So much so that we booked again and brought our friends with us this time. That was three years ago.

The McQuaids have been busy since. (Setting up Ireland's only tandem holiday company as well by the way — www.tandemtoursireland.com).

Now we've returned let me tell you some of our experiences. To say that this tour is spectacular would be doing the word, 'spectacular' and injustice. To say that the McQuaids looked after us extremely well, (again) would be doing the phrase, 'looked after us' an injustice. To say that the roads we biked, every day were perfect biking roads would be right on the mark. I mean; we rode on roads where for hours we never even saw one car. Let alone a bus or a truck! Where these guys found these roads from just beggars belief. And the Guinness! Just kept getting better and better…
-Shannon Fennie, Tucson, Arizona


I've been riding my bike for almost 30 years now and consider myself a fair cyclist. I definitely love to ride my bike and have ridden in some of the most beautiful places on earth.

But I never imagined I would get the opportunity to take part in such a wonderful adventure as this Nine Centuries of Ireland Tour. Paul has hit on something special here and that word; 'century' has a certain draw for all 'fair' cyclists. And that country, Ireland has had its fair share of centuries, with the history to prove it.

But the history is just one - albeit crucial - part. The other element was what the Irish call the craic, (Gaelic for, 'fun'). The nightly routine was one of fun and adventure: Paul is a social animal and just as the history sucks you along during the day, his endless merriment captures you at night.

With Paul, when you're out for a Guinness, you're out. Getting to bed before 3am is an achievement. Paul radiates energy. His eyes are forever dancing in his head. When he gets a new idea, he is positively uncontrollable. He is a master of over-statement.

Damn it, he's Irish!

"I try to give people a good time—but, actually, it comes easy because I'm having a good time myself. What more do you want: the freedom of the open road, the beauty of the Irish countryside, its truly spectacular coastline and a bit of craic? Sure when I'm on a tour, it feels like I'm on holiday so I enjoy myself as much as the people who fly from all over the world to take part," he explained.

It's worth a try. If you get the weather, it's as good as you will ever do - but even in the occasional (that makes a master of under-statement, I guess!) mist and, dare I say it, soft Irish rain, this historic trip around the Emerald Isle hits the spot.
-Jamie Anderton