The Irish on The Western Front with Ronan McGreevy
This Escorted Tour offers a factual and moving exploration of Ireland’s complex involvement in the First World War. Departing from Dublin, this four-day trip is led by acclaimed historian and author Ronan McGreevy, who provides expert commentary on the sites where Irishmen from both the north and south served. This Irish Western Front tour is specifically organised for those who want a deeper understanding of the motivations and sacrifices made by a previous generation on the battlefields of Belgium and France.
We base ourselves in the heart of Ypres for three nights at the Novotel Ieper Centrum, a comfortable hotel that allows travellers to explore the historic town in their free time. The itinerary covers a vast range of significant locations, including the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines. This site, with its traditional round tower, serves as a poignant symbol of reconciliation. We also visit the Wytschaete Military Cemetery and the memorials that highlight the cooperation between the 16th (Irish) and 36th (Ulster) divisions during the conflict.
In France, we visit the Ring of Remembrance, an architectural landmark that lists over half a million soldiers who fell in the region. We pay our respects at the Le Touret Memorial and visit the site where the Munster Fusiliers received their Last General Absolution before battle. The tour also takes us to the Somme, where we visit the Ulster Tower and the Lochnagar Crater, providing a tangible connection to the events of 1916. We also visit the grave of John Kipling, whose death inspired his father, Rudyard Kipling, to write the history of the Irish Guards.
The final day focuses on the events of Passchendaele, including a visit to the grave of the poet Francis Ledwidge and the massive Tyne Cot Cemetery, which contains nearly 12,000 graves. This is an organised and straightforward holiday that focuses on historical accuracy and quiet reflection. With all flights, transfers, and breakfast included, this tour represents great value for those with a genuine interest in Irish history and the events of the Great War.
Who is the historian guide for this tour?
What is included in the tour price?
Are the sites visited suitable for those with mobility issues?
What's Included+
- Booking advice from your Travel Escapes travel advisor
- Return flights from Dublin to Brussels including taxes & charges
- 3 nights’ accommodation in the Novotel Ieper Centrum Flanders Fields hotel, Ypres
- Breakfast each morning
- Expert commentary and guidance from professional historian Ronan McGreevy
- Guided visits to Flanders Battlefields including the Island of Ireland Peace Park and Willie Redmond’s Grave
- Tour of the French sector including the Ring of Remembrance and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette
- Excursions to the Somme Battlefields including the Ulster Tower, Thiepval Memorial, and Lochnagar Crater
- Visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the world
Itinerary
1Messines and the Shared History of Ireland+
Upon arrival in Brussels, we transfer to the Ypres Salient to begin our historical exploration. We visit the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, featuring the iconic round tower memorial. The day includes visits to the Pool of Peace and the Wytschaete Military Cemetery, where we view the 16th (Irish) Division memorial. We also take time to see the road markers that commemorate the cooperation between the 36th (Ulster) and 16th (Irish) Divisions, as well as the memorial to Willie Redmond and John Meeke.
2Northern France and the Ring of Remembrance+
We travel across the border into France to visit the Ring of Remembrance at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, a vast memorial listing 576,000 names. Our route continues to Rue du Bois and the Le Touret Memorial, where we look for the names of members of the Royal Irish Regiment. We also stand at the site of the Last General Absolution of the Munsters and visit the Irish memorial at Le Pilly. The afternoon includes the grave of John Kipling and the Loos Memorial to the Missing.
3The Somme and the Irish Western Front tour Legacy+
Today is dedicated to the Somme battlefields, starting at the Tyneside Irish Memorial and the impressive Lochnagar Crater. We visit the Ulster Tower, a replica of Helen's Tower in County Down, and explore the original trenches at Newfoundland Memorial Park. Following a visit to the Thiepval Memorial, we proceed to Guillemont to see the 16th (Irish) Division memorial. We also pay our respects at the graves of Raymond Asquith and Herbert Lemass, cousin of Taoiseach Seán Lemass, as part of our Irish Western Front tour narrative.
4Passchendaele, Poetic Tributes and Return+
Our final morning begins with free time in Ypres before visiting Poelcappelle Cemetery and the grave of John Condon. We visit the memorial to poet Francis Ledwidge at the exact spot where he fell in 1917. Our tour of the battlefields concludes at the New Irish Memorial and the immense Tyne Cot Cemetery. We then transfer to Brussels Airport for our return flight to Dublin after a comprehensive four-day journey.
| Date | Acc. | Price | Booking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Oct 2026Twin | 01 Oct 2026 | Twin | €799 | Enquire Now |
- Booking deposit: enquire at time of booking
- Prices are per person based on two sharing.
- Single Supplement applies.
- A non-refundable / non-transferable deposit is required at the time of booking.
- Balance due 16 weeks before departure.
- Optional insurance available (terms & conditions apply).
- Taxes, prices & itinerary subject to change.
- Booking terms & conditions apply.
- Travel Insurance is not included.
Ref: GT
