I have been working Professionally as a full-time Tour Guide in Dublin since February 2013 and in that time I’ve been fortunate to receive a 1,000+ Reviews on Trip Advisor of which circa 98/99% have been 5 Star Reviews.
Most of these reviews where from my time working with Yellow Umbrella Tours and a selection of some of those reviews are below:
KAREN P – LONDON, UK
“We had a fantastic morning with James. The pace was very good and we found him very easy to hear and understand. The tour was both educational and entertaining. James was very friendly, involving the whole group and happily answered all our questions as well as offering suggestions for the rest of our stay. It was the perfect start to our weekend in Dublin and I can’t recommend both James and this tour enough. Thank you.”
KELLY N – BRAINTREE, UK
“Outstanding tour of Dublin, thoroughly enjoyed the walking tour with James. Full of information. Very knowledgeable.”
CHUCK – USA
“What a great tour! James, the tour guide, was friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable! He was informative, funny and easy to talk to. He gave some insights into tour locations and people that were out of the ordinary and gave the tour that extra 10% that made it really special! This walking tour lasted a little over two hours, which was just right in length! Highly recommend taking this tour! Get James if you can!”
CHRISTOS – GREECE
“James welcomed us at the starting point and from the get go shared stories about Dublin’s north/south differences, how the Spire came about, O’ Connell street, Gaelic football, original Irish bars, civilizations which influenced Ireland, Education, religion, England rule, failed revolutions, origins of the word Dublin, buildings architecture over time, independence, northern ireland troubles, immigration, migration and how Ireland changed significantly over the last thirty years due to the economic growth, distance from religion and migration. He did all that in a unique way and really made the tour worth while. I felt that I got to know the irish people and city of Dublin much better because of this tour. Thanks James”
JESSICA X – COLUMBUS, USA
“Enjoyed our tour with James, who has both local knowledge and a decade plus experience in giving tours around Dublin. We learned lots about not only the sites we were seeing, but also Dublin’s history and it’s rapid change in the last 20-30 years. My friend who has lived in Dublin for the last 5 years also learned a lot as well. Highly recommend, whether you’re new to Dublin or already familiar with it!”
RACHEL – LONDON, UK
“One of the best walking tours we have done. James made it interesting and provided excellent context into the history and culture of Ireland. Would strongly recommend”
JO ANNE D – USA
“James was fantastic! Not only did we see the sights but more importantly to me he helped us understand how Dubliners and the Irish think about so many things. I really got a glimpse into their past & present history from so many points of view. Way more than just a tour. James has done for than 3000 tours over the last 11 years so he knows how to give a GREAT touring experience. Highly recommend him!!”
KEVIN – CANADA
“James was a wonderful tour guide. His knowledge of Dublin’s history is remarkable. He was so personable getting to know everyone in our group. I would highly recommend this tour with James.”
MARK B – CANADA
“James was an informative, knowledgeable, passionate and entertaining guide. An excellent visual and historical perspective of Dublin in 2 1/2 hours.”
JUANI – SPAIN
“Our tour guide, James, was amazing. He knows a lot about Ireland history and culture and he explained everything in a very amusing way. He welcomed questions and he made this experience a very enjoyable one.”
TESS – NETHERLANDS
“This tour was great. Our guide James was very knowledgeable and took great care of us. He knew so much about the city and Irish history and he did a great job sharing that with us. Thanks to the tour I not only knew more about Ireland, but I also got motivated to explore more and dig more into the Irish history.”
INES – PORTUGAL
“James was an incredible guide! We got to learn a lot about Dublin in a fun way and discovered a lot of the amazing story of Ireland. Highly recommend this tour!”
DAVID – LONDON, UK
“James has been taking tours for ages and new his stuff. Plus he expressed his own experience as a Dubliner. Great tour and answered all questions.”
KAREN – BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
“Our guide James was friendly and so knowledgeable about Dublin. He gave us time to pause before we walked again. I could not recommend him highly enough.”
RENE – HAMBURG, GERMANY
“Awesome Tour through Dublin with James. One of the best tours I did the last few years despite loads of rain during the day.”
BRAD – USA
“Our guide James was clearly an expert in Dublin and it’s history. We did this our 2nd day and wished we had done it right in the beginning because it added a great layer of context to our time here. Can’t recommend enough!”
JAKE – USA
“I have taken walking tours in cities across the world and I can safely say that my tour with James today was the best tour I’ve had. His knowledge of history, story telling, and funny charm all made the experience memorable and one I won’t forget!”
MAUREEN – USA
“James our guide was very well informed, enthusiastic and very engaging and humorous. Lots of fascinating historical and cultural information and learned so much in less than 3 hours. Highly recommend this tour.”
BUCK – USA
“Our guide, James, was terrific. He provided us with a lot of information about Ireland and it’s history while keeping it light and entertaining. He gave us time to sit and rest while he spoke to us at multiple places, which we appreciated. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone.”
PETER – CORNWALL, UK
“James was an excellent guide with a combination of fun, history, political, social and economic analysis. We and our two 13 year olds found it interesting and enjoyable.”
JENNY – GERMANY
“Our tour guide James gave us a deep inside into Irish history and mentality and showed us some very famous tourist sides in Dublin from his perspective. We were always welcome to ask questions and even though we are from Germany we could understand everything James told us in English. We especially appreciated his humorous story telling. Highly recommended to get a deep inside into Dublin in just a view hours!”
JR – NEW YORK, USA
“Excellent walking tour with James. We learned so much about the history of Dublin and Ireland. We also really enjoyed his anecdotes and jokes.”
TOBIAS – GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY
“We have done Walking Tours in many other cities, but this was definitely one of the best. Despite being three hours long, it was very entertaining, and James gave us a great time with his humorous manner. Many thanks for this and greetings from Gelsenkirchen!”
VIRGINIA – BRIGHTON, UK
“5/5. The tour was just enough history/culture/storytelling/humour. James was an exceptional guide who clearly loves sharing Dublin with others. Will look for more of his tours.”
SYBILLE – GERMANY
“James did a great job in giving us valuable insights in the irish history! Even our teenage daughters followed him with interest for three hours. We highly recommend this tour!!”
DAVID M – USA
“James was an excellent guide, very friendly and informative. We learned so much about the social and political history of Ireland. We would recommend this tour to everyone.”
SUSAN & BRUCE – USA
“James provided everything you want a city walking tour to be. Knowledgeable, informative, just the right pace and mixture of things to see (and mark for further exploration after the tour) and facts and stories about Dublin and Irish history, culture, trends, etc. – and all of it with great humor and fun and involvement.”
EMMA – BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND
“Absolutely amazing tour, couldn’t recommend James highly enough. There was a great mixture of light hearted info, historical facts and social commentary which kept our attention and the walking pace was comfortable too. Really really loved it, thanks James!”
ANYA – HAWAII, USA
“We were lucky to get James as our tour guide. He is very knowledgeable, well spoken and fascinating story teller. I’ve learned a lot about the history, culture, societal shifts, religion etc of Ireland. Highly recommend this tour!”
VIACHESLAV – KYIV, UKRAINE
“Awesome experience, James really proved himself as a professional guide, we enjoyed every piece of the path and it keep us entertained all 3 hours”
ANDRE –
“Our guide, James, was the best. Friendliness, humour, comprehensive history and humble personal insights were what made this walk the biggest highlight of our day.”
DAWN H – SOUTHEND ON SEA, UK
“James was so knowledgeable, sharing stories and history in a friendly and engaging way. Thank you James, I now have a much greater understanding of Dublin’s history right up to current cultural influences.”
MARC M – FRANCE
“James is an amazing tour guide. He not only knows how to greatly explain the history of Dublin and Ireland but also makes you understand and empathize with Irish culture. Totally recommended.”
LILIAN – BOGOTA, COLOMBIA
“Awesome tour with James. He is so full of history, fun facts and stories and the best is that he tells it with a lot of passion and knowledge. We had an amazing time with him, we learnt a lot about Irish history and he sparked our curiosity we now want to know more about Irish history.”
FAIUNA – UK
“Great tour with James who was incredibly knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. My 11 year old stayed interested throughout the whole tour and my 14 year old enjoyed the jokes. Would definitely do this again.”
KEATON S – OHIO, USA
“Our group of five had a phenomenal time exploring Dublin with James, our passionate and knowledgeable guide. His enthusiasm and captivating storytelling brought the city’s history and culture to life, making our tour unforgettable. James tailored the tour to our interests, introducing us to both iconic landmarks and hidden gems, while also recommending delicious local spots for traditional Irish food and drinks. His warm and friendly demeanor made us feel like we were exploring with a longtime friend. We highly recommend James for an exceptional Dublin experience that ou’lll cherish forever!”
SHANNON – USA
“We chose the pub tour with James and we were beyond thrilled. We did not have high expectations and he was personable and knowledgeable, funny and relatable. He took us to great pubs off the beaten tourist path and we were a small group so got to know one another. It was a fabulous time and we tasted local craft beer, Guinness, whiskey, gin, and wonderful food. We ended with a great small Irish owned pub with live local Irish music and all 4 of us were happy (2 adults, and our two young adults kids). Thank you James.”
JORDAN L – PENNSYLVANIA, USA
“James was a knowledgeable and humorous tour guide! He kept us laughing while showing us the great parts of the city. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Dublin.”
DONNA G – GODFREY, CANADA
“This was more than just a walking tour. It was an Irish history and cultural experience. James was knowledgeable and entertaining. Highly recommend these tours. In addition to learning about Ireland we had fun.”
JOAO SOUSA – ABRANTES, PORTUGAL
“James was amazing! Highly recommend! He is very dedicated to his craft, and knows a lot about history and culture in general, not only about Irish, which allows him to fit Irish history and culture into other countries’ history like the US and India. He’s also very fluent in socioeconomic aspects, which he uses to build strong opinions about how the far and recent Irish past might shape the future of the country! Would totally repeat the tour if I ever get back to Dublin
SHERLOK – EDMONTON, CANADA
“Dublin has amazing stories to tell but it needs someone who would translate those stories from the language of stones, plaques, structures and statues into one of the human languages. This tour does just that, and James – a natural storyteller, a gifted actor and an artist of the spoken word – makes the city come alive. That man has plenty of knowledge – and not only of his own country – and vibrating personal charisma. I spent 5 hours in his company , and it was quite an experience…”
TIM S – WILTSHIRE, UK
“Really enjoyed our tour with James, very informative and a great way to discover the city. Really knew his stuff and happy to chat and answer questions. Highly recommend. Thanks James!”
VAN – CANADA
“Excellent trip! James was both informative explaining the complex history of Ireland but tempered it with just the right amount of levity and humour to keep the whole group engaged. Highly recommend.”
JONATHON W – USA
“Our tour guide James was knowledgeable, he made the tour fun and interesting giving great insight into Dublin today, it’s history, and it’s future. We would highly recommend.”
MARTIN S – UK
“As someone who hasn’t visited Ireland before, this walking tour with our guide James was a great introduction. To be shown around town is valuable on its own, but it was also a highly engaging way to learn about history of Dublin and Ireland. Easy recommendation!”
SAMARI – CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
“The tour was very informative and entertaining. James was everything you could hope for in a guide. Would 100% recommend.”
MICHELLE A – ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, USA
“We loved our pub tour with James! It was such a wonderful way to experience the less touristy Dublin pubs and meet some amazing fellow travelers along the way. James did a phenomenal job explaining the history of the drinks and the pubs themselves. We are so glad we ended our stay in Ireland with this great experience! Highly recommend!”
PETER E – MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
“James did a fantastic job keeping us engaged for the whole tour. He has a great depth of knowledge of the history of Ireland and is an entertaining speaker.”
RICHARD M – UK
“James’ tour was great – informative and entertaining. He put relevant Irish history into a digestible narrative framework and made it interesting with lots of anecdotes and jokes.”
KIARA – MELBOURNE, ASUTRALIA
“James was a sensational tour guide. He was knowledgeable, personable and entertaining. So good in fact, that we booked in for the afternoon tour after we just did the morning tour with him. Thanks so much for your time and your company, James. Love from your friends from Melbourne, Australia. We will look out for your sisters 😉”
SKYLAR – MIAMI, FLORIDA
“The tour with JAMES was so amazing and legitimately one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. He was an excellent guide and presented a great mixture of Irish history and culture. I’m so glad we did it (we also loved the pub tour with him as well), and it was definitely a highlight of the trip. I highly recommend the tour to anyone visiting the city!”
JENEFER – BRISTOL, UK
“We did the walking tour with James as our guide. He was excellent. 3 hours goes by really fast when you are hearing all about the history of Ireland and Dublin. James kept our attention with stories, personal anecdotes as well as lots of historical facts. He made it fun (craic😂) and interesting for us all. His knowledge is exceptional and he has a nice loud voice so we could all hear every word. He gave us a very balanced view of Ireland’s history which I really appreciated. We only had 1 day in Dublin and this was the best way we could have seen and learnt so much. I would definitely recommend this to all visitors to Dublin👍🏻 we did the South tour. James will also give personal recommendations on places to visit and have a good pint 🍺”
EMILY – CHORLEY, UK
“We had a tour with James today around the south side of Dublin, I learnt so much about the history of Ireland and found the tour very interesting. James was very engaging and enthusiastic. I highly recommend! 😊”
GREGORY B – USA
“Do yourself a favor and take this tour. Our guide James was funny and informative and he brought history, politics, culture and philosophy into all of his stories. Beyond the sites, he offered a glimpse into what it means to be Irish. It was hands-down the best city tour I’ve ever taken.”
TERRY – MILAN, ITALY
“Great 2.5 hour walking tour, primarily south of the river. James was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot about the history of Dublin and Ireland, and how social and religious views have changed here over the years. I would highly recommend this tour.”
GRIFF – CARDIFF, UK
“Huge thanks to James for such a great tour around Dublin! The tour covered all major landmarks tourists are keen to see and his vast knowledge surrounding all the cultural and political significance of the stops on the tour is to be admired. He engaged really well with our group and I’d highly recommend the equally fun pub tour he leads too – perfect for experiencing authentic Dublin while having a quality Guinness!”
ANG – PRESTON, UK
“Thank you James for a very informative tour. In spite of the windy (sometimes wet) weather, James talked us through the sights and sounds of Dublin. Historical and modern, cultural and political – all areas of interest were covered with James more than happy to answer individual questions. A great introduction to Dublin.”
SHIM – WEMBLEY, UK
“Thank you James for making our Dublin walk entertaining and interesting at the same time.
We learned loads of historical facts and saw many side of Dublin.
James a charismatic man full of knowledge and willing to go the extra mile for the guests of the tour. A must do experience if u want to learn about the Irish history and culture in Dublin.”
DAVE L – NEW YORK, USA
“It’s great to have a guide so well versed in the history, from ancient to recent, who’s able to sum it up in mere minutes. I don’t know if it would all be comprehensible to those with no background, but he was totally responsive to questions both during and at the end of the tour. Leavened with local stereotype jokes, which he clearly and repeatedly assured us were mere stereotypes – but of course they’re all based in something, aren’t they? Covered some class divisions and changes in the role of religion and the economy – really everything you could want.”
ERIN K – CALIFORNIA, USA
“I’ve been to Dublin before but still found this tour to be fun and informative. James is well-versed in the history of the city and weaves in current-day political and social context (and some Irish humor!) to give a comprehensive overview of the city. He also makes smart recommendations about which tourist attractions are worth your money and has a few tips on how to experience the “real” Dublin. Highly recommend!”
AGA – TORONTO, CANADA
“We spent 10 days in Dublin and area in November 2019. On the ninth day we went for the walking tour with James and had a great time – extremely informative, entertaining, genuine narrative that brought us much closer to the culture of Ireland and Dublin. It was the highlight of our stay in Dublin. Thank you very much, James!”
SAMANTHA – USA
“We joined this walking tour on our very first day in Dublin, and I can’t recommend it enough. James was our guide, and as a local he knew so much about not only the history of Dublin, but the context in which changes have been received in recent years. The tour lasted 3 hours with a tea break in the middle, and we were made to feel welcome and included in the tour, rather than just an ‘audience.’
The tour visited all the major stops in Dublin and James was able to recommend other places (sightseeing, bars, restaurants) for us as well. If you’ve never been to the city before, or if you want to learn some of the background to the hot spots there, definitely get yourself along to one of these tours.”
MIKE P – ABINGDON, UK
“What a great way to see Dublin and learn so much about Ireland past and present. Our guide James, was born and bred here and explained so much in a simple but interesting way. Hugely informative and holding our attention the whole time. Thoroughly recommend to anyone visiting Dublin.”
JACOB E – MANCHESTER, UK
“Absolutely incredible! James was really informative and knowledgeable on anything he was asked. He made it a really pleasant tour and made sure to speak out the history of Dublin in context with how it affects people on a daily basis which I thought was incredible. Definitely recommend!”
DIANE R – USA
“Wish we had done this tour at the beginning of our stay not on our last day! James gave us loads of information about the main attractions of the city as well as some tips on interesting places to visit outside of the city. A big thank you to James.”
AS – USA
“James was FANTASTIC! He gave us a born and bred view of Dublin, from the history, to the tips for tourists, to meaningful events in history to the Irish people. He explained the causes of many of the events we’ve all read about in history books, to the point that you understand them on a deeper level. He was also really funny and shared a bit of the hidden craic that isn’t easy to spot as an outsider. Great time, would recommend him and this tour to anyone!”
JOEL T – MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
“We have been traveling for 6 months so far. We do walking tours in every city we visit. This is the best one we have done and we have done some great tours. What made it so good is the balance of historical information and suggestions of places to eat etc.. Our guide James had a very in-depth knowledge about the history of Dublin and explained it well for those who had a ln entry level knowledge. He also sent us an email with lists of recommendations while in Dublin that was very detailed and helpful.”
JULIE R – EDINBURGH, UK
“A drizzly morning today but cheered up with an exceptional walking tour with James. Very informative and great fun with some fun stories. Kept us very entertained and was sad for it to finish. Thanks for the craic James .”
MARK – PORTLAND, USA
“Nothing better than a good tour when you first arrive in a city like Dublin for the first time to get the lay of the land and point you in the right direction. We took the north side/rebellion tour with James. Was fantastic. Learned so much about what makes Ireland the Republic it is and how modern Dublin is what it is today. Easter rising 1916! Good job James, who is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic for the city and country he loves.”
BOB – USA
“Our guide, James, was really good: apart from being very nice, he was an incredible storyteller who told us about funny anecdotes and parts of History with equal talent.
The informations were varied and interesting, we learnt a lot about Dublin, its history and its culture, in an enjoyable way!”
LIZ – UK
“Would definitely recommend this tour. Our guide James was informative and entertaining. I have done quite a few walking tours and, in comparison, it seems as if he really enjoyed his job. He was also aware of the cold winds and made sure to make stops in areas where the wind was blocked. The tour itself has some great stops (Trinity college, temple bar, St. Patrick’s Cathedral to name a few.) Each one came with a great history as well as some other random tidbits of information. Our group had a fantastic time!”
REBEKA – AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
“James did a great job taking us to all the must-sees, he was very knowledgeable and funny! You’ve got to hear those accents he makes!!!”
DERICK S, LOS ANGELOS, USA
“Really great tour with James, who is very knowledgeable about Dublin and its history. James’ voice is captivating. He had the group’s full attention for the duration of the tour. He told very interesting stories about various events that took place in Dublin’s history, and his stories were laced with humor. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour with James and highly recommend this tour.”
OSCAR – USA
“To remain as an unforgettable event in our visit to Ireland; we had the privilege to tour with James: exceptional guide! In depth knowledge of Ireland’s history and social affairs, great communication abilities, a superb professional. We enjoyed every moment of a tour which we cannot recommend enough. Thank you James for all the insights, the humor (the crack?), and the emotions that you shared with us. Both my brother Gabriel and certainly myself will keep this tour in our memories! Oscar”
BOB L – CALIFORNIA, USA
“I have done walking tours all over Ireland and JAMES is the best tour guide that I have had on any walking tour. He had great insight into the history of the city of Dublin and was very open when talking about the political struggles in Dublin…….very carefully illustrating the positions on all sides of the struggle. He has a great sense of humor as well…….besides the many chuckles I had a few good belly laughs as well. It really was the highlight of my 2 weeks in Dublin. Do yourself a favor and find out when James is leading a walking tour in Dublin. Thanks James!”
ISABEL F – LONDON, UK
“My partner and I always do a walking tour in every city. We knew this was a great one because we barely knew the time when we reached our last stop— we were too engrossed in all the pieces of history, culture and fun facts. James is a great tour guide- very knowledgeable and lots of craic. All in all, very worth doing.”
BIRGIT G – MOUNT HOPE, CANADA
“We had an awesome tour with James, our guide. He was full of interesting information about Dublin and Ireland in general. His sense of humour made the tour fly by. There were spots we returned to and others we visited because of his recommendations.”
KARRY – GERMANY
“It was really perfect. We had the tour on Sunday with James and it was just amazing.
He knew a lof of things, also background details and was not afraid of questions. It felt really authentic. Thank you, James!”
BIANCA – USA
“I am so happy I got to have James as our guide in Dublin walking tour, we started the day in morning with him and we loved it so much that we decided to join them for the pub tour in the evening and that was soooo much fun! Also James tips for the next days were amazing! I really don’t think our time in Dublin would be the same without him. Thank you so much James, we love you ❤ Bianca, Sean and Enrrrrinque.”
BRAD – USA
“Our tour guide James spoke passionately about the 1916 Easter Uprising to provide a unique and emotional experience as we walked through history filled streets. Highly recommended.”
DARREN – ALBANY, AUSTRALIA
“What a great tour! We really enjoyed our walk around Dublin with our guide James. He has a passionate interest in the city and its history and a great sense of humour to boot. We would thoroughly recommend the tour especially if it is your first visit to Dublin.”
TEGAN – AUSTRALIA
“Thanks James for a great tour! We thoroughly enjoyed the history and insight into Dublin, and you kept it very entertaining with jokes and little tidbits along the way. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting! James was brilliant!
Thanks from Darryl & Tegan (Wales & Australia)”
DONNA – MANCHESTER, UK
“Brilliant day. Our guide James was wonderful (and ladies, easy on the eye too) he was engaging, witty and informative. Unlucky for us it was raining so james made a point of finding shelter at certain points on the tour. I would highly recommend these tours and would suggest that you do this first as it gives you a good idea of where and where not to go. Thank you for the wonderful day.”
JANE – STRATFORD UPON AVON, UK
“Excellent tour with the lovely James. Lots of info, also good stories and impressions. Political history and religious issues were handled with great sensitivity. Couldn’t have been better! Many thanks.”
DUBLIN PRIVATE TOUR 