Shamrockroutes Reviews 

If you're dreaming of an unforgettable journey through Ireland, Ambrose McKay is the guide who will make it truly magical. Known for his flexibility, friendliness, and exceptional knowledge of Irish history and culture, Ambrose crafts experiences that are as enriching as they are effortless.
From the moment our tour began, Ambrose’s warm and approachable nature put us at ease. We praise his ability to read the group’s energy, adjusting the pace and itinerary to suit OUR interests—whether you're chasing castles, exploring coastal cliffs, or diving into Dublin’s vibrant streets.
Ambrose’s deep understanding of Ireland’s landscapes, legends, and local traditions brings every destination to life. His storytelling blends historical insight with folklore, making each stop feel like a chapter in a living book.
What truly sets Ambrose apart is his custom itinerary design. We can't rave enough about how he tailored each journey to reflect our unique interests, helping to avoid the stress of rigid planning and instead embrace the joy of spontaneous discovery.
Whether you're exploring the Wild Atlantic Way, tracing ancient Celtic roots, or uncovering hidden gems in the countryside, Ambrose McKay delivers a tour that’s intuitive, immersive, and unforgettable.
Our 1st trip out of country and he ensured it was a trip of a lifetime. Thank you Ambrose, our guide and friend.
The Mickey’s

We are well-seasoned travelers who have been very fortunate to be able to enjoy custom travel adventures. Our week with Ambrose McKay was one of the most enjoyable and relaxing experiences ever. We tend to over-plan and over extend ourselves to try to fit in all of a region’s highlights. All of that was out the window once we met Ambrose. He is easy to talk to and very adept at reading his audience. After the first couple of hours he sensed what we were looking for on our Irish experience. I turned over the itinerary (that we had arranged without his aid) to him and he tweaked it in a few places and overhauled it in others. In retrospect I would have had him redo the whole trip. Another bonus about Shamrockroutes is you get a five star experience at more affordable rates. They give you everything you could possibly want at a reasonable cost. Kudos to Ambrose, our newest friend.

We had the pleasure of traveling through Ireland with Ambrose, and the experience exceeded our expectations. From the start of our tour, it was clear that we were in the hands of someone who not only knows Ireland inside & out but also has a passion for sharing history, culture, and hidden gems.

Ambrose has the perfect balance of storytelling, humor, and practical organization. Every stop from a small town on the Dingle peninsula to touring a distillery have been wonderful experiences. What stands out is the personal touch by Ambrose to each moment of the tour which has made this trip an incredible experience leaving us with many great memories!

We highly recommend Shamrock Routes to anyone visiting Ireland!! If you want a personalized, 5 star experience instead of just ‘sightseeing’, no doubt about it that there is no better way to visit this magical place! Don’t think about it, just book it! Trust us that you will not regret it.

Thank you so much Ambrose, for making our trip to Ireland such an unforgettable adventure! From the moment we hopped into your car, you made us feel less like tourists and more like old friends catching up. Your stories, history lessons, jokes, and hidden gems brought the country to life in a way we never could have experienced on our own.

We loved that every day was a perfect mix of personal, informative, and fun—like having a friend we never knew we had (but are so glad we do now!). You didn’t just drive us around—you gave us memories we’ll be laughing and talking about for years to come.

Sláinte to you, and here’s to hoping our paths cross again. Until then, know that you’ll always have a group of very grateful fans cheering you on across the ocean!

With appreciation and smiles,
The Reilly Clan

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience with Ambrose! We booked our trip to Ireland for my Mum as it was on her bucket list to go to Ireland and ride Connemara ponies. She had advanced dementia and we were concerned she would find the trip overwhelming and were worried that her behavior may be daunting or difficult for our tour guide. We were fast to understand we were in great hands. He warmly greeted us at the airport and laid out the most wonderful three day itinerary. When her stories would be confused or slightly nonsensical, he reassured her and would listen and respond so intently and compassionately that she felt empowered and special. We went to the oldest pub in Ireland, forts, castles, toured gardens, and the cliffs of Moher. Along the way, he entertained us with stories about Ireland and the history. It was incredible. The most important part of the trip was her riding Connemara ponies. He took videos for us and pictures so that we would have these memories forever. Every part of the trip was completed with meticulous care and, despite my mum's advanced dementia, she recalled the trip with fondness til she passed 7 months later. Thank you for everything Ambrose!!

Our trip to Ireland was absolutely magical—and Ambrose, you’re a big part of why it was so special. From the moment we started, your warmth, sense of humor, and incredible knowledge brought everything to life. We felt instantly at ease and completely taken care of.

The way you told stories and chose the most breathtaking routes made every day feel like a dream. We drove through endless shades of green, wildflowers everywhere, and landscapes that looked like they were painted just for us. I’m hoping I can do them justice on canvas—some of those lake and mountain views took our breath away.

Ashford Castle was like walking into a fairytale. The setting, the rooms, the whole experience was even more than we hoped for. And you made sure every detail was just right. We were comfortable, relaxed, and able to soak in every moment without a worry.

But more than just seeing beautiful places, you helped us feel Ireland. We didn’t just visit—we connected. That’s what we’ll remember most. We’ve taken hundreds of photos, but it’s the memories that mean the most.

This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime journey. We’re already talking about when we can come back.

Thank you, Ambrose, for everything. This trip will always hold a very special place in our hearts.

With gratitude,
Mike and Denise Howes

We vacationed in Ireland in September 2024. Since we didn’t want to drive ourselves and wanted a more private experience we hired a driver. Ambrose was the perfect pick! He was a safe driver, professional, got us to our destinations on time, gave us local information and tips and was always available. We had a wonderful vacation and this was in part due to our driver, Ambrose. We are hoping to travel to Scotland next fall and will definitely use his services.

Our travel guide Ambrose took all the stress out of traveling to a country we knew nothing about and giving us options in building our itinerary that suited us. He went above and beyond everyday to see to it that we had the best experience. He always kept a cheerful demeanor and was flexible and accommodating to our every need!

Our trip was in October 2024 and there were 6 of us. Ambrose was our driver and we had an itinerary from our travel agent. We followed it mostly but after a couple of days with us Ambrose started make suggestions that we might like this place better than our original plans these suggestions suited our group better than the original itinerary. He was so great and we couldn’t have asked for a better chauffeur. We always knew where we needed to be and what time to be there. He made our trip to Ireland so memorable.

The trip was a college graduation gift from my parents. Ambrose was our driver and he was so knowledgeable, charismatic, and professional! He was extremely flexible and we got the most out of each day. Highly recommend this company!!

We recently enjoyed our first visit to Ireland and hired Ambrose from Shamrock Routes as a driver. We could not have been happier and Ambrose exceeded our expectations. I didn’t realize in advance how beneficial a driver would be until I landed in Ireland. The roads along the coasts are tricky. With Ambrose we didn’t have to stress about driving and instead took advantage of the beautiful views and country. Ambrose’s knowledge and history were priceless. We loved the experience and time together.

Scott and Katie Wood
USA - Michigan

I had the pleasure of meeting Ambrose and Rose from Shamrock Routes. They are exceptionally kind, approachable, and passionate tour professionals. I highly recommend them for chauffeur services and guided tours

Rose was so helpful and attentive. Very pleasurable to work with. She helped to make my first trip to Ireland unforgettable . I would highly recommend her!!

It was my first trip overseas and I am so glad we used ambrose! We couldnt of drove very well in Ireland and we definitely couldnt of found all the amazing places he showed us. It was so so so much easier than getting your own car and planning your own stays it made it a vacation not just a trip. He covered a lot of ground and picked awesome places to stay, will definitely be using him again!

This is my 3rd trip with Ambrose from Shamrockroutes. So, it is obvious that I have been very satisfied. The first two trips were with my brother. This last trip in May 2025, I went with my wife, niece, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. All of which are on fixed incomes. Therefore, I spoke with Ambrose mcKayahead of time and informed him that this had to be a budget trip. I myself do not enjoy bus tours where it is predetermined what I will see and what I will do and what time I will do it. I myself am more of an à la carte man. I’m more joy the smaller communities and actually getting to see the day-to-day occurrences and how the local people live every day life. This past trip we started by landing in Dublin Ireland, and then traveling to England, Wales, Scotland, North Ireland, and then back to Dublin to return home. The entire trip took approximately 11 days. I was concerned that everyone would not get to do what they enjoyed. However, somehow, Ambrose was able to gather information months in advance as to what was important to everyone. And we did it all. The sites were spectacular, the history was amazing, the music was sensational, and the moments we lived will make memories for a lifetime. The trip was very economic and fit into everyone’s price budget. Actually much more economic than taking a bus tour with 50 other people. We stopped when we wanted to stop and we went where we wanted to go. I cannot tell you enough good about this trip. It is truly something you will have to experience for yourself. Every time I go to Ireland, we talk about purchasing a cottage there. I have been around the world and nothing screams home like Ireland. The people are fantastic and the music and culture are unmatched. I’ve never seen so many pubs in my entire life. I just got home from there in May 2025. My brother and I have already booked our flights to return in November 2025. It is truly a place we’re heading for home, Is like leaving home. Thank you so much Shamrockroutes and Ambrose McKay for giving us so many memories that can never be replaced, forgotten, or relived. My advice to many of you, is don’t be one of those people that says I wish I had, I wished I could, or I wished I would’ve. As we get older life goes by so fast, take this trip before it’s too late. I know many of you think you can afford it, but I urge you to call them or reach out and tell them how much you can afford and I would almost bet you they can put a package together that meets your budget. You can stay in castles like a king or hostels, pubs, and bed &breakfasts like a person hiking the countryside. No matter your wealth, you will be treated like you’re the most important person on the planet. You will feel safe and catered to from the start to finish.Don’t miss out, take the time and find out. I woke up one day and realized I was working my life away. I thought to myself, “Life is like a gallon of milk, it’s going to expire whether I drink it or not”. I encourage you to drink your milk while it’s still fresh. Thank you, Bob Hughes Wheaton, Missouri.