Year in Review – 2023
Jean
At the start of 2023 we launched the newest member to our fleet – Jean. Jean is our third bus and like her sisters Pauline & Kitty is a refurbished Routemaster bus. With even more mod cons and upgrades – think on board oven and brand new sound system (goodbye CDs and hello Spotify) she’s been playing an absolute blinder. We love having her on the road and who knows – we may be adding to our vehicular family in 2024 – watch this space…
Seventh Birthday
In September of this year we celebrated our 7th year in business. We’re so proud of all our achievements. It’s not easy and some days are a lot more difficult than others but to be still standing and conducting tours after 7 years is a huge accomplishment. We can’t do it without our incredible team and so to celebrate our birthday we had a big bash in Nolita where we had a BBQ, played games and of course sang some karaoke!
109th Birthday
We may have celebrated our 7th birthday, but it was Máirín’s birthday that made headlines (literal headlines mind you) around Ireland. In May of this year, we celebrated Mairin Hughes’ 109th birthday on board our vintage bus, We took her and her friends from Maryfield Nursing Home on a trip around Dublin, stopping in the Phoenix Park where a group of German Tourists sang Happy Birthday to Máirín in German – that is after they realised we were telling the truth about her age. Máirín sadly passed away in September of this year (you can read her obituary here). To have been a part of her 109th birthday will always be one our greatest honors. RIP Máirín.
Happy Place Award
In October of this year we were presented with the “Happy Place Award” at the Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Guide Awards. We were so over the moon, not only to have won, but also to be recognised alongside some of Ireland’s most prestigious restaurants, cafes, hotels, cookery schools, pubs and so much more. Rubbing shoulders with Rory O’Connell and Francis Brennan to name but a few was such a brilliant way to spend a morning!
Pride Parade
Taking part and having our bus in this year’s Pride Parade was another beautiful day on board our bus. We danced, sang and cheered our way around the streets of Dublin handing out Pride cupcakes. On board we hosted some of the founding members of the first ever LGBTQ+ group on board. Hearing their stories about when Pride was much more of a protest was inspiring. The paths they’ve carved have been extraordinary and while there’s still a way to go, looking at the love and pride in Dublin on this day, it seems like it’s in good hands.
Events Hosted on Board
2023 saw a whole host of events on board. From weddings to hen parties, Canon Camera Launch to Connacht Gold Butter Launch, we’ve had Facebook or should I say now Meta on board, as well as Revolut, Guidewire and the National Concert to name but a few! We hosted a Mother’s Day Paint & Prosecco event, American Football fans from Notre Dame & Navy came on board before the big show down in the Aviva, we filmed with House Hunters International, Today FM, a Canadian Travel Show and of course celebrated birthdays from 8 years old to 109 years old!
96 Countries
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Germany, GHANA, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guernsey, Holland, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.
Phew… That’s a lot of people from all over the world who’ve had Afternoon Tea the Irish Way!
Stephens Green
We’re ending this year with some news about next year! We are thrilled to be moving our pick up point to Stephens Green North, Dublin 2. We can’t wait to see what this next phase brings to this adventure of ours. If you see us around the Green, give us a wave!
