We are your Celtic experts and we ensure we plan every vacation to ignite the sense of wonder that is aligned to the extraordinary part of the world we call home. From fully guided trips that bring destinations to life to the absolute freedom of discovering Ireland and Scotland on your own, our trips are individually-crafted to help you travel your way.
Taking you Personally
Guided by our mantra, ‘taking you personally’, we’re passionate about delivering a completely authentic experience, tailored to your needs and interests. However you prefer to travel, you’ll be introduced to our storytellers, stay in our hand-selected accommodations, explore our rugged edge of the world and experience our highly personalized service.
Meet Catherine Reilly
As the head of our team in Dublin and an Irish native, Catherine Reilly has been making friends within the Irish and Scottish hospitality community for more than 35 years.
As the head of our team in Dublin and an Irish native, Catherine Reilly has been making and keeping friends within the Irish and Scottish hospitality community for more than 35 years.
Her expertise, knowledge and passion are carefully woven into every one of Brendan’s hand-crafted itineraries, enriching your stories by the connections with this place, the pace of life and the locals you’ll meet.
And in fact, that’s why we’ve created Catherine’s Collection – a special set of hotels, manors, castles and sightseeing experiences selected based on Catherine’s connections throughout the Celtic Isles.
Catherine truly believes there comes a time when a trip to these magical lands, where tears are met with laughter, fairies with faith and dreams with home, cannot be put off another day.
One hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland and Scotland with Brendan Vacations.
Meet Our Storytellers
They say a place is only as good as the people in it and in this part of the world, we believe it’s doubly true. The people of Ireland and Scotland are blessed with a natural gift of storytelling. Lucky for you, we’ve assembled some of the most gifted and knowledgeable locals to share their insight and passion.
From the Travel Directors who guide your way and Be My Guest hosts who invite you into their homes to the friendly characters sharing their cities, meet the people who will help you create your own Celtic story.
Our Story
Driven by service since day one. Our story started in 1920 with one man, one hotel and one clear vision. To now, with over four generations continuing the dream that was always much larger than our start in South Africa.
Driven by service since day one. Our story started in 1920 with one man, one hotel and one clear vision. To now, with over four generations continuing the dream that was always much larger than our start in South Africa. Fast forward 100 years later, the true passion and the real foundation of the vision that is driven by service is still at the core of our family-owned and operated business.
As a member of The Travel Corporation, we are proud that our Brendan roots are as authentic as our experiences. We are named after St. Brendan, patron saint of navigation and we are guided by a great passion for exploration and travel.
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One man. One hotel. One vision.
One man. One hotel. One vision.
Solomon Tollman purchases the Paternoster Hotel in a small South African fishing village. -
Continuing the dream
Continuing the dream
Solomon’s vision was taken by his son, Stanley Tollman and has been carried through four generations. -
Catherine joins the business
Catherine joins the business
The embodiment of Celtic expertise and fiercely passionate about sharing her love for all things Ireland and Scotland, Catherine was the perfect fit for Brendan. -
TTC acquires Brendan Vacations
TTC acquires Brendan Vacations
After nearly 40 years of success, Brendan was purchased by The Travel Corporation. -
10 years of making travel matter
10 years of making travel matter
TTC launches The Travel Corporation Conservation Foundation, which eventually becomes TreadRight Foundation. Brendan Vacations is a member of this not-for-profit organization which works to have a positive impact on the people and communities we visit, to protect wildlife and marine life and to care for the planet we call home. -
A new home
A new home
Brendan’s Dublin headquarters moved to iconic Merrion Square, a Georgian-style building rich with cultural and historical significance. -
Ashford Castle reopens
Ashford Castle reopens
One of Ireland’s most iconic properties that boasts a history dating back to 1228, reopens after the Tollman family oversaw a 2-year, top-to-toe renovation of the castle and grounds. -
One family, one hundred years
One family, one hundred years
Decades of dedication, determination and dreams. A century of laughter, loyalty and love stories; generations of friendship, fun and family. One hundred years of triumph, tenacity and travel… here’s to hundreds more!