Group Tour
9-Day Tour to Ireland
History & Magic
July 2 – 10, 2023
Group Tour
9-Day England and Wales
October 3 – 11, 2023
MEET YOUR GUIDE
NEVILLE GARDNER
*hidden*
Early in life, I knew a career involving being an entrepreneur, sales, and especially being around people, appeared in the cards for me.
At age 11, I sold a farmer’s wife a bra in the Ladies Dress Shop that my Mum ran in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. So began my entrepreneurial adventure.
Growing up in Lambeg, a small village 8 miles from Belfast, I was reared partly by my Granny McCarthy while my Mum went to work. My Mum and Dad had gone to work early in life with no opportunity for advanced education because of their family circumstances and the outbreak of World War II. Even though my parents didn’t have an abundance of money, there was always food on the table. Great breads, scones and baked goods were always part of my upbringing.
My Dad (Sammy) who loved to sing Irish Ballads (especially after a few bottles of Stout), allowed me a wee spot of Guinness on a Sunday in a tiny glass in front of our fireplace. Typically I was only ever dosed with Whisky Punch for a cold or a toothache. So, I grew up surrounded by the foods and drinks that were typical of Ireland, and it turns out, the ones I’ve wanted to share in my life in the States.
Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and because of my love for them, I managed to get a Grammar School Education by receiving a scholarship (which also enabled me to participate in all the sports I enjoyed). When I first came to the USA to live (following a trans-Atlantic field hockey romance), I was drawn to the idea of importing the things from Ireland and the UK that I missed and saw a need for in the US. Following a period of experimenting with importing tweeds and knitwear for wholesale, I realized there was potential for a business in the Lehigh Valley. The ultimate goal for my wife and I (I’m still married to the local woman, Linda Shay, who played goalie for Lehigh Valley ladies team in the same tournament my team competed in in Toronto back in 1978) was to create a comfortable, friendly, warm atmosphere with a rich cultural experience — as if you were visiting Ireland.
ABOUT NEVILLE
Early in life, I knew a career involving being an entrepreneur, sales, and especially being around people, appeared in the cards for me.
At age 11, I sold a farmer’s wife a bra in the Ladies Dress Shop that my Mum ran in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. So began my entrepreneurial adventure.
Growing up in Lambeg, a small village 8 miles from Belfast, I was reared partly by my Granny McCarthy while my Mum went to work. My Mum and Dad had gone to work early in life with no opportunity for advanced education because of their family circumstances and the outbreak of World War II. Even though my parents didn’t have an abundance of money, there was always food on the table. Great breads, scones and baked goods were always part of my upbringing.
My Dad (Sammy) who loved to sing Irish Ballads (especially after a few bottles of Stout), allowed me a wee spot of Guinness on a Sunday in a tiny glass in front of our fireplace. Typically I was only ever dosed with Whisky Punch for a cold or a toothache. So, I grew up surrounded by the foods and drinks that were typical of Ireland, and it turns out, the ones I’ve wanted to share in my life in the States.
Sports have always been a huge part of my life, and because of my love for them, I managed to get a Grammar School Education by receiving a scholarship (which also enabled me to participate in all the sports I enjoyed). When I first came to the USA to live (following a trans-Atlantic field hockey romance), I was drawn to the idea of importing the things from Ireland and the UK that I missed and saw a need for in the US. Following a period of experimenting with importing tweeds and knitwear for wholesale, I realized there was potential for a business in the Lehigh Valley. The ultimate goal for my wife and I (I’m still married to the local woman, Linda Shay, who played goalie for Lehigh Valley ladies team in the same tournament my team competed in in Toronto back in 1978) was to create a comfortable, friendly, warm atmosphere with a rich cultural experience — as if you were visiting Ireland.