Stories Shape Place
Shanakee was born in Ireland’s wild northwest — where landscape, legend and living memory are woven together.
Founded by Samuel Brett, a fourth-generation storyteller and certified national tour guide, Shanakee offers immersive private journeys through Ireland’s mythic and historic landscapes.
For Samuel, this isn’t performance.
It’s inheritance.
Meet the Guide
Samuel Brett – Founder, Guide & Storyteller
Born and raised along the banks of the Garavogue River in County Sligo, Samuel grew up surrounded by story.
In his grandfather’s butcher shop on Wine Street, tales were shared as naturally as the day’s work. Later, that same space became a woodcarving workshop under the careful hand of his uncle and mentor, master craftsman Michael Quirke.
There, Samuel learned something deeper than folklore.
He learned that stories are living things — carried in land, language and memory.
After travelling the world, Samuel returned home to train with Ireland’s National Tourist Board as a certified guide. Today, he leads private journeys across Ireland and Scotland, bringing history, folklore and landscape into living conversation.
Not as a lecturer.
But as a companion on your journey.
Where It All Began
To the west of Samuel’s childhood home rises the great mound of Knocknarea, said to be the resting place of Queen Maeve.
To the south, ancient cairns and stone circles keep watch over the Garavogue River.
This was his playground.
Stories of warriors, saints, rebels and the otherworld were not distant myths. They were part of daily life — spoken in kitchens, carried on the wind across the hills, and felt beneath his feet.
That way of seeing the world still shapes every Shanakee experience today.
Stories shape place – and place gives stories meaning.
What We Believe
Shared Experience
Stories are meant to be shared — with warmth, curiosity and connection.
Local Knowledge
Not just dates and timelines, but the human heart of history.
Slow Travel
We move with the rhythm of the land — not against it.
Small Groups
Private and thoughtful. More conversation. More discovery.
For Guests of Temple House & Beyond
Many guests staying at Temple House choose Shanakee for private, tailored journeys through Sligo and Ireland’s northwest.
From megalithic tombs and sacred mountains to hidden glens and windswept coastlines, each tour is shaped around place, story and personal connection.
This is Ireland beyond the postcard.
A Living Craft
Storytelling in Samuel’s family was never separate from craft.
Today, he continues the woodcarving tradition passed down through generations — creating pieces inspired by Celtic myth, Gaelic philosophy and the sacred symbolism of the land.
Many guests choose to take home a carving as a lasting reminder of their journey.
Each piece is carved by hand in Sligo.
You’ll Love Shanakee If …
- You’re drawn to the deeper story behind the landscape
- You seek meaningful connection, not surface impressions
- You’re curious about Ireland’s myths, memory and identity
- You want to return home changed, not just photographed
A Word From A Guest
“Sam is extraordinary — weaving songs, stories and landscape into one unforgettable experience.”
★★★★★ Cheryl Tompkins
Begin Your Shanakee Journey
Each journey is private, personal and shaped around you.