Go and enjoy , but soeaking as a parent who has been surprised by my offspring twice -PLEASE tell them now! Surprises are nice BUT its difficult to get your head around the shock sometimes and as someone else has pointed out -let them be excited -and look forward to it even more when they know youre going too.
Have a super time.

go for it and don't think twice! Forget alternate arrangements just join the group. My sister, her husband, my mother and one of her daughters who was about 16 at the time went together. They still have wonderful stories and memories both of the sights but more importantly of the time they spent together.

I don’t want to get too mushy, but your post has me in tears. My mother passed away less than a year after me and all of my sisters went to Ireland with her. Monday will be three years without her and that trip gets me through some pretty sad times. Go.

Oh my goodness what a sappy I must be, Dohlice your response almost has ME in tears. Thanks so much to you and everyone else for your sincere responses. You are definitely hedging me toward going.

NY2005

Well, I hope one more GO will have you making the calls.

I would not want to book a bus tour for my husband and myself, but for a family trip, I wouldn't think twice.

My mother and daughter and I went on my daughter's high school bus tour of Italy 10 years ago, and it is a precious and priceless memory for the three of us.

You gotta go!

One more yes yes yes!

Like everyone else posting so far, not into organized travel either, but I have a great memory of travleing in Hungary years ago with my parents, also independent-minded travelers. At that time it was near impossible to rent a car and travel independently, so we bit the bullet and took several daylong bus tours.

We met the nicest people! We even visited one British older couple who we met on the Hungarian tour on a later trip to England.

My only trip to Ireland was with a group of old and young people (house rental). Most of the "old" ones outlasted we youngen's at every pub, singing and having a great time, and then were up early fishing/walking/ etc while we were painfully sleeping off the Guiness. Stamina!

As a member, well almost, of the senior society................another vote for GO! Time is precious and you'll have wonderful memories. I took my mother on a trip out West to visit some national parks, etc.(she had never been) and was concerned about spending 24/7 with her even though we get along. We had a wonderful time and I'm so very, very glad I was able to spend the time with her...I will have the memories of that trip long after she is gone!

NY2005

Dont let this fantastic opportunity to create memories you will cherish forever slip away. Go!

Hi NY,

<you are definitely hedging me toward going>

Why do you need hedging to go on this trip? The only "road block" was "prior
committments" as you then went on to list reason after reason for going.

The decision to go to Ireland must rest solely on you not a bunch responses here.

Having said all that, GO and have a great time.

I gotta tell you, NY2005, every time I see the title of your post, I keep thinking it says "SHOULD we have fun?" I think you should!

My favorite travel agent and friend says Brendan is the best. Now, I hate organized bus tours and wouldn't go. But on the other hand, my best friend is going to France (when she saves enough money) and she insists on taking a Tauck tour. In order to enjoy being with her, I'm going to go, even though I would have preferred an independent trip.

Also, don't forget if you get tired of the whole bus thing, you can take a day on your own and do your own thing when the bus people are taking a day-tour. So I would do a little research into Ireland, and see which day-tours you wouldn't want to miss on this Brendan tour, and which days you might want to do your own thing.