Chantey Lass, the Ireland that you are to visit will welcome you as warmly as ever. However you may have to work a bit harder to find "The Craic", You'll soon understand what that means - nothing to do with illegal substances,( At least not unless you want it to)
A few short years ago it would have been possible to find this phenomenon in any public house in any city, town, village or at a country crossroads that you came upon. That's not to say that you will not find music and good company in many places still, especially on a guided tour, so I feel sure that you will have an enjoyable time. Martin is right, do ask the guide for a choice of any such venue that may not be on the official itinary - often pre-ordained by business arrangement.
Keeping a journal is a great ideea, I once found a diary of a month's trip to the US made by my Grandad in 1928 . It was amazing to read it in the 1980s, yours will have the same effect on someone sometime in 2080,
Come on over here and, beidh chéad míle fáilte romhat.
(There will be a hundred thousand welcomes for you)
Remembe, in Ireland you need only be alone if you so choose.