I was always interested in history as school. It was a subject that I did well in at exams. I continued this interest after I left school. I was not very good at french in school but after I got married I got a love for the language during holidays in France with my family. This encouraged me to study to become fluent in the language.

When I was young, my mum used to bring me and my siblings to such places as Kilmainham Gaol and Newgrange. This sowed the seed to explore all aspects of my country.

I applied and was successful to be enrolled on a course run by Failte Ireland to become a tourist guide for Dublin and it’s Environs. My first work was on the open top bus in Dublin giving commentary on the city up to four times per day. Hard work, poorly paid but a good apprenticeship. I graduated to other day tours out of the city before guiding on multi-day tours with French groups. I got my SPSV licence about 7 years ago and I bought a Land Rover Discovery 7 seater which now has an SPSV licence. I have been guiding clients from the US on various day tours in the west of Ireland through Tours by Locals and my website AlchemyTours.ie

My work is very personal as I am with up to 5 clients for a full day touring and showing the wonderful places in the west of Ireland from the Cliffs of Moher to Yeats Country in Co Sligo. I pick up the clients from their accommodation, do my intro in Irish then in English and start with a funny ‘thought for the day’ to get the tour up an running. My commentary covers all aspects of everything Irish: history, music, literature, government, weather, television, movies, actors you name it we talk about it. I also like to find out more about the clients and their life in the US. It’s a two way conversation. Apart from the payment, it is gratifying to get five star reviews from clients following the completion of the tour.

I am self employed so the buck stops with me. My responsibility is to ensure that my clients has a wonderful and memorable day touring with me. My five star reviews confirm that I have achieved the objective.

I don’t find the work challenging. I am proud of my country and I love meeting clients and showing them around the wonderful place that we live. When I hear the ‘wow’ from clients when they get their first site of Kylemore Abbey or the Long Room in Trinity College, my heart bursts with pride.

I love meeting people and having the ‘craic’ with them. I have lots of stories, anecdotes and gags (dad jokes they call them in the US) that keep the clients amused during the tour. I regard it as going around the county with my friends. I usually follow up the tour with a hand written Irish thank you card using some of the wonderful stamps produced by An Post. That’s the cherry on the cake.

No

I am personable. I love meeting people and finding out about them. I am a member of Toastmasters which helps with public speaking and these skills can also be used in telling my stories during the tour. I never stop learning. I am always adding to my stories when I find a new piece of information. I have the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, ‘Live like you are going to die tomorrow and learn like you are going to live forever’. Thats a good philosophy for a tourist guide.

I liked history in school. However, tours are not just history, clients have lots of questions about Ireland besides history. It helps to know and understand the dates and people in our history but clients only want a broad outline, not too much detail.

Leaving Cert, MBA from the Open University. Dublin tourist guide badge, National tourist guide badge. Train the Trainer.

The Dublin and National tourist guide courses are essential for getting into the profession.

I have used the information that I have gained during the research for my work to write four guide books over the last 10 years: The Complete Guide to the Statues and Sculptures of Dublin, The Complete Guide to the Streets of Dublin, The Complete Guide to Belmullet and Mullet Peninsula and The Complete Guide to Achill Island the Corraun Peninsula.

I am personable and interested which helps in dealing with clients. I am organised which helps to ensure a smooth route for the clients from booking and paying for the tour to completion and follow up. I am curious, which means that I never stop learning which helps to keep my stories fresh and interesting.

I already have my dream job! However, it might be nice to bring other driver guides into the company to increase the turnover of Alchemy Tours.

I regard tourist guiding as the best job in the world. We get to bring people to places they they pay to see while they are on holiday. When I hear their reactions to what I am showing them I realise what a great country we are living in. I love this job so much I would it for nothing, but I don’t tell the clients that!

You don’t need a history degree to do this job. There are lots of skills that will help to make you good at your job. Be interested, personable, punctual, organised and ambitious.

Good personality, continuous development attitude, punctual.

I am currently participating in the Digital that Delivers course with Failte Ireland. I have two modules completed and am working on the Website module at present.

Most other roles in the tourism business can provide a foundation to become a tourist guide. People who are good in these roles will understand the importance of professional client service.

Private Driver Guide and MD at AlchemyTours.ie