Walking Boots Tours, Exploring the heart & sole of Ireland. Carefully choosen hiking, walking& special interest vacations tours throughout Ireland.
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Maeve at Torc Waterfall,Killarney National Park 2008 tours.
Hello there and thank you for taking the time to join me on my site.
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Maeve Kelly and I am from Donegal in the beautiful North West of Ireland.
I started out with an interest in horticulture, graduating with a National Diploma from the National Botanical Gardens in Dublin in 1990. Afterwards, I spent some time working as a landscaper on the east coast of America. However, I was eventually drawn back home to my native soil.
Maeve in Glen Columkille, Co. Donegal
It was time for a change. I decided to make a career from my favourite pastime – mountaineering. I completed courses in kayaking, rock climbing, navigation and sailing and embarked on a career working on a number of outdoor education centres throughout Ireland. I am now a qualified mountain and rock climbing leader and have certifications in outdoor first aid.
In 2005, I added further qualifications to my multi-feathered cap when I returned to education. I graduated from University College Cork with a degree in Irish Archaeology and Celtic Civilisation last September (2008).
Maeve explains the layout & archaeology of Minard Castle on the Dingle Peninsula in Kerry.
It was always my dream to manage my own business. I was instinctively drawn to specialised walking tours. I had worked with some of the finest walking tour companies in Ireland, leading groups through the highest and most magnificent mountain ranges and learning just what it was that groups wanted.Since 2000, I have been offering these tours with my own company.
My enthusiasm is as strong as ever. Whether it’s Irish stories, mythology, music, culture, landscape, archaeology, mountains, people or ‘craic’ (the Gaelic word for fun); I am simply bursting to share it all with you.
Killarney National Park 2007. Having fun on the Educational Tour.
As you can see from my Tour Dates page, I offer a select number of tours each year. Why so?
This is so that I can guide you, correspond with you and eventually meet you and spend time with you when you come to Ireland. I want you to feel that you are getting my personal attention and seeing Ireland with an Irish person. I have several tour itineraries on the site so that you can get a clearer idea of what’s on offer.
However, if you have particular ideas of your own, just ask. I will be delighted to tailor a tour to suit you and your family or friends.
My aim is to have you return home refreshed having made new friends, had great fun, tasted superb food, hiked in some scenic areas and – most importantly of all – kept a little piece of Ireland in your heart.
See you very soon,
Maeve Kelly, (B.A. M.L, Dip Hort)
Director of Walking Boots Tours Ireland.