Pre Covid, I really enjoyed my job tour guiding. However, the industry took a massive hit during this period, and I tried my hand at landscaping. This detour in my professional life has given me a deeper knowledge of the land, how it works and influences the food we eat. However, I’m getting older and the weather isn’t getting any better so, I joined Flavour Trails in 2025 in an administrative role, and this has given me the grá to get back into tour guiding. Last year, I decided to start my journey to become a fully trained National tour guide and I love it! In doing this, I am formalising what I already know whilst also learning more about the topics I love including Irish history, mythology, folklore, art and the Irish language and to top it all off, I get to go on day trips and visit some incredible places right on my own doorstep!
Last weekend, I went on day tour with my college mates, to the fabulous Brú na Bóinne, or Newgrange as it’s known. Brú na Bóinne is the Irish for the ‘palace’ or the ‘mansion’ of the Boyne and what a site it is. Nestled in Ireland’s Ancient East, along the River Boyne, Newgrange is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Ireland as well as an UNESCO world heritage site. Built over 5,000 years ago, it is older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. It’s known to be a passage tomb but also a place of great spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance.
Every year, on the Winter Solstice, people gather to celebrate the shortest day of the year. I have been myself once or twice over the years and it’s a very special time, a time for reflection and a time to be still. If you are lucky enough to enter the chamber during this time (and get clear weather), you will witness a spectacular event where one beam of sunlight enters the chamber, completely lighting it up. I have never had the chance to see it, but it is definitely on my bucket list! We did get to go inside the chamber during our tour and the first thing that struck me was how quiet and peaceful it was and secondly, what craftsmanship and skill went in to building it. Amazing!
I love Ireland, I love learning the history of it, the old Celtic myths, stories and legends as well as the new ones, which is one of the reasons why I started this training, but the other reason is being able to be part of it, to stand in it, just for a moment. I highly recommend putting it on your bucket list.