Meet Our VagaGuides

With Alan, you’re in extremely experienced hands when it comes to driving. After all, he first took a spin in a tractor, aged 10, at home on the family farm in Meath. Since then — besides VagaTrons — Alan has mastered maritime modes of transport. He’s a keen windsurfer and has skippered yachts.

When back on dry land, this man of steel is also fond of mountaineering and welding. End of season plans for Alan? Just a wee trip from Ireland to the Caribbean. By boat. Easy.

We call Andrew, ‘The Cat’, by virtue of the amount of lives he seems to have lived. Having survived almost being blown up while on UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon, Andrew almost lost a tussle with the prop of a powered paraglider.

Andrew's enthusiasm is infectious. He’s never without a smile on his face. He loves the outdoors and storytelling. Andrew's VagaGuide colleagues love when they meet him on tour as he’s addicted to vehicle cleaning.

Cork-born and bred, Brian knows a thing or two about Ireland. He’s an award-winning travel blogger and a published Lonely Planet author.

But this fella is also a true ramblin’ man, having lived in 17 different countries around the globe and travelled to many dozens more. Vegan Brian loves sinking his teeth into an outdoor challenge. Hiking, surfing, snowboarding, mountainboarding, diving, trail running… You name it, he’s conquered it!

Ciara is a real renaissance woman. She boasts a degree in film and video production, is a 1st aid responder, is an ex-member of the Wicklow Mountain rescue team, volunteers with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, has worked on a farm and can drive a tractor, is qualified to instruct rock climbing, kayaking, snorkeling and sailing. She also bakes very cool cakes! When she is not doing any of the above, Ciara is a super-dooper VagaGuide with an almost unrivalled knowledge of Ireland and just the right smiley, friendly personality for the job.

Damien has led hiking expeditions in Tibet, Nepal, China, India... and Carlow. He is recognised in Ireland as a pioneer of the adventure industry. Having climbed some of the world’s highest peaks, Damien yearned for a higher altitude still and so became a flying instructor.

Working for Vagabond has brought him back down to earth faster than you could say ‘doors armed and cross-checked’. Damien plays the bodhrán (Irish drum) and sings ballads. Despite his vast ‘life experience’, he once risked his career by beating his boss Rob in a half marathon.

Naval veteran Dave hails from Wicklow, the ‘Garden of Ireland’ where Vagabond Tours is based. Aside from his tour guiding skills and encyclopaedic knowledge on Irish history, nature and landscapes, Dave is also a fully qualified instructor in scuba diving, sailing, kayaking, hill walking and — according to him — drinking games!

Before Vagabond, Dave’s career straddled the diverse worlds of trucking, construction, nightclub security, landscaping, winemaking, bartending and outdoor education. But his first job was definitely the most eclectic: processing malt from Guinness brewing for use on farms as fertiliser. You can’t get much more stereotypically Irish than that!

Another VagaGuide hailing from the west of Ireland, Denise’s previous career was as a sound engineer. From sound-proofed, windowless recording studios, her daily grind is now exploring the Irish countryside.

An avid traveller, Denise has horse-trekked the Grand Canyon, husky-sledded in the Arctic and hiked the Peruvian Andes. Last year, she rode across the mountainous frontier between Argentina and Chile. Like many of our VagaGuides, Denise is a musician and plays mandolin and violin.

Donegal native Eamonn has certainly carpe’d the diem. His career so far has included being a chef on a New Zealand cattle station, a Santa in a Christmas grotto and a pub landlord (aged 23, no less).

On the wilder side of things, Eamonn has visited the Great Pyramids and walked the Great Wall of China. He is also an accomplished hunter, horseback-rider and skydiver. Strange but true: his first bungy-jump was helped along when a 4.7 earthquake struck as he stepped off the platform!

Ed the Red is so-called partly because she's from Cork (red is the county colour); partly because she is part of the endangered species of redheads. With a quick wit and a laid back manner, Ed boasts years of experience leading groups, working as a lifeguard and being generally adventurous.

With a degree in Outdoor Education and Leisure, Ed is also a qualified surfing instructor, climbing instructor, and limbo dancer. Oh yes and she has red hair. Did we mention that?

Galwegian Glen's theatre background has certainly prepped him for the dramatic landscapes of Ireland. Between his upbringing on the west coast and his current VagaGuide role, Glen snowboarded in British Columbia, backpacked the Balkans, milled around Mexico by motorbike and hiked volcanoes in Guatemala.

Athletic Glen is happiest while throwing a frisbee, standing on his hands or playing a ukelele. Just not all at once. His big secret is that he is regularly tempted to run away to the circus.

Anyone of Irish descent will relate to Jason's personal history; emigrating from the quiet of rural western Ireland to its very antitheses – London. Having spent his formative years in England’s teeming capital, Jason returned to Ireland to study for his degree in Outdoor Education.

Jason has vast experience in guiding, as well as a stint teaching English in Vietnam. He can instruct in mountaineering, surfing, kayaking and sailing. He is also a qualified beach lifeguard. But we don’t allow him to pack his Speedos. He also enjoys rescuing helpless baby animals.

Another world traveller, Michael has lived in Honduras, New Zealand and Spain. He has travelled to many others, including South Asia and Nepal. Michael is fluent in Spanish and also speaks French.

When he returned from his travels Michael worked with Amazon. We ordered him online but Amazon couldn’t complete the requested drone delivery. Michael's surname is Stout. But please, Vagabonds, no Guinness jokes. Hailing from Cork, Michael prefers Murphy’s (obviously). Like fellow VagaGuide Denise, Michael has also worked as a sound engineer and plays guitar.

Kilkenny native Philip spent 35 years in banking before becoming a tour guide. This is his first real job! In his own words, Philip's now on a permanent vacation and living the dream.

Expect history lessons a-plenty if Philip is your guide; he has a passion for the subject and completed history qualifications before passing his VagaGuide exam with flying colours. Philip once enjoyed running marathons and continues to celebrate his countless victories with the odd glass of red wine.

Another outdoor education and leisure graduate, Ronan was made for the outdoors - be it kayaking, hiking, skiing or climbing.  He has instructed and led expeditions in Scotland, France, Norway, New Zealand, Namibia, Turkey and Kerry. Despite all that travelling he is yet to cross the Atlantic and visit North America. But that doesn't stop Ronan from going above and beyond to please his guests!

Rumour has it he once had an ‘astronaut moment' whilst camping overnight with fellow guide Daz on Mount Blanc in temperatures of -20°C (-4F).

The seaside was Sarah's playground while growing up on the east coast of Ireland in Meath. Sea swimming remains close to Sarah's heart, as well as biking, hiking and marathon-running.

Those adventure hobbies, coupled with her love of amateur drama and her past careers in fashion and education seem like the perfect training for life on the road as a VagaGuide; she's up for a challenge, fit as fiddle, full of stories and a fashionista!

Tim has has worked as a mountaineering instructor and guide for over 20 years across the world. A tour led by Tim will show off his gentle spirit and quirky sense of fun. Tim loves making wild Irish coffees for his guests and can eat seafood chowder daily for lunch.

Tim trained as a luthier, making mandolins, mandolas, bouzoukis and classical guitars. He is currently being taught Irish by his 7 year old daughter. Recently, one of our guests suggested Tim looked a bit like George Clooney. A bit.