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Adventure Travel > Hiking & Trekking Tours > Extreme Ireland > Meet Us

EXTREME IRELAND Dublin, Ireland www.extremeireland.ie
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Welcome!

We're delighted to welcome you to Extreme Ireland; the gateway for a journey that you will never forget.

Extreme Ireland was founded by Keith McDonnell, an accomplished mountaineer and adventurer. Extreme Ireland is an adventure for everyone on our tours, including our guides.

Our guides are hand-picked, 100% Irish, all with a sense of adventure and who will dazzle you with their knowledge of Ireland, from the history, topography, even down to the lyrics of Irish ballads. All the guides are professionally trained, safety being the prime objective. All our guides have first-aid skills and navigation skills.

"You will never feel safer than when you are in the arms of an Irish man"-Delphine.

Our tours offer a unique mix of hiking and a tour of Ireland that gives you all the information you can never get out of a book.

The Craic is Mighty

Going on your holiday means having a good time. You want to forget about your everyday life and let someone else take that responsibility. That is what we are about. The minute you jump on our bus, forget about your family, forget about your friends. Welcome to your new life!

Having the craic is a term we use in Ireland for saying that we are having a good time. Craic is the Gaelic word of fun. One of many that you will learn. By the way, I hope your linguistic skills are good because I will expect everyone to be able to order a pint in Gaelic by the end of the trip and say "Póg mo thóin" in a way someone won't find offensive!

Keith

Keith is one of the founders of Extreme Ireland. He has traveled and hiked extensively around the world, but his heart remains in Ireland. Keith is from the royal county of Meath, where once the high kings of Ireland sat on the sacred hill of Tara.

Hiking in Ireland began for Keith when he was just a babog, been dragged all around Ireland and up and down the mountains to see his father Thomas compete in mountain races. From an early age, his parents had a terrible difficulty in trying to cope with his adventurous mind. He used to disappear for days on end only for the parents to discover that he had hitchhiked up to the other end of the country and was stuck up a mountain somewhere, with only a pound in his pocket!

When he was growing up, all his holidays were in Ireland, usually involving squashing all the kids (six in all, no television in the house back then!) in the car, and sleeping in a caravan. Not like now, where people can afford to travel to exotic places all over the globe. This is where he got his love for Ireland, where he experienced first-hand the diversity this beautiful country has to offer.

Keith was a keen sportsman, representing his county in hurling up to his college years, and also his province Leinster in handball (an Irish sport similar to Pelota in Spain). Keith has lived in all the four provinces of Ireland at some stage of his life, and there is no better man to show you what our emerald isle has to offer. He has worked as a tour guide for numerous years now, but he felt that it was time to blend hiking with a tour. He loves getting mucky when out and about. Tours that have you stuck on a bus all day deny you the opportunity to really experience the land. You may see a lovely mountain but standing on it is a reward will never forget.

Keith was involved with the Dublin Wicklow mountain rescue team until 2007 and can be seen every weekend climbing up some bog ridden mountain in Ireland, the places where most people think they can’t go! He has his mountain skills certificates and REC3 First Aid certificates. He has a deep affinity with Ireland, his knowledge of history is pretty amazing and his singing skills are to be admired.

A true Gaelic warrior!

Mike

Mike Murphy has been with Extreme Ireland from the very beginning. He hails from the southeast part of the country - Hook Head to be exact. "By Hook or by Crook" Mike is back in the home country having spent many years traveling through Central and South America.

Mike has represented his county in hurling and is an avid tramper. Having tramped around the world, he has decided to return to Ireland, and there is no better man to guide you through the hills than this true adventurer. Mike is currently studying environmental engineering in Dublin, and will be with us for the summer. He is renowned for his story telling and his singing, having been trained classically as a child. Born in a family of 13, he has had to fight for everything he has. From a farming background, Mike will dazzle you with his knowledge about the countryside.

Before returning to college, Mike spent a few years in the Irish army, proudly protecting our coastline from unwanted guests. He has spent time peace-keeping in Lebanon, Bosnia and Liberia, gaining a reputation for been one of the fittest people out there and keeping spirits up among his comrades. This guide could bring you to the most dangerous mountains in the world and you would as safe as if you were in your own bed!

Mike has a tendency to tell a lot of jokes and sing songs. His jokes are funnier after a few drinks, so have patience!

Soirse

Soirse is the newest member of the Extreme Ireland Team. Soirse has been working with various international mountaineering and walking companies for the past seven years, but we grabbed her at the start of the year and by God is she a hit! Soirse is from Tipperary, the Glen of Aherlow a beautiful region down the South of the country. I am sure you have all heard of the song “It’s a long way to Tipperary”?

Soirse is a typical Irish lass. Don’t give her any grief because she will eat you alive! She has fiery red hair and a temper to match! She has a voice of an angel so don’t be afraid to ask her to sing any Irish songs. I believe her favorite is “The lakes of Ponchatrain” and the “Wild Rose”.

Soirse has hiked all over the world and was on a team that went to Mount Everest in 2007. Soirse was on the support and walked to Base Camp and coordinated things from below. She has extensive experience of guiding in Corsica, France, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand.

We are proud to have such an experienced guide to be part of our team and know that Soirse is happy to be back on Ireland doing what she loves most. You will be in safe hands with this girl.