Private day trippers from Ireland, international tourists, clients on group tours, academic students
Visit: Museum of Free Derry Guildhall Peace Bridge Tower Museum Apprentice Boys Siege Museum St Columbs cathedral Derry city walls Long Tower church
Our Story
Michael is a former employee of Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau (now VisitDerry), the key tourism agency in Ireland’s northwest. He is also a triple graduate from the University of Ulster with qualifications including Bachelor and Masters degrees in Irish History & Politics, which ensure tours, can be designed covering any aspect of Irish history. In 2006 Michael established derrybluebadgeguide.com which has grown to become one of the largest tour guiding companies in Ireland employing an extensive team of fully accredited and insured guides from across the country. A member of the coveted Tripadvisor Hall of Fame and Viator Excellence award winner, the company offers walking, coach and private chauffeur driven guiding services across Ireland. As well as his work in tour guiding, Michael is a former elected representative on the city council in Derry and a heritage officer with the Gasyard Trust with responsibility for the development of a number of heritage exhibitions in Derry including a forthcoming new museum focussing on the development of the peace process. He has published a range of books focussing on local and national Irish history and politics with a particular focus on the political conflict and peace process. Tours covering all aspects of the north’s recent ‘Troubles’ and peace process are a speciality, covering topics such as the origins of the conflict, Bloody Sunday, the 1981 Hunger Strikes and the developing peace process. These tours cover areas such as the Bogside in Derry, west Belfast and south Armagh and are available for both visitors and schools and colleges studying the conflict. Derrybluebadgeguide.com also offers both full and half-day tours of all regions of the north of Ireland by coach or chauffeur driven car/MPV. Let us guide you around Belfast, the Giants Causeway coastal route, the Antrim Glens and the Donegal and Sligo sections of the world famous Wild Atlantic Way touring route. All the tour options can be viewed using the tool bar at the top of the page. Tours are available in English, French and Irish and can also be arranged in German, Italian, Spanish and other languages on request. Michael will also be happy to assist you in designing a bespoke itinerary on request and can also assist in organising genealogy research, accommodation, restaurants, airport/port pick-ups and much more through his extensive contacts in the industry. We look forward to offering you a unique, award winning guiding experience with some great Irish craic along the way.
Our team is here and happy to help!