About Us
Con Ó Muircheartaigh / Con Moriarty (Co-founder, Trip leader & Guide)
A life of fascination with wild places and a range of cultural and natural history interests and a deep interest in people underpins Con’s passion as a guide. Widley travelled through the continents with an ever-curious world view, Ireland has always been home and this year Con will continue to be a creative force behind our diverse and personalised trips while leading a number of special interest and family vacations with Hidden Ireland Tours and the three itineraries he developed for Wilderness Travel.
To see the WT hiking trips Con will lead this year and get a glimpse of his client’s views, see; www.wildernesstravel.com/leaders/con-moriarty/
Ann Curran
Ann Curran after careers in real estate, finance and as a guesthouse and restaurant owner and manager discovered her calling as a trip leader in her native Ireland a quarter of a century ago.
Born and raised in the town of Dingle on the Dingle Peninsula of County Kerry, Ann’s skills as a host and deeply intuitive care of her guests have earned her a truly incredible reputation and friendships across the globe.
A keen hiker, in her varied work with Hidden Ireland Tours, this immensely popular guide leads small personalised trips often with multi-generational families where her unique personal skills come to the fore. In addition, Ann co-leads the 9-day cultural hiking trips we operate with and for our friends Wilderness Travel.
The richness of testimonials offered by Ann’s guests are extraordinary and numerous. To get a flavour – and see the WT trips Ann is involved in this year, see; www.wildernesstravel.com/leaders/ann-curran/
Binky was born and raised in the city of Mobile in the state of Alabama – the deep south of the United State. After an initial career in the legal profession , the avid traveller moved to work in the travel industry. It was while on a walking trip in Ireland where she had family connections in the 1980’s that Binky met Con Moriarty.
Ireland, that meeting and the world of beauty and richness it opened had a profound impact on Binky and in the following years her connections with Ireland deepened. Arising from this, Binky’s wish that others would get to experience this hidden Ireland that so nourished her soul, to connect a small number travellers with the world Con lived in and explored every day was what lay behind the initial setting up of The Hidden Ireland with Con Moriarty.
Too many years have passed for Binky to dwell on – but the joy from being part of it all; from usually being the first point of contact for those reaching out ‘planning a trip to Ireland’ and the many friendships that have emerged, the repeat and referenced clients over the years continue to resonate deeply for this enthusiastic and still avid traveller.
Born in England to emigrant parents, from early childhood Kay grew up at the edge of the Atlantic at Lamb’s Head near the coastal valley of Caherdaniel of County Kerry. Earlier careers in the finance and throughout the travel industry, Kay now oversees the critical logistics and administration of our work on the ground in Ireland. A keen golfer and walker and community activist, Kay’s provides the organisation behind many of the magical experiences our guests and guides share.
Naoise Ó Muircheartaigh
Liadh Ní Mhuircheartaigh
Liadh has been a world traveller all her life and has lived and worked in Europe, New Zealand, Central America and Asia and – and most recently with Outward Bound in western Canada before returning to Ireland to further her education in clinical phycology and to work with the family-business, Hidden Ireland Tours.
Exposed from childhood to the rich Gaelic cultural and natural history of her place and a range of outdoor skills, Liadh’s introduction to guiding began with leading ‘day-trips’ into the spectacular hills familiar to her since childhood around her home and her involvement in various team-building events, she co-leads a handful of Wilderness Travel cultural hiking trips on the island of Ireland with her father, brother and others where her ‘Gen Z’ views are always interesting for visitors.
In addition to Liadh’s availability as a day-guide and and leading private trips with Hidden Ireland Tours, for her Wilderness Travel trips – and some testimonials, see; www.wildernesstravel.com/leaders/liadh-ni-muircheartaigh/
Éanna’s usual day-job is a lawyer working from his office in Killarney in County Kerry. Beyond, this community activist and keen sportsman with his eclectic range of interests that includes a scholarly knowledge of Irish and world history and a deep connection to the natural and cultural history of his homeplace at the foothills of the McGillycuddy Reeks, Éanna loves to share his place with others when time allows. For those blessed to share a walk or hike with him, it is always a vacation highlight.
Vinny is a native of Dublin who was first introduced to the incredible marine and birdlife of coastal County Kerry by his parents, powerful childhood experiences that sowed the seeds of a lifelong interest. Early careers in the capital in areas of IT and in publishing in punctuated extensive sub-aqua diving expeditions around the world came prior to Vinny following his heart and moving fulltime to live with his family at Caherdaniel, a spectacular valley that opens to Atlantic in the southwestern corner of Ireland on what is referred to The Ring of Kerry. From here Vinny retains an IT connection with involvement in App-design while now primarily working as a nature photographer and filmmaker recording the fascinating natural history of the region on which he is a regular media-contributor.
A warm passionate – and extremely knowledgeable guide whose inner joy is enlivened by sharing his incredible world, 2022 will see the launch a major book on the natural history of his place that is already heralded as a powerful contribution to Ireland’s heritage. .
Andrew grew up in England into a family with wide-spread international connections. The son of an Irish mother from County Waterford, Andrew always held strong connections to Ireland before coming to settle in County Cork, at the head of Bantry Bay in the region known as West Cork where he and his local wife own and run Manning’s Food Emporium, a remarkable local institution that was a critical midwife to the extraordinary slow food culture that developed in the region in the 1970’s/’80’s.
A passionate and deeply knowledgeable foodie, Andrew loves to take time from his busy schedule when possible, to wander with small groups of interested guests through the incredible landscapes of the Mizen, Sheeps Head and Beara Peninsula, meeting producer-friends, chatting – and tasting in what is a rare and very special insight into contemporary Ireland’s fine-food culture.
Michael was born and raised in Clifden; the unofficial capital of the region known as Connemara in western County Galway. A renowned archaeologist and historian who has worked extensively across the world, Michael’s greatest passion is for landscape and extraordinary human history of Ireland, in particular the incredible regions around Galway Bay. A great communicator with widespread lecture, radio and television experience, time spent wandering through Connemara with Michael is among the very richest experiences possible in Ireland.
Stephan grew up in the French alpine city of Grenoble where, since childhood, the Alps beckoned this curious explorer whose work as a cultural hiking guide and ski instructor/guide has earned him an impressive reputation. Over the years, Stephan has led special bespoke Hidden Ireland trips in his native France and with strong links to Ireland, to Connemara and the Aran Islands through matrilineal descent, he has been leading small groups along Ireland’s Atlantic seaboard region where his passion for the land, its history and culture, added to his humour bring joy to all who share in it.
For an insight into Stephan the guide, click here >>
Pádraig was born and raised in the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking) region near the western end of the Dingle Peninsula of County Kerry before leaving to pursue a career in the Irish police service (the Garda Síochána). A keen skier, walker, and cyclist, today Padraig enjoys leading small groups on sojourns on foot or by bike through the landscapes of the southwest.
Kevin as born and raised in Killarney at the edge of its majestic National Park for which he has been a lifelong advocate. A respected community and environmental activist, Kevin and his wife Judy run a publishing business (Kerry Gems), but he enjoys taking time out to share the Park and its environs on foot.
Enda hails from Killarney in County Kerry. He is a dedicated sportsman who works and studies in fields of coaching and conditioning while pursuing his own mountain-running and surfing. A thoughtful guide, Enda enjoys sharing his special places around Kerry, hiking or running Enda with individuals and small group.
John comes from the foothills of the McGillicuddy Reeks in County Kerry from where he set out on his first career in the construction industry during Ireland’s ‘Celtic Tiger’ years before developing a love of the mountains at his doorstep. A dedicated guide, John is great companion on hikes, climbs or paddles.
From Ireland, call us on: +353 87 221 4002 From USA & Rest of the World, call us on: +1 251 751 3087
or request a callback >>
“Con, thank you so much for leading our Irish tour and sharing the great history of Ireland. It’s a wonderful experience to see and hear someone who is so passionate about their Country as you are. Thank you for a fantastic experience.”
RUTH & DAVID HAYES, OREGON, USA