Ciaran Kinney
Passionate | Excited | Committed
Passionate | Excited | Committed
I am from Ballycastle on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. I have studied in Ireland, Portugal and the United States of America. I have worked and climbed throughout the UK and have international work and mountaineering experience in the United State of America, Europe, North Africa, South East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and Australia. I work as a teacher, mountaineering instructor and trainer in outdoor first aid and also with the Coastguard on the North Coast in cliff, search and water rescue. When I am not working, I am usually found climbing at Fairhead, running on the beach or spending time with my family.
My favourite place to play is Fairhead in County Antrim. The quality of climbing and the beauty of the scenery make it one of the most spectacular places to spend time in. The views of Rathlin Island and the Western Isles of Scotland are stunning at any time of year.
Despite all my outdoor qualifications I am also a trained reflexologist and aromatherapist.
“I enjoy learning about and meeting people from different countriesand cultures and see work with Wilderness Ireland as a way to further engage in that passion and show travellers around Ireland.”
I am a highly qualified and experienced outdoor instructor and enthusiast with over twenty-five years working in instruction and education. I have extensive international travel and expedition experience in Nepal, Pakistan, North Africa, the Alps, and throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. I have proven ability to work as part of a team with a number of organisations at home and abroad and I have over twenty years working in emergency care with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency as a Rescue Technician and regularly work with Mountain Rescue and other emergency services. I have travelled extensively in South East Asia, the Mid West and Southern United States and the Indian Subcontinent. I enjoy learning about and meeting people from different countries and cultures and see work with Wilderness Ireland as a way to further engage in that passion and show travellers around Ireland.
I have been very fortunate to travel to many amazing countries and spend time there getting to know people, cultures and customs. I completed my Masters Degree at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and lived in Louisiana for a number of years where I enjoyed good southern hospitality, food and music. I was fortunate to meet many amazing people during my time there. I then went to work with a Non-Governmental Organisation in Bangladesh for a year which was an experience that has certainly shaped me today. After leaving Bangladesh I moved to Thailand and lived there for a number of years working in environmental education and travelling throughout the country. I then moved to Nepal and spent time working for a number of NGO’s in Kathmandu and the Solu Khumbu whilst also climbing and mountaineering. I helped lead several expeditions to Pakistan and even Afghanistan before moving on to Japan and then home. Since I have been home I have settled on the North Coast to raise a family – probably the biggest adventure yet!
We had a great time in Ireland and thoroughly enjoyed hiking the Dingle Peninsula.
Michael Montoya
Hiking - Dingle Way
Reviewed on 09/10/2021
Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 1,415 reviews
Read More ReviewsYou'll be in good company on a Wilderness Ireland Trip. Some of the biggest and best known names in the business have recommended us.
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