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    Denis Beakey

    Denis Beakey

    Positive | Passionate | Listener

    Mini Bio

    Sometimes the present can tell us a lot about the past, if you look! And so, on the wheel of life I now have more time to travel, have fun, explore and learn. I can still feel the childish excitement of seeing something new or making connections which help my understanding of the world. That is probably key to my own life’s path, and it hasn’t stopped yet.

    Born in Dublin in the 1960s, we had the freedom of the city and nearby country to roam at will, and thus the seeds of adventure were born. Studies in Dublin and the UK were mixed with hill walking and climbing trips home and abroad as time and opportunity allowed. Family life and a career in Criminology followed. Life is a broad church so time was always made available to explore and take on new challenges. I do like to read too.

    Working for Wilderness Ireland and showing people the Ireland I have come to know and understand is a natural extension of my life.

    Favourite Place to Play

    The Burren on the west coast of Ireland with its cliffs, hills, geology, history, flora and Atlantic waves. A joy. Oh, and anywhere in the hills and forests of Ireland that I can experience a trail run.

    Not a lot of People Know This

    I have been captivated by Art. No doubt, it will be an enduring interest.

    Qualifications Read More

    Mountain Leader and REC 3.

    Biggest Adventure Read More

    I enjoy mountain experiences of any type, and they don’t all have to be adrenaline rushed. However, I have had some epic trips, including a Cairngorm plateau traverse to escape a raging winter blizzard off a climbing route. There was also an unplanned overnight on the Hornli Ridge on the Matterhorn, which we had just climbed, to assist another party.
    My current project involves hiking all of Scotland’s Munros to explore some of the less well-known mountains there. It’s more of an experience than a bucket list thing, to be honest.

    Specialist Subject Read More

    Geology, mountain flora, history, archaeology, and our psychological, social and economic interplay with wild places.

    What Fellow Travellers Say About Denis

    Denis, you over delivered from the start. Thank you! We so appreciated getting picked up at the rail station in Dublin when our train was cancelled due to the weather. Our conversations that day set the tone for a wonderful week. We appreciate how you took care of our fellow traveler when he needed help and trusted us to take care of ourselves on the way back down the mountain.

    You demonstrated a depth of knowledge on many topics - hiking, history, current events, to name a few. In addition, you provided us with helpful information that will inform our planning for future trips. We appreciate you gentle wisdom and generosity of spirit.

    On the whole, our trip was satisfying to the mind, body and soul. A+

    Paula Martelli
    Hiking - The Northern Coast
    Reviewed on 22/10/2025

    Denis is the best! He is so generous with his time and good nature, a pleasure to walk with, learn from, and listen to. Time and time again during the week, my husband and I (and the rest of our group), said to each other: "Can you believe how lucky we are to have Denis?" An expert mountain climber and an even better person.

    Susan Woessner
    Hiking - The Kerry Mountains
    Reviewed on 30/09/2025

    Denis was absolutely amazing! He was so knowledgeable and skilled yet humble, kind, (not only to his group but with anyone he encountered), caring (he recognized needs that were not even voiced, always knew where everyone was, and talked and walked with each of us throughout the trip), patient, and calmly confident in a way that gave me confidence. We were in the wilderness but safe. Everything was timely but never rushed. We were always given just the right amout of information at just the right time. Denis also became our personal encyclopedia for all things Ireland, wilderness, and beyond. I really enjoyed getting to know him and couldn't have dreamed of a better guide.

    Celeste Rhodes
    Hiking - The Kerry Mountains
    Reviewed on 29/09/2025

    As previously noted, Denis gave me helpful tips for hiking and made sure he spent time hiking with each of us individually. I also liked that when the weather impacted a scheduled hike, he moved hikes around so we could still do that hike and the one scheduled for that day.

    Kerry Winters
    Hiking - The Northern Coast
    Reviewed on 19/08/2025

    Denis and Katie were absolutely the best! They complemented each other well, were organized, punctual, supportive, fun and really made the trip fantastic.

    Deborah Thornton
    E-bike - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 04/08/2025

    Denis and Katie were excellent guides. Professional, knowledgeable and friendly. They made the trip.

    Jill Bobek
    E-bike - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 31/07/2025

    Wonderful

    Bob Gracey
    E-bike - Ireland's West Coast
    Reviewed on 28/07/2025

    Dennis was outstanding. He enriched our wanderings with his knowledge of the history, geology and flora that left us with a lasting impression of the landscapes
    we were travelling through.

    Edward Mills
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 07/07/2025

    Again, our guide Dennis made the trip very enjoyable and informative.

    Mary Mills
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 06/07/2025

    Denis was great! Always accommodating and very knowledgeable about the area and the history.

    Rick Tigchon
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 13/05/2025

    I couldn’t imagine a better guide. Dennis was thoughtful and so knowledgeable.

    Cheryl Shearer
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 02/05/2025

    Again, as one of the city guides commented, “Denis is a legend.“ A reputation well reserved. 10 stars out of five. We would go on another tour with him in a heartbeat.

    Tobin Shearer
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 02/05/2025

    Dennis was a wonderful guide. I enjoyed his knowledge of the areas and kind heart. The city guides in Derry and Galway were both very good.

    Dianne Bennett
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 02/05/2025

    Denis was truly exceptional. His knowledge of the areas with regard to habitats and history made the trip remarkable. Denis paced our group perfectly which is hard to do when you have a diverse group with regard to hiking abilities. It's difficult to make the more active hiker not feel restricted while not pushing too hard on those who were not as prepared. He did a fantastic job with kindness and caring and fun.

    Lorise Gahring
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 10/10/2024

    Denis made this trip a true experience not to be forgotten. We visited a remarkable range of very diverse sites ranging from the scenic to pre-historic to those of modern significance. Each was accompanied by his insights and truly enjoyable narratives. He also seamlessly balanced a group whose skills and levels of preparation varied widely. He is a real pro!

    Scott Rogers
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 10/10/2024

    Great encouragement and service above and beyond when my boots failed. My only criticism was not reading the group on the very cold day where we hiked on a very rough, rocky road in the wind to see structures we already had seen before.

    Anne Morisseau
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 02/10/2024

    Denis was outstanding!

    Scott Rogers
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 01/10/2024

    What can I say we really appreciated our Guide, Denis, whose vast knowledge, experience and evident pleasure in sharing Ireland with us made the trip truly special. Denis went out of his way to find out the group's interest and adjusted the itinerary accordingly.

    Alison Joly
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 28/09/2024

    Denis was very patient and kind and went above and beyond when my wife’s boots malfunctioned.

    Robert Stewart
    Deluxe Hiking - Highlights of Ireland
    Reviewed on 27/09/2024

    Our guide was excellent and made the trip especially memorable. His wide range of knowledge was impressive. He taught all day long on every subject imaginable. His kindness, patience and caring was truly impressive. I’m so grateful to him for making this trip so special

    Bonnie Judkins
    Hiking - The Dingle Way
    Reviewed on 29/04/2024

    Denis was absolutely brilliant. Really knowledgeable and so friendly and helpful. The couple of organisational problems we encountered he sorted out so quickly and smoothly that we were barely aware there was a problem.

    Lynn Evans
    Hiking - The Dingle Way
    Reviewed on 29/04/2024

    Denis was fantastic. He tried to accommodate the entire group. Not easy when you have different levels of hikers in a group. He sometimes allowed the faster hikers to go ahead so he could stay with the slower ones. One time half the group took a wrong turn, but he found us and herded us back! He found a laundry for us across from our hotel in Balleyvaghan after we fell in the mud along the Cliffs of Moher. He even gave me some tips on places to go, hike, and see in Scotland the following week. A very even keeled gentleman. Caroline was a joy to have along, even for half the week. She brought a different perspective to the hikes and had such a wonderful sense of humor. Our boat guide, Donal, was hysterical. We laughed our way across the lakes back to Ross Castle.

    Linda McFarland
    Hiking - Kerry & Clare
    Reviewed on 02/10/2023

    Denis is a wonderful and accommodating guide. His well-rounded knowledge of Ireland, its history and the landscapes that we were experiencing was especially appreciated. There was hardly a question that he wasn't able to answer. In our group, which was made difficult by varying hiking abilities, Denis want out of his way to provide a positive experience for all of us. He is a valuable asset to WI and if I were traveling again in Ireland I would definitely ask for Denis!

    Gary Sanborn
    Hiking - Kerry & Clare
    Reviewed on 25/09/2023

    My guide, Denis, could not have been more kind and caring about everyone in our group. His knowledge about Ireland’s history, current affairs, folklore was limitless. Whatever your company pays this gentleman for his services is not enough.

    Kathy Conroy
    Hiking - Kerry & Clare
    Reviewed on 25/09/2023

    Dennis was 100%, see my previous comments

    Ryan Reynolds
    Private Hiking the Causeway Coastal Route and Donegal
    Reviewed on 18/09/2023

    Denise is outstanding. He made us feel like family.

    Angela Vento
    23WITM Tailor Made Trip
    Reviewed on 04/09/2023

    Denis beaky is unparalleled. As I mentioned before, he is bright, informed, accommodating, flexible, knowledgeable, and just a great person. Everybody loved him. He made the trip fantastic. He was a highlight of our trip.

    Susan Benenati
    23WITM Tailor Made Trip
    Reviewed on 04/09/2023

    Dennis…you made our 50 th so special.
    Thanks for being so patient with our large and crazy group.
    Your knowledge and enthusiasm was so appreciated .
    Thanks again and hope to see you in New York!

    Ines O’Connor
    23WITM Tailor Made Trip
    Reviewed on 10/08/2023

    Denis was absolutely amazing and we were all so happy to have him.

    Brian O'Connor
    23WITM Tailor Made Trip
    Reviewed on 08/08/2023

    See earlier comment - Denis was wonderful!

    Mary Doug Brown
    Private Hiking and Island Hopping Cork and Kerry
    Reviewed on 23/06/2023

    One of the best guides we've ever had! Truly splendid.

    Connor Jordan
    23WITM Tailor Made Trip
    Reviewed on 07/06/2023

    Denis was one of the best guides we have ever had. Patient and very knowledgable on a wide vareity of subjects, knew how to keep us moving and set the pace as well as hang back and help those who needed some extra support. Great gentlemen.

    Peter Sternberg
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 01/06/2023

    Dennis was one of the best ever.

    Elizabeth Haran
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 31/05/2023

    Dennis was the best!

    Sharon Abbott
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 31/05/2023

    Dennis is a wonderful guide- knowledgeable, friendly, helpful- I can’t speak highly enough of how enjoyable he made our hiking experience!

    Susan Shearing
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 28/05/2023

    Extremely knowledgeable, personalized the trip to accommodate each group member, made the trip exceptional

    Sandra Strachan
    Hiking & Island Hopping - Cork & Kerry
    Reviewed on 22/05/2023

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