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    Maria O'Reilly

    Maria O’Reilly

    Fun | Excited | Considerate

    A Mini Bio

    Sunday drives, picnics and hiking as a girl guide opened up my love of being outdoors and having fun. Generally speaking whatever the weather, I enjoy spending time exploring and finding hidden gems off the beaten track.

    I love to travel and meet people and share experiences. I am energised by serendipity and going with the flow of life. I am having fun when making mixed media art, decoupage, photographing lichens, paddle boarding, sea swims and being in nature. I love to share these experiences with others and have fun.

    Favourite Place to Play

    Cycling, paddling or walking the Mayo coast – exploring the keeps and castles of Granuaile, Ireland’s infamous Pirate Queen who ruled the seas by Mayo and Galway in the 16th century. I love exploring Mayo’s Nephin Mountains and the beautiful inlets all around Newport and over to Achill Island. Romantic and wild!

    Not a Lot of People Know This

    I have been taught how to relax my thoughts and engage my Qi energy (lifeforce) for ultimate healing. A gift we all share!

    Experience / Education Read More
    • Lowland Leader
    • Remote Emergency First Aid – Level 3
    • Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching – University College Cork (UCC)
    • Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Leadership –
    • University College Cork (UCC) –
    • Foundation in Education – national College of Ireland Galway (NUIG)
    Travel/Biggest Adventures Read More

    I have done a number of fantastic multi-day hikes in Ireland including the Twelve Bens mountains in Connemara and summiting Ireland’s four highest peaks.

    Outside of Ireland, some of my most memorable trips include road trips through the US southwest states and Canada. I’ve hiked Mt Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, Inca Trail, and Mount Toubkal in Morocco.

    Favourite Activities Read More

    What makes me happy are activities such as hiking, paddle-boarding, making art, and photography – particularly the fascinating forms of lichens and rusted metal structures. Training for the Lowland Leader award opened up my love of solo hiking.

    Favourite Regions Read More

    When I can get away for a few days, I love to travel to the west of Ireland. It is a wild and rugged experience throughout the year. Over the past couple of years, I have found so much to do and amazing places to visit right on my doorstep in North County Dublin situated between the Mountains of Mourne as well as the Wicklow Mountains.

    I am drawn to the southwest coast of Crete and Portugal and find similarities in their landscapes and character to the west of Ireland.

    Adventurer's Stories about Maria

    I had a big smile on each time I talked to family in the States telling them about the day and where we had been. Ireland is a beautiful country….and the people we ran into were all very friendly. But I think what really made the trip was the care and thoughtfulness Maria took with our group. It was pretty much a family group…the two non family members were friends….and at time it was like herding turtles trying to get everyone in one place on time. Some of us had not seen each other for a bit….and visiting sometimes trumped the tour agenda. Maria handled it all with good humor and patience.

    Mary Anne Sobieraj
    Hiking - The Causeway Coastal Route & Donegal
    Reviewed on 15/08/2022

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