To Contact mein host – Peter O’Connor +353 (0)86 6017176
Email:
Travel Contact………………….. Peter@peterstours.ie
Experience Medieval Archery: …… sigtrygg.silkbeard@gmail.com
Glenribbeen Music: ……………………….. pfiddle@gmail.com
Peter comes from a musical family in Dundalk with background in traditional Irish music and has travelled a lot over his musical career and dealt with many people on his travels, and in his prior businesses on the mainland.
Holder of a Certificate in Tourism Business Practice and also Tourism Learning Network.
He has extensive experience in dealing with people from his time as trainee manager in The Imperial Hotel, Dundalk, later running O’Connor Decorating, Amsterdam/Haarlem, and then running Glenribbeen Eco Lodge, Lismore, Waterford; the only tourist entity in southern Ireland to be awarded Europe’s top prize of the E.U. Flower Award for Eco-Tourism as well as other international awards, see below.
2015 Long-listed for: Irish Tourism Responsible Tourism Award.
2014 Green Innovation & Future Technology award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Tourism.
2013: Nominated for PRO work for the KND Vee (Healthy & Active Community).
2011: Sponsored by Fáilte Ireland for degree course in SME at WIT, following other awards.
2010: E.U. Flower Award for Eco-Tourism (Glenribbeen Eco Lodge, Lismore, Co Waterford)
2010: Finalist Fáilte Ireland Tourism Business Challenge
Peter has worked in film, TV and radio programmes from the age of 9 mostly as musician, accent-coach and children’s storyteller on Dutch and Irish National TV and radio. He has travelled extensively and can find his way around in most European states and languages. A total of 9 All Ireland medals in music (mostly) and sport.
Peter currently coaches’ medieval archery, and Viking axe-throwing, with ‘Experience Medieval Archery’ with storytelling to bring history to life and has had a season in Waterford’s Museum of Medieval Treasures 2015 as well as Summerval and Winterval in 2016/7 as well as independent gigs in hotels and garden parties around the Sunny South East of Ireland, Netherlands and Germany. It was during a season working in Waterford’s Museum of Medieval Treasures (coaching medieval archery) Peter was approached by tour guides that suggested he should “be on the buses” (as a guide), he took a few tours as offered by these guides and loved the experiences and got great reviews. Now completed the Irish National Tour Guide Management course 6N20230 – Peter is currently studying CELTA to teach English as a second language to add to his T.E.F.L. Diploma.
In 2017 Peter went to an E.F training workshop week in London. (Lucerne based Education First travel company aimed at bringing teenagers around the world for educational purposes) and was offered tours and have worked as guide with them as contract Tour Director and Transfer Tour Director since. As well as working for Hotels & More, and with G2, WiiYa International Ltd, and also as Excursions Ireland as day-guide to cruise ships coming to Ireland. Also, as tour-director for LIDL Tours Europe, European Cruise Service and Deblauwevogel, as Dutch-language tour guide. 2020 bookings included a Scottish tour, Edinburgh Fringe (as actor) and several European tours including Oberammagou as well as Irish spirituality, and music tours.
Peter has worked as coach driver for Hallaghan’s of Cappoquin, and Hidden Dublin Tours, EITravel, and other companies as driver guide as (self-employed) contractor.
Entertaining and travel have always been a passion and added to that is a deep commitment to Irish heritage and culture. Fishing, dingy sailing and canoeing are among his favourite hobbies.
Registered as pre-hospital emergency-care community volunteer; advanced cardiac-first-response, trained in CPR & defibrillation since 2013, Peter has also trained as a Manual Handling Instructor. Peter has completed the Fáilte Ireland course for welcoming Chinese tourists – “China Ready”.
Fluent in English, ‘near-native’ Dutch, and a solid working knowledge of Irish and German.