Meet the Authors

Annegret Walsh

Keen Walker from Germany

I am German, I was married to an Irishman for many years so I also lived and worked in Ireland for quite a while. I am still in love with Ireland and come here regularly, now bringing people over who also love it.

Ashley Hunter

Coaching and Development Manager - Canoe Association Northern Ireland

Ashley has been a keen paddler man and boy. Both his experience and role within the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland means he is perfectly placed to tell us all about canoeing and paddlesports in Northern Ireland.

Beverley Pierson

Marketing Officer

Beverley has been with Outdoor Recreation NI since 2005 and has a keen interest in all 4 legged friends, spending a lot of her time walking with her 8 stone dog (who is nearly the same size as her!) and riding horses over jumps or cross country. She also enjoys getting on her bike and exploring the trails and roads across NI.

Chris Armstrong

Marketing Officer

Chris joined Outdoor Recreation NI in 2009 and is the Marketing Officer for mountain biking across Northern Ireland. Chris loves anything on two wheels and is always keeping his eyes open for the next ‘Big Adventure' in the pipeline!

Chris Scott

Activity Tourism Manager (aka Big Chris)

Big Chris has worked with the marketing team since 2007 with responsibility for adventure activities and canoeing.
He has made it his personal mission to get as many people as possible out enjoying Northern Ireland's outdoors.
Having 'retired' from competitive sailing he is trying to find something new to fill the void. A recent convert to cycling he can be often found cycling very slowly around Northern Ireland's roads.

Chris Sidwells

Freelance Journalist

Chris Sidwells is an author, journalist, photographer and broadcaster; a writer of books, magazine and newspaper features on every aspect of cycling and fitness.

Christopher Somerville

Writer and Broadcaster

Christopher Somerville has spent 25 years writing and broadcasting about country walks (and tougher hikes), life in remote rural and island communities from Scotland to Crete by way of the Faroes, music-making in Irish pubs, festivals from Spain to Sweden, and the pleasure and delight of telling stories and weaving yarns.

Christopher's latest book, Walking in Ireland, brings together a comprehensive guide to the fifty most stunning walks in northern and southern Ireland - visit www.christophersomerville.co.uk for more information.

Claire Ferry

RSPB Senior Conservation Officer

Claire Ferry is Senior Conservation Officer at the RSPB in Northern Ireland. Her work includes planning policy, designated site safeguard and lobbying for improvements in environment legislation.

For her sabbatical after seven years working at the RSPB, Claire has chosen to walk 500 miles around Northern Ireland, visiting all RSPB reserves, to raise money for marine conservation and education programmes in three countries: Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Sri Lanka.

Part of the project is also to collect stories where the environment and wildlife have entered local myth and legend, or peoples’ personal stories of inspiration.

Claire Overend

Venture Outdoor Development Officer

Claire has been has been in the Outdoor Recreation NI team since 2010. As Development Officer for the Venture Outdoors Project she is responsible for creating opportunities for those from disabled, minority ethnic and socially disadvantaged communities to enjoy Northern Ireland's outdoors.

Claire is a keen mountain biker and snow sports enthusiast.

Conor McKinney

Ulster Wildlife Trust - Living Landscapes Manager

Conor works to conserve Northern Irelands key habitats and species by restoring, recreating and reconnecting key habitats. He also works to reconnect people to the landscapes surrounding them. He believes that healthy fully functioning landscapes can play a key role in making us a healthier, wealthier society.

He is a keen outdoor enthusiast and regularly treks and camps in the outdoors and plays a wide range of sports. He is also an avid barn owl and merlin enthusiast and undertakes raptor conservation work in any available free time.

Dan Lavery

Owner & Instructor at Long Line Surf School

Dan is the founder and owner of Long Line Surf School and was previously Junior Irish Longboard Champion. He is young but very knowledgeable in the sport and has been a surf coach for many years now as well as being a beach lifeguard on the North Coast for 3 years.

Ed McCann

Cyclist and IT Trainer

Ed works as an IT Trainer in Belfast and is also a keen cyclist, having spent the last 20 years in the activity he also used to race for West Down Wheelers.

Emma McCann

Keen Hill Walker and Fundraiser

Emma McCann took to hiking relatively recently when she decided to prepare for a charityTrek to Peru. From then on in, she was hooked. Using her skills gained in advertising and sales, she has become a seasoned fundraiser for various charities including, the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, Cancer Focus NI and was the first female member and subsequent Female President of Cookstown & Magherafelt Lions Club. Emma likes nothing more than getting into the Sperrin Mountains where she lives with her husband John and considers herself so lucky to live in one of the walking gems of Ireland. Emma and John enjoy walking in Europe and hope to continue this for years to come.

Ian Kelly

Chairman of Glenwalk Hillwalking Club

Ian lives in Celbridge (22km west of Dublin) and is the current Chairman of Glenwalk Hillwalking Club.

This large sociable club, which was established in 2002, has a wide range of membership ranging from young adults to walkers in thier 50's and is always welcoming new members. Visit www.glenwalk.com for more information.

Kieron Gribbon

Outdoor Writer & Photographer

Kieron Gribbon is a published outdoor writer & photographer based in Northern Ireland. He has been a member of the Outdoor Writers & Photographers Guild since May 2010, and is the author of Ireland's County High Points - A Walking Guide (published in 2012 by The Collins Press). His writing and photography has also appeared in several outdoor magazines, including Country Walking, Trail and BBC's Countryfile.

Visit www.kierongribbon.com to find out more about Kieron and his work. You can also follow him at www.facebook.com/kierongribbon and www.twitter.com/kierongribbon.

Lucy Carter

Outdoor Shop

Lucy is a copywriter for the Outdoor Shop. Established in 1981, The Outdoor Shop is based in Stacey Bushes on the North West tip of Milton Keynes. Retailing through both a high street shop and via the Internet, they are one of the countries leading independent retailers of technical outdoor clothing and equipment.

Mandy Collie

Director at Forme Coaching

Mandy is keen cyclist and is also a Director at Forme Coaching, a professional coaching service for cyclists.

Mark Taylor

Editor-in-Chief

Mark writes for Bikes.org.uk on a wide range of cycling topics. Bikes.org.uk is a bike review site dedicated to all things to do with bikes, including mountain bikes, road bikes, bmx bikes and lots more.

Mary Kelly

Proprietor of Pedal Right

Mary is the proprietor of Pedal Right, a cycling school which teaches children and adults how to cycle safely. She is a mother and a grandmother who always had an interest in cycling. A few years ago she was made redundant and had the opportunity to train as a cycling instructor. Since then she has been travelling around the North West of Ireland working mainly in schools teaching children how to cycle safely.

She also spends alot of her time walking with her miniature Jack Russell around the lovely beaches in Buncrana and the surrounding countryside.

Michael Anderson

Feature Writer

Michael Anderson is a feature writer with a degree in Journalism. Michael`s interests include cycling, hiking and other outdoor pursuits. He writes regularly for a range of blogs and news websites.

Mickey Regan

Mountain Biker

I am a bit of a Mountain bike fanatic. I ride most types of Mountain biking from XC, DH to All Mountain epics. I ride mainly for the enjoyment of the sport. Racing only occassionaly to keep me on my toes. For me it doesn't mater if I am ridding off the side of a Rocky Mountain, up to the hubs in mud or on a trail centre all weather surface. Being happy on the mountain bikes in the open air is what it is all about.

Nathan Kingerlee

Outdoors Professional

Nathan Kingerlee runs an adventure and outdoor training company, Outdoors Ireland, based in Killarney, Kerry. Specialising in mountaineering, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing and team challenges, Outdoors Ireland runs a combination of training courses, team building and adventure breaks.

Visit www.outdoorsireland.com for more information.

Nick Wolsey

Keen Canoeist & Volunteer Canoe Ranger

By day Nick Wolsey is a technical instructor with Shorts/Bombardier which involves a lot of worldwide travel. As such he likes to spend his spare leisure time enjoying canoeing at home in Ireland.

Nick has almost completed a self made quest to land on every island on Strangford Lough. This quest has developed further to paddle around all of the islands on Lough Erne.

Nick is also a Volunteer Canoe Ranger assisting CanoeNI.com regularly inspect the canoe trails.

Paul McArthur

A trail runner, orienteer, adventure racer, mountain biker, semi-retired climber and blogger.

Paul O'Connor

Online Outdoor Pursuits Magazine Editor

Paul O'Connor runs the Online Outdoor Pursuits magazine, Walking and Hiking Ireland. Paul is a keen hill-walker and is a regular visitor to the Mourne Mountains but also enjoys walking the other ranges throughout Ireland.

To check out more articles by Paul visit www.walkingandhikingireland.com

Pauline Mc Gurk

Public Relations Officer with North West Mountain Rescue Team, Hill walker & cyclist

Pauline started hill walking in 2004 and has trekked in the Himalayas & Vietnam. She is also a keen cyclist having cycled over the Andes from Argentina to Chile and in Brazil.

Pauline became a volunteer with the North West Mountain Rescue team 4 years ago and enjoys the outdoors in all weathers. When she's not volunteering she enjoys walking and skiing in Switzerland & Austria.

Robbie

Proud Dad in a keen scottish canoeing family.

Robbie is a keen canoeist from Scotland.

He loves nothing more than paddling with his wife and two young sons.

They started canoeing as a family in Spring 2008 and took their first canoeing trip to Northern Ireland during Easter 2010.

Ross Millar

Chairperson of Mountaineering Ireland

A keen hill walker since his teens and his days in the Boy Scouts Ross Millar is current chairperson of the Mountaineering Ireland board. When he’s not out walking he is working as the Director of a ‘recreation planning’ company and is also a voluntary Director of Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland.

Sally Thomas

Tredz

Sally is a copywriter for Tredz Bikes and is based in South Wales. She is originally from Birmingham but has been enjoying living near the fantastic beaches and countryside of South Wales for 8 years. She plays in the Swansea Netball League and keeps backache at bay with Pilates. Sally loves getting out on her bike accompanied by her toddler Arthur on the back!

Sarah Nelson

Marketing Executive

Sarah joined the marketing team in the Summer of 2011. Despite having studied in St Andrews, Scotland for the past four years she still can't hit a golf ball however enjoys walks in the Mournes and adventures on the water.

Sean Mullan

Walking Guide and Owner of Walk Talk Ireland

Sean runs Walk Talk Ireland www.walktalkireland.com bringing walkers to the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast and then on to Donegal.

Tom Cooper

Author of Cycle Touring in Ireland

Tom has worked as a journalist and editor for newspapers in both England and Australia. When he decided to explore Ireland by bike, he couldn’t find the guidebook he wanted. So he set out to write 'Cycle Touring in Ireland' to help others enjoy cycle touring as much as he does.