Photos & Video From Our Mountain Skills 1 In The Kerry Mountains Over The Past Weekend. The MS1 Course Was Run By Kilian Kelly & Nathan Kingerlee, With A Small Group Of Participants & Cold Dry Weather - Perfect Hill Walking Conditions!
Monday 23 January 2012
Mountain Skills 1 In Kerry Mountains
Photos & Video From Our Mountain Skills 1 In The Kerry Mountains Over The Past Weekend. The MS1 Course Was Run By Kilian Kelly & Nathan Kingerlee, With A Small Group Of Participants & Cold Dry Weather - Perfect Hill Walking Conditions!
Friday 13 January 2012
Expanding To Galway - Step 5
I have had little information to give out recently about progress towards having our Galway base operational. Things have been ticking over quietly in the background. I have also been caught up in a flurry of Kerry work, focusing on business planning, advertising planning, an exciting couple of days snow and ice climbing, plus some time off.
There has been constant behind the scenes planning (and amending plans) around having both a Kerry and Galway base. By this time next month I will be living in Galway, just outside Kinvara; although still spending a lot of time back in Killarney on the lakes and mountains.
We have recruited a fantastic instructor – Kilian Kelly – to run our Kerry operation, especially our guided kayak trips and kayak training courses. I was in college with Kilian years ago. In more recent years he assessed me on one of my kayak instructor assessments. He is one of the best instructors I have met or trained under, so I am really excited to have the opportunity to work alongside him. Kilian is going to bring a lot to the quality and value of what we offer, and he will be assisted by our current fantastic team of instructors.
We have also recruited an excellent freelance instructor and really nice guy – Henry – to assist in Galway; although it is a little hard to know at the moment exactly how busy or quiet our first summer season in Galway will be...
Like I mentioned a couple of months ago, we have run our first Galway Mountain Skills 1 and have a series of Mountain Skills 1 and Mountain Skills 2 Courses scheduled for Galway over the coming months. We are running some of our Learn To Lead Climb Courses in the Burren in Feb/Mar; followed by a Kayak Skills Course in May. Apart from these training courses, we will be focusing on three main products over the summer season; Guided Sea Kayak Tours Of Kinvara Bay, Galway Bay Sunset Kayak Tours and Galway City & Harbour Sea Kayak Tours.
By the end of Jan I need to have one, possibly two, storage trailers in the pipeline – this is currently our latest thought in terms of efficient storage of equipment. I need to have the office successfully moved into our Galway base and most importantly I need to have some great CDs for all of the driving I will be doing between Killarney and Kinvara!
A couple of other changes have happened recently. Ruth who ran the office with me (and in fact worked part-time with me since she was in transition year), will be doing less and less work as she recently qualified as a primary teacher and her teaching work is taking up more and more of her time. I will be sad to see Ruth leave, especially as she knows more about certain aspects of Outdoors Ireland than I do! Happily Aileen, who has a pretty amazing business background, will be stepping in to take on Ruth’s role, plus a whole lot more. With Aileen’s yoga business background also, we hope to run some Galway Yoga & Kayaking Workshops over the spring, with a morning’s Iyengar Yoga followed by a quick walk to Kinvara Bay for a relaxing afternoon’s sea kayak through the islands and inlets...
The other change is that Ferghal O Grady; again who has worked with me since the early days of Outdoors Ireland; has moved for the time being to Australia to follow another career. Ferghal always did an awesome job outdoors and put people quickly at ease, so we will miss him... Hopefully no more changes or losses for the time being!
Click Here To See Our Up To Date Website Blog
Nathan
There has been constant behind the scenes planning (and amending plans) around having both a Kerry and Galway base. By this time next month I will be living in Galway, just outside Kinvara; although still spending a lot of time back in Killarney on the lakes and mountains.
We have recruited a fantastic instructor – Kilian Kelly – to run our Kerry operation, especially our guided kayak trips and kayak training courses. I was in college with Kilian years ago. In more recent years he assessed me on one of my kayak instructor assessments. He is one of the best instructors I have met or trained under, so I am really excited to have the opportunity to work alongside him. Kilian is going to bring a lot to the quality and value of what we offer, and he will be assisted by our current fantastic team of instructors.
We have also recruited an excellent freelance instructor and really nice guy – Henry – to assist in Galway; although it is a little hard to know at the moment exactly how busy or quiet our first summer season in Galway will be...
Like I mentioned a couple of months ago, we have run our first Galway Mountain Skills 1 and have a series of Mountain Skills 1 and Mountain Skills 2 Courses scheduled for Galway over the coming months. We are running some of our Learn To Lead Climb Courses in the Burren in Feb/Mar; followed by a Kayak Skills Course in May. Apart from these training courses, we will be focusing on three main products over the summer season; Guided Sea Kayak Tours Of Kinvara Bay, Galway Bay Sunset Kayak Tours and Galway City & Harbour Sea Kayak Tours.
By the end of Jan I need to have one, possibly two, storage trailers in the pipeline – this is currently our latest thought in terms of efficient storage of equipment. I need to have the office successfully moved into our Galway base and most importantly I need to have some great CDs for all of the driving I will be doing between Killarney and Kinvara!
A couple of other changes have happened recently. Ruth who ran the office with me (and in fact worked part-time with me since she was in transition year), will be doing less and less work as she recently qualified as a primary teacher and her teaching work is taking up more and more of her time. I will be sad to see Ruth leave, especially as she knows more about certain aspects of Outdoors Ireland than I do! Happily Aileen, who has a pretty amazing business background, will be stepping in to take on Ruth’s role, plus a whole lot more. With Aileen’s yoga business background also, we hope to run some Galway Yoga & Kayaking Workshops over the spring, with a morning’s Iyengar Yoga followed by a quick walk to Kinvara Bay for a relaxing afternoon’s sea kayak through the islands and inlets...
The other change is that Ferghal O Grady; again who has worked with me since the early days of Outdoors Ireland; has moved for the time being to Australia to follow another career. Ferghal always did an awesome job outdoors and put people quickly at ease, so we will miss him... Hopefully no more changes or losses for the time being!
Click Here To See Our Up To Date Website Blog
Nathan
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Expanding To Galway - Step 4
Our first Galway Mountain Skills 1 Course ran last weekend, based from Kinvarra. The Burren landscape is an amazing place to walk and work, and our locations for each day of the Mountain Skills 1 were ideal, with minimal driving time to each start point. The hill training locations work better and have more features then I could have possible hoped for.
Mountain Skills 2 will also work well here from what I can see. I spent the day before the course calling into the farmers who own the hills and access points and they were all wonderfully welcoming and friendly. Our next MS1 in Galway is 25th & 26th Feb, with our next MS2 in Galway on 10th & 11th Nov.
I explored a superb lake near Kinvarra which is littered with islands, ruined churches and castle towers and has exciting potential for the future in terms of night kayak tours, cultural/historical kayaking and corporate challenge days or corporate team building.
As this property is privately owned, plus the fact it's a divergence from my initial Galway expansion plan, this product will be put on the back-burner for the time being, but it will be something I'll look at in about a year's time.
Our Galway City Kayak Tour which I explored thoroughly was a little below expectations, as access to the city canals and impressive working docks is impossible. The tidal and river effects are substantial and I have some more work to do to find a suitable and professional meeting/access point for launching our kayaks; however despite all this I believe I can still put together a really good city kayak tour, which will explore a little of the docks, possibly paddle part-way into Galway City (tide permitting), paddle out to an abandoned lighthouse on Mutton Island near Salthill and possibly take in one other island, which has a beautiful grassy shoreline and a ruined 19th century watch-tower...
Our Galway Bay Kayak Tour and Galway Sunset Kayak Tour will specifically be based from Kinvarra Bay and this trip, when I explored it, was far above my expectations. I'm confident I can run a superb guided kayak tour of Kinvarra Bay, with it's white rocky shoreline, dotted with cattle and horses, it's many, many islands, an ancient and intact castle, the busy boating village of Kinvarra and the abundant wildlife - especially curious seals!
The next step is to complete a risk assessment of our operating areas, partially to gain county council permissions. This Friday we are interviewing four candidates for the Kerry instructor position. I also need to meet the Galway Harbour Master who I'm finding it hard to get hold of, plus find a suitable launching spot for our city kayaking - which our participants will be able to find easily...
Thursday 24 November 2011
Mountain Skills 2012: Kerry, Galway, Wicklow
Kerry Mountain Skills 1 Dates:
21st & 22nd Jan
24th & 25th Mar
22nd & 23rd Sep
15th & 16th Dec
Galway Mountain Skills 1 Dates:
10th & 11th Dec 2011
25th & 26th Feb
21st & 22nd Apr
22nd & 23rd Sep
27th & 28th Oct
24th & 25th Nov
Wicklow Mountain Skills 1 Dates:
21st & 22nd Jan
21st & 22nd Apr
27th & 28th Oct
15th & 16th Dec
Price: €155 Per Person
Day 1: 930am - 6pm
Day 2: 930am - 430pm
Mountaineering Ireland Recognition
Beginners Welcome
Kerry Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
3rd & 4th Dec 2011
10th & 11th Mar
13th & 14th Oct
Galway Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
10th & 11th Nov
8th & 9th Dec
Wicklow Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
11th & 12th Feb
10th & 11th Nov
8th & 9th Dec
Price: €155 Per Person
Day 1: 930am - 930pm
Day 2: 930am - 430pm
Mountaineering Ireland Recognition
Kerry Mountain Skills Promo Dates:
28th Jan
29th Sept
Wicklow Mountain Skills Promo Dates:
28th Jan
29th Sept
Promotional Price: €30 Per Person
10am - 5pm
Pre Booking Essential
Hiking Boots Provided
Beginners Welcome
To Book Or For More Details Contact:
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63
info@outdoorsireland.com
21st & 22nd Jan
24th & 25th Mar
22nd & 23rd Sep
15th & 16th Dec
Galway Mountain Skills 1 Dates:
10th & 11th Dec 2011
25th & 26th Feb
21st & 22nd Apr
22nd & 23rd Sep
27th & 28th Oct
24th & 25th Nov
Wicklow Mountain Skills 1 Dates:
21st & 22nd Jan
21st & 22nd Apr
27th & 28th Oct
15th & 16th Dec
Price: €155 Per Person
Day 1: 930am - 6pm
Day 2: 930am - 430pm
Mountaineering Ireland Recognition
Beginners Welcome
Kerry Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
3rd & 4th Dec 2011
10th & 11th Mar
13th & 14th Oct
Galway Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
10th & 11th Nov
8th & 9th Dec
Wicklow Mountain Skills 2 Dates:
11th & 12th Feb
10th & 11th Nov
8th & 9th Dec
Price: €155 Per Person
Day 1: 930am - 930pm
Day 2: 930am - 430pm
Mountaineering Ireland Recognition
Kerry Mountain Skills Promo Dates:
28th Jan
29th Sept
Wicklow Mountain Skills Promo Dates:
28th Jan
29th Sept
Promotional Price: €30 Per Person
10am - 5pm
Pre Booking Essential
Hiking Boots Provided
Beginners Welcome
To Book Or For More Details Contact:
+353 (0) 86 860 45 63
info@outdoorsireland.com
Monday 21 November 2011
Expanding To Galway - Step 3
I spent the last few days in Galway, partially as a weekend off and partially as a chance to get some Galway expansion work done.
A morning meeting with Failte Ireland was fairly productive and highlighted several more areas of work to be done between now and our Easter launch date, mainly in terms of working with county councils and the harbour authority.
What's reassuring for us as a business expanding into a new area, is the fact that adventure tourism in Galway and Clare doesn't seem main-stream/established/majorly recognised; or certainly to my initial research. While boat trips and coach tours are big business and there's a lot we can learn from how they run their operations, especially in relation to their city centre booking booths, adventure tourism is a new and niche area that we can hopefully play a part in developing.
As work has progressed over the past couple of months it's become clear that there is a need for at least one more Outdoors Ireland instructor in Kerry, especially over this coming spring and summer; so I'm currently recruiting for a new team member...
Applications are beginning to come in and over the next two/three weeks we'll set up interviews and get another instructor on-board. There will be a long and intensive in-house training process to get the person au-fait with all of our practices and methods of running training courses and guided trips.
I need to get back up to Galway as soon as possibly, probably mid December now, to finish checking out kayak locations, meet landowners and just get things ready to have a proper product in place.
The main challenge I'm still grappling with is whether we really need a second work vehicle or not. While in terms of spending/cash flow it would be great to avoid buying a second vehicle, it's looking like it's going to be necessary, even simply in terms of looking professional in both of our locations.
A morning meeting with Failte Ireland was fairly productive and highlighted several more areas of work to be done between now and our Easter launch date, mainly in terms of working with county councils and the harbour authority.
What's reassuring for us as a business expanding into a new area, is the fact that adventure tourism in Galway and Clare doesn't seem main-stream/established/majorly recognised; or certainly to my initial research. While boat trips and coach tours are big business and there's a lot we can learn from how they run their operations, especially in relation to their city centre booking booths, adventure tourism is a new and niche area that we can hopefully play a part in developing.
As work has progressed over the past couple of months it's become clear that there is a need for at least one more Outdoors Ireland instructor in Kerry, especially over this coming spring and summer; so I'm currently recruiting for a new team member...
Applications are beginning to come in and over the next two/three weeks we'll set up interviews and get another instructor on-board. There will be a long and intensive in-house training process to get the person au-fait with all of our practices and methods of running training courses and guided trips.
I need to get back up to Galway as soon as possibly, probably mid December now, to finish checking out kayak locations, meet landowners and just get things ready to have a proper product in place.
The main challenge I'm still grappling with is whether we really need a second work vehicle or not. While in terms of spending/cash flow it would be great to avoid buying a second vehicle, it's looking like it's going to be necessary, even simply in terms of looking professional in both of our locations.
Monday 14 November 2011
Tuesday 25 October 2011
Position Available At Outdoors Ireland
Part-Time, Possible Full-Time, Instructor Position Available At Outdoors Ireland
Work Available In Kerry & Galway, Beginning Shortly
Outdoors Ireland Is One Of Ireland's Leading Adventure Training Companies
Check Out Our Media Page
Check Out Our Current Team
Minimum Qualifications Needed:
1. Level 2 Kayak Instructor
2. Mountain Leader
3. Rock Climbing SPA
4. REC Level 3
Ideal Qualifications:
1. Level 3 Kayak Instructor
2. Winter Mountain Leader
3. Mountain Instructor Award
4. Mountain Skills Course Director
5. Senior Sailing Instructor
6. REC Level 4
7. D1 Mini Bus Licence
Requirements:
1. Excellent People Skills
2. Excellent Team Work & Communication Skills
3. Desire To Excel At Your Work, Providing The Best Quality Courses Possible To Our Clients, Each & Every Day
4. Previous Full-Time Outdoor Experience Essential
5. Passionate Outdoor Enthusiast
6. Desire To Work Hard, Both Physically & Mentally
7. Good Knowledge Of Ireland's History/Legends & Desire To Learn More
8. Own Vehicle In Good Condition
9. Smart/Professional Appearance & Non-Smoker
Responsibilities:
1. Core Team Member Of Outdoors Ireland, Either Part-Time Or Full-Time
2. Working With Outdoors Ireland Team, Clients & Tourism Partners
3. Assisting & Running Training Courses - Click Here To See More
4. Assisting & Running Team Building Courses - Click Here To See More
5. Assisting & Running Adventure Breaks - Click Here To See More
6. Assisting & Running Kayak Trips - Click Here To See More
Work To Include:
Equipment Maintenance
Flyer Drops
Mountain Skills
Carrauntoohil Guided Climbs
Kerry Way Guided Hikes
Rock Climb Intro Days
Rock Climb Courses
Kayak Trips
River Kayaking
Kayak Courses
Team Building
Please Email CV To:
info@outdoorsireland.com
Work Available In Kerry & Galway, Beginning Shortly
Outdoors Ireland Is One Of Ireland's Leading Adventure Training Companies
Check Out Our Media Page
Check Out Our Current Team
Minimum Qualifications Needed:
1. Level 2 Kayak Instructor
2. Mountain Leader
3. Rock Climbing SPA
4. REC Level 3
Ideal Qualifications:
1. Level 3 Kayak Instructor
2. Winter Mountain Leader
3. Mountain Instructor Award
4. Mountain Skills Course Director
5. Senior Sailing Instructor
6. REC Level 4
7. D1 Mini Bus Licence
Requirements:
1. Excellent People Skills
2. Excellent Team Work & Communication Skills
3. Desire To Excel At Your Work, Providing The Best Quality Courses Possible To Our Clients, Each & Every Day
4. Previous Full-Time Outdoor Experience Essential
5. Passionate Outdoor Enthusiast
6. Desire To Work Hard, Both Physically & Mentally
7. Good Knowledge Of Ireland's History/Legends & Desire To Learn More
8. Own Vehicle In Good Condition
9. Smart/Professional Appearance & Non-Smoker
Responsibilities:
1. Core Team Member Of Outdoors Ireland, Either Part-Time Or Full-Time
2. Working With Outdoors Ireland Team, Clients & Tourism Partners
3. Assisting & Running Training Courses - Click Here To See More
4. Assisting & Running Team Building Courses - Click Here To See More
5. Assisting & Running Adventure Breaks - Click Here To See More
6. Assisting & Running Kayak Trips - Click Here To See More
Work To Include:
Equipment Maintenance
Flyer Drops
Mountain Skills
Carrauntoohil Guided Climbs
Kerry Way Guided Hikes
Rock Climb Intro Days
Rock Climb Courses
Kayak Trips
River Kayaking
Kayak Courses
Team Building
Please Email CV To:
info@outdoorsireland.com
Thursday 6 October 2011
Autumn Kayaking In Ireland
Autumn Kayaking In Ireland, On A Killarney Lakes Guided Kayak Trip.
Wild, Windy, Showery & Sunny Day - Typically Irish Weather!
For Up To Date Blog Posts Please Check Our New Blog:
www.outdoorsireland.com/blog
Wild, Windy, Showery & Sunny Day - Typically Irish Weather!
For Up To Date Blog Posts Please Check Our New Blog:
www.outdoorsireland.com/blog
Saturday 10 September 2011
Expanding To Galway Bay
This January We At Outdoors Ireland Are Going Into Our Seventh Year Of Operation From Kerry, Running The Best Training Courses & Adventure Trips We Possibly Can.
Here's A Blog About The First Few Years
Thanks To Our Valued Customers & My Excellent Instructor Team We Are In A Reasonable Position, Also Having Received Some Great Media Coverage, Are Number 1 On Trip Advisor & Are About To Be Sponsored By Kerry Outdoor Sports/Berghaus.
From Next Easter/Summer Onwards We Will Be Operating Full-Time From Galway, As Well As Continuing With Operations In Kerry As Normal.
Galway Will Be An Exciting Move & We Are Working On The Planning For It Right Now. To Begin With We Will Be Running Half-Day & Sunset Kayak Trips In Galway Bay & Rock Climbing Courses In The Burren.
I Will Be Moving To Galway To Run The Galway Operations, Plus The Main Office Will Also Be Moving There. Kerry Will Be Run By My Instructor Team, Including Ferghal & Barry, Under My Supervision.
I Will Keep You Informed Of More News As It Happens - Nathan
Photo By Valerie O Sullivan
Here's A Blog About The First Few Years
Thanks To Our Valued Customers & My Excellent Instructor Team We Are In A Reasonable Position, Also Having Received Some Great Media Coverage, Are Number 1 On Trip Advisor & Are About To Be Sponsored By Kerry Outdoor Sports/Berghaus.
From Next Easter/Summer Onwards We Will Be Operating Full-Time From Galway, As Well As Continuing With Operations In Kerry As Normal.
Galway Will Be An Exciting Move & We Are Working On The Planning For It Right Now. To Begin With We Will Be Running Half-Day & Sunset Kayak Trips In Galway Bay & Rock Climbing Courses In The Burren.
I Will Be Moving To Galway To Run The Galway Operations, Plus The Main Office Will Also Be Moving There. Kerry Will Be Run By My Instructor Team, Including Ferghal & Barry, Under My Supervision.
I Will Keep You Informed Of More News As It Happens - Nathan
Photo By Valerie O Sullivan
Friday 19 August 2011
Kayaking & Hiking In Kerry
Some Photos From The Past Week
Carrauntoohil, After Ascending Curve Gully & The Grey Area
Devil's Spy Glass Lake, Near Brother O Shea's Gully
Looking Towards Tomies Woods & The Laune River Mouth
Sunset Over The Dingle Mountains
Cooling Off, Near The Bronze Age Copper Mines
Looking Across Kenmare Bay At The Beara Peninsula
Camamile Cross On The Kerry Way
Kerry Way From Caherdaniel, Overlooking Derrynane Beach
Carrauntoohil, After Ascending Curve Gully & The Grey Area
Devil's Spy Glass Lake, Near Brother O Shea's Gully
Looking Towards Tomies Woods & The Laune River Mouth
Sunset Over The Dingle Mountains
Cooling Off, Near The Bronze Age Copper Mines
Looking Across Kenmare Bay At The Beara Peninsula
Camamile Cross On The Kerry Way
Kerry Way From Caherdaniel, Overlooking Derrynane Beach
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