Meet Our Guides
BRENDAN MATTHEWS
Irish Historian
Brendan Matthews is an Irish Historian and Historical Researcher & Presenter. He has worked on Archaeological excavations and has studied and presented the History & Heritage of Ireland for many years, obtaining a wealth of experience and knowledge pertaining to all aspects of Ireland`s Storied Past. Brendan has written many books and articles on Irish Community History for more than 30 years and has contributed to many Radio and TV programmes both at home and abroad.
Brendan specialises in the Research & Presentation of his findings in relation to Community History; of how people lived in the past, where they lived, when they lived, what they did and the events, periods in time and the happenings that affected the ordinary people in their daily lives.
Brendan Matthews also delivers Presentation Talks and conducts Walking Tours on all aspects of Irish Archaeology, History, Heritage & Folklore. He resides in Stamullen in East Meath. MARTINA FARRELL
Nordic Walking Fitness Instructor
Hi my name is Martina of Boyne Nordic Walks.
I’m a certified Nordic Walking Fitness Instructor.
I’ll will be giving half hour taster sessions on Nordic Walking. All ages are welcome to see what this walking with poles is all about!
My walks are a combination of fitness walks and mindful gentler walks. They suit all fitness levels and all ages.
Nordic Walking is a form of physical activity where the use of a pair of specially designed Nordic Walking poles are added to regular natural walking.
We have a variety of different locations – long sandy beaches, ancient sites (e.g. Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth), rambles along the river Boyne and our walk at Oldbridge through the ever changing landscape of the Boyne Valley.
DUSTY FLANAGAN
Fáilte Ireland National Tour Guide
Dusty Flanagan is a Fáilte Ireland National Tour Guide and founding member of the Boyne Valley Camino, Boyne Valley Walking and Boyne Valley Trails. Dusty specialises in guided walks in the Boyne Valley and further afield, with experience working with community, youth and private tour groups . He has led coast to coast walks in Ireland and Camino walks in Spain.
His walks locally focus on nature, wildlife and history in the Boyne Valley and he has written for Heritage Ireland Magazine
ANTHONY MURPHY
Journalist & Author
Anthony Murphy is a journalist, author, tour guide and photographer from Drogheda. He has published nine books inspired by the mythology and archaeology of the great prehistoric monuments of the Boyne Valley. In 2018, he discovered the remains of a giant late Neolithic henge close to Newgrange. He curates the Mythical Ireland website and social media channels and broadcasts a weekly livestream. He has appeared as an expert on the Boyne Valley on the History Channel, National Geographic, Discovery Science and Channel 4. LISA KENNEDY
Coach in Mindfulness, Compassion-based approaches and Forest Bathing Guide
Lisa Kennedy has a BA Degree in Outdoor Education, is a qualified and insured Forest bathing guide, ICU River and Sea Kayak Instructor, Mountain Leader trained, holds REC 3 and is a trainer with Leave No Trace Ireland.
Additionally, Lisa is qualified as an Iyengar Yoga Instructor and is an accredited trainer with Breathworks CIC, the international mindfulness organisation, which offers mindfulness based approaches to living well with pain, stress and illness. She has 22 years experience as a wellbeing coach, specialising in nature based programmes, and is the leading Boyne Valley and South Louth company for mindfulness training and forest bathing experiences, created for busy individuals and organisations.
Grainne Rafferty
Actor, Drama Facilitator, Storyteller and Tour Guide
Grainne Rafferty is a Drogheda-born actor and facilitator who has worked in both community and professional theatre for a number of years. Recent projects include facilitating for The Little Duke School of Performing Arts and the resident children’s drama workshops facilitator with the Droichead Arts Centre. Grainne is a guide of the DRAWDA murals tour as a story teller and mythological guide.
Recent productions include the curating of the myths and legends and recording those stories into work as part of the legacy project of the Murals tour, and the An Lú festival of Light with Visual Spectrum during October 2022.
Lockdown projects include writing and narrating for two short films for Criúnniu Na nOíg, titled “Selkie”, “Aoife and the Children of Lir”, and for local radio “Amelia and Hy-Brasil”. Grainne leads Family friendly fantasy, mythology and storytelling walks with Boyne Valley Trails.