In May 2025, I delivered my 250th tour as a certified Green Badge guide \u2014 a milestone that gave me pause to reflect on how I got here, what I\u2019ve learned and what I might have done differently. This article shares my journey from academic research to walking the streets of Belfast with thousands of visitors, the unexpected joys of guiding, the challenges of starting out and the lessons I\u2019ve picked up along the way. It\u2019s a look back at a job that\u2019s tested, surprised and deeply fulfilled me \u2014 and why I wouldn\u2019t trade it for anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In May 2025, I reached a personal milestone: my 250th tour as a certified, accredited and professional tour guide in Belfast. Since qualifying in November 2021, I\u2019ve guided 3,317 people on walking and coach tours across Belfast and Northern Ireland. It\u2019s a good moment to reflect \u2014 on why I became a guide, what I\u2019ve learned and what I might have done differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why Become a Guide?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The decision came during what could politely be called a midlife crisis \u2014 one that led to a PhD. I began doctoral research with a hazy ambition of becoming an academic, but that was quickly scuppered by the state of higher education. My research focused on motivation and interpersonal dynamics in Great War combat units \u2014 fascinating, but hardly fashionable in modern academia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My wife suggested I consider guiding. The Northern Ireland Tourist Guide Association<\/a> (NITGA) was offering its Green Badge training in autumn 2020. It offered a practical route that made use of my historical expertise \u2014 and a chance to do something real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My tours cover Belfast\u2019s political, social, economic and cultural history over the past three centuries. Work is seasonal but richly varied. I\u2019ve led groups through City Hall, cruise ship excursions to the Giant\u2019s Causeway and Glenariff, visits to Hillsborough Castle and the Game of Thrones Studio Tour \u2014 and created my own walking tours too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s more rewarding than many \u2018real jobs\u2019 I\u2019ve done. You\u2019re only as good as your last tour, which keeps you sharp. The flexibility, independence and variety are unmatched. You get exercise, stimulating conversation and an audience (mostly) glad to be here. Locals enjoy rediscovering their city and the guests can be delightfully unexpected \u2014 like the group of American equine dentistry students I once led through the Shankill and Falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The guiding community has also been a joy. It\u2019s a solitary profession at times, so building a network through NITGA has been invaluable \u2014 not just for professional support and development but for friendship and comradery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lessons Learned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Like any job, it has its downsides. Cruise work can be chaotic, last-minute and unpredictable. Starting out was tough: building a brand, a digital presence and finding my voice took time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest lesson? Believe in yourself. Early on, I lacked confidence and didn\u2019t seek feedback or reviews \u2014 a mistake. Branded clothing, business cards and leaflets would have helped from the outset. Networking too \u2014 the old advice holds true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Support and Development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Go Succeed, Northern Ireland\u2019s business support service, has been a huge help. Their early social media support wasn\u2019t great, but later interventions were spot on. A digital audit of my website and socials was especially useful, and their design input produced a far better logo than my own efforts. Their online courses were practical and insightful \u2014 with particular thanks to Christine Watson (marketing), Sinead McKeever (SEO) and Clara Maybin (video).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Media work has raised my profile, even if it hasn\u2019t directly generated business. More importantly, it\u2019s provided useful social content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best decisions I made was to carve out a niche. With my colleague Mark Doherty, I co-developed the Anti-Slavery Belfast<\/em> tour<\/a>, exploring both Belfast\u2019s ties to the slave trade and its abolitionist legacy. I also created tours on the Belfast Blitz<\/a>, local medical history<\/a> and the Troubles<\/a>. This thematic historical approach has helped me stand out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s been heartening to receive consistently positive feedback. I bring a deep love of history, reading and learning to the work \u2014 and, as a trained historian, I hope I also bring nuance. History is rarely neat; it’s often contested. That matters especially when guiding guests through subjects like slavery or Northern Ireland\u2019s recent past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professionalism and Credibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In Belfast\u2019s tight-knit guiding community, your reputation is everything. Professionalism matters: turn up, stick to time, do what you say you\u2019ll do. I\u2019m proud to be a partner with Belfast City Council, though I\u2019ve yet to make full use of the opportunities that offers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listening is also key. Guests often share personal stories that add real value. On one Blitz tour, I mentioned a fire engine hit during the Easter Raid of 1941 \u2014 only to be told by a guest that his father had been on board. You can\u2019t plan for those moments, but they\u2019re gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s still much to do: improve my website, update older content, post more consistently, and make more videos \u2014 including a YouTube series of historical reels. I\u2019d also like to build stronger links with local history groups and U3As.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Where do I see myself in five years? Hard to say. But I know what I\u2019ll continue to value: the love of history, credibility, professionalism and turning up. This journey has been unexpected, challenging and hugely fulfilling. Long may it continue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In May 2025, I delivered my 250th tour as a certified Green Badge guide \u2014 a milestone that gave me pause to reflect on how I got here, what I\u2019ve learned and what I might have done differently. 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