DerryBlueBadgeGuide.com is one of the fastest growing tour guiding companies in Ireland. The company is run by Michael Cooper, the first and only Blue Badge tourist Guide in Derry City (the Blue Badge is the highest accreditation in tour guiding). Michael and his team of fully qualified guides offer walking, taxi and coach tours of Derry City and the entire north of Ireland.
Michael is a former employee of Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau, the key tourism agency in Ireland's northwest. He is also a triple graduate from the University of Ulster with qualifications including Bachelor and Masters degrees in Irish History & Politics which ensure tours can be designed covering any aspect of Irish history.
Tours covering all aspects of the north's recent 'Troubles' are a speciality. Guided tours are available of, amongst others, the Bogside (regarded as the 'crucible of the Troubles' and the location of Bloody Sunday), west Belfast and the border areas of the north. Topics include the outbreak of the Troubles in 1968, the Battle of the Bogside, internment, Bloody Sunday, the 1981 Hunger Strikes and the developing peace process.
As well as the political tours Michael also offers detailed general tours of Derry, including the world famous 17th century Derry Walls. The only intact walled city in Britain and Ireland, they were the largest single project during the 17th century Ulster plantation and were famously defended during the 'Siege of Derry' of 1688/9. General tours of Derry also cover Christian history, World War II and the story of emigration. Michael can also assist those interested in doing genealogical research during their visit to Ireland.
derrybluebadgeguide.com can also offer both full and half-day general tours of all regions of the north of Ireland as well as shorter walking and bus tours on request. Popular areas include Belfast, the Giants Causeway coast (including Bushmills distillery, the Mussenden Temple, Dunluce castle and the Carrick-a-Rede ropebridge) and Donegal, including the Inishowen peninsula and Donegal Highlands. Tours of Armagh, Fermanagh, Sligo and the Sperrins inc the Ulster American Folk Park are also a speciality.
