Welcome to my website so here's a little bit about me, I live in Carrick, County Donegal not far the famous Sliabh Liag cliffs and situated on The Wild Atlantic Way. I have a passion for this area, the local history and showing people the known and not so known hidden gems of our beautiful southwest coastal area. 

I’ve lived most of my life here in southwest Donegal, with the exception of ten years in Dublin. Life here on the edge of the Atlantic is ever-changing—each day brings new colours, skies and stories a place where you can get four seasons in a day as Donegal's climate is influenced by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Local Roots

My parents came from Kilcar and Teelin, and I spent much of my childhood between my grandparents’ homes in Coguish (Kilcar) and Rann na Cille (Teelin). As a youngster, I explored every road by foot and bicycle, learning the townlands, the folklore, and the characters who make this area so unique. Growing up I lived in Clogher near the site of the historic Musgrave estate, where I developed a strong interest in the history of local landlords and their impact on the area. 

One of our more intriguing family stories is that WWII German spy Ludwig Mühlhausen stayed at my grandparents’ house in Teelin, he was scouting the area for a potential U-Boat base and taking photographs.

Life Experience

In the 1990s, I worked in several local industries including the fishing and knitwear industries—then the backbone of our community that employed 1,000s of local people directly and indirectly. I then worked in the construction industry in Dublin before moving back to Donegal in 2008 and I have spent the past number of years setting up this business through courses and studying local history.

My Work Today

I’m a qualified regional tour guide for the northwest of Ireland (ATU Killybegs, 2023), a member of the Approved Tourist Guides of Ireland (ATGI), and I’m fully insured and I am also registered with Fáilte Ireland.

My interest for tour guiding began after I led a tour from a cruise ship that arrived in Killybegs in 2022 when I was working in Killybegs Tourist Information Office and since that I have been guiding on bus tours to different parts of Donegal during the summer months. Experiencing visitors connect with our culture and landscape, the questions they asked and their love of the area and interest of how we live here inspired me to launch this guiding business.

When I’m not guiding tours, I run my own media services business, I’m actively involved in the local GAA club Cill Chartha where I’ve been part of the club executive since 2014.

If you have ancestral connections to the Carrick, Kilcar or Teelin area I might be able to find where your ancestors came from as I have made connections for people in the past.

Let’s Explore Donegal Together

Whether it’s your first time here or your family roots trace back generations, I look forward to welcoming you and helping you discover the beauty, heritage, and stories of this special corner of Ireland.

James Byrne

My grandfather Eddie with his sons Johnny and Seamus pictured in 1957, my mother’s side of the family were talented musicians, two of my uncles Johnny and Francie were very involved with Kilcar Pipe band for years.

My grandfather Hugh Byrne, Rinn na Cille at the LOP 71 sign on the road to Bunglas the phot was taken by Fr Browne in 1945. My grandfather had a great knowledge of history it was at his house that Dr. Ludwig Mühlhausen stayed at in 1937.