Meet The Team
Combined experience and expertise make Excursions Ireland a unique company to work for. The team works closely together to create an easy transition from office preparations to pier operations to the guest experience. With reliable pier and guide coordination staff, the team has the ability to ensure an unforgettable experience for each guest.
Get To Know Us
Niamh McCarthy
Managing Director
Niamh is the Managing Director at Excursions Ireland. With almost 30 years of experience in the Irish tourism industry and 4 years working in the onboard shore excursions department, firstly at NCL and then as a manager at Crystal Cruises, Niamh is the ideal ambassador for Ireland as a cruise destination.
Amongst other contributions, Niamh is regularly part of the team responsible for tour guide selection and training and her dedication to the success of Irish tourism is far-reaching. Niamh has been recognised in this industry by means of nominations for Ulster Bank Small Business Leader of the year and the prestigious Image Business Awards CEO of the year (twice).
A founder member of Cruise Ireland and ever present at all international Cruise trade shows and events, Niamh is synonymous with cruise in Ireland and her dedication and commitment to the industry is inspiring to all.
Carmel Doyle
Office Manager
Carmel is our longest serving member of staff. Responsible for the general management of the office together with our entire financial department, Carmel is a vital member of the Excursions Ireland Team.
With over 40 years’ experience working in a variety of industries, her wealth of knowledge is an asset to the day to day operations of a busy, high pressured environment.
Carmel not only takes her skills and experience to the office, she is also an essential participant in the pier-side operations.
Julie Lalor
Head of Business and Employee Relations
Julie has been working in outgoing and incoming tourism in Ireland since 2005.
In addition to her working experience Julie has travelled extensively throughout the world soaking up the cultures and tourism of South & North America, Australia and New Zealand amongst others and spending some time living in London, working for the BBC. She has brought the experience and knowledge that she garnered during this time to her role as Head of Business and Employee Relations at Excursions Ireland.
A completed Failte Ireland Foundation Guiding Course has provided Julie with a detailed insight into touring throughout the Island of Ireland.
Caoimhe Armstrong
Director of Land Operations
With the recent growth in Turnarounds in Ireland Caoimhe holds responsibility for ensuring the smooth operation of all logistics relating to the embark and debark of cruising guests. In addition to the Turnaround Department, Caoimhe is also responsible for the Special Events and Overland Tour sections of operations.
She is a keen traveller and has had the opportunity to travel many countries around the world, giving her strong insight into the expectations of a tourist.
Ciara O’Hara
Accounts Manager
– Ports and Piers
She brings vast experience to the role and is a stickler for detail. Ciara is also an avid traveller having visited many countries around the world including the remote islands of the Comoros and Madagascar amongst others
Kellie Caffrey
Senior Accounts Manager
Kellie joined Excursions Ireland in November 2022 to take on the role of Accounts Manager.
She has spent over 20 years working across several sectors and brings a vast amount of experience and a wealth of knowledge from her time spent working in a variety of Irish companies.
Kellie loves to travel and travelled the world on her own soaking up the culture and heritage of other countries before settling back in Ireland where she now has her own part in others’ experiences of travelling.
Kerrie Wade
Operations & Product Development Manager
Upon Kerrie’s return to the company her strengths naturally led her to the role of Operations Manager in which she oversees the processes of the operations team and manages productivity. Kerrie has a B.Sc in Business and Management and graduated in 2019. She most recently completed a certificate in Digital Technologies and Project Management with Griffith College Dublin.
Lisa Smith
Account Manager
Lisa joined the Excursions Ireland team in July 2021, she has a BA Hons Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Lisa has a number of years hotel experience in Front Office and Reservations before moving over to the Tourism sector working 10 years in local tourism.
Lisa enjoys travelling when the opportunity arises, walking and has a very keen interest in the Cruise industry.
As account manager, Lisa supports the team will all Ireland Logistics and a high level of customer service when dealing with clients to ensure visiting guests will have an unforgettable experience all over the island.
Ben Steenkamp
Account Manager
Ben was born and raised in The Kalahari region of South Africa. He obtained an Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management from the Institue for Hospitality Training in Cape Town and began working in a variety of hotels in South Africa before deciding to spread his wings and indeed his flare for hospitality. Those wings brought him to Ireland where he worked as Guest Relations Manager at the Lyrath Estate in Kilkenny from 2007-2009.
To further his experience both professionally and personally Ben moved from land to sea and spent 11 years with Princess Cruises. Ben has visited 84 countries at the last count and returned to Ireland in May 2022 when he joined the Excursions Ireland team.
Needless to say, travel is a major interest for Ben but he also has a keen interest in art and nature.
Pablo Barrero
Operations Executive
Pablo has a Master-Degree in ‘Travel & Tourism Services Management’ from Morón University (Buenos Aires-Argentina) with over 15-year experience in the industry, having worked in 3 countries (Argentina; USA & Ireland) in the OTA, travel agency, tour operator, car rental, hostel, hotel, and tours-excursions side of the business bringing great traveling and service experience.
He has worked within B2B/B2C environment driving sales internationally/locally, growth, expanding revenue, managing contracts & processing FIT/corporate/group bookings and winning new target customers, partners & markets. He is a dedicated, passionate, and enthusiastic individual.
Shauna Cribben
Operations Executive
Shauna has a strong background in customer service having worked in retail and customer service roles for various companies.
She also a keen interest in travel and learning about new cultures having spent the latter half of 2019 travelling through southeast Asia.
Lauren Naughton
Operations Executive
Lauren is passionate about travel and exploring new places and cultures. The travel and tourism industry allows her spontaneous and adventurous personality to shine and bring her passions to life.
Ger Deegan
Operations Executive
He obtained a BA in Journalism and Broadcasting from the University of Wolverhampton and continues to write weekly for the BBC.
Working in aviation allowed him to become a keen traveller and he has a passion for exploring new countries and cultures, but is equally as enthusiastic about sharing his love of Ireland to all who visit! He also has a soft spot for Italy and travels back whenever he can.
In his free time Ger can be found attending an array of live sporting events around the world and as an animal lover can be found hiking with his two border collies and enjoying a keen interest in all things equine.
Abbie Ledden
Operations Executive
Abbie joined the Excursions Ireland team in April 2022 as an Operations Intern as part of her degree. Abbie has now completed her undergraduate degree in Technological University Dublin and has achieved a BSc in Business and Management Studies.
As a full time member of the team, Abbie now assists with the Turnaround side of operations along with managing private arrangements and handling ad hoc ship calls. She also has extensive experience working in a fast-paced customer service role having worked in retail for over 6 years.
Abbie’s childhood was spent travelling for various dance competitions, but she hopes to rekindle her love of travelling now that she has graduated, exploring the world and the variety of cultures it possesses.
Aisling Buckley
Operations Executive
Upon the successful completion of her degree, Aisling took time to travel parts of SE Asia and experience different cultures before returning to Excursions Ireland as a full-time member of the team in a new role as Operations Executive. Aisling supports the Operations team alongside her own handling of ad hoc ship calls.
Aisling has a keen interest in continuing to explore the world, seeing new cultures, and trying new food of course.
Siobhán O’Flanagan
Operations Executive
Siobhán joined Excursions Ireland in August 2023 as an Operations Executive. She has extensive experience working in fast-paced customer service and management roles having worked in customer service for over 8 years and brings this experience to the hospitality and tourism industry.
In her personal life Siobhán has a passion for traveling and learning new cultures around the world. She travelled South East Asia in 2023 and had a brief experience of working and living in Tenerife in the Summer of 2019.