Derry Blue Badge Guide -

Michael Cooper is the first Blue Badge tourist Guide in Derry City, Ireland, and a native of the Creggan and Bogside in the world famous ‘Free Derry ’ quarter of Derry City . Michael offers walking and coach tours of Derry City and all parts of the north of Ireland, offering the highest standards of service, knowledge and professionalism with some great craic along the way.


As a Derry tourist guide and an employee of Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau, the key tourism agency in Ireland’s northwest, Michael already has an extensive knowledge of local and national tourism, which has included the provision of hundreds of coach and walking tours of Derry City. Having already completed both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Irish History & Politics, Michael decided to pursue this area of his employment further by completing the prestigious Blue Badge tourist guide Course.

Tours covering all aspects of the north’s recent ‘Troubles’ are a speciality. Michael has already completed theses works on the history of the IRA in the past and the roles of the loyalist groupings and British security forces are also areas of expertise. 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 17 th century Derry Walls. The only intact walled city in Britain and Ireland, they were the largest single project during the 17 th 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 whiskey distillery and the Carrick-a-Rede ropebridge)and Donegal, including the Inishowen peninsula and Donegal Highlands. Tours cover all major subjects of interest including, amongst others, Irish history, politics, murals, the ‘Troubles’ and Peace process, genealogy, emigration, music, sport and Christian heritage. Please see the toolbar menu for the range of tours available.
Through his wide network of contacts Michael can also offer assistance in organising wider itineraries including the booking of accommodation and advice on organising entertainment for groups etc.
Tours can be booked for groups and individuals (subject to availability)

I have worked in tourism for ten years with tour guiding forming my key area of activity. Growing up above the famous Bogside area of Derry beside the city walls gave me a keen interest in the politics and history of my city. After two History and Politics degrees and a Blue Badge guiding qualification I can now allow visitors to share my vast knowledge of the city by walking the walls and Bogside or taking a wider tour of the city in my personal vehicle.