Caolán Bulfin Maher
Driven by his love for history, archaeology and public speaking, Caolán Bulfin Maher, from Dublin, turned his passion for history into a career as a seasonal guide and information office at the Office of Public Works (OPW).
Through studying National Tour Guiding at Portobello Institute, he gained the expertise and qualification that strengthened his communication skills and gave him the confidence, network, and qualification to progress his career in the Irish tourism and heritage industry.
Finding His Path
Before enrolling at Portobello, Caolán explored several professional paths, combining academic work with occasional guiding and experience in events management.
“I was working in academics and was able to secure work with UCD as a tutor and occasional lecturer. Much of my time however was devoted to full time study. Other than work in guiding, I had also done lots of work in events management,” he said.
Caolán recognised that the best way to turn passion into profession was to learn from those already established in the industry, something that Portobello Institute could uniquely provide. The National Tourist Guiding Programme is a QQI level 6 qualification for those who wish to train as a Tour Guide. It meets the criteria for the Failte Ireland Industry Qualified Tour Guide Directory.
“It is usually best to learn from those who have done it before. You can waste a lot of time figuring something out for yourself or go straight to the top and learn from those who’ve spent years mastering their craft.
“I knew that a career as a tour guide would not be the easiest thing to prepare for and that’s why a course of study felt like the best option for me,” he said.
Learning from experienced professionals was a key part of the programme, including tutors actively working in the sector.
“My own tutor Adam Ladd had worked with the Office of Public Works before and he was able to give me great advice about what my own approach should look like to securing a job there.
“It also helped to give me a good synopsis of the Irish tourism industry itself and the main bodies and frameworks operating within it,” he said.
Learning directly from experienced professionals in the field really stood out for Caolán. Their expertise gave him a clear understanding of the profession, from heritage interpretation to the realities of connecting with diverse audiences.
Choosing Portobello Institute
Portobello Institute’s flexibility, affordability, and strong reputation among students and professionals made it an obvious choice for Caolán.
“I had friends that had studied at Portobello Institute before and most relayed a good experience. So right off the bat, it was a course from an established provider.
“Secondly it was cost. I won’t mention other providers here but many were asking for enormous amounts of money up front. Portobello thankfully had a flexible payment system that could be broken down into smaller amounts,” he said.
The evening classes and blended learning structure allowed him to continue his full-time studies while gaining the skills needed to move confidently into the guiding industry.
“Most important factor for me however was flexibility. The flexibility with Portobello was second to none and the fact much of the study/contact time happened in the evening was a real benefit.
“I could continue to study full time and still give my all to a second course of study,” he said.
Through his studies at Portobello, that passion found its professional footing.
A Challenging and Rewarding Student Experience
Like many Portobello students, Caolán found that the course pushed him beyond his comfort zone, a necessary part of becoming an engaging and confident guide.
“I would describe it as a good and as equally a challenging experience. As a guide, you really need to get comfortable with public speaking. I have put the emphasis on getting comfortable as this isn’t an innate skill that people are born with. It is something you can develop over time.
“It is easy to psyche yourself out and shy away from the very act of speaking to a group, so I am glad Portobello and the tutors there gave us plenty of opportunities to speak,” he said.
During the course, students also worked on a variety of practical learning outcomes designed to build real-world guiding skills.
“We worked on a variety of learning outcomes during our course. One learning outcome was the preparation of a tour for a significant monument in Dublin’s city centre. I was given the spire believe it or not; otherwise known colloquially as the ‘Pin in the Bin’.
“What it made me realise is that every street, every road you walk down in this country has a story. It all has a beginning, middle and end, and in usual Irish fashion a thousand twists in between.
“What it also made me realise is that there is a tour for every interest, every theme, and every group. It really is up to you to read, absorb and orate and these small tests did instil a lot of confidence in me and the rest of the people in my group,” he said.
These experiences helped build the confidence and skills Caolán needed to take the next step in his guiding career.
Building Networks and Lasting Friendships
One of the most valuable parts of Caolán’s time at Portobello Institute was the people he met along the way, including fellow guides, tutors, and mentors already working in the industry.
“I would say the best thing about studying here were the friendships and network that resulted from the field of study. My class was made up from such a wide range of people many of whom were actively in the guiding space themselves.
“Just getting to know the people on my course opened up so many doors. In fact, it led directly to the opportunity to shadow other experienced guides and even interview for jobs as a guide.
“They’re friendships I have maintained to this day. Our group even formed a WhatsApp group where we all keep each other updated on what is happening in the world of guiding and where any opportunities may present themselves,” he said.
Beyond the academic learning, Caolán discovered the real value of community at Portobello. The collaborative environment ensures students graduate not only with a qualification, but with a network that supports their next steps.
Setting Up for Future Success
“My next goal is to develop my own private tour, likely focused on early Irish history and mythology. So far, I have been working for the Office of Public Works (OPW) but would like to diversify my outputs a little more and dip my feet into the private sector,” he said.
Since completing the programme, Caolán has begun building his career in the heritage sector as a Seasonal Guide and Information Officer with the Office of Public Works, while continuing to develop ideas for his own specialised tours.
“A certification from the Portobello Institute is a perfect way to set you up for a successful career in guiding,” he said.
He credits his qualification and the mentorship at Portobello with helping him gain the confidence and credibility to advance his career in Irish heritage.
“I would recommend Portobello to a friend. Its an established college. The networking opportunities are great. The ability to practice your own guiding skills are second to none.
“Tuition fees are far less than what other colleges are asking for. Most importantly, after completion, you will be eligible for that all coveted ‘National Guiding’ badge and certification,” he said.
Advice for Future Tour Guides
Looking ahead, Caolán also has advice for anyone considering a career in tour guiding.
“Get off your phone and read. Tour guiding is all about orality and performance, it’s never about how good your essay writing skills are or how many facts about a building you can learn,” he said.
For him, guiding is ultimately about storytelling, connection, and bringing history to life for audiences.
“At the end of the day, tour guiding is all about connection and engaging with your audience.
“Go n-éirí an bóthar leat. Ar feadh tamaill cleactadh, beidh tú ar mhuin na muice,” he said.
If you are interested in studying Tour Guide at Portobello Institute, visit the course page here.
