Celebrating Women in Business: Niamh McCarthy

The Inspiring Journey of Niamh McCarthy at Excursions Ireland

Ireland’s tourism industry boasts many success stories, but few are as remarkable as the journey of Niamh McCarthy and Excursions Ireland. With a career spanning over 30 years, Niamh’s story is one of resilience, unwavering passion, and a testament to the power of women in business.

For over 10 years, GRIP Software Solutions has been a proud partner of Excursions Ireland, witnessing their impressive growth and dedication to showcasing the very best of Ireland.

Beyond Success: Building a Legacy of Inspiration

Niamh’s story serves as an inspiration not only for aspiring female leaders but for anyone who dreams of building a successful business based on exceptional service and unforgettable experiences. Her belief in herself, her team, and her unwavering dedication to showcasing the best of Ireland have positioned Excursions Ireland as a leader in the industry.

In this interview, we delve into Niamh’s impressive career, her contributions to the Irish tourism industry, and the unique perspective women leaders bring to the table.

From Tour Operator to Industry Leader: A Career Built on Empathy

You’ve built an impressive career in Irish tourism. What initially drew you to this field, and how have your experiences shaped your leadership values?

Niamh: The ironic part of my career is that I fell into it by accident! It was during work experience from my college course (business) that I was given the opportunity to work in an incoming tour operator company – Moloney & Kelly Travel.

They specialised in incentive travel, large group, and small ad-hoc business. They also took care of the VERY few cruise lines that came to Ireland in the 90s, and this side of the business did, funnily enough, attract my interest the most. I then went to work at sea to learn that side of the business and upon my return to Ireland set up Excursions Ireland.

I have been very lucky in life to have worked under some wonderful leaders both men and women. They have mentored me and given me the skills to be the best leader in my own company and have instilled qualities in me that have come through observing their ways and means to lead. My experiences through working at sea have shown me how the other side of my business works and given me empathy towards that life and also an understanding of how it operates which in turn has stood to me within my own company.

I think it’s fair to say that in order to be the best at what you do you learn from all sides of the industry and I was very lucky to be in a position to do so.

Overcoming Challenges: Building Excursions Ireland's Success

As a founder member of Cruise Ireland, you’ve played a pivotal role in establishing Ireland’s presence in the cruise market. What challenges did you face in positioning Excursions Ireland as a leading provider of ground services, and how did you overcome them?

Niamh: I was very privileged to be a founder member of Cruise Ireland, which is an all-island organization set up to market this island as a cruise destination to all overseas cruise lines. Since cruise is very much made up of many stakeholders and as a destination management company, we are very reliant on our partners. Trying to sing off the same hymn sheet has posed some challenges throughout the years but strong communication and understanding has led to a clearer path and better cooperation.

When we burst onto the market in 2004 with Excursions Ireland, there was only 1 or 2 other companies who operated in this business. I guess as a female-led company we did have to work harder to prove ourselves. Leading a business 20 years ago as a female was not as common as it is nowadays and with that came a constant feeling of proving we could do it and that we had the knowledge and power to take Ireland to its position as one of the leading cruise destinations and with it Excursions Ireland a leading provider of excursions to these lines.

I firmly believe that our actions spoke way louder than our words. Within our first year of operation we had achieved what we had set out to do and more and through trust and loyalty we were able to position EI as the top provider of shore excursions throughout our island to our overseas visiting cruise clients.

With the formation of our company we brought positive competition but a first class personalised service with extreme attention to detail and implementation. Cruise Ireland was very beneficial to me within my company and I think my contacts and knowledge brought depth to that organisation also. Therefore, it was a mutually beneficial partnership which is still going strong. Cruise Ireland has now taken on a more progressive direction under new leadership and has commenced on some very exciting journeys which I am very proud to be a part of.

Leading with Empathy: Women's Strengths in Tourism

International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements. What unique strengths do you believe women leaders bring to industries like tourism, and what advice would you offer aspiring women leaders in this sector?

Niamh: I think in general women bring a massive amount of positive attributes and strengths to companies as leaders. Empathy and understanding being the main one in my opinion. I am very much a leader who looks at my team and their circumstances individually and gets the best from my team as a result of this. I am a firm believer that woman can empathise with their staff and still get the best possible return from them.

Understanding goes a long way too – this world we live in is full of personal challenges too – once we can show we are in tune with these and can work around them we in turn get the best from our team – this goes for young female staff, older female staff, young men, single men, married men – it’s about understanding people individually and getting the best of their talent and using it to the company’s advantage.

This industry can be very demanding during high season. I know when I started out it was, at times, overwhelming. However, I learned the skills to deal with pressure and am grateful that as their leader I can help them and advise them.

In tourism, I think a huge strength that I possess is a love of people… tie that in with the strong love I have for my country and all things Ireland and to me, it is a winning combination. With tourism it is very much 24/7 so women who aspire to work within this industry would also need a huge amount of support from home and their network.

It is fast paced and ever changing and the hours are not always favourable so a massive plus is when you have a family network that can support you which I thankfully had in abundance. That is another reason why I attribute a lot of my success to this support I had. There is no way this company could have grown the way it has without that.

Crafting Dream Experiences for Cruise Guests

At Excursions Ireland, you focus on showcasing the best of Ireland to cruise guests. Can you share a specific story that exemplifies the unique and memorable experiences your company strives to deliver?

Niamh: On a daily basis we strive to make our guests holiday to Ireland their holiday of a lifetime. We are very aware that a lot of our visitors have saved up for a long time and coming to Ireland has been a dream for them. In some cases they have a long term connection with Ireland through ancestors so it can be a very emotional and magical time for them to reconnect with their past.

We are also very aware that cruises are not cheap. Some of our guests have saved all their life to get here – we want to, on a daily basis, make their time here extra special – realise that their lifelong dream has been met and exceeded their expectations – that can be through a smiling happy welcome pier side, an excellent personable guide who connects with their guests on a level like nowhere else and then the wonderful welcome at the various visitor attractions.

We want to ensure that all they have read about Ireland and the cead mile failte rings through when they are here – they get to experience and feel the warmth of the Irish people and those people who have made Ireland their home.. We are renowned for it – and in my eyes – if we can make them feel that warmth, we have done our job to the best of our ability. We may not have the highest mountains or the prettiest buildings but we have the warmest people and that cannot be beaten.

Nothing gives me more pleasure than knowing that our guests have loved every minute and would not change a thing. It gives such a huge sense of satisfaction after a lot of work / effort pre arrival.

There are many stories – in fact too many to mention, that exemplifies the unique and memorable experiences and that ranges from our guests getting to see the magical Giants Causeway to others getting to see the majestic Book of Kells. Getting to dance in the rain during a Ceili or shear the sheep in a field on a cliff edge… Getting to see how the famous Jameson whiskey is made right down to seeing and learning how we farm. Maybe some things that we as Irish take for granted are what these visitors dream of seeing and doing – so it can be quite grounding. It often makes me stop, take a step back and look around. What we have on our doorstep is the stuff of dreams for those who are looking from the outside in.

A very special memory for me was when we had a lady from New Zealand visit and she had very limited information on her ancestors who were from Rathfriland in Northern Ireland. She had some information which she sent in advance and we did some research as a surprise for her. She went off with a driver and was able to get so many photos of their old house, their grave and as she was about to leave she and the driver got speaking to a man in the town and it turned out he was a distant relative whom in turn invited them back to his home for tea and a look through old photos etc… They now keep in touch and to me this was just such a sweet highlight… a family connection that we made happen.

Daily Inspiration: The Power of Women Leading in Business and Life

Who are some women who inspire you, and why?

Niamh: I admire many women both professionally and through sports. I am an avid sports follower so am inspired by a lot of success stories as I appreciate how much hard work and effort sportspeople put in to be at the top of their game. In my own industry I admire all the female ship captains who have immersed themselves in a totally male dominated world and become leaders within. I look forward to the day when we don’t make a big deal out of a female being a ship captain! that means it’s no longer a rare occurrence but a regular thing!

However, there are many colleagues that I work with in EI who inspire me every day and push me on to achieve bigger and better with EI.

Setting Sail for the Future: Excursions Ireland's Growth Strategy

How does Excursions Ireland envision contributing to the continued growth and success of Irish tourism in the coming years?

Niamh: We will continue to be the lead destination management company in Ireland and will not stop until we have had a hand in developing all ports around our island and hosting ALL cruise lines. We are in the process of trying to further grow the turnaround business in Ireland which will also create a lot more jobs in the tourism industry. We are continuously striving to be the best at what we do and we do this through continuous training and updating. We are regarded as the number one cruise tour operator on the island, constantly asked if we would branch out into mainland UK – so who knows, maybe we can try our hand at that too!

Growth on Land: Excursions Ireland Gears Up for Expansion

Are there any exciting developments or initiatives on the horizon for Excursions Ireland?

Niamh: We are now about to embark on another aspect of our business and that is to develop land programs. We have just taken on a new staff member who will start with us next month (but has worked with us previously) and she will be the director of Business Development. This will entail us actively seeking work within the incentive / group business and outside of cruise. We have set out a business plan for this and are excited at the thoughts of developing this department further and employing more staff and growing our offerings.

Believe in Yourself: A Message to Aspiring Leaders

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Niamh: Probably to believe in myself more. I had great family support who always believed in me… However, I was only in my 20’s when I started this business and whilst I knew what I was capable of, I don’t think I ever imagined the magnitude of what I could do through hard work and sheer determination. So, I would tell my younger self to believe I have what it takes. To build a great team around me, educate them and encourage them and learn to trust / delegate to those around me… There is absolutely NOTHING unobtainable once the drive and belief is there. I don’t think young girls are built up enough and given that drive and belief and I really feel that they should be. Even talking to them through school and encouraging them – there needs to be more of that.

Heart, Soul, and Resilience: Celebrating 20 Years of Excursions Ireland

Your insights on Excursions Ireland’s growth for its 20th anniversary and what this milestone signifies to you personally

Niamh: There are times when I have to pinch myself… To think that we started out as 2 people and we now have 19 staff in the office alone, alongside the hundreds we employ in the summer months from guides, drivers to our own port staff etc… the growth has not been without challenges. We have endured foot and mouth, ash cloud, the fall of the celtic tiger, covid. So, to say it’s been an easy 20 years could not be further from the truth. It has had very big challenges but when you have put your heart and soul into a business and an industry it’s hard to give up on it and the drive within to grow kept me and my focus strong during those dark days when it looked like the company may not survive.

Covid was especially tough as our whole team was wiped out and we had ZERO business. We did get some financial support but very little in the grand scheme of things… To bounce back and enjoy our busiest and most profitable year in 2023 season makes me very proud of who we are and what we are made of. It makes this 20 year celebration all the more sweet given that the bounce back was so quick and fierce.

To me personally it has made me realise that the hard work, long days, long nights have been worth it. It signifies to me that without hard work you cannot make it happen but that drive and ambition pays off. I am very proud of the company we have become and the ethos we possess. I am proud of my team who mainly had zero tourism experience before they joined me but now adore this industry and work so hard to keep us at the top of our game. 20 years in this fast pace industry is equal to a lot longer in others industries so I am very proud of EI. I have the most supportive family whom I know 100% without their support EI would not be where it is today. I have had to put in a huge amount of hours and time away to build the company and without a supportive family at home it would not be possible… so, as they say it was all hands on deck at all times so it’s a huge team effort and that makes me very happy on a personal level.

Inspiring Dreams: The Enduring Impact of Irish Tourism

In celebrating Niamh McCarty’s incredible journey with Excursions Ireland, we’re reminded of the power of passion, perseverance, and empathy in business. As a trailblazer in Irish tourism, her story inspires not only aspiring leaders but anyone with a dream of making a difference. Looking forward, we’re excited to see how Excursions Ireland continues to innovate and expand, offering unforgettable experiences that capture the essence of Ireland’s beauty and heritage.