Page 20 - Dispatches - Winter 2022

Trailblazers A Conversation with . . .

By Erin Fahy
Erin Fahy is a writer and O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader
a dual Irish-American
citizen. She’s planning
her first trip to Belfast Brian McKibbin
next summer.
O.A.T.: Hello, Brian! Tell us a little bit normalized. People just kind of got on with
about yourself. their lives; we were brought up with it and we
just learned to adapt to it.
I was born and bred in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
I went to primary school in the south side of As a young boy in primary school, I remember
the city and am the youngest of three, with two hearing the big bangs as bombs went off in the
older brothers. city center and seeing the army Land Rovers
and Saracen tanks driving around the streets.
I was always involved in sport, mainly because it
Born in: was much more fun than studying. Rugby runs Read more about Brian’s life
Belfast, Northern in my family and I went on to play for Ireland during the Troubles
Ireland at the schools level. I continued to play rugby O.A.T.: How has Northern Ireland changed
Resides in: through much of my working career and played in recent years?
Belfast at club, provincial and international levels as I must say, I never thought I would see peace
With us since: well as several invitational touring sides. in my time. So it was truly a great day when a
2019 On leaving school, I started my working life peaceful solution was effectively reached in
Interests: as the Public Relations Manager at a bank 1998 with the “Good Friday Agreement.”
Rugby, singing, for 14 years before leaving to work in an There has been an amazing amount of change
country walks
advertising and public relations firm. Through in Ireland since then. There is tons of work
my PR work, I was involved in tour and event being done by communities on Peace and
In Our Backyard: management. This led me into the area of tour Reconciliation. The process takes time but
Belfast’s Cregagh management and trip leading and to Overseas people are now much more understanding,
Glen with Alistair Adventure Travel. and even forgiving. Many of these attitudes are
& Brian O.A.T.: What’s your favorite part shaped by the young people who never experi-
about the job? enced the Troubles and now grow up in a much
more inclusive society.
I have always been a “people person.” I love My own daughter, for example, attended a
meeting people and really enjoy good company school where the students were Catholic,
and laughter. I found that with O.A.T. I was not Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and many other
only meeting new people every trip, but that I religions, so her generation doesn’t understand
also really enjoyed showing travelers around why we would have ever wanted to fight. This
Ireland. Through my previous work and my
Join Brian and a fellow attitude has helped the whole country to heal.
Trip Experience Leader experience playing sports, I’ve been lucky O.A.T.: What’s one thing you would
to explore a hidden enough to have traveled the length and breadth recommend to a first-time visitor to
gem. of Ireland and have many friends throughout
the country. What always amazes me is that Northern Ireland?
Watch Video no matter how many times you travel around When you visit Northern Ireland there is just
Ireland, there’s always something new to see so much to do. I always recommend travelers
Explore Brian’s and there’s plenty of folk who love to tell you a visit the Causeway Coast: There you have the
homeland during story. Giant’s Causeway, the Carrick-a-rede Rope
Irish Adventure: O.A.T.: What was Northern Ireland like Bridge, Dunluce Castle, and the Old Bushmills
Dublin, Belfast & the during the Troubles? Distillery—all within minutes of each other.
Northwest Counties. Each is quite amazing in its own way.
Looking back, I think the biggest thing that
Learn More stands out to me is that it was almost just

DISPATCHES • WINTER

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