Independent Tour Guides Association

About ITGA

Ireland told by the people who know it best, professional, independent and insured.

The Independent Tour Guides Association (ITGA) is a non-profit body representing professional, insured, independent tour guides across the island of Ireland.

Founded in 2013, ITGA grew out of professional guide-training in Ireland’s heritage regions. Today we bring together more than 230 working guides, from city walking specialists in Dublin, Cork and Galway to driver-guides covering the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East and the north coast.

What we stand for

Professional

Our members guide for a living. Many hold National or Regional tourist-guide qualifications, and all uphold the standards visitors expect.

Insured

Every member carries public-liability insurance and holds an official ITGA photo ID and lanyard for the current year.

Independent

Our guides run their own businesses. You deal with them directly, with no booking fees and no middle-man.

Local

Real people who know their patch, its history, its stories and its hidden corners, in more than a dozen languages.

How ITGA fits in

Ireland’s tourist-guiding is built on recognised qualifications, from local and regional awards to the National Tourist Guide qualification at QQI Level 6. ITGA members range across these, and the association’s role is simple: to uphold professional standards, to look after the shared interests of independent guides, and to make it easy for visitors and tour operators to find and contact a great local guide.

By the numbers

230+

Professional independent guides across the island.

13+

Languages spoken by our members.

32

Counties covered, north and south.

2013

The year the association was founded.

Our Committee

ITGA is run by a volunteer committee drawn from working guides, elected by the membership. They set the direction of the association and give their time to represent independent guides across Ireland.