In the summer of 1996, Stephen McPhilemy was a 20 year old young rookie tour-guide enjoying his dream summer job leading walking tours on the historic walls of Derry.
One day a small group of American tourists (all wearing zip-off pants and money belts and clutching the same distinctive guidebook) rolled into town with their charismatic tour-leader, Rick Steves! The rest is history and almost 30 years later Rick Steves has become a dear friend and he and his travel philosophy the primary travel mentor in Stephen’s career.