Limerick man shares stories from 50 years of guiding tours of Greenland
NEIL McMahon started his life on the northside of Limerick city but he now works as a tour guide on the largest island in the world.
Raised in Thomondgate, Neil attended St Mary's National School and CBS Sexton Street before setting off to study at University College Cork, where his studies would bring him to his home for the next 50 years.
After finishing his degree in History and Archaeology, the former Shannon RFC player planned to visit Iceland for one year in 1974 for post-graduate study.
That visit led to a lifelong career in education and teaching both locals and tourists about the history and culture of Iceland and Greenland.
The 72 year-old is now based in Reykjavik and is a well known tour guide for American company Overseas Adventure Travel.
Neil first visited Greenland in 1995 to study the education system there which started his fascination and interest in the culture.
“Climate change has had a massive impact on the local community, the melting ice means they cant use dogsleds during the winter months which is one of their main forms of transport.
“There is very little infrastructure there with most people owning a small boat which they use to get around”.
A few years ago, Neil discovered that an island off the North-East coast of Greenland shared a connection with his hometown.
“There was a tradition many years ago to name ships after rivers. In 1823, a Royal Navy ship, the HMS Shannon, went on an expedition to the island.
“This island was then named Shannon Island after the ship, which derived its name from the river Shannon on whose banks I spent many a summer's day fishing as a young boy”.
East Greenland is the equivalent of Ireland's Gaeltacht where the country's culture is best preserved, reflected in a traditional drum dance that has almost died out.
“The drum dance told stories, like Ireland´s seanachi; but it was also an ingenious way to settle disputes between men (essentially a drum off), thus avoiding a bloody conflict that would be fatal for such a small community.
“Essentially, the two hurled verbal insults at each other and the one judged by spectators to have hurled the most cutting ripostes won! Sounds a bit like some political debates in the Dáil!”
Every summer, Neil returns to Greenland to guide tour groups around the island and educate them on the culture and communities there.
The Limerick city native also works as a lecturer with the local guide school and has led tours of schools from Ireland visiting the region.
“I am familiar with the Irish education system as well so if they are working on projects I can help them out a bit and point them in the direction of interesting topics.
“I have led tours for schools from Dundalk, Dublin and Belfast. It is nice to have that connection with them.
“I haven't met anyone from Limerick yet but there have been a few occasions where someone has shouted out 'Me mother is from Limerick!”.
Despite being in his early 70s, Neil has no intentions of slowing down and is already booked up for tours this summer.