Westport Walking Tours was founded by brothers Stephen and Alan Clarke, whose family has deep roots in Westport. Their father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all hailed from the town, contributing significantly to its history and heritage.

Their great-grandfather, Edward O’Malley, was awarded a gold medal for heroically rescuing 94 Achill Islanders during the Clew Bay Disaster of 1894. Their grandfather, PJ Verdon Clarke, played a pivotal role in the early days of Westport tourism. In 1961, he guided Princess Grace of Monaco around Clew Bay—a visit that marked the beginning of commercial tourism in the region. Soon after, PJ and a group of local businessmen founded the Westport Tourism Organization (WTO), a voluntary body dedicated to promoting tourism in the area. Today, Stephen Clarke proudly continues the family tradition as a third-generation member of the WTO.

Stephen and Alan were raised on the stories of their ancestors and developed a lifelong passion for Westport’s rich history. Stephen, certified in Tour Guiding and Heritage, leads the walking tours with enthusiasm and local knowledge. Alan handles sales, marketing, and media, and is an ambassador for Mayo tourism, creating stunning promotional videos that highlight not only Westport Walking Tours but also the wider County Mayo region.

The brothers draw inspiration from their late uncle, Martin Macrossan, a legendary tour guide from Derry. Martin founded Derry City Tours in the 1990s and was awarded the “Tourism Hero Award” by the Northern Ireland Tourism Board in 2013. Known for his iconic yellow jacket, Martin sadly passed away in 2015. His legacy lives on through the yellow jacket tours in Westport, established by Stephen in his honour when he launched Westport Walking Tours that same year.

Since its founding in 2015, Westport Walking Tours has expanded significantly. What began as a single walking tour has grown into a diverse range of tours suited to all interests. In both 2019 and 2022, the company won the Gold Award from CIE Tours, earning the title of Best Walking Tour in Ireland, based on feedback from over 25,000 guests.

Today, Westport Walking Tours is proud to be ranked the #1 Tour and Activity in Westport on TripAdvisor, continuing to share the charm, history, and stories of this beautiful town with visitors from around the world.