About Us

I’m Karen, owner of Vintage Tea Trips. It’s my job to make sure the wheels keep rolling, the kettle is always on and there is always time for a cuppa & a catch up.

Three Facts:

1. I was on the Late Late Toy Show twice

2. I make a mean carrot cake

3. I renewed my wedding vows with Elvis in Las Vegas – funniest, most expensive seven minutes of my life

Guilty Pleasure

Escaping to the West with my husband David, children Matthew & Julia.. and Gin!

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips

Having Nationwide join my extended family on a trip in honour of my Granny Pauline.  We had such a lovely day for the trip and the film crew were trying to get some nice footage of the bus going through the Phoenix Park – but my family just wouldn’t behave! Flaying arms out windows and singing…  it was hilarious, but I could have killed them!  You know the saying “you can choose your friends…. but you can’t choose your family!”

Three Facts:

1. I’m 5ft 2 and half which is very important!

2.  I’m 1 of 6 children

3. I’ve worked with Karen for over 10 years.

Guilty Pleasure

Coffee, coffee and more coffee which is very handy in this business

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips

Hearing all the different stories from people booking on the tour. Some have a love for vintage buses – some have driven them including having the first lady driver for Dublin Bus on board.

My name is Ciara and I’m the Sales & Marketing Executive at Vintage Tea Trips. I manage the social media accounts, create the content we share and work on events and advertising opportunities for the company.

Three Facts:

1. I’ve travelled to 31 different countries in the last 7 years.

2. I aim to drink 6-8 litres of water a day.

3. I’ve two obsessions in life – Real Housewives and Formula One.

Guilty Pleasure:

False tan. I love it and wear it every single day!

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips

Hearing and listening to people’s stories. We had the ladies on from Kenilworth Bowling Club and I loved hearing them relive and tell their own memories and funny stories of Dublin while we travelled through the streets.

I’m from Dublin and have lived here most of my life. I’ve been working in tourism & hospitality for the past 6 years and am a nationally qualified tour guide. I love meeting new people, listening to their stories and cultures and telling them all about ours. My main hobbies are playing music, football, poker and travelling. I’m well-travelled but the world is a big place and I look forward to visiting much more of it. 

Three Facts:

1. I got married in Brazil to a Brazilian woman. 
2. I’m deathly afraid of snakes and spiders. 
3. I’ve never broken a bone in my body, hopefully that didn’t jinx it.

Guilty Pleasure

Poker. I have a love/hate relationship with that game. Whatever the opposite of “the luck of the Irish” is, that’s what I have when it comes to poker.

Best Moment on Vintage Tea Trips

We had a deaf lady on board celebrating her birthday. She was sat up the front of the bus. When we have a birthday on board we get the whole bus to sing happy birthday to them. So we put a candle in a little cake, brought it upstairs, tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around she could see that the whole bus was singing happy birthday to her and she was really taken aback and grateful. It was just a really sweet moment I was glad to be a part of. 

I’m the bus driver of Vintage Tea Tours. I have a keen interest in old, vintage buses. I love keeping the bus in clean condition and make sure she’s always looking her best. I keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary and always happy when things go perfectly to plan.

Three Facts:

1. I have an interest in numismatics. This is collecting old coins and coin stamps.

2. I love collecting old bus memorabilia such as timetables, schedules, number plates and everything and anything like that.

3. I was in Dublin Bus for 35 years as a conductor, driver and supervisor. I retired in 2013.

Guilty Pleasure:

I’m a bit of a lotto buff and always buy a few lines of the lotto but have yet to win anything.

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips

I love when I get to customise routes. We had a group from EY on and they wanted greenery rather than the concrete of Dublin so I planned the route we did for them and they loved it.

I’m one of the bus drivers at Vintage Tea Trips. I used to work at Dublin Bus as a driver there.

Three Facts:

1. I may be a bus driver but I’ve absolutely no sense of direction.
2. I have two sons and two daughters – My daughters are the apples of my eye.
3. On average I’d have at least 10 cups of tea a day!

Guilty Pleasure:
DIY

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips
When we did the Cork Summer Series. I got to drive to Cork with my two favourite ladies – Kitty and my wife Norrie. The rain was absolutely belting down and I couldn’t see 10 feet in front of me but I knew Norrie was happy out in the back though with the kettle on and all the tea she could dream of!

I am a tour guide and host at Vintage Tea Trips! I’ll make you the best cup of tea you’ve ever had and hopefully provide some laughs and giggles along the way!

Three Facts:
1. Every member of my family was born in a different country
2. I love to paint and make clay sculptures
3. I’ve travelled to 38 countries and lived in 4!

Guilty Pleasure:
Listening to my music way too loud.

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips:
My first week on the job I hosted a tour for two elderly Gentlemen from Dublin and I didn’t get a word in for the entire 70 minutes. They took me on a journey through the city and filled me with stories of their youth and growing up when these (now vintage) busses were originally in use. I love hearing people tell their stories of the city!

1. I let my teabag steep for up to 10 mins sometimes (roommates always throw it out thinking that I’ve forgotten about it)
2. Even though I studied drama and love it – I actually hate being the centre of attention.
3. When I was 12 my brothers and I made up a band to play at my granny’s 60th birthday. I played lead guitar!

Guilty Pleasure:

Spicebag delivery! Favourite is from Saigon City!

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips:

Perfectly guessing the part of Edinburgh a Scottish lady was from (accent training has its uses).

I consider myself an all-rounder! I am a tour guide and host for Vintage Tea Trips but I also take phone calls on the weekends and prepare the bus(es) to look gorgeous for the day!

Three Facts:

1. I am a former Irish Dancer, I did it for roughly 7 years!

2. I am fluent in Russian, I have family in Russia and Latvia but I’ve lived in Ireland nearly all my life.

3.  It is my dream to live in either, France or Argentina, bear in mind, that I have very little knowledge of French and zero Spanish.

Guilty Pleasure

Buying several versions of the same album.

Best Moment On Vintage Tea Trips

We had a large group of kids on one of our tours in Cork, they were so enthusiastic and I had plenty of playful interactions with them! (even gave them some extra marshmallows). Then all of a sudden I was told “She’s my favourite”- referring to me, and then several other kids began to join in. Honestly, I cooed, they were also my favourite.