Meet the Wallace Travel Group Team
Derek Wallace
Derek Wallace has worked in tourism “since God was a boy ! “ having learned the DMC trade from the kitchen table as his father was one of the original Incoming Operators in Ireland. Derek reckons we will have to drag him out when the time comes…In between his love for the industry, building new clients and strong relations his time is devoted to family, his beloved Manchester United, travel as much as he can and kick’s back for downtime at their second home on the Algarve as much as possible.
Derek feels with all the hard work and initiative shown that the industry has been very good to him and enjoy opportunities to give back when he can, especially to Irish Tourism and the DMC world in emerging markets.
Mike O’Shaugnessy
A business graduate from CIT Ireland Mike has spent his entire career working in the entertainment and hospitality industry in the UK, US and for the past 20 years in Wallace Travel Group in Ireland. His passion for the industry, creativity and strong customer focus has seen Mike deliver World Class large scale meetings, conferences and incentives both in Ireland and Worldwide. He is a former board member of the Irish Tour Operators Association and has served on various Irish Tourism Bodies over his career. When he’s not out on the roads training for his next marathon you’ll find him cheering on his other great passion in life, the famous Kilkenny Hurling Team “ C’mon the Cat “. Oh and keep him away from the guitar or he’ll have you up all night singing!!!
Doris Poelzlbauer
The only Austrian in Finglas village
After completing a degree in Tourism Management and working in the Altstadt Vienna hotel, Doris moved to Ireland in June 2005 to pursue a career with Google Ltd. She was soon missing all the action and excitement the tourism industry had to offer and joined Wallace Travel Group in April 2007. Doris has been travelling around the globe to promote WTG and secure business for Ireland. She is proven to be a real multi-tasker, and has operated many important projects in Ireland and abroad. After earning a diploma in Digital Marketing in 2010 she is also in charge of “all things online”.
Doris swears by her uncle’s pumpkin seed oil, Austria’s black gold…! She eats it with vanilla ice cream and omelets and thinks’ that’s normal..! Doris loves the mountains and skiing as much as a good après ski party! She also has a passion for County Mayo and swimming in the Irish sea … Pumpkin Oil gives you strength!
Skype: dorispoelzlbauer
Louise O’Toole
Louise, our local girl joined Wallace Travel Group in 1999 on work experience from a local college and she hasn’t left since. Our youngest and one of the longest members of staff is a familiar face at the front counter. Louise looks after our leisure travel side of the business along with many other areas including our Unforgettable Iceland Programme.
She loves to travel and tries to get away whenever she can. She was lucky enough to be picked for the Aer Lingus Fam trip to Orlando last year – where she got stranded due to the ash cloud – she said it was tough work – 5 star hotel, Orlando sun, free meals in fine dine restaurants and swimming with Dolphins – sounds like hard work alright!! Recently married she enjoys spending her weekends with family and socialising with friends. She’s no stranger to the odd 80’s night or karaoke bar either!
Joanne Hegarty
Joanne from Dublin, always knew she belonged in the travel industry when she announced at a very young age her ideal job when she grew up was to be a bus conductor. With her sights set higher in 1996 she studied Travel and Tourism where she started on the road to success.
Joanne joined Wallace Travel Group 11 years ago and is one of our long standing members of the team. Joanne works diligently, displaying her bubbly personality throughout. She is dedicated to our corporate and groups department along with our Sports Desk department through which she has developed a keen liking for some of the premiership footballers. She has a passion for travel especially if she can fit in some time for shopping along the way.
Fiona Reinhardt
Travel has always being my passion from a young age rushing to get my homework finished to watch 'Wish You Were Here' top of my wish list back then was to visit Australia & Venice with Australia being ticked off just the closer Venice to achieve now..
Love travelling to America especially having visted all the major cities along with the a memorable Californian road trip from San Francisco to San Diego, so any questions re Stateside travel I will have the answer..
Caitriona Clarke
New to the Wallace Team.
I have been working in Travel for 8 years, since leaving school in 2005. I absolutely LOVE to travel, with some of my most recent travels taking me to Southern Italy, the West Coast of the USA and Lapland. I love new experiences, and many of my trips take me off the beaten track, one of my favourite memories is seeing the Northern Lights while out Husky Sledding in Tromso, or being taught how to Salsa dance by a (very handsome!) Cuban man in a Music House in Havana.
I recently had the honour of being awarded the 'Young Travel Professional of the Year'in the 2012 ITAA awards, which was a very proud moment for me in my career.
In my spare time, I love to cook and bake, so I am usually found in the kitchen or with my head in a recipe book!
We work with the very best guides and coach operators in Ireland.
