The best way to get started in hiking is to join a hiking/ hillwalking club. For a list of Mountaineering Irelands walking clubs in each county in Ireland please click here: Hiking/ Hillwalking clubs 

If you are worried about your fitness level at the start it is advisable to join a club that has easy & moderate hikes

Hiking club membership fees usually covers insurance, Mountaineering Council of Ireland membership, the posting of the quarterly MCI Mountain Log journal and the Hillwalker's newsletter (10 editions per year, by post or email). The MCI membership card entitles you to a 10% discount in most outdoor shops. 

Bren Whelan is one of Ireland’s most qualified and experienced mountain training instructors. In the articles below he goes through:

Most frequently asked questions about Hill Walking / Hiking

What you should know / essential information about Hill Walking / Hiking

For information on hiking gear please see the Hiking Equipment tab