Bren Whelan is one of Ireland’s most qualified and experienced mountain training instructors. He is the only full Mountaineering Instructors Certificate (MIC) award holder based in the Republic of Ireland delivering mountain training courses. He has spent more than twenty years rock climbing, hill walking and mountaineering throughout the world.
Bren is a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) and is fully insured. Bren is the only fully approved provider of BOS (The Irish Mountain Training Board & Mountaineering Ireland) training and assessment courses in Ireland - (http://www.mountaintraining.ie).

Below for Madforsport.com, Bren goes through some of the most frequently asked questions about hiking: 

1. What is the best way to start in Hill Walking/ Hiking?

Hiking or hillwalking as its better known is one of the most accessible outdoor activities that are available in Ireland.
Through the Irish Sports Councils newly launched ‘Trails Ireland’ website, a great range of way marked walks which are located all over the country are show cased for all.
Check – www.irishtrails.ie
Armed with details from the website and a map, plus some basic equipment it is easy to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
One of the great things about the way marked ways are they are sign posted, they generally follow trails (thus making navigation easy), access is already agreed locally and car parking areas are clearly designated.
Once you’ve got a taste for the hills, you may wish to explore beyond the tack and trail network. In this case it’s a good idea to find a local club. You’ll find a full list of hillwalking clubs on mountaineering.ie

2. Is the sport dangerous?

Every year the Irish Mountain Rescue Teams, of which there are 12 located throughout the country, spend thousands of hours assisting walkers who are either lost or injured in the mountains. mountainrescue.ie
When you analyse all of the various accidents which have occurred, three common factors arise in nearly 80percent of cases:
A. Poor Planning – People fail to fully consider the undertaking, be it the seriousness of the walk or their own equipment and or lack of experience. 
B. Poor Timing – Mountain journeys throw up all kinds of unexpected problems, be it arriving late to the starting point, difficult ground that slows you down, the onset of bad weather or worse still – impending darkness. Timing is crucial, if you don’t have the skills to travel smoothly through the hills and reach your end point before darkness, trouble is on the cards if you are not experienced in night navigation.
C. Poor Navigation – There is a simple saying ‘Learn to Read or Get Lost!’ Good navigational skills are a must for anyone who travels in the mountains. Mountain Rescue teams are called out with annoying regularity because people make simple navigational errors. 

3. How long does it typically take to learn the basic skills of hiking/ mountaineering in order to be confident enough to go hiking on your own/ with a group of friends?

You can try and amass skills through some of the various books, such as – ‘Hillwalking’ by Steve Long, which provides a wide range of hillwalking information for the would be walker and mountaineer. Friends and clubs can be helpfully, but you’ll really get the most from a proper instructor lead training course.

4. Is there a structured Hiking/ Mountain Training programme/ courses?

The ‘Mountain Skills’ scheme which is a Mountaineering Ireland devised programme is available through a range of approved course providers who offer training in every county in Ireland. Check – www.mountaintraining.ie or www.mountaineering.ie

5. Are there Hiking competitions in Ireland for Adults/ Juniors?

No. What is in place are a series of big ‘challenge walks’. You’ll find a list of these walks which take place in various mountain areas all over Ireland throughout the year on – walkersassociation.ie or mountainviews.ie

6. What kind of Hiking Equipment should the beginner consider when getting into the sport in Ireland?

Boots are very important; you should consider buying a full leather boot, which has at least a ‘3 Season’ rating and one which is fitted with a Viabram sole.
Good water proof trousers and jacket are essential, along with a hat and gloves, spare fleece. Food, plus extra food, water and maybe a hot drink too.
Items which should be seen as essential are a map (laminated) and compass (know how to use them), a head torch and a survival bag. All items should be carried in a rucksack and this should be lined with a proper waterproof liner.

7. Where are the hiking locations in Ireland?

Ireland is blessed with a wide range of great walking areas. One of the best resource websites is – mountainviews.ie  you’ll find walks in all parts of Ireland listed on here.