Mary O'Sullivan

Mary O’Sullivan is a professional genealogist and award-winning private tour guide based in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. She is a guest contributor on the Irish By Descent Articles page. Mary holds a Diploma in Genealogy from University College Cork, where she has also studied Irish Heritage and Folklore.

Through her business, Mary G Tours, Mary offers private, chauffeur-guided tours throughout the west and south of Ireland, with personalized day tours and multi-day itineraries. Each experience is tailored to the guest’s interests and pace, whether exploring scenic landscapes, delving into Irish folklore, tracing ancestral roots, or enjoying local food, music, and culture.

For Mary, Irish genealogy and history are personal, not just professional. She has a passion for ensuring important stories are remembered and respected. Mary’s research helped bring wider recognition to Janie McCarthy, a teacher from Killarney who worked with French Resistance escape networks in occupied Paris during World War II, helping downed Allied pilots and others evade capture and reach safety. The story was covered in the Irish Examiner, and in June 2022, a plaque honoring Janie McCarthy was unveiled in Killarney.