The 2025 Outsider Awards will not only celebrate the best in Irish outdoor adventure but will also spark an essential conversation about sustainability in outdoor recreation. This year’s panel discussion, “Pathways to Sustainable Outdoor Recreation,” will take place on Thursday, 27th February at The Sugar Club, Dublin, kicking off at 6:30 PM.
Read all about the nominees
The discussion will focus on the Outdoor Event Guidelines, published in June 2024 by Comhairle na Tuaithe (The Countryside Council) in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland, Sport Ireland, Coillte, Leave No Trace, Mountaineering Ireland, the Irish Farmers Association, and other key stakeholders. These guidelines serve as a crucial framework for event organizers, community groups, and outdoor participants to ensure that events are sustainable, inclusive, and respectful of the environment and local communities.
Meet the Panel
Jack Kavanagh – Panel MC
Leading the discussion is Jack Kavanagh, one of Ireland’s most inspiring active disability advocates. Despite having only 15% muscle function, Jack undertook an extraordinary challenge in 2023, hand-cycling 100km in a single day. A former windsurfing champion, he is passionate about the power of outdoor activity to heal and motivate. He hopes to encourage others to explore the outdoors in ways that are meaningful to them, emphasizing that nature is medicine for the body, mind, and soul.
Niall Davis – Founder of Biking.ie
As the founder of Biking.ie, Niall Davis has played a pivotal role in developing mountain biking in Ireland. His work has helped shape some of the country’s premier biking trails, making sustainable, high-quality outdoor recreation more accessible to all.
Bryan Fennell – Recreation Team Leader, Coillte
Bryan Fennell brings expertise in forestry and outdoor recreation as part of Coillte’s team. He will share insights on how sustainable practices have been successfully implemented in Coillte-managed lands, ensuring outdoor events work in harmony with Ireland’s forests and biodiversity.
Mark Rowlette – Fáilte Ireland
Representing Fáilte Ireland, Mark Rowlette will discuss the importance of accessibility in outdoor recreation and how national tourism initiatives are working to make Ireland’s trails, greenways, and outdoor spaces more inclusive.
Emma O’Hagan – Rural Recreation Officer, Leitrim
Emma O’Hagan was instrumental in organizing Ireland’s first-ever National Trails Conference in 2024, a landmark event that brought together trail developers, land managers, and outdoor enthusiasts to share best practices. She will highlight the resources available to support sustainable outdoor event planning and how collaboration across sectors is key to responsible recreation.
Why This Discussion Matters
Ireland’s outdoor spaces are more popular than ever, with trail races, adventure challenges, and recreational events drawing increasing numbers each year. However, ensuring these events remain sustainable, inclusive, and respectful of the environment, landowners, and other users is crucial.
The panel will explore practical ways to implement the Outdoor Event Guidelines, focusing on:
✅ Real-world examples of successful sustainability practices
✅ How event organizers can apply the guidelines effectively
✅ The role of resources and collaboration in responsible event planning
✅ Making outdoor recreation accessible to all
Key Takeaways
The conversation will reinforce a simple but critical message: sustainable and inclusive practice is essential for all. By actively applying the Outdoor Event Guidelines, we can protect our environment, respect local communities, and ensure the long-term success of outdoor recreation in Ireland.
For more information on the Outdoor Event Guidelines, visit Fáilte Ireland’s resource page.
Join us at the Outsider Awards 2025 as we celebrate adventure while championing a sustainable future for Ireland’s great outdoors.
