Mountain Volunteer Of The Year: Outsider Awards

Dedicated, inspiring, and deeply rooted in community, the Mountaineering Ireland Mountain Volunteer of the Year Award celebrates the extraordinary individuals who give their time, energy, and expertise to make Ireland’s outdoors accessible, welcoming, and unforgettable. From founding clubs and leading hikes to mentoring new walkers, promoting sustainability, and creating inclusive spaces, these volunteers show how passion and commitment can transform not just landscapes, but the people who explore them. Their work reminds us that the heart of adventure is often found in generosity, guidance, and the spirit of giving back.

The Outsider Awards will take place on 11 February 2026 at The Helix, Dublin, proudly supported by Sport Ireland, Craghoppers, Outwest Clothing, Mountaineering Ireland, and NowCoco Drinks.

Read all about this year’s nominees below, and celebrate the volunteers shaping the future of Irish adventure.

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April Brophy

April Brophy has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to hillwalking through her leadership of Sliabh Hiking, a Mountaineering Ireland affiliated hiking club based in Waterford. Founded by April in May 2022 out of her passion for nature and shared outdoor experiences, Sliabh Hiking has grown into an active and inclusive group that welcomes walkers of all levels to explore Ireland’s trails together.

In 2025, April and Sliabh Hiking hosted the Mountaineering Ireland Autumn Gathering in conjunction with Mountaineering Ireland, a significant achievement that showcased the club’s organisational capacity and commitment to embrace members from all over the country. April’s vision is rooted in creating community and connection through the mountains.

Through her social media presence, April promotes hillwalking and adventure to a broad audience, inspiring many to discover the outdoors, connect with nature and join in community hikes. Her Instagram and online outreach help break down barriers for people new to hiking and encourage positive engagement with mountain activities.

April consistently goes above and beyond in volunteering time and energy to build a supportive and engaging club culture.

Colette Mahon

Colette Mahon has made an exceptional and sustained voluntary contribution to Irish hillwalking and mountaineering over several decades. She has held volunteer roles at the committee, leader, trainer, and member levels and was involved in the formation of Wexford Hillwalking & Mountaineering Club in 1996. A former member of SEMRA and the Comeragh Club, Colette has long been a pivotal and driving force within the club.

Beyond club level, Colette has served as a Board Member of Mountaineering Ireland and on MTBI (when known as BOS), contributing her experience, commitment, and strong values to the governance, strategy, and development of mountaineering and climbing in Ireland. She is a passionate advocate of Mountaineering Ireland’s ethos, programmes, and events, and is widely recognised for her readiness to volunteer wherever support is needed.

Colette’s voluntary work includes organising and leading hillwalks, scrambles, climbing and bouldering sessions, and delivering ongoing skills training and upskilling opportunities. She places strong emphasis on health and safety, environmental responsibility, sustainability, and respect for mountain environments.

She has also been a key contributor to the long-running success of the Women With Altitude festival. Welcoming, inclusive, and endlessly encouraging, Colette has mentored countless walkers and climbers, helping them build confidence, develop skills, and form lasting connections with the outdoors.

Eilish Corbett

Eilish Corbett has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to hillwalking through her work with the Clare Outdoor Club (COC), a Mountaineering Ireland-affiliated club, where she serves as a committee member, event organiser, and walk leader. Her energy and commitment have had a transformative impact on the club.

Eilish has gone above and beyond in developing opportunities for people to engage with the mountains. She worked with Mountaineering Ireland to run their Summit Steps Programme, a new initiative designed to welcome and support new walkers into clubs. Giving up the first eight weekends of 2025, she delivered training and guided hikes for ten prospective members for Clare Outdoor Club with great feedback and lasting impact.

As an organiser, Eilish has been central to the success of the club’s activities, including the 40th anniversary celebration, club weekends away, summer trips abroad, Christmas events, and an active annual calendar of walks across Ireland. She has built strong networks with hostels and venues nationwide and promotes the club through local media, including an interview on Clare FM that contributed to record membership growth.

Eilish is also a committed advocate for sustainability, regularly leading Leave No Trace messaging and supporting the club’s annual beach clean-up. Postivitely welcoming she consistently creates enjoyable experiences for all members.
Farah Masoed is Chairperson of Trail Criú, an inclusive trail running and hiking club affiliated with Mountaineering Ireland (MI). Through her voluntary leadership, Farah has made a meaningful contribution to increasing access to Ireland’s mountains and trails, particularly for migrants, refugees, and others who have faced barriers to participation in outdoor activities.

Farah Masoed

Farah has been central to the growth of Trail Criú from a small grassroots initiative into a structured, community-focused club with a strong emphasis on inclusion and safety. Her commitment has supported the club’s affiliation and development, enabling members to safely run and hike in the hills. She has volunteered extensive time to organising activities, supporting new participants, and ensuring Trail Criú’s events are welcoming, accessible, and aligned with best practice. Her voluntary work has had a lasting positive impact, demonstrating the vital role volunteers play in opening the outdoors to all.

Lauren Conlon

Lauren Conlon has been a cornerstone to the running of Irish Climbing competitions over the last couple of years, generously dedicating her time and energy to officiating at the events. Lauren also travels abroad, volunteering as an official at an international level, and she is quickly becoming one of the most experienced officials in Ireland.

Vincent Mc Alinden

Vincent Mc Alinden lives, works and sometimes plays on a small farm on the south-eastern slopes of the Mournes. He has been fortunate to enjoy 30+ years of great mountain adventures and sees volunteering for Mountaineering Ireland as a way of giving back to the mountains and the people from whom he has gained so much.

Vincent’s energy, insight and ability to ask searching questions are legendary. Not only is Vincent a Mountaineering Ireland committee member and former board member, he is also a Mourne Heritage Trust trustee and he represents Mountaineering Ireland on the management body of the UK and Ireland-wide Visitor Safety Group.

Simon Stewart

Simon Stewart has made an outstanding voluntary contribution to Irish hillwalking through the creation and long-term stewardship of MountainViews.ie, one of Ireland’s important resources for hillwalking enthusiasts. Founded in 2002, MountainViews is openly and freely available, accepts no advertising, generates no profit, and is entirely volunteer-run.

Under Simon’s leadership, MountainViews has grown into a trusted repository of information, with over 1,500 active contributors, 2,500 registered summiteers, more than 5,000 GPS tracks, 10,000 comments, and 6,000 photographs, all shared by the hillwalking community. The site provides detailed route descriptions, mountain data, trip reports, and practical access information, supporting safe and informed participation in the hills.

Simon has been instrumental in building a vibrant national community of walkers through initiatives such as the annual MountainViews Gathering, popular newsletters, and Summit Magazine. He created and promotes well-known mountain lists and challenges, including the Arderins, encouraging exploration of both well-known and lesser-visited hills.

A passionate advocate for sustainability, skills development, and responsible hillwalking, Simon collaborates widely across mapping, surveying, and mountaineering organisations. With over 50 years of hillwalking experience, his dedication, generosity, and leadership exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and have left a lasting legacy in Ireland’s hillwalking community.