Outwest Outdoor Adventure Of The Year - Outsider Awards Nominees

Courageous, inspiring, and driven by purpose, the Outwest Clothing Adventurer of the Year Award celebrates individuals who turn personal challenges into journeys that uplift, connect, and transform. From long-distance skateboards along the Wild Atlantic Way to epic coastal runs, record-breaking swims, and barrier-breaking expeditions, these adventurers show that the outdoors is a place for healing, growth, and extraordinary achievement. Their stories remind us that adventure is never just about the finish line; it’s about the resilience, generosity, and community spirit found along the way.

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 about this year’s nominees below, and celebrate the remarkable individuals whose courage, determination, and compassion are redefining what it means to explore Ireland’s outdoors.

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Becky Gilmor

Two years ago, Becky was searching for a way to survive her grief. After losing a close friend to suicide, she found herself unable to speak about her loss, let alone process it. The outdoors felt like the only place she could breathe. The sea and a skateboard were the last threads connecting her to the friend she missed so deeply. So she set herself a challenge few would even imagine: to skate the entire Wild Atlantic Way, and continue north to Portrush, the place where the two once skated together.

The journey that began as private healing became something much bigger. As Becky shared her adventure online, she realised just how taboo suicide and suicide loss remain in Ireland. Through brutally honest storytelling, she opened a door for others to step through, and suddenly she wasn’t skating alone. Teachers, teenagers, surfers and strangers walked beside her, shared their own experiences and widened the road. “Giorraíonn beirt bóthar,” one teacher told her, two shorten the journey, and that truth shaped the entire expedition.

What followed was a 3,100km odyssey of skateboarding, camping and storm-blown nights. Becky is proof that the darkest chapters can lead to the most extraordinary adventures, and that no one should ever face struggle alone.

Becky’s mission is simple but urgent: to spark conversation, create safe spaces and remind others that hope is real, help exists, and healing is not a solitary act.

Vini Cardoso

After years of calling Ireland home, Vini set out on a journey that was both deeply personal and profoundly connected to the communities he ran through. In 2025, he ran the full length of the Irish coastline, visiting every RNLI lifeboat station along the way. The goal wasn’t just to cover the miles, it was to honour the bravery and commitment of the volunteers who risk their lives daily to keep others safe at sea, and to give something meaningful back to the country that had become his home.

Covering remote headlands, wild beaches, and quiet harbours, Vini experienced Ireland in ways few ever do. Beyond the breathtaking scenery, it was the human connections that defined the journey: lifeboat crews who shared their stories, locals offering encouragement, and strangers lending small but powerful gestures of kindness. Each encounter reinforced the sense of purpose behind every step and highlighted the extraordinary generosity of people along the coast.

The journey demanded both physical and mental resilience. Years of multi-day mountain treks, including completing the Ireland Way in 19 days, prepared him for long hours alone on the road, facing wind, rain, and exhaustion. The solitude taught him to stay present, manage his energy, and push through adversity, step by step.

Crossing the finish line in Howth, welcomed by RNLI volunteers and the local community, was a moment of profound emotion. Through this epic adventure, Vini demonstrated that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things when driven by purpose, commitment, and a belief in making a positive difference. His journey is a testament to resilience, community, and giving back.

Paul Little

In 2025, Paul Little became the fastest known person to swim the full 230km length of the River Shannon, completing the journey in just 8 relentless days. But behind the headlines, Paul’s story is rooted in something deeper: a lifelong connection to Ireland’s waterways, a hunger to test the limits of body and mind, and a desire to make a difference far beyond himself.

Raised among the lakes and rivers of Roscommon, water has always been Paul’s home ground, from childhood swims and lake days to meeting his future wife at Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club. Endurance challenges followed, leading him through a decade of triathlons, nine middle-distance races and countless hours training around Lough Key. Swimming the Shannon was the next step, a dream big enough to scare him, and bold enough to ignite something extraordinary.

Every kilometre came at a cost. By day three, Paul was in agony, his mouth breaking down, his body exhausted, illness threatening to end the expedition. Yet he pushed forward, fuelled not only by inner grit but by the people around him: the crew who rebuilt his nutrition overnight, the neuromuscular therapist who drove across the country to treat him, and strangers lining bridges and riverbanks, shouting his name across acres of wind and water. Their belief became his engine.

Paul swam for himself, but also for something far bigger. His efforts raised €28,500 for North West STOP, a community mental-health charity offering free, immediate therapy to those in crisis. Carrying that mission through training and every painful metre, he turned a personal quest into life-changing support for hundreds of people across the northwest.

Looking back, Paul says the river taught him more than any race ever could: discipline, self-accountability, resilience, and the revelation that ordinary people are wildly capable of extraordinary things. He sacrificed time with his newborn son to make this dream possible, and hopes someday that same child will know he was the reason his dad kept going.

Paul’s message is simple: take on the challenge that scares you, believe you are capable, and recognise the power of community. No one crosses a river alone, in sport, in life or in the moments when we need help most.

Eamonn Keavney

Ever since completing a walk around Ireland in 2016, multiple-time Outsider Awards nominee Eamonn has been chasing ever bigger horizons. In 2025, that dream became reality: embarking on an epic barefoot journey across a continent, inspired by the record for the longest walk ever documented and fueled by a desire to push personal limits in a completely new way.

The journey tested every part of him. Feet were worn to the point of bleeding during high-mileage stretches in Austria, while relentless heatwaves in Hungary forced unexpected days of rest. Yet through the physical strain and mental fatigue, Eamonn relied on a simple principle: focus on each day, each week, and let the larger journey take care of itself. That patience, perseverance, and ability to break a seemingly impossible challenge into manageable steps became the foundation of his success.

This adventure was not just about personal achievement. Eamonn used the walk to raise funds and awareness for causes close to his heart, finding purpose in knowing that his suffering and effort were also making a positive impact for others. The combination of physical endurance, mental resilience, and meaningful intention transformed the journey into something far greater than a record attempt, it became a testament to what humans are capable of when driven by curiosity, courage, and commitment.

26 Mountains 2 Mayo

Some adventures push the limits of human endurance, and then others go further, carrying a purpose that lifts every step. 26 Mountains 2 Mayo was one of those. Over just nine relentless days, a team of business leaders from Ireland and the US set out to climb the highest point in every county on the island, 26 unique summits, more than 218km on foot, 11,000 metres of ascent, and a staggering 2,763km in the van linking mountain to mountain. Their goal was simple, but enormous in impact: raise funds for Cancer Fund for Children, a charity providing vital support to families navigating the impossible. The result? Over £1.3 million raised.

Guiding the expedition was a team of Irish mountain leaders from Stride Ireland, who first crossed paths with the originator, Roger Johnston, on an Earth’s Edge training weekend. Over nine days, they navigated every route, set the pace, kept spirits high, and led a tired but determined crew from summit to summit, while CFFC handled the vital in-between care.

There were many memorable moments, but one stays with the guides: Day Seven, when exhaustion peaked, the weather turned, and still, no one broke. The team moved as one, fuelled by purpose, grit, and the knowledge that every step mattered.

26 Mountains 2 Mayo wasn’t just a challenge. It was proof of what people can achieve when adventure meets heart, and when mountains are climbed not just for glory, but for others.

Sean Clifford, ultrarunner

When Kerry’s Sean Clifford set out to run the length of the Wild Atlantic Way, an audacious, soul-stretching journey along one of the world’s great coastlines, he discovered much more than miles. At 48, Sean proved that extraordinary adventure doesn’t belong to the young: it belongs to the committed.

The physical challenge was immense, but Sean’s lowest moment wasn’t about sore legs or empty muscles; it came in the dark, at 5 am, when exhaustion broke over him and quitting suddenly felt reasonable. “No one would blame you,” whispered his mind. Instead, Sean stood up. That single choice, to keep moving, sparked a quiet transformation that powered him through thousands more steps.

Sean credits resilience not to motivation, but to commitment. He believes in showing up on the days when belief is gone and letting one honest step build into thousands. Big, impossible goals excite him. Along the way, Ireland lifted him. The rugged coast, the wind and waves, and most of all, the people. Doors opened. Tea appeared. Beds were offered. The running community roared him forward in a “tsunami of goodwill.”

Sean’s greatest lesson? Don’t wait to feel ready. Consistency conquers fear, and every runner has far more to give than they ever imagine.

Charlie Daly

Irish‑American sea kayaker and writer Charlie Daly has turned the wild edge of Ireland into both his training ground and his muse. Growing up between Bantry Bay and Cape Cod, Charlie discovered early that the outdoors was the one place his severe childhood ADHD felt like a superpower rather than a problem, trading classroom restlessness for long days in small boats on rough Atlantic water. Over the years, he went from “messing around” offshore with his Marine veteran father to planning serious coastal passages, learning to read waves, tides and weather the way other kids learned from textbooks.

In 2023, Charlie set out to solo‑circumnavigate Ireland by sea kayak, taking on 1,500km of some of the North Atlantic’s most brutal coastline. A brutal double hernia ended that first attempt, forcing surgery, rehab and a hard reset. Undeterred, he spent two more years rebuilding strength and skills, then returned to finish the lap in 2025, paddling long, lonely days around Malin Head, Donegal Bay and the storm‑smashed Atlantic edge. The project doubled as a fundraiser for Parkinson’s research in honour of his mother, transforming a deeply personal obsession into a journey of grit, generosity and connection around the island he now calls home.

Row Hard Or Go Home

In June-July 2025, Row Hard or Go Home, a team of four coastal rowers from County Wicklow, completed a historic circumnavigation of Ireland. Diarmuid Ó Briain, Tom Nolan, Mick Dowling, and Cormac Conroy set out from Baltimore, County Cork, on 18 June to break the record for the fastest unsupported row around the island. After roughly 15 days and 16 hours at sea, they smashed the previous record, more than halving the existing time.

The team’s effort was entirely self-supported, carrying and sourcing everything they needed along the way. They rowed in 90‑minute shifts with only 30‑minute breaks. Beyond the sporting feat, the row served a philanthropic purpose. The crew raised over €38,000 for Rathdrum Cancer Support and the Vartry Rowing Club in Wicklow, drawing attention to coastal rowing and the local community spirit that supports it.

Diarmuid and Tom, seasoned rowers who previously competed in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a record-setting transatlantic ocean row, brought invaluable experience to the expedition. Their combined ocean and coastal rowing expertise allowed the team to navigate Ireland’s challenging coastline safely and efficiently.

The 2025 Row Hard or Go Home circumnavigation highlighted the intersection of elite endurance sport, community fundraising, and outdoor adventure. It was a showcase of what dedication, teamwork, and careful planning can achieve, setting a new benchmark for Irish coastal rowing while inspiring both rowers and the wider public.

Ronan Garvey

Ronan Garvey, hailing from the west of Ireland, made headlines in August 2025 with a solo ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe. Setting out from the valley late at night, Ronan climbed 4,000 metres over 16 km in just over ten hours, navigating glaciers, steep ridges, and exposed alpine terrain entirely alone.

The climb demanded not only peak physical conditioning but extraordinary mental resilience. Traversing crevassed glaciers, icy slopes, and narrow ridges at high altitude, Ronan maintained a meticulous approach to pacing, hydration, and safety, often confronting the sheer exposure of the route in total solitude. His journey was a test of preparation, skill, and unwavering determination, culminating in a summit arrival at 9:15 am on 19 August, where he experienced both the triumph and serenity of achieving a long-held personal ambition.

Ronan’s ascent stands out not only for the technical difficulty and solo nature of the climb but for the precision, self-reliance, and mental fortitude it demanded. It’s a testament to the power of personal ambition and preparation, and a reminder of the heights, both literal and metaphorical, that can be reached when courage meets discipline.

This achievement firmly positions Ronan as one of Ireland’s most daring and capable alpine adventurers, inspiring others to push their limits and explore the extremes of the natural world.

Sarah Kerrigan

In 2025, Sarah Kerrigan, known online as @troubleonapegleg, once again proved that adventure knows no boundaries. Born with limb differences, Sarah has always embraced the outdoors with curiosity, courage, and a relentless spirit. This year, she took on one of her most ambitious challenges yet: an expedition carefully tailored to her abilities, pushing the limits of what is possible for adventurers with disabilities.

Her journey began with a surprise at last year’s Outsider Awards, where she won a trip to Morocco. This moment was equal parts shocking, thrilling, and nerve-wracking. Yet, with encouragement from expedition leader Jason Black, Sarah transformed that unexpected prize into six months of dedicated training, navigating the complexities of her prosthetic limb, managing daily wear and tear, and building the endurance required to take on the challenge ahead. Her preparation was a testament not only to her determination but also to her thoughtful approach to understanding her own body’s limits while striving to expand them.

During the expedition, Sarah demonstrated the power of mindset, resilience, and meticulous planning. She approached every day as an opportunity to learn, explore, and redefine what is possible, inspiring her fellow adventurers and showing the outdoors as a space accessible to all, regardless of physical differences. Throughout the experience, she remained a passionate advocate for inclusive outdoor activity, proving that with preparation, support, and sheer determination, barriers can be overcome.

Sarah’s story is one of grit, bravery, and optimism. She reminds us all that adventure isn’t reserved for the “able-bodied” or elite athlete; it belongs to anyone willing to try, persist, and embrace the challenges of the natural world. In 2025, she not only completed an extraordinary expedition but also inspired a generation to see that where there is will, there truly is a way.