An Ode to Aotearoa
Embracing Fear in the Mountains
How many times in a day, in a week, in a month do you feel fear? Like real fear, total loss of control and rationality, that all-consuming pressure that one wrong move could be fatal. My life was nice. My life was normal. I was outdoorsy, adventurous and ‘fearless’. I was content but my lifeContinue reading "Embracing Fear in the Mountains"
Seeking Refuge in the Mountains
A weekend of ski-touring adventures on the Tasman Glacier, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park How insignificant I am standing here in front of a monstrous wall of ice. Yet out of the two of us, it is the hundreds of year old glacier that is now more mortal, more vulnerable than I. It is disappearing. TheContinue reading "Seeking Refuge in the Mountains"
Adventures with Da: Boston to Toronto by Bicycle
The bruises on my knees are yellow, a sure sign of the last stage of the heal. The skin on my bum has started to reform, the little bit of weight I lost, piled back on… I am back sprawled on the couch at home, a cup of tea in hand allowing nostalgia to seepContinue reading "Adventures with Da: Boston to Toronto by Bicycle"
The Pursuit of Happiness
I told you I’d catch up. I told you I’d get there in the end. My parents always said that their three daughters were just taking the ‘scenic route’, ‘the long way around in life’. But then I did it. I finally got what I’d been craving, what I’d been working towards and dreaming aboutContinue reading "The Pursuit of Happiness"
Documentary: Keepers
This is a short documentary I made this year where I interviewed psychiatric nurses who used to work in the old Irish asylums. I have a unique perspective on this, growing up with two parents for nurses, four nursing aunts and two nursing uncles... all except two who worked in St. Senan's psychiatric hospital.
Gallery: Salomon Ultra Pirineu
Travels through India
Travel changes everything. The harder the journey the more you learn and by God, India was no picnic… dust, dirt, and chaos. The swarms of people, the pungent air, the constant stares, the rats, the slums, the litter, sitting cross legged on the floor, eating curry with dirty fingers, horned cows and stray dogs roamingContinue reading "Travels through India"
Breathless
We take our bodies so for granted. At full health, what it is capable of doing is astounding; it can climb mountains, swim amongst the tides, sprint through fields of long grass… but what about those who never possessed a body at full health, those people who never had the option? When menial everyday tasksContinue reading "Breathless"
Being a Grown Up
I have worked hard my whole life, slogged away at it quietly behind closed doors; the junior cert, the leaving cert, my degree, countless unpaid internships, countless shitty part time jobs. All on the basis that once I came out the end of that tunnel, my efforts would be rewarded. I would have the offerContinue reading "Being a Grown Up"
Cycling Vietnam: Logistics and Kit List.
If anyone is considering doing something similar (Hanoi to Ho Chi Min), here is our route, distance travelled each day and our kit list. If you need any more help or information, feel free to get in touch. Route: Ho Chi Min Highway & A1 Highway Distance: Day 1: 92km - Destination: Hang Tram, maybeContinue reading "Cycling Vietnam: Logistics and Kit List."
The Big One: Cycling Vietnam
Vietnam is a country of contradictions. A stranger can hold my face between their hands, rub the hair on my arms, braid my blonde locks. Two minutes later another is shoving against me flogging their goods: “Madame smell the coffee, taste the pho, feel the texture, see the colours of the spices, buy from me,Continue reading "The Big One: Cycling Vietnam"
Interview with David of the 5000 mile Project
David and Katharine are 13months into running the length of South America. 5000miles through rainforest and mountains to raise both money and awareness for the environment. I got in contact with Dave when he emerged from the rainforest for a brief spell to hear about their amazing story so far. 1.You ran to raise awarenessContinue reading "Interview with David of the 5000 mile Project"
An interview with Simon Reeve
Check out my interview with adventurer and TV presenter Simon Reeve on Sidetracked online. Over the last ten years, author, adventurer and TV presenter Simon Reeve has travelled the world with a camera in tow to record his extraordinary experiences for shows such as Equator, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn and Indian Ocean and nowContinue reading "An interview with Simon Reeve"
Interview with Pro Mountainbiker Sonya Looney:
1. What is the difference between a pro women mountain biker and a pro man mountain biker? There isn't a huge difference! The men are usually quite a bit faster, but there are a few pro women who tend to beat up on some of the pro men (not me!) There are less pro women than proContinue reading "Interview with Pro Mountainbiker Sonya Looney:"
Interview with Adventurer Alastair Humphreys
Published on OutDare Adventures, read the full interview here. Q: Did you ever drink and party and live the ‘student life’? A: Ya definitely, I was a completely normal student; I did all of that stuff! Q: You’ve never received sponsorship; you just save up and then do cheap trips. That’s freedom in one senseContinue reading "Interview with Adventurer Alastair Humphreys"
I shall climb Ben Nevis.
In a pair of Doc Marten boots and Primark gloves, with no training done or experience under my belt and only a Tesco sandwich in my backpack, I decided today was the day I would climb Ben Nevis. At 6am, I boarded a minibus tottering with strangers and gear and off we set on aContinue reading "I shall climb Ben Nevis."
Kyrgyzstan | Field Notes on Failure
A herd of horses. A bad river crossing. A tracking snow leopard. A thief and a smuggler. A summit push. A failure. Oh sweet and heartbreaking failure. Kyrgyzstan, you taught me patience, you taught me kindness, you taught me how to deal with failure. That there’s a whole world out there. But I’m already forgetting…Continue reading "Kyrgyzstan | Field Notes on Failure"
Orla O'Muiri 