Irish daredevils: Meet five athletes pushing boundaries and conquering the world

From mountain summits to ocean crossings, Irish adventurers are redefining what's possible through extraordinary endurance, resilience and determination

Johnny Ward, Sean Villenueva-O'Driscoll, Eoin Keith, Joan Mulloy, and Elaine Burrows Dillane share their adventures

Sat, 25 Jul, 2026 - 01:00

Cian Byrne

Ireland doesn’t have the terrain of the Alps, the brutal weather of northern Canada, or the risks of the Amazon rainforest, yet we produce some wild people who are achieving serious feats at the very top of their disciplines in the outdoors.

We’re a country that prioritises field and team sports, often to great success, but for some people those pursuits don’t scratch the itch and they’re left with a deep-rooted need to explore and push themselves into the unknown physically, mentally, and geographically.