Siobhan O'Donovan

I grew up in West Cork surrounded by coastal paths and rural trails. After completing my degree in Environmental Management at University College Cork in 2010, I spent five years with Failte Ireland mapping walking routes. But that's when I noticed something important — most trail guides ignored the people who needed them most. Older walkers weren't getting the detailed information they deserved about gradients, surfaces, rest points, and nearby facilities.

So I changed direction. Over the past nine years, I've conducted accessibility audits on more than 80 Irish walking paths, interviewed hundreds of seniors about what actually matters to them, and worked directly with local councils to improve trail infrastructure. I've documented everything from gentle coastal promenades in Cork to accessible urban strolls through Dublin's neighborhoods. My work proves that age shouldn't limit access to Ireland's natural beauty — it just takes the right information and careful route selection.

Now at lexcocet Ltd, I combine field expertise with digital content to make walking route information genuinely useful and actionable. Every route I recommend, I've walked myself. Every detail I publish comes from real conversations with real walkers.