Aoife O'Sullivan

Aoife's journey into outdoor leisure began during her undergraduate years at UCD, where she developed a fascination with how geography shapes both landscape and human experience. After graduating in 2010, she worked for five years with the Irish Wildlife Trust managing public access to natural spaces. That work taught her something important: accessibility isn't an afterthought—it's what makes great experiences possible for everyone.

Her next chapter took her to the Office of Public Works, where she spent eight years gaining extensive knowledge of castle grounds, estate management, and visitor accessibility standards. She worked on routes across Ireland's most iconic heritage sites, but she kept noticing the same gap: there weren't enough thoughtfully designed walks specifically for older adults. Walking routes that understood what mature visitors actually need—pace, seating, interesting stops, safe footing, and stories that matter.

In 2018, that observation became her mission. She began establishing partnerships with leisure centres and senior groups across Dublin, designing custom routes tailored to their needs and interests. Her expertise eventually led her to shanerakich Ltd, where she now focuses exclusively on creating walking experiences around landmarks like Malahide Castle and its estuary. What drives her is straightforward: age shouldn't limit access to Ireland's most beautiful spaces. She approaches every route with one philosophy—accessibility enhances the experience for everyone, not just older visitors.