Máire O'Sullivan

Máire discovered her passion for hillwalking while recovering from a knee injury at age 34. That setback sparked something unexpected — a deep interest in designing trails that work around physical limitations without sacrificing the outdoor experience. She realized there was a gap in the hiking world. Most guides weren't thinking about walkers over 50, and even fewer understood how to make adventure accessible without dumbing it down.

She earned her professional credentials through the Irish Mountain Guide Association in 2012, spending the next decade building expertise in trail accessibility, sustainable hiking practices, and age-appropriate fitness progression. Her breakthrough came in 2018 when she pioneered a series of gentle loop routes in Connemara specifically designed for walkers over 50. That work caught the attention of outdoor tourism boards across Ireland and changed the trajectory of her career entirely.

What drives her work is straightforward: age shouldn't be a barrier to experiencing Ireland's wild landscapes. She's documented over 40 day hikes and light trekking routes with detailed elevation profiles, rest points, and honest difficulty assessments. Her approach combines traditional Irish mountain knowledge passed down from her family with modern sports science and accessibility principles. The result is guides that are both technically accurate and genuinely useful for older walkers.

Máire studied Environmental Management at University College Cork, which gave her the scientific foundation for understanding trail impact and sustainable practices. But her real education came from thousands of hours on Irish mountains — from the rolling hills of Kerry to the dramatic peaks of the Mourne Mountains. She's worked with outdoor centers, tourism boards, and hiking groups across Ireland, always with the same goal: making sure no one misses out on adventure because of their age.

At slimsit Limited, she continues this mission by creating detailed, field-tested hiking guides that help adults rediscover adventure in their 50s, 60s, and beyond. Every guide reflects her philosophy — clear information, honest assessments, and a genuine belief that the best hikes are the ones you'll actually want to do.