Siobhan O'Sullivan

Siobhan's passion for Ireland's outdoors began during her university years at UCD, where she initially studied environmental management and spent weekends exploring the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. After graduating in 2010, she worked as a trail coordinator for the Irish Wildlife Trust for five years, gaining intimate knowledge of park ecosystems and trail maintenance across multiple regions. This hands-on experience shaped everything she writes today.

The transition to outdoor writing felt natural. She'd spent years understanding how trails work — not just as places to walk, but as managed ecosystems requiring careful stewardship. Her early freelance pieces focused on combining practical navigation details with the actual sensory experience of each location. Readers noticed the difference. She wasn't just telling them where to go — she was helping them understand what they'd see, smell, and feel along the way.

In 2017, she completed her International Mountain Leader qualification, which deepened her expertise in risk assessment and route planning. That same year, her breakthrough came with a viral series on Phoenix Park's lesser-known circuits that attracted over 150,000 readers. Suddenly, editors were requesting her work. Major outdoor publications wanted her voice because she'd done the research — actually walked every route, tested the difficulty ratings, and documented seasonal changes.

Today as Senior Outdoor Trails Editor at fentyrihanna Limited, she continues that commitment to field research. She personally walks and cycles every route she recommends. She checks weather patterns, talks to park rangers, photographs landmarks, and takes notes on actual trail conditions. That's why her guides work. They're not theoretical — they're written by someone who's been there, who knows what you'll encounter, and who genuinely wants you to have a great experience exploring Ireland's landscapes.