Teen who broke summitting record among Cork people nominated for outdoor awards

Several Cork people are among a list of nominees for Outsider.ie’s annual People of the Year Awards which celebrate people who have achieved amazing feats on the Irish outdoor and adventure scene in 2024.

Cork nominees include Brian Foster, age 16, who became the first male to complete a two-way North Channel swim, covering 70km in 24 hours and 50 minutes.

Inspired by marathon swimmers at Sandycove Island, he trained relentlessly, balancing school and sport, explaining: “I was always committed to finishing the swim.”

Dillon Lynch, aged 17, became the youngest person to break the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for summiting all 32 county high points in Ireland in 2024 — an extraordinary feat completed in just 49 hours, 47 minutes, and 17 seconds.

Séan Ronayne, aged 35, has recorded over 10,000 bird species in Ireland, using his project to highlight the country’s ecological crisis. 

He documented species on the brink of extinction, like the last pair of Irish ring ouzels, explaining: “I wanted to woo people into fighting for Irish nature.”

Anaïs O’Donovan, aged 34, used her kayaking skills and all-round enthusiasm for paddle sports to raise over €15,000 for RNLI, through a 24-hour kayak around Cork city.

She said: “Picking the charity was easy, as if we ever get into difficulty on the water, the RNLI are the first people to help us out.”

Outsider’s 10th annual awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 27 in the Sugar Club, Dublin. The awards are supported by title sponsor Sport Ireland.

Outsider.ie editor Matthew McConnell said: “We are absolutely thrilled by the incredible nominees for the 2024 Outsider People of the Year Awards.

“Each year, the standards continue to soar, and this year it reached new heights. 

“The feats, adventures, and impactful contributions from individuals of all ages across Ireland’s outdoor community are nothing short of inspiring.”

Roisin Finlay, director of Outsider added: “When we first started the event, we focussed on achievements that showed more obvious sporting prowess but these days, we also celebrate the incredible individuals and groups that are protecting the outdoor environment and our eco-systems, and those who empower the more marginalised to enjoy nature and the great outdoors.”