Waterford man crowned winner of Outsider Man of the Year Awards 2023

The winners of the Outsider Awards 2023 have been announced.

Waterford Man Ian O'Brien was crowned winner of Outsider Man of the Year for his incredible post Parkinsons diagnosis expedition where he climbed the 28 highest mountains in Europe in 28 days! 

With 14 categories in total, the Outsider Awards celebrate people and organisations that are doing amazing things outside
mainstream sport on the Irish outdoor and adventure scene.

Most of the winners and nominees are just regular people who are quietly taking on extraordinary challenges and these awards shine a spotlight on their inspirational achievements.

The title sponsor of the awards was Sport Ireland Outdoors. The awards were also supported by Leave No Trace Ireland, Craghoppers, Salewa, The Sustainable Tourism Network, and Vagabond Tours.

In addition to the awards, a Leave No Trace ‘Love This Place’ discussion panel shone a light on the great conservation work that people in the outdoors community are undertaking.

The accolades were handed out by Dr Karen Weekes at a ceremony in the Sugar Club on Leeson Street in Dublin on Wednesday 21 February 2024. Weekes is an endurance athlete who last year became the first Irish woman to row the Atlantic solo.

Speaking about the awards, Sport Ireland CEO Dr. Úna May said:

"We are thrilled to sponsor the Outsider People of the Year Awards 2023, an event that celebrates the remarkable achievements and contributions of individuals in the world of outdoor sports and adventure. At Sport Ireland, we are passionate about supporting and promoting participation and excellence in all forms of sport, and we are proud to celebrate the winners who inspire us all to push our limits and explore the great outdoors."

Speaking about the awards, co-founder of Outsider.ie, Roisin Finlay stated:

“This is the ninth year that we have run the Outsider Awards. When we started, it was a tiny event with a big soul and it has grown into just an amazing night celebrating such brilliant people. Sponsors like Sport Ireland Outdoors, Leave No Trace and Craghoppers have allowed us to grow the event - not just in numbers, but in spirit, ambition and depth.

“We are so proud to now have a much more holistic approach to our awards. Yes we still have the same now-expected list of just mind-blowing achievements on the Irish outdoor scene – but we are also so proud to have grown our environmental and conservation focus as well as our focus on diversity and inclusion. Because we believe that being outdoors is powerful, healing and life-changing – and that we all have a part to play in protecting the amazing natural resources that we are so blessed to have.”

A full list of the winners can be found here