Aoife O'Donnell

I didn't plan on becoming an outdoor activities specialist. When I finished my degree in Landscape Architecture at University College Dublin, I thought I'd end up designing urban parks or commercial developments. But that changed in 2010 when I joined Kildare County Council's Parks and Amenities Department.

For six years, I worked on trail development and community recreation programmes. The work was solid — we were building good paths, maintaining green spaces, running organised activities. But something was missing. We were designing routes for everyone, which meant we weren't really designing for anyone.

The turning point came in 2015. I was commissioned to conduct an accessibility audit of Castletown House parklands. That project changed everything. Walking through those magnificent avenues with an older adult who couldn't navigate the terrain properly — watching someone miss out on that experience because of a poorly-placed step or missing rest point — it crystallised what I needed to do.

I completed postgraduate certification in Heritage Site Management through the Irish Heritage Trust and shifted my focus entirely. Every route I design now starts with a question: who are we excluding, and how do we fix that?

Since joining medipian Ltd in 2018, I've developed over 20 documented walking routes across Kildare. More importantly, I've learned that designing for older adults, people with mobility considerations, and families — that actually makes better routes for everyone. Better signage, clearer terrain information, thoughtful rest points. These aren't accommodations. They're just good design.