Barefoot Across Europe - Eamonn Keaveney nears the end of his 6,000km odyssey

For ten months, Eamonn Keaveney has walked across Europe without shoes. From the bustling streets of Istanbul, over the jagged Balkan mountains, along the winding Danube, and through France, England, and Wales.

He has faced snow, heatwaves, thunderstorms, wild animals, and the relentless grind of gravel and thorns underfoot—a journey of more than 6,000 kilometres, a feat that would put even Odysseus to shame.

Now, as he nears his hometown of Claremorris, county Mayo, the end of this epic barefoot odyssey is finally in sight.

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Last week, this lonesome traveller wandered into Tipperary like a figure straight out of a Wild West movie—windswept, backpack slung over his shoulders, and, of course, barefoot.

Eamonn Keaveney, 33, is originally from Claremorris, county Mayo, and had been working as a civil servant in Dublin before taking a career break to pursue a feat of vaulting ambition: the longest barefoot walk in the world.

He first set the Irish record in 2016, walking around the country, but the world record—held by Polish man Pawel Durakiewicz at 3,410 kilometres—still stood as a formidable challenge.

Eamonn began his world record breaking journey in Istanbul in March 4 2025, heading northwest toward the Bulgarian border before crossing the Balkan mountains.

From there he entered the bottom left corner of Romania, moving on to Hungary, where he spent months following the Blue Trail.

Austria came next, with Vienna marking the furthest point his girlfriend, Ellie O’Fegan, accompanied him, before he followed the Danube through southern Germany and accross the rest of Europe.

 The journey has tested him in ways few could imagine. His feet, though toughened, grow sore as each day drags on, and his back aches under the weight of a heavy backpack.

Weather has been equally relentless: snow in Germany, thunderstorms in Hungary, and heatwaves across the continent, not to mention the chill and damp of early mornings that make every step a trial. 

Encounters with wildlife added another layer of danger—he was bitten on the backside by a feral dog in Turkey and once came face to face with a wild boar and its piglets in Hungary, prompting a sprint that left adrenaline and mud in equal measure.

In Bulgaria, suspiciously large bear droppings sent him into a chorus of noisy songs across the mountains, a makeshift alarm to warn off any real predators.

“There could be parts on the trip where you would have a bad day and feel overwhelmed by the amount of distance left,” he admits.

“I got very used to being physically uncomfortable all the time. That thought struck me when I was eating a sandwich at the side of the road in France in the rain and I was starting to get cold, but I knew I would warm up again once I started moving.” Almost as if discomfort itself has become a familiar companion. 

Despite the extremes he faces on the road, Keaveney has developed a meticulous daily routine to keep the journey manageable.

Evenings are spent logging progress in his journal, making videos for social media, showering, eating, and planning the next few days’ route. “There’s always loads to do,” he says, whether it’s catching up with family and friends online.

In Clonmel last week, Maher’s shop offered him a breakfast roll and a supply of provisions for the road. He has now already broken the world record with more to go, he is currently in Cork. 

Along the way, he has raised over €10,000 for Friends of the Earth and Jigsaw, championing environmental causes and mental health support for young people.

Now, as Keaveney nears Claremorris, the end of his barefoot journey is finally in sight. After ten months on the road he said: “I’m looking forward to going to the Corner House in the Square, having a few pints, and not having to walk anywhere the following day!”

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