Irish civil servant Eamonn Keaveney has reclaimed his record for the longest barefoot journey by trekking 6,805.83 kilometres (4,228.94 miles) from Istanbul, Türkiye, to his hometown of Claremorris, Mayo, Ireland. Completing the journey in 369 days on 7 March, Keaveney covered a distance greater than the distance of the continental United States, navigating diverse terrains and battling through all types of weather without his shoes on.
Breaking the Previous Barefoot Journey Record
Keaveney surpassed the previous mark of 3,409.75 km (2,118.72 mi) established by Poland’s Pawel Durakiewicz in 2024 by a margin of nearly 100 percent. Back in 2016, Keaveney initially established the record by traversing Ireland on foot over a distance of 2,080.14 km (1,292.54 mi). Speaking about his motivation to tackle a continental crossing, the 34-year-old noted that having walked around a country, crossing a continent seemed the next logical step. Beyond his pedestrian achievements, Keaveney also achieved the fastest crossing of Ireland by unicycle (male) in 2023 in 5 days 5 hr 23 min.
Physical Toll and Weather Challenges of a Year-Long Trek
Carrying a backpack full of supplies actually proved to be the most uncomfortable part of the journey, according to Eamonn. Walking long days on asphalt wore the skin away on his soles, sometimes to the point of bleeding, while thorns and small pieces of glass pricked his feet. Near the end of the trip, a blackthorn caused an infection in his foot that took him off the road for a full week, and he unfortunately stubbed one of his toes badly enough to get a small fracture, just a week before the end, that took over a month to heal. Weather also created major obstacles, being brutally hot in summer, especially while walking through Hungary, and having the opposite problem later when he ended up walking through winter.
Did you know? Despite wearing away skin and sustaining minor fractures, it only took a week or so for the soles to get better, as the skin regenerates quite quickly when he’s not walking.
The Route from Turkey to Ireland
Starting in Istanbul, Eamonn plotted out a route beforehand that served as a loose guideline while he had the following few days planned out at a time. From Istanbul, he headed northwest into Bulgaria, then on to Romania, Hungary and Austria, before continuing more directly through Germany to France, then England, Wales and finally Ireland, and on to his hometown of Claremorris. Throughout the trek, he encountered thousands of weird looks, though he thankfully only had issues with shops and restaurants a handful of times despite not having any shoes with him at all. Kindness from strangers defined much of the trip, including a memorable encounter near the start, in a town called Süloğlu in northwestern Türkiye, where a Turkish man, his daughter-in-law, and grandkids invited him in for coffee and breakfast and the granddaughter drew him a little map showing him where the hospital was after a dog bit him on the backside the day before.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did Eamonn Keaveney’s barefoot walk take?
The journey took 369 days, arriving on 7 March after starting in Istanbul.
What distance did he cover without shoes?
He trekked 6,805.83 kilometres (4,228.94 miles).
Did he face any medical setbacks during the hike?
Yes, he dealt with bleeding soles, a blackthorn infection that took him off the road for a full week, and a toe fracture just a week before the end.
What do you think of this endurance feat?
Would you ever attempt to walk across a continent without shoes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and explore our site for more inspiring human interest stories.
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