Official Opening of ‘The Clare O’ Leary Walkway’, Bandon, Co. Cork
 
In honour of the achievements of Bandon-born mountaineer and adventurer Clare O’ Leary, the official opening of ‘The Clare O’ Leary Walkway’ will take place on Saturday November 30th at 2pm.
The official opening will be conducted by Cllr. Noel O’ Connor, Mayor of County Cork and Dr. Clare O’ Leary will be in attendance on the day.
The Clare O’ Leary Walkway follows the path of the old Cork – Bandon Railway parallel to the N71 for a distance of approximately 3km and is accessed via the public car park approx 2.8km past Innishannon on the left-hand side of the N71 heading towards Bandon.
Bandon Town Council initially proposed that the popular railway walk between Bandon & Innishannon be officially named ‘The Clare O’ Leary Walkway’ in honour of the outstanding achievements of Bandon woman, Clare O’ Leary. This proposal was then taken to the Bandon Area Committee where it gained the support of Cork County Council.
Clare O’ Leary is one of the world’s leading female adventurers and high-altitude climbers. Her accomplishments include:
– being the first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest (2004),  
– scaling the Seven Summits (The highest mountain on each continent)
– Climbing Ama Dablam’ in the Himalayas
– Skiing across the Greenland Iceland cap.
– Skiing to the South Pole
In February of 2013 Clare O’ Leary and fellow adventurer Mike O’ Shea successfully travelled the length (778km) of the frozen Lake Baikal; the planet’s oldest and deepest lake; in Eastern Siberia.  Clare O’ Leary is also a patron of the Cork University Hospital Charity and works as a Gastroenterology Consultant.