Women With Altitude

Rita Connell

Rita has been a regular hillwalker for over twenty years. She has walked extensively in Ireland and in many countries around the world. She is a member of Blayney Ramblers and is club secretary. Rita is currently on the Board of Directors of Mountaineering Ireland and is also a member of the WWA organising committee.

Colette Mahon

Colette enjoys exploring mountain areas, scrambling, and climbing of all types. Involved in mountaineering since 1990, she qualified as a Mountain Leader in 1996, a Rock climbing Instructor in 2015 and is a Mountain Skills Provider. A member of Wexford Hillwalking/Mountaineering Club, Colette is regularly involved in Navigation training, leading club walks/scrambles and also assists in running weekly Summer climbing sessions at the local crag for both new and experienced members.

Colette is a former member of the Board of Directors of Mountaineering Ireland.

Ruth Whelan

One of Ruth’s goals as Hillwalking Development Officer for Mountaineering Ireland is to increase female participation, but also to encourage the skill development of women and girls already involved in the sport. She has been actively involved in hillwalking and climbing for many years. exploring various mountains/crags in Ireland and abroad. Her studies at UCD also had a women in sport focus, having completed a research masters on the perception of women leaders in sport and a dissertation on the motives to participate in rock climbing and the risk involved. Ruth is delighted to be the Mountaineering Ireland’s staff representative for Women With Altitude.

Maike Juergens

Maike got into mountaineering through trail and mountain running. She is a keen mountain runner and always up for an adventurous day in the hills. She likes using and expanding her navigation and mountaineering skills in hill races and orienteering events or simply during long days walking in the hills in Ireland and abroad. Maike particularly loves the encouraging and welcoming atmosphere of Women With Altitude events. She has been a member of the organising committee since 2016.

Ursula Timmins

Ursula lives and works in Waterford and loves nothing more than spending her free time in the hills with friends. She is a qualified mountain leader and wilderness EMT and proud member of South Eastern Mountain Rescue (SEMRA) and Wexford Hillwalking/Mountaineering Club. Ursula is delighted to be involved in pushing the boundaries of women in sport through the Women with Altitude organising committee.

Oonagh Kelly

Oonagh is a qualified Rock Climbing Instructor and is currently working towards her Mountain Leader qualification. She spent two years formally training in Cappanalea Outdoor Education & Training Centre - now Kerry College and is passionate about transferring her knowledge and skills to those seeking adventure and experiences in the outdoors. Alongside her full-time role she freelances, teaching rock climbing to individuals and groups. Oonagh is delighted to be part of the organising team for the Women with Altitude event, carrying forward the significant and meaningful work that has taken place since it’s inception in 2011.

Caoilainn McDaid

Caoilainn joined the Mountaineering Ireland team in 2023 in the new role of Administrator. She is an avid hiker and is currently training towards her Mountain Leader Award. In 2022, she completed a six-month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in the US. Caoilainn is passionate about encouraging women to take on new challenges in the outdoors, and she is delighted to be one of the staff members on the Women With Altitude organising group.