Ailish Scanlon is a Dublin-based Rambler who grew up in Ballybofey, County Donegal, a place that continues to ground and inspire her. Grateful for her health, her independence, and the friendships she’s found through Sole Sister Ramblers, Ailish believes that at 64, age is nothing more than a number.
Where did you grow up, and what do you carry with you from that place?
I grew up in County Donegal, which I still consider the most beautiful part of Ireland. It has no railways, no motorways, and only a handful of traffic lights—but it more than makes up for that with magnificent hills (perfect for rambles), a multitude of unspoilt beaches, and the warmest, friendliest people you could ever meet. I’m lucky to still have a little place there where I can escape whenever the mood takes me.
Our family farm sat on the edge of a small but vibrant town, giving me the best of both worlds. I could walk or cycle into town to meet friends, but when I needed solitude, I was surrounded by fields, animals, and nature. I even had particular trees that I considered my own havens—places where I could retreat, think, and simply be.
What did childhood teach you about independence, movement, and curiosity?
I’m the middle child of five—two older siblings and two younger ones—which meant I learned independence early. Rather than asking my parents for lifts, I cycled everywhere, and that habit has stayed with me all my life. At 64, I still love cycling and see it as one of the greatest gifts my upbringing gave me.
That love has followed me far beyond Donegal. After my Sole Sisters trip to Vietnam, I found myself cycling in Cambodia, joining a beautiful route from Phnom Penh to Silk Island. Whether it’s walking, Rambling, or cycling, movement has always been my way of staying curious about the world.
What creative passions have stayed with you through the years?
Knitting has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandmother and mother knitted Aran sweaters, and I learned to knit at a very young age. When I was nine, I won a nationwide knitting competition, and that early encouragement lit a lifelong spark.
Today, I still knit constantly—often choosing to make a gift rather than buy one. I belong to a lively knitting club where we even attend cinema nights with the lights left on so we can continue crafting. I now embrace mistakes in my knitting; they make each piece truly unique and give it a story of its own.
How did work and volunteering shape your appreciation for people and connection?
My first proper job, beyond babysitting or helping on the farm, was in my uncle’s hotel when I was just 15. I worked in the bar during the summer and absolutely loved it. Although it would be illegal in several ways today, it taught me something invaluable—the art of conversation. It also gave me a deep respect for service staff, and to this day, I cannot tolerate anyone being rude to bar or waiting staff.
One of my most formative experiences came in the late 1980s when I volunteered in Majdanek, Poland, helping to turn a former concentration camp into a museum. This was before the Berlin Wall fell, and I knew very little about life on the other side. What I found were warm, generous people and a city that felt grey and colourless, yet rich in humanity. A small ginger-haired doll gifted to me by fellow volunteers remains my most treasured possession.
What lessons have you learned about perfection, ageing, and “enough”?
I have very few regrets in life, though I sometimes wish I’d eaten less sugar or taken better care of my skin. More importantly, I now recognise how damaging our childhood obsession with perfection could be. I remember my piano teacher hitting my knuckles with a ruler when I played a wrong note—it’s no wonder I avoided music for years. Now I play purely for enjoyment, mistakes and all.
I love being what I call a seenager. Like a teenager, but better. I have fewer responsibilities, a bit more money, far more confidence, and none of the career consequences. After 45 years of work—and being a reasonably good mother and daughter—I feel I’ve earned the right to live life on my own terms. I now strive for “enough,” and anything beyond that feels like a gift.
What role do travel and Sole Sister Ramblers play in your life today?
Travel has always been part of my life. Thanks to my brother’s job with DHL, I was able to travel extensively in the 1980s on very affordable flights, which opened my eyes to the world early on. Today, I feel incredibly fortunate to still have the energy, health, and confidence to travel often, volunteer abroad, and explore new places.
My husband doesn’t love airports or foreign travel, but he’s happy to see me go—and I think he’s just as relieved as I am that I found Sole Sister Ramblers. I often travel solo, which I enjoy, but I thoroughly loved the Sole Sisters trip to Vietnam and am very much looking forward to our Hadrian’s Wall adventure in May. Being part of this community has added friendship, shared curiosity, and a wonderful sense of freedom to this stage of my life.
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