Eamonn Keaveney, a 34-year-old Irishman, reclaimed the Guinness world record for the longest barefoot walk after completing a journey of 6,805.83 kilometers between Turkey and Ireland. The challenge lasted 369 days, and he arrived in his hometown, Claremorris, on March 7, 2026. During the expedition, which began in Istanbul on March 4, 2025, he crossed Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, England, Wales and Ireland.
Keaveney had previously set this same record in 2016, with a walk of 2,080.14 km in Ireland. In 2024, Pawel Durakiewicz, from Poland, raised the mark to 3,409.75 km. Keaveney's new result surpasses the previous record by more than 3,396 km, representing a considerable leap compared to previous records.
During the journey, the Irishman suffered a fracture and stings on his feet, facing significant physical difficulties along the route. Despite the obstacles, he managed to complete the walk and establish a new milestone in the history of barefoot walking world records.