On September 27, 2013 long-distance hiker Cotton Joe Norman from North Carolina became the first walker to complete the recently launched IAT Ireland, from Slieve League to Larne. From there he crosses the Irish Sea to IAT Scotland, where he plans to walk from the Mull of Galloway to Cape Wrath. Cotton Joe volunteered with the IATNL for four summers, from 2006 to 2010.
His adventure began on August 31 when he participated in the official launch of IAT Ireland at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, Northern Ireland. He then traveled with IAT Ireland Donegal Coordinator Inga Bock to the landfall start at Slieve League on the Atlantic Coast in Donegal.