First Irish woman reaches summit of Everest

A Co Cork doctor has become the first Irish woman ever to successfully climb Mount Everest.

Dr Clare O'Leary (33) from Bandon, Co Cork, arrived at the 29,035-feet high peak of the Himalayan giant at around 1.45 a.m. Irish time.

President Mary McAleese congratulated Dr O'Leary. "The people of Ireland are tremendously proud of your success and join with you today in your celebrations", she said.

Speaking from the summit this morning, Dr O'Leary said: "I set out on St Patrick's Day with one goal in mind and that was to reach the top and I've done it. I'm really proud to have this honour." She was accompanied by the leader of the expedition, Mr Pat Falvey, making him the first Irish person to reach the summit from both the Tibetan and Nepalese sides.

Mr Falvey said: "We are so proud to be Irish standing on top of the world because it's now we can hear the national anthem ringing in our ears as if we had won a gold medal at the Olympics.

"We are completely out of breath, the air up here is 33 per cent of what it is at the foot, we're absolutely knackered," he said. "It's the first time in the history of the world that an Irish man and an Irish woman are standing on top of the world."

Dr O'Leary was also a member of the Irish Everest Expedition 2003, and reached a personal record height of 24,500 before being forced to turn around. She has climbed extensively in Africa, Alaska, South America, the Himalayas, the Alps and Scotland.

The final nine-hour push by the team including Nepali and Irish climbers came at the end of two months on the mountain in preparation.

The Irish expedition left Ireland on St Patrick's Day and over the past six weeks  has prepared for their summit attempt through acclimatisation climbs on the mountain's lower reaches while establishing camps and storing supplies to aid them in their bid.

Unfortunately, Mr John Joyce (43), a climber and ex-professional basketball player from Tuam, Co Galway, was forced to abandon the climb four weeks ago due to exhaustion and altitude sickness.

Six Irish  people have now reached the summit: Mr Dawson Stelfox (1993); Mr Pat Falvey (1995 & 2004); Mr Terrence 'Banjo' Bannon (2003); Mr Mick Murphy (2003); Mr Ger McDonnell (2003) and Dr Clare O'Leary (2004).