Irish adventurers reach southern tip of earth's axis

Irish adventurers Pat Falvey, Dr Clare O'Leary and colleagues made history last night after reaching the southern tip of the earth's axis after a gruelling 1,100km trek across Antarctica.

"Very excited . . . and totally wrecked," was how Falvey, the 50-year old Cork expedition businessman, described his form and that of his three colleagues after their 58-day trek.

The group finally made it to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station at 7.28pm Irish time and 4.28pm, Chilean time.

President Mary McAleese last night congratulated the team on its achievement. "Occurring one century after fellow Irishman Ernest Shackleton's first attempt on the pole, the expedition's achievement is particularly poignant."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern congratulated the group last night on the completion of their epic trek to the South Pole. "You are continuing a proud tradition of Irish adventurers and you should be very proud of your wonderful achievement,"he said.

With Falvey and O'Leary were IT-specialists Jonathan Bradshaw (36) and Shaun Menzies (42) of Dublin, while the group's mascot is Freddy T Bear, and Niall Foley ran their communications base back home.

The group says its Beyond Endurance expedition is paying tribute to former Irish adventurers such as Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean and the McCarthy brothers of Cork. Speaking to The Irish Times last night by satellite telephone, Falvey said he was "frozen cold", but delighted, after 58 days with some "terrible weather, including 14 days of whiteout".

"Of the 52 expeditions I've done, this has been the hardest in a very hostile environment, and the nomadic ice travelling takes its toll," he said.

"We were down to one pack of food - and you have to be self-sufficient when you arrive at the South Pole. It is an incredibly emotional experience to be here with the Irish flag." The expedition members had borrowed and sold what they owned to finance the total venture, including an Irish traverse across Greenland.

"We would have loved to have completed the traverse of Antarctica, but that would have cost an extra €0.25 million that we didn't have," he said.

Falvey sustained some frostnip on his thumb and injured his back, while both Menzies and Bradshaw pulled Achilles tendons. "Otherwise we are fine, and delighted," he said.

An Irish record has already been set at the South Pole, as Kerry mountaineer Mike Barry undertook a similar trek in 51 days three years ago this month,as part of an international expedition. However, Falvey's group is the first Irish team to make it.

Dr O'Leary (35), also becomes the first Irish woman to do so. The gastroenterologist based at Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, is a highly accomplished mountaineer and the first Irish woman to make a successful Everest ascent - which she completed in May 2004.

She also holds the distinction of being the first Irish woman and second Irish climber to complete the "seven summits" of the world's seven highest peaks.

The Irish group was due to spend last night at the Amundsen-Scott research station run by the US National Science Foundation. Outdoor temperatures at the station last night were minus 22 degrees, with a windchill of over 30 degrees. They are expected to fly out from Antarctica to South America, en route home, tomorrow, if weather permits.