London-Irish climber (24) is youngest to scale Everest

A LONDON-IRISH climber has laid claim to the record for the youngest Irish ascent of Mount Everest.

Anselm Murphy (24) was born in London but holds an Irish passport and has Wexford connections. He reached the top of the world’s highest mountain on May 21st with a commercial expedition company, Project Himalaya.

His ascent was made two days before that of Ian Taylor (29), a Kildare climber who aimed to set the “youngest Irish male” record as part of a climb for the Fields of Life school project in Uganda.

Samantha O’Carroll of Cork set the record, aged 28, for youngest female Irish Everest summiteer in May 2004.

Mr Taylor and his teammate Graham Kinch (29) return to Dublin this weekend. Mr Kinch had to turn around at 8,600m on Everest due to a torn muscle.