'Mount Crean' named among Greenland peaks

KERRY POLAR explorer Tom Crean, who served with both Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Henry Shackleton, now has a Greenland mountain bearing his name.

A 700m peak in eastern Greenland was given the title last week by a group of Irish mountaineers who are now en route home from an expedition to the area.

The climbers, who undertook the expedition to raise funds for the Irish charity, Debra, also dedicated a peak to the charity, and to Scouting Ireland.

They named an upland range after Charles Barrington, the Irishman who first climbed the 3,970m Eiger in Switzerland in 1858.

Irish climber Myles Campion, Bill Roberts, who is originally from Scotland, and Greg Slingerland from South Africa share connections with Delgany, Co Wicklow. They recorded ascents of 10 previously unclimbed eastern Greenland peaks on the trip, and said that approval had been given to register the names.

Greenland is an autonomous state but under the kingdom of Denmark.

The climbers hope to present a picture of Mount Crean, as one of the peaks is now known, to relatives of the late explorer. They also flew the 11th Wicklow Delgany scouts flag over Mount Scouting Ireland, they say. Between them, they have climbed Gunnbjornsfjeld, the highest mountain north of the Arctic circle, Mont Blanc, the Eiger, and numerous 4,000m-plus peaks in the Alps.

Mr Roberts, a lawyer and non-executive director of investment funds, skied the last degree to the South Pole in 2005.

Conditions were initially good, with a spectacular glimpse of the Northern Lights on their first night, they said. Some of the most difficult parts of the expedition involved the approaches to the peaks.

Mr Campion said he was privileged to be part of the venture which aimed to raise awareness and funds for Debra, and he paid tribute yesterday to the sponsors.

Debra Ireland provides patient support services and encourages research into treatments and cures for those living with the genetic skin condition epidermolysis bullosa.