Sir, – In marking the successful first Irish ascent of Everest in 1993 (An Irishman’s Diary, April 2nd), John G Dwyer overlooks the growth of mountaineering-based tourism in the Alps and other similar areas throughout the world. Attempting Everest always involved huge sums – raised from sponsors (often equipment suppliers) and sometimes underwritten by public funding. Some of these sums always went to sherpas, just as in earlier times guides (eg Swiss, French, German, Italian) were paid for taking the risks of bringing people to Alpine summits. I do not see that what is now happening in the Himalayas to be less contentious (or less challenging for both expedition organisers and participants) than what emerged in other places following first ascents of the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, etc. – Yours, etc,
DONAL Ó BROLCÁIN,
Griffith Avenue,Dublin 9.