New theatrical show takes the top of the world to the stage

Pat Falvey’s new theatre show tells how a builder from the north side of Cork climbed Everest and undertook other great feats of exploration, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

Modern-day explorer Pat Falvey knew he was following in the footsteps of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition when he led a team of 32 across the South Georgia Traverse, but he certainly didn’t expect that he would still be following in Shackleton’s footsteps by taking to the stage at Cork Opera House.

Gurranbraher-born Falvey has led over 100 gruelling expeditions to some of the remotest parts of the planet in his 30-year career as a mountaineer and polar explorer. He led the team that saw fellow Corkonian Clare O’Leary become the first Irish woman to reach the summit of Everest, and was the first person in the world to complete the Seven Summits challenge twice, including Mount Everest from the north and south sides.