Longford man Paul Devaney caught the mountaineering bug by accident on a holiday trek to see Mount Everest in 2005. Nine years later he is back in its shadows but this time preparing to climb the highest peak on the planet as part of the seventh and final leg of an amazing journey around the world’s most challenging mountains.

AN adventurer from Co Mayo will climb Croagh Patrick today and complete a remarkable record — hiking up the holy mountain every day for the past year.

WHILE the rest of Ireland is tucking into turkey and ham, Westport man Matt Loughrey will be climbing Croagh Patrick for a staggering 204th consecutive day.