Clare climbs to the top of the world

CLARE O’LEARY yesterday became the first Irish woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

“It feels pretty amazing,” Clare O’Leary, a doctor from Bandon, Co Cork, said as she stood on the peak of what the Tibetans call Chomolungma, or Mother Goddess of the World.

“A couple of times over the last few days I didn’t feel I was going to make it, to be honest. Then yesterday and today I started feeling stronger. I could see one of our Sherpas up ahead and I thought, God I’m going to do it.”

This was the 33-year-old’s second attempt to scale the world’s highest peak. Last year she was forced to turn back close to the summit when she suffered a stomach bug.

“I set out on St Patrick’s Day with one goal in mind and that was to reach the top and I’ve done it. I’m really proud to have this honour. The experience from our previous attempt has paid off this year and I can hardly express my happiness,” she said.

The Wyeth Irish Everest Expedition 2004 team, led by veteran mountaineer Pat Falvey, reached the summit at 6.45am local time (1.45am Irish time) after a nine-hour push from the team’s high camp at 26,000ft.

Yesterday’s success came at the end of two months on the mountain in preparation for the final climb by a team that includes Nepalese and Irish climbers.

Speaking by satellite phone from the summit, Pat Falvey said their climb had gone according to plan. “The weather was superb and we held up to savour the immense thrill and history of our achievement here for a few minutes. We have done what we set out to achieve and I’m just so excited.”

Clare spoke to her parents, Kevin and Alice, and sister Carol by telephone to tell them the good news.

Pat Falvey said his main concern was to get himself and the team back down to base camp safely.

“The expedition now down the mountain is a very dangerous one. I am just praying that everyone makes it down safe and well and then we can celebrate with our team here in Nepal before making our way home,” he said.

One of the very earliest congratulations to the team came from mountaineer Ger McDonnell, from Limerick and now living in Alaska. He reached the summit a year ago almost to the day with Mick Murphy, from West Cork, on a trip led by Pat Falvey. On that occasion Clare O’Leary was forced to abandon her climb with a stomach bug.

President Mary McAleese also sent a message of congratulations. “The people of Ireland are tremendously proud of your success and join with you today in your celebrations,” she said.

She ascribed Clare’s success to the “determination and talent of both you and your support team”.