First Irishman braves world’s toughest climb

A CO LIMERICK adventurer yesterday became the first Irish man to reach the summit of the world’s second-highest mountain, K2.

Gerard McDonnell, 37, from Kilcornan, made it to the peak with a band of Dutch explorers at about 3pm Irish time.

The group have been on the mammoth expedition for the past eight weeks, battling sub-zero temperatures.