Some 50 years since the first ascent of Everest, and a decade since the first Irish team climbed that summit, a group of mountaineers led by a Corkman, Mr Pat Falvey, is returning to the world's highest peak.
The Irish Everest Expedition 2003 aims to set several records. It hopes to achieve the first successful ascent by an Irish woman, and the first ascent by Irish climbers of the mountain's southern route from Nepal.
Mr Dawson Stelfox, a Belfast architect and mountain guide, took the route from Tibet when he became the first Irishman on the 29,028ft summit in May 1993.
Two years later, in 1995, Mr Pat Falvey also took that route to the top of Everest. Mr Falvey (45) has climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents. He is a full-time adventurer, team-trainer and "motivational speaker".
The deputy leader of the new expedition is Mr Mick Murphy, a keen mountaineer who was on the successful 1993 Everest expedition. Mr Murphy is a keen sailor and canoeist, teaches building construction and owns an outdoor pursuit centre in west Cork.
The two women on the team are Ms Clare O'Leary (31), a doctor at Cork University Hospital, and Ms Hannah Shields (37), a Derry dentist.
Also in the group are Mr George Shorten (41), an anaesthetist at Cork University Hospital, and Mr Gerard McDonnell,originally from Kilcornan, Co Limerick, who has worked as an automation engineer in Alaska.
