The successful Irish Everest team will arrive back in Cork this afternoon following their triumph over the world's highest mountain.
Corkman Mr Mick Murphy and Mr Ger McDonnell from Limerick battled against fierce weather to reach the summit on May 23rd, six days before the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's first ascent.
Mr Murphy became the third Irish man to conquer Everest, reaching the peak by the Hillary/Tenzing route on the south face of the mountain at 9.50 a.m. Nepalese time. He was joined by Mr McDonnell just over an hour later.
The five-member team, including expedition leader Mr Pat Falvey and climbers Ms Hannah Shields and Dr Clare O'Leary, will fly home to a public reception at Cork Airport from 2 p.m. today. A party for the climbers will be held at 6 p.m. in the Metropole Hotel in Cork City.
"They're in flying form, but they're fairly battered after 2½ months on the side of a mountain", the expedition co-ordinator, Ms Liadain Slattery said.
