A PLAQUE has been erected on the top of Carrauntoohil, Ireland's highest mountain, in memory of Ger McDonnell, the Co Limerick climber who died descending the summit of K2 in August.
The erection of the plaque near the cross on the summit was accompanied by a musical tribute.
On August 1st last the 37-year-old became the first Irishman to climb the 8,611m (28,250ft) K2, the world's second-highest mountain, located in the Himalayas on the Pakistan-Chinese border. He was killed during his descent the next day when hit by an ice-fall.
He had stopped to help three other climbers who were in difficulty when he was struck.
Ten other climbers lost their lives in the avalanche. The team erecting the plaque to his memory included four "Irish Everesters" - Pat Falvey, Clare O'Leary, John Dowd and Newry mountaineer Terence "Banjo" Bannon, Mr Falvey said.
The family of the dead mountaineer, as well as his partner, Annie Starkey, were also in Kerry for the commemoration, which included the erection of a second memorial and a prayer ceremony at Cronin's Yard, the traditional starting point for Carrauntoohil, on St Stephen's Day.
Having lived in Alaska for 10 years, Mr McDonnell returned twice a year, and climbing Carrauntoohil on St Stephen's Day was top of his Christmas list, Mr Falvey said. "He loved to climb this mountain," he added.
