Two Nepalese Sherpas reached the top of Mount Everest today to become the first to ascend the world's tallest peak this season ahead of the 50th anniversary of its conquest.
An Irish Everest expedition led by Corkman Mr Pat Falvey aims to make an attempt on the summit tonight.
The Irish team was due to leave the 7,000-metre Camp Three on Everest's southern flanks early this morning.
At 4.55 a.m. Irish time, Danuru Sherpa and Phu Nuru Sherpa reached the summit via the Tibetan route, which is considered more difficult than the more traditional paths from the Nepalese side.
The Sherpas, a mountain people of Tibetan origin, are the often forgotten keys to success of international expeditions with their ability to perform at high altitudes and knowledge of the Himalayas.
Twenty-five teams are trying to scale the mountain on the 50th anniversary of the first conquest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa on May 29th, 1953.
Additional reporting AFP