A four-strong team has made history today as the first Irish expedition to reach the South Pole.
The team - leader Pat Falvey (50), Dr Clare O'Leary (35), Jonathan Bradshaw (36) and Shaun Menzies (42) - arrived at their destination this evening after covering the final 23 kilometres today.
They have been trekking since November through some of the harshest conditions known to man, battling icy winds, sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms.
The squad, who make up the Beyond Endurance expedition, have travelled around 1,100km, with each member hauling a sledge weighing over 150kg.
Deputy team leader Dr O'Leary is the first Irish woman to make it to the South Pole. Before today she was the first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest and also the first to complete the Seven Summits Challenge.
Mr Menzies and Mr Bradshaw are relatively inexperienced high-altitude trekkers who were invited to join the expedition.
"This a very historic occasion. It is very exciting. It shows that Ireland can play its part in polar exploration," spokesman Niall Foley said from the team's base in Killarney, Co Kerry.