NEW ZEALAND:New Zealand is to hold a state funeral for the explorer and mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, who died yesterday.
Tributes were paid across the world to Sir Edmund, who conquered Mount Everest in Nepal in 1953.
Conveying her condolences to Lady Hillary and the people of New Zealand, President Mary McAleese said, "Sir Edmund was a true inspiration to others, an outstanding example of leadership and courage. He will be remembered forever, along with Tenzing Norgay, as the first to conquer Mount Everest - on that day in May 1953, the world heralded true heroes."
In Co Kerry yesterday the late mountaineer was warmly remembered from his visit when he was made a freeman of Tralee in 2002. He had officially opened an exhibition in the Kerry County Museum dedicated to early 20th century explorations of Antarctica, including the exploits of Kerryman Tom Crean.
In Nepal, Sherpa friends of Sir Edmund lit butter lamps and offered Buddhist prayers in monasteries for the mountaineer, calling him a great philanthropist and friend of Nepal.
Having scaled Mount Everest with Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund spent much of his life afterwards helping Sherpa communities, including projects to build hospitals and schools. In 2003 the government conferred honorary Nepali citizenship on Sir Edmund in recognition of his services to the people and the Solukhumbu region, where Mount Everest is located. The Nepali government said his death was an "irreparable" loss. -