Wicklow mountaineer breaks world record

Sceala Clann T.D. Location: Wicklow

County Wicklow has a new world record holder and one of spectacular achievement.
Ian McKeever from Bray Co Wicklow man has broken the world record for being the fastest human being to reach the top of the seven highest mountains on each continent. The seven peaks climbed by the Irish world record mountaineer are Mount Vinson in Antarctica, Aconcagua in Argentina, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, Everest in Nepal, Elbrus in Russia and Mount McKinley US. Ian was climbing for Irish charity, for The Irish Osteoporosis Society and Sophia Housing and it is anticipated that the expedition will raise a total of €140,000.
The Irishman broke the record at Denali, Mount McKinley, US, yesterday at 8am. His world record achievement was completed in 154 days, smashing the old record by over a month; the seven peaks mountaineering record was held by Canadian, Daniel Griffith, who completed the rare challenge in 187 days.
Speaking this morning by satellite, Mr McKeever said the weather was horrendous and it took him three attempts to summit.
'I feel very proud to be Irish at the moment and I feel great. I can't believe I've finally done it', he said.
Phoning from camp this morning at 14,000ft, he said it had taken him almost 12 hours to descend from the summit.
Ian will return to Ireland later in the week.

Shout for the Wicklow superman ..he is a tough one.
Ian recently completed a record breaking 100 hour challenge ..climbing all 26 peaks in Ireland in under 100 hours.
In 1995, Ian voluntarily began ‘Operation Rudolph’ which for 10 years raised hundreds of thousands of euro for various good causes.
In 2002 Operation Rudolph partnered successfully with Ulster Bank and Pfizer to set a new world record for the largest temporary coin mural in the world. The mural, made out of 1.6 million coins, signified the change from the Irish pound to the euro. The €75,000 cash value of the mural was donated to various beneficiaries including the ISPCC and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland.
In June 2004 Ian was a member of the team of four individuals to set a new world record for the ‘5 peaks’ challenge.
In July 2005, Ian and two members of the team set a new record for the most mountain climbed in the fastest time by scaling Croagh Patrick seven times in 17 hours or 35,000 feet in less than 1,080 minutes.

Ian is back home .. from RTE news
Broadcaster and mountaineer Ian McKeever has received a warm welcome at Dublin Airport following his return from setting a new world record for climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Mr Keever said it was fantastic to be back on level ground and to be able to walk without feeling like falling over.

He said the high point of the trip was reaching the top of Aconcagua in South America, which was his first ever high altitude climb.
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He said the low point was the snow blindness he sustained on Mount Everest.

Since 25 January, the 37-year-old from Wicklow has climbed over 42,000m on seven continents.

He scaled the final peak, Denali in Alaska, last week, setting a new world record for climbing all seven mountains in 155 days. The previous record of 187 days was held by Canadian David Griffith.

The final mountain involved three attempts due to bad weather. Mr McKeever's aim was to raise €140,000, €1 for every foot climbed, for the Irish Osteoporosis Society and Sophia Housing. His father, Niall, said he was very proud of his son's achievement.

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Wicklow mountaineer breaks world record