President welcomes home polar team

Updated: 22:16, Friday, 18 January 2008

Ireland's South Pole explorers met President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin this evening.

1 of 2 Beyond Endurance Expedtion reached South Pole on 8 Jan
Beyond Endurance
Expedtion reached South Pole on 8 Jan
2 of 2 Dr Clare O'Leary First Irish woman to reach the South Pole
Dr Clare O'Leary
First Irish woman to reach the South Pole

Ireland's South Pole explorers met President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin this evening.

Mrs McAleese told them the whole country had taken pride in their achievement.

Team Beyond Endurance became the first Irish team to successfully trek across Antartica to the South Pole.

It included the first Irish woman, Dr Clare O'Leary, to reach the Pole.

The team arrived home last night to a rousing welcome at Cork airport. Some 500 people turned out to greet them.

Mr Pat Falvey and Dr O'Leary, along with Shaun Menzies and Jonathan Bradshaw, arrived home exhausted but exhilarated after their 58-day adventure.

The Irish squad arrived at the Amendsen Scott South Pole Station at 7.28pm on 8 January, having trekked 1,140km across Antartica hauling 150kg sleds through icy winds, sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms, honouring Irish Antartic explorers Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has also invited the team to Stormont.

For more information visit www.beyondendurance.ie/

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