The first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest reached the summit early this morning.
Dr Clare O'Leary, 33, from Bandon in Co Cork, reached the top of the world's highest mountain at around 1.45am Irish time, along with the expedition leader, Pat Falvey.
Last year she was a member of the Irish Everest expedition which tried to put the first Irish woman on top of the mountain but became ill at 24,500 feet. This year there were no such problems.
Speaking to her parents and sister from the summit, Dr O'Leary said she could hardly express how happy she was to have achieved this goal.
President Mary McAleese congratulated Dr O'Leary on her achievement. She said it was a testament to the climber's determination and talent.
