A 24-year-old Limerick harpist, supported by an 18-person team, is making final preparations to set a new and unusual world record and raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.
Siobhán Brady was part of a team in 2018 that set a world record for the highest altitude harp performance which was set at Single Pass in India at a height of over 16,000ft.
Now, she is hoping to break that record on Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, by performing at 19,308ft.
Over the past two years, the team have been preparing for this world record attempt.
They have climbed some of Ireland's highest mountains a number of times including Carrauntoohil, Mount Brandon and Croagh Patrick as part of their preparations.
They have carried a 10kg harp in a special metal case up the mountains to prepare for the gruelling challenge ahead.
Ms Brady is currently training using low oxygen simulator equipment at her home in Limerick to prepare for performing at the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mr Brady said: "Oxygen levels at the peak can be very low and it does affect your memory.
"I have to perform for at least 18 minutes to set a new world record, so this equipment is helping me prepare, so as I don’t suffer from any memory slippage during the performance."
She plans to play a number of pieces on the Irish harp at the peak, including Ed Sheeran’s Little Bird in memory of Dublin teenager Triona Priestley who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis in 2014.
Ms Brady said: "When she was very ill in hospital Ed Sheeran got in contact with her family and sang Little Bird down the phone to her.
"When he finished Triona had passed away during the song. Ed has given us permission to perform the piece on the peak of Kilimanjaro in Triona’s memory."
A poem gifted by President Michael D Higgins will also be read at the peak.
The climb to the peak is expected to last five to six days through challenging conditions.
She said: "When we start it will be in a rainforest type environment, then it becomes grassier like Irish Mountains and finally through glacial type topography where temperatures can drop to -20C.
"We have prepared well for this, and the team are ready for the world record attempt."
All funds raised for the climb will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.
The team hope to begin their climb to the peak of Kilimanjaro in mid-July.
