WITNESSING the sun rise and expose the curvature of planet Earth was a humbling thrill for Crecora man David Keating, who survived scaling the mountain’s peak this summer.
The spring climbing season on Mount Everest officially closed in late May, just after the 58-year-old became the oldest Irish person to reach the dizzy heights of the snow-capped summit – all 29,032 challenging foot of it – beating Martin Byrnes of Offaly by 59 Days.
Nine climbers have died or gone missing on the Himalayan peak so far in 2024. 18 souls were lost in the ice-cold challenge in 2023.
The task at hand was not lost on Keating, who paid tribute to the late Limerick adventurer Ger McDonnell, of Kilcornan, who summited Everest in 2003, and who died along with 10 other climbers in an avalanche while descending K2 in what was the deadliest accident in the mountain’s history.
“It was an honour and humbling experience to stand on top of the world, to be in the company of the great Limerick adventurer Gerard McDonnell, and others such as Mark Quinn, Brian Meskell, and Robert Mortell who went before me,” said Keating, who is director of Ei Electronics in Shannon, County Clare, when he’s not drop-kicking climbing spikes into ice-caked mountains.
In 2011, 27-year-old Mark Quinn, from Rhebogue became the youngest Irish man to conquer Everest. His record was overtaken in 2016 by 26-year-old University of Limerick student Rob Mortell. Brian Meskell, of Castleconnell, became the third Limerick man to summit Everest in 2013.
Keating, a father of two, admitted that his sometimes treacherous hobby is “not for the faint-hearted”, and “taking on such a challenge requires commitment, dedication, and focus coupled with both mental and physical endurance”.
However, despite the deadly challenge of climbing 8,849m above sea-level to reach Everest’s crown, Keating is testimony to the fact that while luck as well as training has its part to play, the feat “is not beyond the reach of any man or woman that’s committed to the cause”.
Antoinette Keating, David’s wife, said that despite her adventurer husband risking limb and life to set an Irish record on Everest, he is “pretty cool about it all, he doesn’t want much fuss”.
The intrepid Limerick man reached the summit arm in arm with Dubliner Mick Fortune (41), guided by Climbing the Seven Summits guides and sherpas.
It was a gruelling escapade for Keating who left Limerick on Good Friday (April 29) after investing in an intense 12-month training programme combined with years of climbing experience.
He began his summit push on May 12, reaching the end 24-hours later, achieving his ultimate goal as he stood on top of the world holding the tricolour and an Ei Electronics company flag.
“My best moment was watching the sunrise expose the curvature of the earth and slowly awaken your senses to the full Himalayan mountain range,” Keating offered.
This otherworldly scene came “protruding through the clouds as you look down on them from on high”.
“It was a sight to behold,” Keating concluded
