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Irish woman is first to walk to the South Pole  A
MEDICAL doctor has made history by becoming the first Irish woman to walk
to the South Pole.
Dr Clare O’Leary from Bandon in Co. Cork achieved the extraordinary
feat after a gruelling 1,100 kilometre trek.
She reached her goal last week at the head of the first all-Irish expedition
to attempt the adventure.
The team led by intrepid explorer Pat Falvey set-off on November 8 —
with each member hauling a sledge weighing in excess of 150kg across this
planet’s most inhospitable landscape.
Dr O’Leary had already established her explorer credentials by becoming
the first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest.
The 35-year-old was also the first to complete the Seven Summits Challenge
— scaling the highest peaks on each of the seven continents.
Clare’s delighted parents Kevin and Alice were the first to receive
the news of their daughter’s historic achievement at their home
in Cork.
“She rang us just after they had reached the pole,” they said.
“She said she was very tired and looking forward to some proper
food.”
Clare — a specialist in gastroenterology and general internal medicine
at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel where she works as a consultant
— was given access to the communications facilities at the Amundsen-Scott
South Pole Research Station before they made their final assault on the
top of the world.
The other members of the team to complete this latest challenge in Falvey’s
continuing campaign to place Irish adventurers where none have gone before
were 42-year-old Shaun Menzies and 36-year-old Jonathon Bradshaw.
Despite their relative inexperience they made it to their southern-most
objective in impressive style.
Pat Falvey has already led 59 high-adventure expeditions worldwide and
is the only person to have completed the Seven Summits challenge twice.
The challenge includes Mount Everest from both its traditional routes
on the north and south sides.
Clare and the rest of the team are now heading back and are expected to
receive a massive welcome when they return to Ireland. |
