The Irish women who conquered Everest: ‘Not knowing my friend was missing probably saved my life’

On May 18, 2004, Dr Clare O’Leary became the first Irish woman to summit Everest. On the 20th anniversary of her amazing feat, we talk to her and some of the Irish women who have since followed in her footsteps about pushing themselves to the limit and the heartbreak and sacrifices along the way

Louise McEvoy, who summited Everest on May 16, 2018

Roisin Finlay

On May 18, 2004, Clare O’Leary, a 33-year-old doctor from Bandon, Co Cork, stood on the earth’s highest point. Dr O’Leary had just become the first Irish woman to summit Mount Everest (8,848.86 metres). She was also the sixth Irish mountaineer to achieve the feat. Dawson Stelfox was the first in May 1993.

Roll on 20 years and Dr O’Leary is one of 885 women globally to that have achieved success on Everest according to irishsevensummits.com. Women account for just 7pc of the 11,997 people that have successfully reached the top of the mountain since the first ascent by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953.