'Take the chance and go'

A Mullahoran teenager summited Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of the Meningitis Research Foundation last month.

Brendan O’Reilly from Kilcogy arrived at Africa's tallest mountain on August 20. Along with 25 others, he spent six days climbing the mountain.

“One of the shorter routes,” the University of Limerick student remarked.

Brendan climbed the mountain with others from his college, spending four and a half days on the ascent, and one and a half days to come back down again.

“Walking was the easy part,” the agricultural science and biology student explained.

“The further we got up, I had to contend with altitude sickness,” he said.

On the final day up, the group left at midnight and reached the summit at 9am, a hike he described as “tough going”.

“We were walking in the dark so that was tough,” he said, explaining this would avoid having to walk through the clouds.

“It meant that when you got to the top, you had a clear sky.

“When we got to the top we were only there for enough time to take the pictures and straight back down."

The 18 year old said the experience was “very rewarding”.

“The views really made up for it, we were above the clouds looking down on what looked like the sea but it was a sea of clouds.

“On the way down the clouds actually did come and cover the mountain and there was snow and everything.

“We had a good gang and good craic, overall it was very enjoyable.”

Asked if he would take on the hike again, the Mullahoran Junior footballer laughed.

“I’d say once is enough now,” he replied, adding that he would “highly recommend” the hike.

They did the hike through a company called Choose a Challenge.

“They do this every year where they go to different colleges in Ireland and England,” he said, explaining that you must raise at least €5,000 for the Meningitis Research Foundation. Brendan was happy to support the cause and surpassed the target amount by raising €5,800.

“It was more just the chance to go to Africa and the chance to get away, it was the thrill of it I suppose.

“Myself and another friend of mine said we’d take the chance and go.”

Brendan thanked everyone who donated to the fundraiser and supported him in this adventure.