An action-packed life which ended in January when Ian McKeever was killed by lightning on Mount Kilimanjaro was recalled on Croagh Patrick, Co Mayo, on Saturday.
Up to 500 people turned up for a memorial climb, which was blessed by gentle winds and sunshine.
Many carried photos and other mementoes of the dead climber who has special links with the “Holy Mountain”, having climbed it 35 times in 80 hours for charity some years ago.
The memorabilia were displayed during Mass on the summit at 1pm. There were so many photos, taken in far flung places, that the mountain-top oratory for a time resembled a mini-photo gallery.
Fr John Kenny, parish priest of Partry, Co Mayo, which lies about 15 miles east of Croagh Patrick, celebrated the memorial Mass.
Afterwards he described the ceremony as “most joyous” and marvelled at the turnout. He said the large numbers were testament to “a great motivator and inspirational figure”.
The main organiser of the climb, Matt Loughrey, an inveterate climber himself, said the turnout was testament to Mr McKeever’s spirit. He recalled that, on what turned out to be their final meeting last year, they had a drink together at The Tavern, Murrisk.
“We talked about everything under the sun except mountain climbing,” Mr Loughrey said. “He was a humble guy but well worth listening to.”