North Everest team duo on top of world

Two members of the Northern Irish Everest expedition reached the mountain's summit from Tibet at the weekend, just 10 days after the successful summit journey by two Irish climbers on the southern route.

Newry mountaineer Terence "Banjo" Bannon and Jamie McGuinness from New Zealand, who was a member of the Northern Irish expedition, reached the 29,035 foot plateau in the early hours of Saturday morning.

They were among the last climbers on the peak as the monsoon season rolls in.

Mr Bannon is a youth worker, while Mr McGuinness is based in Kathmandu, Nepal, who has led many walking treks through the Himalayan region.

Last month, Mick Murphy from Leap, Co Cork, and Ger McDonnell from Kilcornan, Co Limerick, reached the summit from Nepal as part of the Irish Everest expedition 2003 led by Corkman Pat Falvey.

Hannah Shields, a Derry dentist, narrowly missed the summit, reaching 28,710 feet before contracting frostnip. Ms Shields has also broken three ribs. The Irish team is due home on Wednesday.

Speaking by satellite phone from the summit on Saturday, Mr McGuinness said: "Myself and Banjo have made it. It's about 7.30 in the morning time, two to three hours after sunrise and we're feeling really good."

Mr Bannon then roared out "top of the world!", before sending his love and best wishes to his family and supporters in Newry and beyond.

The pair used oxygen for the last stages of the climb, and reported minor frostbite in their hands.

They received a message of congratulations from the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, who said that they had "displayed remarkable drive and determination in conquering their goal".

Tribute was also paid to their efforts by Dawson Stelfox, the first Irishman to reach the summit of Everest in May 1993. Mr Bannon was a trekker supporting that expedition.

Ironically, Mr Bannon had not been well during the early stages of the trip, and was not part of the original summit team. The expedition leader, Richard Dougan, from Armagh, had to return to Kathmandu with fellow climber, David Sharp, over a week ago when both were suspected to have sustained frostbite.

They had been driven back from the Second Step, very close to the summit.

Both climbers descended to camp two at 25,000 feet on Saturday night, and were due to descend slowly to base camp today.

The successful climb took a total of 13 hours - nine hours to reach the top and four to descend.

At the summit the climbers said that they enjoyed a calm day with clear visibility stretching far into Nepal and Tibet.

After taking a few photos they savoured the moment and vowed never to return.

"If we'd known it was going to be that bloody difficult, we'd have stayed at home," Mr McGuinness said. "But I'm glad we did and we promise that we'll never go near the top of Everest again!"

Mr Dougan (26), a lecturer and outdoor pursuits instructor, put together the Northern Irish expedition on a low budget.

Along with Mr Bannon and Mr McGuinness, team members included Mr Sharp, an engineer based in Hampshire, England, one high altitude Sherpa and three Nepalese support staff.

The group's two medical officers, Steven Synnott and Martin Duggan, were forced to descend in the early stages of the expedition when Synnott developed symptoms of altitude sickness at the 17,000 foot base camp. The team's website is: nieverest.com