Mayo Everest climber Kieran Lally conquering his inner struggle

BACK in 2013, Kieran Lally completed a lifelong ambition – to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

For many, the high (literally) you would get would be like no other, but for Lally, it didn't last long.

What would follow would be his greatest challenge to date of undertaking a climb within himself of self-discovery.

He charts this journey in his book Beyond The Summit where he talks of his climb up the mountain, which is interwoven with tales of growing up in Ballintubber and some of his life experiences.

The blurb reads: ‘This fascinating account journeys through his young and formative life experiences and, by interweaving this narrative with the immediacy of a step-by-step account of his climb to Everest’s summit in 2013, he brings extra depth and understanding to what motivates and simultaneously sabotages our outlooks in life.’

Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, he explained: "I climbed other mountains. You don’t just set off and climb Everest. You start with a lower one.

"Back in the day, when I was a younger man, my wife (Geraldine) and I were travelling and one of the places we went to was Everest Base Camp. That in itself was incredible.

"I saw all these guys going higher and I was fascinated with that. I was thinking to myself ‘Gee, why is my goal base camp? They’re going into the ice.’

"When you actually see them do it, you’re actually mesmerised by them. You just elevate them so because maybe your projections aren’t so very high and you begin to wonder why.

"I did Kilimanjaro and that went well. But I wanted more. I wanted higher. Then when you do higher, you want even higher. It becomes sort of a draw, a pull."

The book starts off high on top of the mountain and as mentioned, it goes back to memories of growing up in Ballintubber. His home house is situated near the crossroads at Ballintubber, where his nephew now resides.

"When it’s night time (on the mountain), I’d be sleeping and I drift off to when something happened in school or on the farm and then I come back up to the mountain."

Kieran is a proud Mayo man. Now residing in Dublin, he attends all Mayo’s games at Croke Park. "They’re part of my foundation, that’s why that flag had to go on top!

"I had that Mayo flag in my rucksack and by hook or by crook, that thing was flying at the summit. I couldn’t bear the thought of coming back with my tail between my legs and not having the Mayo flag where I wanted."

He did just that but the feeling of elation didn't remain for long.

"(The high) just dissolves. Another thing that happened that I wasn’t ready for was I meet someone and I can immediately feel their projections on to me were a little different that they were. It was almost as if the damn thing was getting in the way.

"I wasn’t terribly different but their perception of me was different so the interaction was different. It was almost like a little stand-off and the mountain was now getting in the way, and I had no way of dealing with it. It’s almost like if you met some footballer you admired, and I found that very difficult."

And now?

"I’d be comfortable in my own skin now. It comes down to as simply as not taking it on. If somebody wants to view something in a particular light, then good luck to them but don’t project it on to me. There’s no point passing that ball to me as I won’t be catching it."

CHALLENGE

Kieran is not slowing down by any means. Should everything work out, he plans to climb Ama Dablam in Nepal at some point this year. But he's doing it simply for himself.

"You have to take things on. You can’t just go ‘I’ve done it now and I’m not gonna do anymore’. It’s not as high as Everest and oxygen is not required.

"I’m in my 60s now. The challenge will still get me up and motivate me and the fear is you don’t want not to succeed. I’m not done yet. As you go on, you shouldn’t lie down."

Whether you have a passion for the outdoors and adventure or an interest about inner struggle, this a book that ticks both boxes. Beyond The Summit is available is all local and national bookshops and online.