Monday, June 04, 2012

Armada Hotel Helps Irishman Reach Everest Summit

Armada Hotel’s support of local and national sporting pursuits rose to new heights last week when Dublin man Cian O’Brolchain reached the summit of Mount Everest.

The 31-year-old’s expedition was supported by the Spanish Point hotel, which also supports a range of other sporting organisations including Miltown Malbay GAA and the Clare Senior Ladies Football team.

After two hard months on the mountain, O’Brolchain and his expedition from ‘Jagged Globe’ made their way to the top of the 29,029-ft Himalayan Mountain. He experienced temperatures as low as -30c and the side effects of lower oxygen at altitude as he made his way to the top of the world’s highest peak.  

The Drumcondra native, whose ‘Ireland to Everest Expedition’ was set up to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis, joins the ranks of only a handful of Irish people to have successfully achieved the summit.

John Burke, Managing Director of Armada Hotel said: “We are very proud to have been able to assist Cian in his efforts to scale the world’s highest mountain. He showed huge determination and courage and in reaching the mountain summit, despite numerous setbacks along the way.”

The success rate is very low on any Everest expedition, and this season in particular has seen its fair share of tragedy with the loss of some climbers and Sherpa mountaineers in the preparation for a summit attempt.

According to Mr. Burke: “Cian is an experienced Irish mountaineer. Last year, he managed to summit Cho Oyu, the 6th Highest Mountain in the World at 8,200mtrs, as part of his preparation for the Everest expedition. The claim from Russell Brice, one of the world’s best known and experienced mountaineers, that Everest was unclimbable this season failed to deter Cian from realising a life’s ambition and helping to raise much needed funds for a worthy cause.”

“Armada Hotel and its' sister property Hotel Doolin have a strong ethos in support of local community and deserving causes. We have a large number of benefactors who receive funds from an average annual contribution of €85,000. Further information is available from our website, www.armadahotel.com,” concluded Mr. Burke.