Athenry students reached new height

NINE Transition Year (TY) students from Presentation College, Athenry were welcomed home yesterday evening (Tuesday) after reaching new international heights by being among a group of 121 from around Ireland that climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for charity last week. The project aimed to raise €100,000 for Chernobyl International and the ICU in Our Lady's Children's Hospital. As they were feted at a welcome home reception in the Dobbyn and Coffey Restaurant, Athenry, everybody was loud in their praise of how focused the group, and their two team leaders, were in advance of, and during, the gruelling 5,895 metres (19,340 feet) climb to the summit of Africa's highest mountain. [private] 'They were praised by the renowned mountain climber Ian McKeever who has worked with many climbing groups in the past and said he had never come across a group as organized as those from Athenry. He also said they were meticulous in all their preparations, including having their injections and other medical requirements sorted out well in advance of the climb,' says teacher Teresa Gardiner. They needed to be focused to make it to the top of Africa's highest peak and while they all said it was a tough task they were delighted to have done it for such worthy charities. The group hopes to have created a new official World Record for the most people on Africa's highest peak at one time. The group that went to Kilimanjaro included the two leaders, Peadar Dolan Cregmore and Stephanie Herwood, Castlegar. The TY students from Presentation College were Andrew Dolan, Cregmore, Saoirse McGreal, Cregmore, Aishling Duffy, Waterview, Turloughmore, Siobhain Gardiner, Ardrahan, Sarah Furey, Craughwell, Tara Mogan, Kilcolgan, Jack Bergin, Kilcolgan, Evan Farrell, Monivea and Caoimhe Salmon, Clarinbridge.[/private]