AN IRISHMAN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RECORD-BREAKING CLIMB OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN AFRICA IS TO ASK TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY TO HELP HIM ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY PERMITS. FORMER RECORD-HOLDER FOR COMPLETING THE SEVEN HIGHEST PEAKS IN THE WORLD, IAN MCKEEVER, HAD BEEN PLANNING TO BEGIN HIS CLIMB OF MOUNT KILIMANJARO YESTERDAY. HE HOPES TO BECOME THE FASTEST MAN TO MAKE THE CLIMB. HOWEVER, LOCAL OFFICIALS TOLD HIM HIS ROUTE WAS NOT PERMISSIBLE UNDER THE NATIONAL PARK REGULATIONS.

THE ROUTE FOR MR MCKEEVER’S ASCENT WAS APPROVED BUT HE WAS TOLD IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DESCEND BY THE SAME ROUTE.

MR MCKEEVER SAID THE TAOISEACH HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED INTEREST IN EXPEDITIONS HE ORGANISED FOR IRISH SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO. MR KENNY HIMSELF CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN IN 2003 TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THREE MAYO CHARITIES. THE NEXT GROUP OF STUDENTS PLANNING TO MAKE THE CLIMB ARE FROM MAYO.

MR MCKEEVER IS MAKING THE CLIMB AS PART OF AN ANTI-RACISM CAMPAIGN, “BLACK AND WHITE MAKES SENSE”.

THE CURRENT RECORD IS FIVE HOURS 38 MINUTES, SET BY ITALIAN CLIMBER BRUNO BRUNOD IN 2001