Roscrea man hopes to conquer Mount Everest without oxygen

A ROSCREA man hopes to make history next month and become the first ever Irish person to conquer Mount Everest without the assistance of bottled oxygen.

6,098 people have successfully summited the world's highest mountain - but only 216 were successful without the aid of oxygen tanks - and Roscrea's James McManus hopes to be the first ever Irishman to achieve the extraordinary feat.

James, who is son of the very well known retired Roscrea Doctor, George McManus, owns Dublin-based adventure travel company, Earth's Edge and is a very well seasoned climber.

James, who is 39-years-old, climed Argentina's Aconcagua mountain last month, which is the highest peak in the Americas.
"Climbing Everest in itself is a very difficult thing to do, but this is bringing it to another level. It's the ultimate test of human endurance” he said.

"I've been building up to this moment my whole life, and over the past two years I've tried to bring my fitness up to a higher level to prepare for the physical and mental hardship ahead. It would be great to become the first Irish person to successfully climb Everest without supplementary oxygen, but I'll be using the climb to raise publicity for the Sherpas and people employed as tour guides in the Everest area,” he said.