Oísín Gibney and his Dad Glenn complete the 32 Peak Challenge
What started as a family day out to Carlingford in July 2022, quickly turned into a major adventure for Glenn Gibney from Oldbridge Manor in Drogheda and his son Oísín.
As soon as Oísín, who was just nine and a half at the time, saw Slieve Foy, the mountain that forms a dramatic backdrop to the village of Carlinford, he immediately asked could they climb to the top of it.
His Mum Ashley, and big sister Eabha (12), had no doubts about the issue, “No Way!” they said. His little brother Fionn was only five at the time so he was too small to take part either.
So Oisín and his Dad set out on their first mountain hike together. It took a while, and it was quite an effort, but the father and son team made it to the top and they both loved it.
“We had great views of Carlingford, the Cooleys and the Mourne Mountains” said Glenn. “I’m the highest boy in Louth!” was Oísín’s joyful reaction when he was told that Slieve Foy is the highest point in the County.
Straight away Oísín was bitten by the hiking bug and, even as he looked out from the summit of Sliabh Foy, 589 metres above sea level, he was already thinking about his next mountain conquest.
Pointing to Slieve Donard, the highest peak in County Down and all of Ulster, Oísín said: “Can we climb that one next Dad?!
Glenn probably realised there and then what he had let himself in for, but he said to his excited son something along the lines of: “That’s a big climb Oísín, maybe we should work up to it by hiking up a few smaller ones first.”
Their next hike was up the 573 metre Slieve Gullion in County Armagh. It was a steep climb and they were soaked to the skin by the rain but nothing could dampen Oísín’s enthusiasm.
And so it went on, soon Glenn and his plucky son were climbing a peak every week and in the meantime they discovered something called the 32 peak challenge which entails hiking to the highest point in every county in Ireland.
Last Monday they completed the challenge by walking to the top of Ireland’s highest mountain Carrauntoohill which is in the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks mountain range in County Kerry and is 1,038.6 metres high. Glenn says he is immensely proud of Oísín’s achievement so he had a trophy made for him which he presented to him at the summit of Carrauntoohill.
Needless to say the whole Gibney family are immensely proud of Oísín as are his school friends in St. Brigid’s and St Patrick’s National National School.
The last 14 months of climbing mountains has had its ups and downs (excuse the pun), there have been some really great walks but some bad ones too, mostly weather related, but Oísín says he will definitely keep it up. He already has his sights set on Ben Nevis in Scotland!
Glenn, who was never into walking until now, is not so sure about heading to Scotland too soon however. At 1,345 metres above sea level Ben Nevis is a big climb for a little lad.
“Our motto throughout our adventures has been “take your time” he said. “As a parent there were a few hairy moments as I tried to find the safest routes, trying as far as possible to avoid loose stones and to take the safest route available.”
Even so, there were several times when the pair had obstacles to face such as poor weather and boggy terrain and they also they came across one or two memorial stones for people who had perished on mountainsides which acted as a reminder that there can be severe consequences if you don’t treat mountains with respect.
“There was a lot of driving involved also but it was a hundred present worth it” Glenn said but he is hoping that Ben Nevis and whatever other challenges Oísín is dreaming up will have to wait- for a while at least.
“Oísín and I both found a love for hiking during our challenge, we saw parts of the country we would never normally see” Glenn said. “It was great to have a goal to work towards, but I have my wife Ashley, daughter Eabha (12) and younger son Fionn (6) to consider also.
If you’d like to read more about Glenn and Oísín’s adventures CLICK HERE TO READ THEIR BLOG
