The Mayo News

News Feature Mount Everest is now the challenge for an eleven-year-old Claremorris climbing enthusiast.


Laura scales Ireland’s heights

Mount Everest is now the challenge for eleven-year-old Claremorris climbing enthusiast

News Feature
Michael Commins

LAURA Beston’s ambition is to be on top of the world. She aims to be the youngest Irish girl ever to conquer Mount Everest. Only two Irish women have ever climbed the world’s tallest mountain peak and reached the summit.
The eleven-year-old Claremorris girl recently completed a very special challenge. She has now stood on the highest ground in every one of Ireland’s 32 counties. It is understood that she is also the youngest person ever to achieve such distinction.
Laura loves the great outdoors and has taken to mountain climbing with a passion. She first acquired a taste for her hobby at the age of four when she climbed Croagh Patrick. She has now completed 20 climbs of the Reek.
It was on Mweelrea that she began her ‘County Top’ challenge on April 16, 2005. “I climbed Mweelrea, the highest mountain in Mayo and Connacht with my dad [John], mum [Mary] and sister Lorraine. The walk started at Delphi adventure centre on what seemed like a nice April day but, as we gained height, the wind gained strength and at times we had to crouch down behind some rocks to get some much-needed rest from its force. It was probably my third favourite climb in the county tops. I’ve climbed Mweelrea twice since then.”
Laura’s early target was to climb the highest mountains in all four provinces. Her next trip took her to the Mourne mountains in Co Down. “On a nice weekend in July [2005], dad, mum and I set out with the intention of climbing two peaks in 24 hours. Slieve Donard in the Mournes is the highest peak in Ulster and Lugnaquilla is the highest peak in Leinster.
“It’s a lovely walk through Donard woods by the river bank, then out into open countryside before a steep ascent takes you to the Mourne Wall,” recalls Laura.
After getting clearance from the army office to walk through the Glen of Imaal in Wicklow, they set off on the climb of Lugnaquilla in the garden county.
A month later it was the long trip south to Kerry, where brave Laura, sporting her Mayo jersey, set off on what was her second climb of Ireland’s highest peak, Carrauntoohil, having already reached the summit two years earlier. “We settled for a walk in along the Gaddagh river, through the Hag’s Glen and up the Devil’s Ladder. The descent of the Devil’s Ladder is probably more difficult than the ascent but we made it back safely. I had now climbed the highest peak in each province. Carrauntoohil is my favourite county top.”
Almost a year went by before Laura set about the rest of her challenge and Donegal was next up on July 26 last year, when she climbed Errigal. Cuilcagh is one of six mountain tops that are shared by two counties. It straddles the Cavan and Fermanagh border and Laura approached it from the Fermanagh side close to the Marble Arch caves.
Corry in Roscommon provided little difficulty. Truskmore is shared by Sligo and Leitrim and this was climbed via Ben Bulben from the Sligo side. Mount Leinster saw Laura conquer the two counties of Wexford and Carlow as this is also a shared highest mountain top.
Strangely enough, Laura’s climb of Brandon Hill in Kilkenny proved to be one of the toughest along the way. “We had to plough through thorn bushes, briars and ferns, which were taller than me. When we had finally made our way through that, we came across a sign which said poison had been laid. That freaked me out. The rest of the mountain side was covered with heather which came up to the tops of my legs. Overall, it was a very difficult climb.”
A very special feeling came over Laura when she climbed the lovely Slieve Bloom mountain range in Laois-Offaly on November 4, 2006. “The climb was pleasant in lovely autumn sunshine. It had been a great day to appreciate nature. I had reached the halfway point of my challenge and that was a nice feeling.”
Next came Sawell in the snow-covered Sperrin mountains of Tyrone and Derry five weeks before Christmas. “On the way down I stopped to make a snowman,” recalls Laura.
It was back down south in February of this year when she climbed Knockboy (Cork) on February 17, and the next day she undertook two major climbs, Galtymore on the Tipperary/Limerick border (over 3,000ft) and Knockmealdown in Waterford in the afternoon.
Kildare was one of the easiest of all. She was back down in less than an hour from Cupidstown Hill and this was followed by her climb of Kippure in Dublin. Early May saw the family head for Trostan in Antrim (followed by a nice journey to Rathlin Island).
The end of the marathon was now in sight and over the next few weeks Laura climbed the county tops of Clare, Westmeath, Longford and Meath. Then on August 26, Laura rose to greet the day that would see her carve her own niche in Irish climbing history. With just three counties to complete, this was truly a special occasion for the young Mayo girl.
It was an early start as they left Claremorris at 5am and drove to Carlingford in Co Louth. A pleasant climb of Slieve Foye followed, before heading across to Armagh and Slieve Gullion. Then it was on to Monaghan, the last county on her list.
“Talk about a sting in the tail. Slieve Beagh at 366m [nearly 1,200 feet] should have been a doddle. Instead, it was a two-mile trek across wet bog at 7pm on a dull evening. We made slow progress because of the heather, long grass, wet conditions underfoot and the many drains we had to cross. An hour later we found this high point. What a disappointment. It didn’t look much higher than anything else around it. Then suddenly reality dawned, I had completed my challenge. Thirty-two county tops in 26 climbs. I had been to every county in Ireland. Overall, it was a great experience and I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to do it,” said Laura.
Her exploits are not just confined to Ireland as Laura has already climbed the highest peaks in Scotland, Wales, England and Spain. The climb of Pico de Teide on Tenerife, which rises to 12,198 feet, was a huge achievement for young Laura who was accompanied by her mother Mary.
Safety takes precedence on all climbs and the compass and satellite navigation aids, together with weather protection and food, are factored into each climb.
But for now, Laura Beston, a fifth class pupil in Muire Gan Smál Primary School in Claremorris, has already entered the record books. She is among the most amazing of young people in all of county Mayo and is firmly rooted in the environment for which she has such enormous respect. Other challenges lie ahead … but the Everest one is already taking precedence. Laura Beston is a young girl on a mission

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