A young girl from Cork is celebrating a major milestone, having climbed Ireland's highest mountain for the 100th time on one of the coldest days of the year.
Orlaith Kelly, 14, has had a passion for mountain climbing for years and took on Carrauntoohil for the first time, with her father, when she was just nine years old.
Orlaith's parents, Piaras and Catherine, are qualified mountain guides who have been running Kerry Climbing for over 10 years.
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Originally from East Cork, the pair moved near Killorglin to continue their passion for adventure walks and hiking - which played a "monumental role" in Orlaith's life.
Today, she's ascended Carrauntoohil - the tallest mountain in Ireland - for the 100th time with her father. The 14-year-old threw on her warm winter clothes and put on her crampons (shoes for walking in snow or ice) before leaving her house at 9 am this morning.
Orlaith decided that she would take on one of the hardest routes to reach the summit of Carrauntoohil, the Curve Gully, with her father.
She powered through the Binn Chaorach Ridge and reached the summit. The pair are currently on their way back from their hike at the time of publication.
Catherine Kelly told CorkBeo that Orlaith has always "been really strong and fit for climbing."
She said: "She had always seen her father do it, climb Carrauntoohil, and that really interested Orlaith. We always did outdoorsy things, go on walking holidays, do hikes.
"Orlaith scaled it for the first time when she was 9 years old, and since then she's always gone out of her way to get to the summit of that mountain.
"She was determined to have her 100th climb in winter, and after looking at the forecast yesterday, both Piaras and Orlaith decided that they were going to climb that mountain today."
Catherine said her daughter has always had an advantage in climbing as her father was a qualified mountain guide.
She said: "The route that they took this morning, the Curve Gully, is only travelled by experienced climbers, and I wouldn't recommend those who've never climbed to take that route.
Fair play to Orlaith for going up Carrauntoohil for the 100th time!
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