The Way That We Climbed

Hillwalking is one of Ireland's most popular leisure activities today. Rock climbing has developed to a level of technical excellence with crags in almost every county and numerous indoor climbing walls. Irish mountaineers have completed winter ascents in the Alps, scaled the highest Himalayan peaks and other previously unclimbed giants, and explored hitherto unknown valleys. Paddy O'Leary recounts the history of hillwalking and mountaineering in Ireland: from the early activists - some were involved in gunrunning, others died at Gallipoli - until the turn of the millennium, when mountaineering in Ireland was no longer the preserve of the middle class. This history recounts the adventures, dangers, successes and failures which make this multifaceted activity such a fascinating one, and mirrors the spirit of all who love these places. * Also available: The Longest Road by Sean Rothery

Paddy O'Leary, from County Kerry, began hillwalking when he moved to Dublin in the 1950s. He set a record for the Lug Walk, led the first Irish expeditions to the Himalaya and Peru and participated in many first ascents. He was a co-founder of the Association for Adventure Sports, the Spillikin Club, the FMCI (Federation of Mountaineering Clubs of Ireland), and introduced orienteering to Ireland. An electrician by trade, he was Director of Tiglin National Adventure Centre for 20 years. He then completed graduate and post-graduate degrees and now lives in Galway.