Picture. Pat and Ger fooling on Denali. © Clare O Leary
“Life begins when your ready to live it.” And Ger McDonnell knew how to live life and made the most of it. Sadly due to a horrific accident on K2 we who love him have lost a Son, a brother, family member a partner and for me and many others an wonderful friend. He is now forever in the grips of the gods of the icy mountains, I will feel his presence when I go to them, his spirit will be forever free.
“Do not stand at my grave and weep. I’m not here I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blows. I am the diamond glints on snow.” (Anon)
From the moment I met him there was an instant connection, he reminded me of my earlier days in mountaineering. I was blown away by his love and passion of mountains, wild places, people and most of all his family and in particular his mother.
Ger was a dreamer and his dreams were infectious, He wasn’t afraid to live them and went about achieving them with vigour to make them a reality. I was fortunate to have had similar dreams to his and had the privilege to work with him to fulfil our mutual goals of climbing and adventuring in the highest, remote and most beautiful places on our planet.
Now that the dust is settling and the facts of the tragedy are known and speculations have ended, I can rest and take in this sad tragedy, I can properly mourn his passing.
I will remember him as he was, his smiling face, the glint in his eyes, the story teller, a joker, always ready to sing a song and a tune on the Borhan and while on a summit clinching his fist and rising the tri-colour high. Mixed with this the magic of days and nights camping and climbing in spiritual places. He was never short of dreams, he was a proud Irish man with a love of all Irish, his routes, our culture and traditions and he kept them alive no matter where he went.
I will forever remember him as he was, A loyal friend, a loving family person and a proud Irishman.
May you Rest In Peace
Pat.
(Pat Falvey)
I’d like to thanks also the hundreds of people sending in condolences to the family. Ger was really a love person.
