News

DCU Graduate Ger McDonnell to be honoured by RTE's 'Nationwide'

30 September 2010

Next Monday night (October 4th) at 7 pm, RTÉ One television will broadcast a special half hour 'Nationwide' programme about the life, achievements and legacy of DCU graduate Ger McDonnell - the only Irish person to successfully summit K2, the holy grail of mountaineers worldwide.

This special 'Nationwide' programme includes never-seen-before footage shot by Ger himself on that final expedition. The programme includes an interview with Paul Whiting of Mountain Rescue Ireland, who nominated Ger for the posthumously awarded Targa d’Argento Pinzolo Gold Medal - one of a raft of humanitarian awards he has received for bravery. The Targa d’Argento honours those who risk their lives for others in the mountains and previous recipients have included Pope John Paul, II and the Dali Lama.

Gerard McDonnell came to world attention on August 1st 2008 when he became the first Irish person to scale K2 and subsequently tragically died in the single worst accident in the history of K2.

As a testament to Ger’s warmth of character, family, friends, classmates and the DCU School of Engineering have established a permanently endowed scholarship fund of over €56,000. The Ger McDonnell Memorial Access Scholarship Fund is being run as part of the University's Access Programme which provides over 400 talented students with the opportunity of a third level education, which their circumstances would not otherwise allow.

Because the Scholarship is endowed, a scholarship will be awarded in Ger’s name to a deserving DCU student each year in perpetuity.

Thank you to all those who have contributed to and helped to establish the Fund in memory of Ger.

To learn more about the Ger McDonnell Memorial Scholarship Fund at DCU please contact Claire Whelehan at the DCU Educational Trust on (01) 700-5467. For online donations please visit http://www.dcu.ie/trust/