Renowned climber is praised on fatal cliff-top July 18 2007 ROCK climber Michael Reardon pushed himself to the limit of his abilities, but ships were never meant to remain in harbours. Tribute was paid to the fearless way the solo climber lived his life, at a moving ceremony on the cliff-top overlooking his last dramatic climb on Valentia Island, Co Kerry yesterday. people gathered in sunshine to pay their respects to the 35-year-old American who was washed out to sea on Friday, after scaling the cliff-face twice. A traditional lament on harp and tin whistle opened the ceremony attended by the missing man's wife Marci, their 13-year-old daughter Nicki, close friends, members of the rescue services, the gardai, local people and well-known figures from the sporting and climbing worlds. These included the mountain-running champion John Lenihan and Kerry football great and island native Mick O'Connell. people had gathered to honour "a beautiful man" and a "truly extraordinary" climber |
West Kerry GP and poet Micheal Fanning read two of his poems: 'I run with the winds and moods', which he dedicated to Mr Reardon's daughter, and 'Odysseus', a poem about daring people and those waiting for them, dedicated to Marci Reardon.
Father Kevin McNamara, a curate attached to Killarney parish, led the prayers. Michael Reardon "wouldn't hurt a rock by putting a claw into it", in order to preserve it for future generations, he said.
He had left a mark that would never be forgotten. He had pushed things to the limit. A ship was safe when in harbour, but that was not what ships were for, the priest said.
A 100 feet below, Navy and Garda sub-aqua teams scoured the sea-bed for any trace of the man renowned among climbers and mountaineers for his daring exploits without ropes or safety equipment. Those on the cliff waved to the divers on the boats below.
Prayers were asked that the ongoing search would bring closure for Mr Reardon's friends and family.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Nicki, tearful throughout the hour-long ceremony, spoke briefly of her father who was "louder" than most people and larger than life.
Flowers were brought to the scene along with a plaque made of local Valentia slate.
A haunting rendition on the bagpipes of the Blasket island elegy 'Port na bPucai', an air said to echo the journey of the departing soul, ended the ceremony.
Michael had arrived Ireland about a month back, to climb the island's cliffs and "reacquaint himself with the land of his ancestors." He blogged on his website, "Chaos follows me everywhere. I arrived in Killarney, Ireland, barely rested from the ten-hour plane flight, and surprised my friend Con Moriarty by showing up two days early. Big smiles and bigger hugs came from everyone at his outdoor shop. It had been too long since I last shared a pint with everyone."
It wasn't a fall but a wave that took the free climber at the bottom of the cliff face at Dohilla he'd just scaled. After the accident, Con Moriarty told an Irish TV news station, "He had just finished a climb and was standing on a rock shelf at the base of a cliff when a wave hit him from behind, knocked him on his back, and carried him out to sea."
Independent reports that a photographer who was with Michael when he fell into the sea tried to throw him a rope, and the climber responded to calls. The photographer then ran to alert the local lifeboat which was immediately launched, but by then Michael had vanished.
Due to return to the United States this weekend, Michael's wife, Marci and daughter Nicki (13) instead arrived in Ireland from LA yesterday
Father Kevin McNamara, a curate attached to Killarney parish, led the prayers. Michael Reardon "wouldn't hurt a rock by putting a claw into it", in order to preserve it for future generations, he said.
He had left a mark that would never be forgotten. He had pushed things to the limit. A ship was safe when in harbour, but that was not what ships were for, the priest said.
A 100 feet below, Navy and Garda sub-aqua teams scoured the sea-bed for any trace of the man renowned among climbers and mountaineers for his daring exploits without ropes or safety equipment. Those on the cliff waved to the divers on the boats below.
Prayers were asked that the ongoing search would bring closure for Mr Reardon's friends and family.
Towards the end of the ceremony, Nicki, tearful throughout the hour-long ceremony, spoke briefly of her father who was "louder" than most people and larger than life.
Flowers were brought to the scene along with a plaque made of local Valentia slate.
A haunting rendition on the bagpipes of the Blasket island elegy 'Port na bPucai', an air said to echo the journey of the departing soul, ended the ceremony.
Michael had arrived Ireland about a month back, to climb the island's cliffs and "reacquaint himself with the land of his ancestors." He blogged on his website, "Chaos follows me everywhere. I arrived in Killarney, Ireland, barely rested from the ten-hour plane flight, and surprised my friend Con Moriarty by showing up two days early. Big smiles and bigger hugs came from everyone at his outdoor shop. It had been too long since I last shared a pint with everyone."
It wasn't a fall but a wave that took the free climber at the bottom of the cliff face at Dohilla he'd just scaled. After the accident, Con Moriarty told an Irish TV news station, "He had just finished a climb and was standing on a rock shelf at the base of a cliff when a wave hit him from behind, knocked him on his back, and carried him out to sea."
Independent reports that a photographer who was with Michael when he fell into the sea tried to throw him a rope, and the climber responded to calls. The photographer then ran to alert the local lifeboat which was immediately launched, but by then Michael had vanished.
Due to return to the United States this weekend, Michael's wife, Marci and daughter Nicki (13) instead arrived in Ireland from LA yesterday
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