Andy Nolan sets sights on becoming Ireland’s 16th ever Seven Summits finisher

Andy Nolan sets sights on becoming Ireland’s 16th ever Seven Summits finisher

Andy Nolan has set his sights on reaching the peak of Mount Everest in 2026, which will be the final leg of his aim to complete the Seven Summits Challenge

University of Limerick lecturer and medical device professional Andy Nolan has set his sights on reaching the peak of Mount Everest in 2026, which will be the final leg of his aim to complete the Seven Summits Challenge.

Having already scaled the largest summits on six of the seven continents, Andy is aiming to become only the 16th Irish person to conquer this elite feat and putting him among just approximately 350 other people globally to do so.

The Limerick-based mountaineer’s most recent achievement saw him scale Antarctica’s Vinson Massif, his sixth summit, marking yet another incredible milestone on his journey which began in 2018 and has seen him summit Kilimanjaro, Africa; Elbrus, Europe; Aconcagua, South America; Denali, North America; and Kosciuszko, Australia, all while raising funds for charity.

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Speaking to I Love Limerick about the journey so far, Andy said, “The goal of climbing the Seven Summits wasn’t something I set out to do from the start. Back in 2018, I took on Kilimanjaro as a personal challenge with a work colleague — it was actually my first time ever sleeping in a tent, believe it or not. I was very new to any form of fitness or trekking.  At that point, I had no idea what the Seven Summits even were. But the climb went well, and I wanted to see if it was a fluke and could I do it again? It pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way I hadn’t experienced before, and something just clicked, I guess.”

Andy says it has been an “incredible adventure — physically, mentally, and emotionally” noting he is “proud to be so close to completing something only a small number of people worldwide, and even fewer in Ireland, have done”.

His Vinson Massif climb raised more than €6,500 for the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, an organisation that supports children and teenagers dealing with the loss of a loved one. As the Limerick climber prepares for his 2026 climb, he has yet to choose a charity partner and is welcoming charity groups interested in teaming up to reach out to him.

“For me, these climbs have always had to be about more than just the summit,” said Andy, stating by supporting a charity he wants “each step I take to also mean something for someone else”.

Andy said, “That’s why I’ve used every climb – except Australia which was taken on at very short notice – to raise money and awareness for charities that are doing incredible work, especially locally. To date between the Irish Cancer Society, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, we are at about €100,000 raised in total.

“That’s everything to iDonate, bag packing, shave and wax nights, quiz nights, corporate donations, etc. My role is just a very small part of this whole initiative – it’s everyone who has helped with these nights who make the real difference.”

During this preparation period, Andy is also searching for a sponsor who may help him reach his goal while making a difference to a local charity group.

He explained, “A business partnership can make a huge difference — not just to me and the last climb with Everest, but to the causes I’m supporting and the visibility we can generate together. I see it as a win-win. I have been lucky for the last peak when Mulcair Credit Union and The Workshop gym Newport supported me for that climb.”

Andy noted with support he has received from local media such as I Love Limerick, and in other counties such as Tipp FM and C103FM, “supporting the Everest ascent would give companies exposure across news, social media, and community events”.

He said, “It’s also a meaningful way to demonstrate corporate social responsibility. By backing this mission, a business can show it’s committed to community impact, resilience, and real-world challenges — values that resonate with both customers and employees.

“On top of that, there are opportunities for staff engagement and team building that we can link to the overall endeavour. I’ve given talks in workplaces, schools previously and would love to do the same going forward.  I love sharing the lessons I’ve learned on the mountains about perseverance, leadership, teamwork and having the correct mindset and the mistakes I’ve made and learned from along the way.”