Stephen Farley

Why The Mountains Podcast

Sports EN ↓ 26 episodes

If you are a hill walker, or a mountaineer, or just someone with a love of stories of adventure in the mountains, this is the podcast for you. In this first series we are exploring the history of Irish mountaineers on Everest, from the earliest pioneering days, right up to the latest ascents. We will take you on a journey from the Irish contribution to the earliest years of alpinism, and the exploration of the Himalayas and Mount Everest, through the breakthrough successes of the 1990s, the heart break, the tragedy, the many failed attempts, the loss of mountaineers in their prime, and the lat...

Author

Stephen Farley

Category

Sports

Podcast website

async.com

Latest episode

Jun 2, 2026

Where to listen?

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Episodes

S1 Episode 25 - Alan Hinkes Pt 1 02.06.2026

The first part of our interview with legendary British mountaineer Al Hinkes, Yorkshireman and the first Brit to successfully summit all 14 8000m mountains. I hope you enjoy.

S1 Episode 24 - Anselm Murphy Pt 2 10.04.2026

The second part of our interview with Anselm Murphy, the youngest Irish person to summit Everest. Includes a short update on Irish climbers attempting Everest this season. Enjoy. All photo credits to Project Himalaya website.

S1 Episode 23 - Anselm Murphy Pt 1 13.03.2026

Join us as we speak to Anselm Murphy, who in 2008 become the youngest Irish person to summit Everest. Anselm is a Londoner with strong Irish roots in Wexford, enjoy! (Photo from the Project Himalaya website, all credit to https://project-himalaya.com/dispatches/2008/08-everest-18-summit.html)

S1 - Episode Twenty Two - Adam Sweeney 09.12.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast. In this episode we chat with Adam Sweeney, a 22 year old mountaineer from Waterford, who will be attempting to climb Mount Everest from the south side in the spring. For more information check out: https://irishadventurer.com/ https://www.instagram.com/adamtsweeney/ https://www.tiktok.com/@adamtsweeney

S1 - Episode Twenty One - Jen Copeland Pt 2 28.04.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains podcast with me your host, Stephen Farley. This is part two of our chat with Jen Copeland. If you haven’t listened to part one, I suggest you do that first. We start this episode on summit day, where Jen describes in detail what it is like to make the final push towards the summit, the difficulties and the hardship that precede the highs of re...

S1 - Episode Twenty - Jenny Copeland Pt 1 24.04.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains podcast with me your host, Stephen Farley. Today we hear from Jen Copeland, Everest summiteer in 2019 as part of the Ireland on Everest expedition. We hope you enjoy!

S1 - Episode Nineteen - Linda Blakely 11.03.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains podcast. Today we interview Armagh woman and Everest summiteer Linda Blakely, enjoy!

S1 - Episode Eighteen - Paul Devaney Part Three 23.02.2025

Welcome to the Why the mountains podcast. This is the third and final part of our interview with Paul Devaney. In this episode we will hear about Paul’s experience on Everest in 2015. A tragic year for the people of Nepal, as the country experienced a magnitude 7.9 earthquake, which occurred on 25th April, right in the middle of the Everest Spring season. Enjoy!

S1 - Episode Seventeen - Paul Devaney Part Two 07.02.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast. This is the second part of our interview with Paul Devaney, focusing on the deadly ice avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall on Everest in 2014. We hope you enjoy!

S1 - Episode Sixteen - Paul Devaney Part One 28.01.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast. In this episode we talk to Paul Devaney, owner creator and curator of Irishsevensummits.com, about his adventure attempting to climb the Seven Summits, and of course, Everest. We hope you enjoy!

S1 - Episode Fifteen - Robert Kelso Smith 06.01.2025

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains podcast. This week we hear from County Tyrone mountaineer Robert Kelso Smith, high altitude mountaineer and guide, with over 25 years experience in Antarctica, and the Himalayas. Enjoy!

S1 - Episode Fourteen - Hannah Shields 23.12.2024

The latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast features an interview with Hannah Shields, the first female mountaineer from the north of Ireland to summit Mount Everest. Enjoy!

S1 - Episode Thirteen - Jason Black Part 2 16.12.2024

Welcome to the Why The Mountains Podcast. This is the second part of our two-part interview with Jason Black. We hope you enjoy.

S1 - Episode Twelve - Jason Black Part 1 14.12.2024

Welcome to the Why The Mountains Podcast. This is the first part of our interview with Jason Black, mountaineer from Dunfanaghy in County Donegal. We hope you enjoy, and apologies for it being a little late! The episode will explain why...

S1 - Episode Eleven - Banjo Bannon Part 3 02.12.2024

Welcome to the Why The Mountains Podcast. This is the last of our three part interview with Armagh Mountaineer Terence Banjo Bannon, we hope you enjoy.

S1 - Episode Ten - Banjo Bannon Part 2 25.11.2024

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast. This is the second part of our interview with Banjo Bannon! We hope you enjoy!

S1 - Episode Nine - Banjo Bannon Part 1 18.11.2024

Welcome to the latest episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast. In this episode we hear from Terence Banjo Bannon.

S1 - Episode Eight - Pat Falvey Part 4 11.11.2024

The last in our four-part mini series on Pat Falvey. Enjoy!

S1 - Episode Seven - Pat Falvey Pt 3 04.11.2024

If you are a hill walker or a mountaineer, or just someone with a love of stories of adventure in the mountains, this is the podcast for you. In this first series we are exploring the history of Irish Mountaineers on Everest, from the earliest pioneering days, right up to the latest commercial expeditions. If you haven’t listened to our earlier podcasts I suggest you do that first before continuin...

S1 - Episode Six - Pat Falvey Pt 2 28.10.2024

If you are a hill walker or a mountaineer, or just someone with a love of stories of adventure in the mountains, this is the podcast for you. In this first series we are exploring the history of Irish Mountaineers on Everest, for the earliest pioneering days, right up to the latest commercial expeditions. If you haven’t listened to our earlier podcasts I suggest you do that first before continuing...

S1 - Episode Five - Pat Falvey Pt 1 21.10.2024

In this episode, we speak to Pat Falvey about his introduction to the mountains.

S1 - Episode Four - Dawson Stelfox Pt 2 14.10.2024

The second part of our interview with Dawson Stelfox, leader of the 1993 Irish Everest expedition to the north side.

S1 - Episode Three - Dawson Stelfox Pt 1 07.10.2024

In this episode, we hear from Dawson Stelfox, leader of the 1993 Irish expedition to Everest, about the build up to the expedition, the preparations, the politics, and the trip out to base camp on the north side of Everest.

S1 - Episode Two - Frank Nugent 30.09.2024

How’s it going everybody. Welcome to the second episode of the Why the Mountains podcast, with me your host, Stephen Farley. If you are a hill walker, or a mountaineer, or just someone with a love of stories of adventure in the mountains, this is the podcast for you. In this first series we are exploring the history of Irish mountaineers on Everest, from the earliest pioneering days, right up to t...

S1 - Episode One - The History 23.09.2024

The first episode of the Why The Mountains Podcast!

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