Irish Group To Climb Kilimanjaro In Hopes To Break Record For World’s Highest Harp Concert

In September 2018, Siobhan Brady, along with several other musicians, performed the Highest Harp Concert at a height of 4,954 metres above the summit of Singla Pass, Himalayas, Ladakh, India, setting a new world record.

This summer, in just a few weeks time, Siobhan and her team will once again put on their hiking boots to beat their previous world record, this time climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at an altitude of 5,895 metres or 19,340 ft.

The effort is not just to extend their Guinness world record but also to raise much-needed funds for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, a voluntary organisation set up by parents in 1963 to improve the treatment and facilities for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland.

The charity does vital work in Ireland which has the highest incidence of Cystic Fibrosis in the world with roughly 1 in 19 Irish people estimated to carry one copy of the altered gene that causes Cystic Fibrosis.

This year's attempt is in memory of Desmond Gentle, who was the project leader of the Highest Harp Concert on the mountain in 2018.

Highest Harp Concert

The harp that will be used to perform the concert weighs 11kg and requires careful handling during the ascent. It requires four team members to carry it in a specially adapted case with four ‘pole’ handles.

Also, the climbers and musicians will face very difficult breathing conditions on Mount Kilimanjaro where at the summit, oxygen density is half of that found at sea or ground level. Not only does this make the challenge more difficult, but also gives the group an insight into the breathing difficulties faced by CF sufferers every day.

In preparation for the climb and concert, the team have gone through arduous training to help them complete the attempt. This involves training at the Delta Sports Dome Altitude Centre in Limerick which is Ireland’s first high-altitude training centre to open in the country.

The team have also undertaken several mountaineering excursions in Ireland to practice such as Croagh Patrick in County Mayo or Ireland’s tallest mountain, Carrauntoohill near Kenmare, County Kerry.

The group has set a fundraising target of over €100,000 to go towards funding research and providing treatment and care for those living with Cystic Fibrosis, both in Ireland and around the world.

The costs for this project will be covered by sponsors so 100% of donations received go to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. You can read more about Siobhan and the group's story and also make a donation by clicking here.