Former Magh Ene student Ryan O’Sullivan on scaling world’s top seven summits

Magh Ene College in Bundoran are incredibly proud of their past pupil Ryan O’Sullivan who became the youngest Irish mountain climber to complete the Seven Summits challenge at the age of 27 earlier this year. 

The Seven Summits Challenge consists of the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. Ryan reached the summit of the last of the seven peaks, Mount Vinson in Antarctica (4,892m) in January of this year. 

Last year, Ryan reached the summit of Mount Everest, the sixth of the seven peak challenges.  

The school was delighted to catch up recently with Ryan and to hear that the seeds of his inspiring story were sown while he was a student in Magh Ene College.

Tell us about your career-path since you left Magh Ene College (college courses/workplaces etc.)?

In 2014, I graduated top of my class in Magh Ene College and from there I went on to UCD to further my education. 

In 2018, I graduated with a first-class honours’ degree in Theoretical Physics and two weeks after my final exams I started my first full time job with Flutter Entertainment. 

ABOVE: Magh Ene College past pupil Ryan O'Sullivan, who is the youngest Irish person to climb the world's seven highest summits

I have been working with Flutter ever since within the Quants & Analytics department. Over the last six years, I have been moving up the ranks and am currently a Principal Data Analyst where I focus primarily on risk modelling.

What extra-curricular activities were you involved in in Magh Ene College?

While I was studying at Magh Ene College, I would jump at any opportunity to get involved in extra-curricular activities. 

I played on the Gaelic football team throughout my time there, ran cross country from time to time and even played rugby, although you wouldn't think it by looking at me!. 

While I was in transition year, one extra-curricular activity in particular had a massive effect on me. 

ABOVE: Magh Ene College in Bundoran

A man named Ian McKeever came to Magh Ene looking for students to go to Africa to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and I jumped at the opportunity. 

This opened the door to mountaineering and has shaped my life ever since.

You are a world-class sportsman, what is your training schedule like?

Thankfully my training schedule has decreased since completing my final peak in the Seven Summits this January. 

Over the last 5 years as I prepared to climb the highest and hardest peaks of the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, my training schedule has been 6 days a week and, on many occasions, twice a day. 

Mountaineering requires you to have very high cardio fitness, strength, and the physiology to allow you to work hard at extreme high altitude. 

My training has spanned all three of these categories and has involved ultra cycling races, marathon runs, marathon swims as well as sleeping in a simulated altitude tent to prepare my body for the hardships of living at high altitude. 

A large part of my training is also spent in the hills with heavy backpacks, to replicate what I will need to do during each of my expeditions. 

My main training ground for this is the Dublin mountains or Croagh Patrick where I would sometimes climb it up to 4 times in a day.

What advice would you give to our current students?

My advice to current students is to find what you're passionate about whether it's academically or personally and dive into it wholeheartedly.

If you have a dream, protect it, and don't be afraid to take the first step because you never know where it will take you or the opportunities it will give you.

ABOVE: Magh Ene College past pupil Ryan O'Sullivan at the summit of Denali, the highest peak in North America

What does the future hold for you now - where do you see yourself in five years?

In the next five years I would like to get my teeth stuck into another physical challenge but for now I'm enjoying a slower pace of life after completing the Seven Summits. 

I don't think it will be long before the mountains are calling me back, but I have no expeditions planned. 

While I love mountaineering and the way of life it brings, I'd also like to try other challenges in the field of swimming or rowing maybe. 

I would also like to keep progressing my career in analytics and hopefully continue to have success in that aspect of my life as well.

The school thanked Ryan for taking the time out from his busy schedule to provide us with the above profile. His determination and grit are truly inspiring to us all! 

"We wish Ryan every success in all his future endeavours and hope to welcome him back to Magh Ene College in the near future!"