Ian McKeever - Adventurer and Broadcaster: Radio Memories

Declan A Walsh

As I'm sure you are all aware now, Ian McKeever was struck by lightning on Kilimanjaro and tragically killed last Thursday. I know many of you know that Ian, as well as being a great adventurer and charity fund-raiser, had connections to radio.

I first became aware of Ian McKeever when he was one of the voices of AA Roadwatch on Radio Ireland/Today FM in 1997. He may possibly have done ths on RTE Radio before Radio Ireland came along. One evening (after the name-change to Today FM in 1998), I was listening to "The Last Word" presented by Eamon Dunphy. He had Ian on the line who was involved in a charity cycle around Ireland. This was the first time that I became aware of his adventurous side.

It was from 2007 on that Ian figured in a number of world-breaking mountaineering feats such as the 26 Peaks Challenge (Ireland) and the Seven Summits Challenge (Continents). In 2009, I heard Ian again on the radio - this time presenting programs on Dublin's Country Mix 106.8 (now known as Sunshine 106.8). Also during 2009, I understand from another forum that Ian was a regular contrubutor to Pat Kenny's Show on Radio One in relation to his mountaineering feats.

Someone said on a different forum that Ian McKeever presented a program on Tipp FM.

I heard parts of his last radio interview, given to KFM, on news reports after his death.

What radio memories do you have the very tragically departed Ian McKeever? R.I.P.