Hundreds of people turned out to welcome K2 conqueror Jason Black back to his hometown this evening.
The Letterkenny man became only the third ever Irishman to scale the massive summit last weekend.
Led by a Garda escort and the Letterkenny Town Band, the 47-year-old father-of-four received a tremendous reception from the people of his native town.
Mary Phelan from the Irish Red Cross thanked Jason for being an ambassador for the Irish charity and for climbing the 28,000 mountain in their honour.
Among those to welcome their hero home was Jason’s family including wife Sharon and their four children, his father Billy, various Donegal scouting groups as well as former Olympic runner Danny McDaid.
Others included councillors Jimmy Kavanagh and Gerry McMonagle.
Black paid tribute to Ger McDonnell, the Limerick climber who was the first Irishman to reach the top of the summit in 2008.
However, McDonnell perished when he was hit by an avalanche while coming back down the huge mountain.
Black said “I asked Ger to be my torch going up and coming down K2 and he was with me all the way.”
Despite climbing both Everest and now K2, Black said his greatest achievement was still influencing young people in his community each week.
“To stand at the front of a classroom with 15 and 17-year-olds and to tell them they can do anything they want if they put their minds to it is my biggest challenge.
“That will always be my summit and that will always be my greatest achievement,” he said.
A jubillant Jason Black arriving back home to a heros welcome. (North West Newspix)
A jubillant Jason Black arriving back home to a heros welcome pictured with members of local scout groups. (North West Newspix)
