WATCH: Limerick woman, 87, climbs to peak of 2,500-foot high mountain

MOST OF us would think twice before attempting to climb to the top of a big mountain.

But then 87-year-old Kathleen Nicoll isn't like most of us!

The Caherdavin pensioner has this week achieved a lifelong ambition to scale the peak of Ireland's holy mountain Croagh Patrick in Mayo.

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The mum-of-seven, grandmother of 25 and great-grandmother of 20 completed the 14km walk up and down the iconic range in a little over eight hours leaving her friends and family proud and emotional.

Even more incredibly still, she did no training before the walk - and she'd ventured to a local pub the night before, where she enjoyed the craic until two o'clock in the morning!

Kathleen - originally from Blacksod Bay in north county Mayo, but 30 years in Limerick - had reignited her long-time ambition to climb Croagh Patrick, a pilgrimage site for generations of Christians, after watching a television programme last year.

And last Saturday, she met her son Daniel Nicoll, grandson Johnny Nicoll, Aoife Deane her granddaughter, and Claire Nicoll to start the walk to the summit.

Another of her daughters Caroline Abercrombie said "something clicked in her head" after watching the television show.

"And when something clicks in her head, she is very determined! Given her age, I was frightened she'd fall. But she wouldn't listen to anyone who had their doubts. It was a bucket list item for her. She said - It can be done, we'll find a way. She is such a strong lady," she said.

Johnny, one of the team accompanying Kathleen up the mountain, revealed that while himself and her other son Daniel and his son Alfie stayed together the night before - deciding to retire early after three pints in the pub - Kathleen was enjoying herself into the small hours.

"We decided to go up to our local to have three pints, and that's it, as we were climbing the next morning. We were home by 11pm. We had no idea she was still drinking until 2am. We were being sensible going to bed at 11," he laughed.

He added during the trek, other members of the family were telling Kathleen during moments of struggle, that there is "no shame" in turning back.

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"She looked to me for divine inspiration. I told her to plough on. I said, your biggest regret is you never climbed Croagh Patrick. I said if you did walk down this mountain now, it'll be an even bigger regret you didn't keep going. She looked at me, and said, you're right, and kept plodding on," her grandson said, "She was thinking about her life, her family, her kids and husband who'd passed. It was something she really wanted to do: she wouldn't give in."

When they reached the summit, it was a very emotional moment for the whole family.

"She gave me a big kiss on the lips to say thank you for helping her up," said Johnny.

Daughter Caroline added: "You should have seen her face when she got to the top. How she described the emotion. She was completely overwhelmed with a sense of joy, peace and achievement. When she was looking around she said it was the closest she had felt to heaven. With her age, that was quite emotional as you can imagine."

Caroline joked the only training Kathleen - who turns 88 in January - did in the run-up to her trek was playing a few rounds of bingo at one of her favourite haunts Pery's Bingo at Parnell Street in the city centre.

When she arrived at the bottom of the mountain, the whole family reunited, where tears were shed even more.

As she left the area, she gave a wave to the statue of St Patrick which lies at the foot of the mountain.

Then it was onto another local pub for a glass of Guinness - enjoying an occasional glass of the black stuff as her "nourishment" - to celebrate her remarkable achievement.

A popular member of the Caherdavin community and a weekly presence at Mass in Christ the King Church, she has been enjoying the congratulations from friends and neighbours.

"Kathleen reckons she skipped up, but had to be extra careful coming down," her daughter added.

Johnny posted a video of Kathleen reaching the summit on the internet, and it has garnered tens of thousands of views! See above for the video.