Reek summit culmination of monumental 5-Peak-5-Day tribute to Mayo man

At midday on today more than a hundred climbers gathered at the summit of Croagh Patrick for a special blessing to mark the final ascent of the Summit for James – 5 Peak Challenge.

It was a powerful and emotional moment, made all the more memorable by the very windy conditions at the top, as family, friends, and supporters stood together to honour the life of James McNeive, a much-loved 28-year-old teacher from Knock, whose life was tragically cut short in a road traffic accident last August.

The blessing, led by Fr. Richard Gibbons, Parish Priest of Knock, marked the culmination of five days of climbs and months of preparation.

The challenge began on June 24th, James’s birthday, and spanned the highest peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike), Wales (Snowdon), and Ireland (Carrauntoohil), before concluding on Croagh Patrick, a mountain especially close to James’s heart, located in his home county of Mayo.

Among those who took part in the final climb was James’s younger brother Matthew, who lives with kidney failure and has spent his entire twenties on dialysis.

Despite this, he managed to participate in three of the five peaks, carefully balancing his involvement with the demands of life-saving treatment on the other days.

James had long hoped to donate one of his kidneys through a paired exchange kidney programme to help Matthew, a reflection of their deep bond and one of the reasons why the Irish Kidney Association was chosen as a key charity beneficiary.

Also among the climbers was architect and TV presenter Dermot Bannon, who shared how James had touched his own family.

“James was an amazing person and was special to our family, as he was my son’s teacher."

The Summit for James – 5 Peak Challenge began on June 24 with an ascent of Ben Nevis in Scotland, followed by Scafell Pike (England), Snowdon (Wales), Carrauntoohil (Ireland), and concluded on Croagh Patrick.

A core team of 30 climbers took part in all five ascents, including James’s mother Bernadette, his siblings, cousins, close friends, and teammates from Aghamore GAA.

All participants self-funded their travel and expenses, ensuring that every cent raised (excluding iDonate platform fees) goes directly to a group of causes that James supported or was personally connected to.

On the Carrauntoohil climb in Kerry, a large group joined the ascent, including James’s sister Fiona and his girlfriend Catherine Carr from Letterkenny, who was a much-loved part of James’s life and a source of strength and support to his family during the challenge.

To date, the challenge has raised over €124,000, with funds going to: Irish Heart Foundation; Make-A-Wish Ireland; Daisy Lodge (Cancer Fund for Children); Mayo Mindspace (youth mental health); and the Irish Kidney Association.

The challenge also supports several local schools and sports clubs where James taught or played, including: Aghamore NS, Ballyhaunis NS, Barnacarroll NS, Bekan NS, Gortskehy NS, Knock NS, St. Louis Community School, Tooreen NS, Glasnevin NS, Aghamore GAA, and Eastern Gaels GAA.

Support for the challenge reached well beyond Ireland.

On June 21, members of the Irish community in Australia took part in a “Warm-Up Downunder” climb of Mount Maroon near Brisbane.

Organised by James’s cousin Lorna Egan and his best friend Ciaran Harrison, the climb drew 40 participants.

Former Mayo footballer Brendan Harrison, Ciaran’s brother, pledged to complete all five peaks in James’s honour.

Public figures who lent their support in the lead-up to the challenge included Dermot Bannon, Mayo content creator Garron Noone, Irish golfer Leona Maguire, and Arsenal legend Paul Merson, a particularly meaningful gesture, as James and his late father Pete were lifelong Arsenal fans.

Speaking about the Challenge, James's brother Matthew shared a heartfelt tribute to the brother he describes as “the heartbeat of our family."

He stated: “James had this rare ability to light up any room and lift the people around him, whether you were a friend, a student or a stranger.

"He had a deep love for his school communities and his local GAA club. That’s why the charities we’ve chosen reflect his passions — teaching, mental health, sport, a children’s charity, and of course the Irish Kidney Association, because he never liked to see me struggle.

"He always wanted to do something to help and supported organ donation.”

“In his memory, we wanted to do something that reflects his spirit, his love for life, and his love for helping others. It’s emotional, but it’s also something we’re proud to do for him.”

The McNeive family now hopes that the 5 Peak Challenge will be the first of many events under the newly formed James McNeive Foundation, which aims to continue supporting the causes James cared deeply about.

Those who wish to support the challenge can still do so at this link.