Dillon scales the heights to scoop prestigious 2016 Outsider award

HAVING become the youngest person to reach the highest points in Ireland’s 32 counties, Kildorrery lad Dillon Lynch has added another feather to his cap.

This after the plucky nineyear-old, who took on the mammoth 32 County High Point Challenge with his dad, Pat, was unveiled as the joint winner of the 2016 Outsider Award.

Dillon was presented with his award by Anton Savage at a ceremony in Dublin’s Sugar Club.

Outsider Magazine deputy editor Helen Vaughan said the awards celebrate the achievements of an “extraordinary bunch of people who do amazing things” outside of mainstream sport on the Irish outdoor and adventure scene. “Most of them are regular people who quietly taking on extraordinary challenges, and these awards shine a spotlight on their inspirational achievements,” said Helen.

Dillon was among 16 awards winners from a talented field of 41 nominees that included barefoot walkers, channel swimmers, mountain climbers and triathletes.

While completing the challenge Dillon also proved himself to be something of an expert salesman, raising more than €3,300 for his local Karate Club and the CDYS by selling ads on his dedicated website to local businesses.

His proud father Pat explained how the idea to do the record-breaking challenge cam about by accident.

“At the start we were just climbing local mountains, not knowing that such a challenge even existed,” he admitted.

By the time they learned about it the duo had almost conquered the county high points in Munster and in June of last year decided they might as well go national.

“We covered eight mountains in two days over the June bank-holiday. Sligo and Leitrim were so close to each other, it was like two for the price of one. Ans we did Roscommon that evening,” said Pat

“The next day we drove to the shared highest point in Fermanagh/Cavan and went up the outstanding stairway on Cuilcagh mountain. Then we drove to Longford and did Westmeath and Meath on the way home to Cork.”

It took the intrepid pair14months, including a break over the winter, to complete the challenge, which they fitted in on weekends and around holidays.

On September 11 last they stood at the summit of Trostan in Co Antrim, finally completing the challenge.

Pat said Dillon, who has been climbing mountains since the tender age of three, really enjoyed the experience taking plenty of snaps along the way.

“Most of the hike were really memorable in their own way and we saw some truly outstanding views, especially on the timber boardwalk in Fermanagh,” said Pat.

“It’s outstanding to look back at our pictures and remember all of the places we have been to and the things we have seen,” he added.