Gear Junkies--In Memoriam: Gerard McDonnell--Climber and Irish Musician

"Gear Junkies" is the free, premier weekly newsletter sent via email to the Alaska music community written and edited by the Goddess of the Alaska Music Scene, Patti Greene

Gerard McDonnell 1971 - 2008

He was a fun-loving, mountain-climber of a man, full of life and eager for adventure, and he died after becoming the world's first Irishman to reach the summit of K2 in the Himalayas, considered to be among the most technical and dangerous climbs in the world.


A resident of Alaska for ten years, McDonnell hailed from Kilcornan, Ireland, worked on the Slope, and played the bodhran with Last Night's Fun, an Anchorage-based Irish music group.

Messages for Gerard's family may be sent to his girlfriend, Ann Starkey, who will forward them on. She writes, "It would mean a lot to them since they know how important Gerard's friends are to him. Thanks, dear friends, for all of your support in the worst of times." --Annie annstarkey@gmail.com