A CO Down man who summited Mount Kilimanjaro just six months ago has died following a short illness.
Tributes have been paid to Kieran McNally from Rostrevor after he passed away on Saturday.
Requiem Mass for Mr McNally was celebrated yesterday when family and friends gathered at St Mary's Star of the Sea Church in the village to say their final farewells.
Mr McNally, who was aged in his twenties, has been described as someone who had "such a zest for life, always friendly and great fun to be around".
In January this year, he was among a group of friends who climbed to the top of the highest mountain in Africa.
In a post on social media, a pal who was with him on the trip wrote: "Six months ago we summited Mount Kilimanjaro with our friend Kieran McNally not knowing how ill he was at the time.
"Very sad news this morning that he passed away, fighting a short illness right up to the end. Sleep well our friend."
Hundreds of other tributes have been paid to the Rostrevor man, including one who described him as the "most gentle, funny, inspirational person I've ever known".
St Bronagh's GAA, Rostrevor also posted its "deepest sympathies to the McNally family".
"With many connections throughout the club we hope that Kieran’s family and friends are able to find some strength through the support of each other and that of the community," it said.
Another tribute described Mr McNally as "an absolute gent, a good man to have to have the craic and a pint with", while another said he "always on the go, travelling and looking for the best experiences and achieved so much fun in his life-time".
Mr McNally is survived by his parents Louis and Margaret and siblings Martin, Noel, Stephen and Teresa.
