Former broadcaster Charlie Bird has said he has been left "truly humbled" by the response he has received after completing a charity climb at the weekend.
The 72-year-old, who is a former RTE chief news correspondent, undertook the climb of Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo on Saturday after he was last year diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Mr Bird said he would like to undertake the climb to raise funds for he Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and mental health charity Pieta.
The campaign has so far raised more than E1.6m.
In a show of solidarity, thousands of people completed their own 'Climb with Charlie' events all over Ireland and further afield including in the US, Australia, South Africa and Spain.
One of the earliest climbs began at dawn on Co Armagh's highest peak, Slieve Gullion.
The climb started at 9.30am from the car park at the bottom of Croagh Patrick, with the former broadcaster releasing a dove as he set off at around 10.30am.
At the top of Croagh Patrick, Mr Bird lit five candles - for everyone who has a terminal illness, for people who are in a dark place and climbing their own mountain every day, for the people of Ukraine, for Covid frontline workers, and for Limerick woman Vicky Phelan, who has cervical cancer.
While Ms Phelan could not take on the climb, she was represented by 11 members of her family.
Speaking about the climb, Mr Bird said he was "truly humbled and inspired that so many thousands of people took part in Climb with Charlie events across the world.
"I want to thank people all across the country for their incredible support throughout this journey," he said.
"All of the generous donations will go to the two charities which are so close to my heart. It is an amazing gesture of support for me and my family.
"Throughout this campaign, we have had the support of so many wonderful people and organisations, and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
"I would also like to particularly thank the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, Mayo Mountain Rescue, the Order of Malta and all our local volunteers for making our climb today possible".
