Geraldine Mullan confident 'it'll all work out' at Kilimanjaro despite lost luggage

Geraldine Mullan’s charity climb of Kilimanjaro is underway and despite her and her team landing in Tanzania with no luggage, she’s confident that “it'll all work out fine in the end”.

Geraldine, who lives in Moville, landed at Kilimanjaro airport from a connecting flight from Amsterdam, with her travelling party on Saturday.

“Well, countdown over,” she posted on Monday. “Kilimanjaro 2025 is officially starting tomorrow morning - the slight issue of the 18 of us arriving at Kilimanjaro airport Saturday night [after a] flight delayed by two hours, only to find out none of our luggage arrived!

“That's right, none! It seems with our connecting flight in Amsterdam they omitted to transfer our luggage. It didn't help that the flight was full so they asked me to book in my 10kg cabin bag, so literally all I had was what I was wearing. It made for an interesting ride to our hotel looking for a supermarket that was open after midnight so we could get some toiletries etc.”

The team’s luggage was due to land on Monday night with the climb of Kilimanjaro getting underway then.

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“The hike had to be pushed back a day to accommodate us getting our bags, gear check etc,” Geraldine added. “But it's all getting sorted. So we've got to see the sights of Kilimanjaro and soak up the wonderful culture/atmosphere and know it'll all work out fine in the end!

Geraldine, a nurse from Williamstown, Co Galway, made the announcement of her plans to climb the highest mountain in Africa last year. Geraldine and her friend Katie Fitzpatrick have set up a Just Giving page and have already gathered over £24,000, having set up The Mullan Hope Centre in Moville in memory of her family.

Geraldine was the sole survivor when her son Tomás, 14, daughter Amelia, 6, and husband John, 49, died after the family’s car entered Lough Foyle on the way home from a day out in August 2020. Only two weeks ago, Geraldine lost her mother in Galway.

"It's hard to believe after months of talking, planning, hiking, training that it's now finally here," Geraldine posted before she made the journey.

"As the start date approaches, I have a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. It has been a very emotional, poignant and difficult week as we laid our beautiful mum Margaret (Connaughton) to rest - in her 86 years, she was an amazing wife to our loving dad Mautie, (happily married for 56 years) wonderful mother to my siblings Elizabeth, Henry, John, Mary T, Paul and I and groovy grandmother to her 16 grandchildren, as well as awesome sister/sister-in-law/aunt, great neighbour and friend to one and all, and as described during her funeral mass, not just nanny to her family but 'nanny to the whole community as she made everyone feel special.'

"She passed away on Thursday, February 6, at home surrounded by us all. She knew all about my upcoming trip as I kept her updated on it over the last few months, so I will be carrying her in my heart next week alongside my beloved John, Tomás and Amelia and I know the four of them will keep me going step by step and in mum's words from her favourite song 'one day at a time.'

"A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has donated either online or offline. For those who would still like to contribute, you can on 'Geraldine and Katie’s Just Giving page - called Geraldine & Katie are trekking Kilimanjaro in aid of Children in Crossfire'. We are blown away by your kindness. Both Katie and I are overwhelmed by your kindness, and knowing the projects of Children in Crossfire in Dodana and Dar Es Salaam will directly benefit because of all of you is inspirational. As they say here in Tanzania, ‘pole pole’ or ‘slowly slowly’ -.that's my mantra for the next seven days!”.