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Tue 05 May 2004Hugs and tears as O'Leary returns to baseOne week after becoming the first Irish woman to climb the world's highest mountain, Dr Clare O'Leary has returned to Everest base camp to "hugs, smiles, laughs, tears" from other international expeditions.A support group of Irish trekkers, including Dr O'Leary's younger brother, Kevin, will be participating in the celebrations at the 17,000 ft base camp this week before the group packs up and departs for Kathmandu. Sheer joy at her achievement, and that of Pat Falvey, will be tempered with sheer relief that everyone made a safe descent.