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TWO Killarney pals were literally on top of the world as they got set to ring in the New Year.

Niall Dennehy and Pat Sheehan reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro early yesterday, New Year's Eve, a day ahead of their schedule.

And as they scaled Africa's highest mountain, the dynamic duo showed what a difference a year can make.

In October 2016, Niall was just about able to walk one lap around Barraduff Community Field.

Turning his life around, Niall has shed an inspirational 10 stone in weight and boosted his wellbeing and fitness over the past 12 months.

He has accomplished all of this with the help of his friend and fellow Glenflesk native Pat Sheehan, a health and fitness instructor.

Niall, a farmer, began his exercise regime by walking around the local community field but as his fitness rapidly improved he set more and more goals. “Farming had taken over my life but gradually I started to learn to prioritise my health and fitness,” said Niall.

Pat, who runs Pat Sheehan Health and Fitness wellness centre at Club Vitae Leisure Centre, Hotel Killarney, and another weightloss centre in The Loft Fitness Studio in Millstreet, was well placed to give Niall advice.

On St Stephen's Day when many will have been relaxing by the fire, Niall and Pat arrived in Moshi town in Tanzania ahead of commencing their strenuous five-day trek.

And together with their guide Fredy Tarimo in an expedition organised by Venture 2 Adventures, on Sunday morning, they scaled the summit of a peak that is six times higher than Niall and Pat's "training slope", Carrantuohill. "We made our way onto Uhuru Peak, 5895m, the Roof of Africa, at 10.30am. We posed for photos with the Kerry GAA and the Munster Rugby flags," said Niall. "I placed a stone from my farm which was inscribed with the names of my nephews and nieces on the summit."

Niall and Pat are raising money for the Kerry branch of the Irish Kidney Association through the climb and paid for the trip themselves.

In addition, money raised from an annual pool tournament in memory of Niall’s brother, Denis, will also be donated to the cause.