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Paul Deegan – Everest Mountaineer, Global Adventurer and Motivational Speaker
At the age of 15, Paul Deegan survived a car crash which, statistically
speaking, should have rendered him dead. Realising from that moment on how
precarious and precious a life is, Paul promised himself that at the end of each
day for the rest of his life he would make sure that he could look back and say
that he had enjoyed a great day. Paul has yet to break that promise…
At the age of 17, Paul proposed an expedition to clean-up the world’s highest mountain. Following a stint as a high-altitude dustman on Everest, he has gone on to climb and trek in the Andes, the Himalaya, Alaska, the European Alps, the Pamirs and East Africa. Paul has also travelled through more than 30 countries spread over six continents in his capacity as a travel writer.
An award-winning author, Paul appears regularly on national television and radio, and has been interviewed about his exploits by Jeremy Paxman, John Humphreys and Johnny Vaughn. Paul has been featured in The Sunday Times’ “Life In The Day” column. Reports of his expeditions have appeared in The Guardian, The Daily Mirror and The Baghdad Times. Paul was one of ten finalists in the BBC’s nationwide search for new television experts.
Talks
Paul has been entertaining audiences since the late 1980s, and is able to tailor his presentations to suit any occasion: he has delivered one-hour lectures to audiences ranging from The Cork Scientific & Literary Society to The Daily Telegraph Adventure Travel Show; given motivational talks to companies such as ICI and Motorola; and has been a guest presenter at award ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Palace. Paul has also chaired events for organisations including the Expedition Advisory Centre at the Royal Geographical Society in London, and Tourism Concern.
All of Paul’s talks are superbly illustrated, and he is often able to include props or film footage to highlight particular points. He has a natural enthusiasm and passion for the outdoors and the natural environment that is highly infectious.
Aid & Environmental Policy - Paul offsets the carbon emissions from all his air flights, as well as non-public transport (such as cars and taxis) to and from speaking engagements. 1% of his gross income is directed towards charities, not-for-profits, and similar organisations.
For Schools - talks and workshops
For school audiences, Paul offers pupils a selection of inspiring, interactive talks and workshops, which will transport them a world away from their studies!
Click here to open a pdf file holding details of Paul's 'Can you Climb Mount Everest?' Workshop?
Can You Climb Mount Everest? (Suggested age range: 9-13)
In this interactive presentation, students join an expedition to the world’s highest peak as members of a climbing team. Guided by Paul and his resources, they select what equipment to take, decide which would be the most appropriate route to climb, and work out how to deal with the oxygen-starved atmosphere on the mountain that rises almost nine kilometres into the sky.
During the ascent, the climbers learn about the Sherpa people of Nepal, invent techniques to reduce the expedition’s environmental footprint, and discover the history of the mountain. At the end of their expedition, team members choose three things they have learnt whilst on top of the world to incorporate into their lives back at sea level. Led by Paul’s amazing drive and passion, students really will feel they have been ‘to the mountain and back’ by the end of this exhausting, stimulating and entertaining presentation!
Climb Your Own Everest (suggested age range: 15-18+)
Paul asks students to consider what they think their life might be like in 5, 10 or even 20 years’ time. Do they think that academic qualifications are all they need to succeed? Are they planning to 'wait and see' what comes their way? Do they have a vision of what they want to achieve? If so, how are they going to turn their dreams into reality?
Paul believes that three of the most important ingredients for personal success lie dormant within all of us. In this forthright presentation, Paul reveals these three catalysts and explains how he utilised them to achieve several lifetime ambitions, including climbing the world’s highest mountain, touring the world as a travel writer, and authoring an award-winning book. A truly inspirational talk given by an extraordinarily motivated and talented expeditioner.
The Sky’s The Limit – Or Is It? A special presentation for speech days and assemblies (suggested age range: 15-18)
Based on his dynamic speeches at St James’ Palace to young people who have gained The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, Paul galvanizes students, teachers and parents to realise their dreams in this high-octane address. The sobering reality is that after just 12 more Olympic Games, today’s high school students will be collecting their pensions: what personal achievements do they want to look back on in 50 years’ time, and how are they going to accomplish them?
For Other Organisations
In the Shadow of Mount Everest (this talk is also suitable for school students)
The 'Into Thin Air' storm on Everest was the worst disaster in the mountain's history. Paul Deegan – who was climbing on the peak when the storm struck – vowed never to return. Yet eight years later Paul broke his promise and made a final attempt to reach the top of the world. Why did Paul go back? And after such a long hiatus, would he be able to fulfill his lifetime ambition which had begun 15 years earlier in a near-fatal car crash? Fully illustrated, plus key pieces of equipment used on the mountain.
The Ancient Path To Riches
Take four 16th century silversmiths, an ancient Himalayan kingdom, and an ice-covered river in a spellbinding gorge deeper than The Grand Canyon. Now fast forward four hundred years and join Paul Deegan on a stunning and perilous journey to a Buddhist region frozen in time. Paul's story, which originally appeared in The Sunday Times, climaxes with an astounding twist that will amaze every parent in the audience. Fully illustrated with sound recordings and artifacts from the region.
What the Travel Writer Saw
Since the late 1990s, Paul Deegan has worked as a freelance travel writer, criss-crossing the globe and filing hundreds of stories for more than a dozen national newspapers and magazines. Now join Paul as he takes you around the world on a voyage beyond the pages of the travel guidebooks. Learn how to fish with cormorants, find out what it’s like to live on an island made entirely of reeds, and discover how to visit another planet for the cost of a transatlantic flight. In this unique interactive presentation, you choose which tales from six continents and two worlds that Paul recounts. Fully illustrated.
Greatest Hills: Volume 1
For almost 20 years, Paul Deegan has been climbing some of the world’s most spectacular and remote mountains. Find out what happened when he encountered a hungry dog with a penchant for chocolate at over 20,000 feet on Aconcagua (South America’s highest mountain), sit back and enjoy dramatic vistas of isolated glaciers on the border between Tibet and Nepal, and hear what it is like to endure windchill temperatures of minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Denali (North America’s highest peak). Fully illustrated.
