dillon mclaughlin

Bob Ross 8B+ 3rd ascent! “We don’t make mistakes. We just have happy accidents.” 🎨🖼 Thank you very much to @mattywenlock for the great picture!

Hellwalker 8A First Ascent Earlier in the year, on a sticky damp January day, I was on a mission to try the classic @murphy_bouldering problem Capricorn! (An absolute cracker) He very kindly pointed this one out on the way as one we should come back to when the weather improved. Last week the conditions finally aligned! I was close but no cigar… Psyched to get back to it, an unprecedented run of dry days meant we didn’t have to wait too long. One of the best I’ve done I reckon… two incredibly satisfying moves stacked on top of each other, on some of the finest rock in the country! What’s not to like!? Regarding the grade… the first move feels very similar to the Font classic Hale Bopp (maybe slightly harder) Going to a slot instead of the top of the wall makes it all the trickier. The second move is much easier but a lot more droppable than you’d like it to be after such a low percentage first move. So who knows how hard it is! ~ Hopefully with a few more ascents it’ll all become clear… A massive thank you to @murphy_bouldering for the footy and good times on this wall! Certainly the most fun I’ve had falling off one move for quite a while! #climbing #bouldering #irishbouldering #bouldering_videos_of_instagram #boulderingvideos

Top of the Pops 7C First Ascent Psyched to do this one with a great crew on a misty day! A good power endurance challenge! After a tricky start on slopey edges, it eases off before the heartbreaker crux right at the end! A massive thanks to @simoore for the great footage! And @murphy_bouldering @ronan_mcelroy1 @_mehaul_ for the good times! ✊🗿 Foot slip counter = 2 by my calculations… 😅 #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #bouldering_videos_of_instagram

Bob Ross 8B+ 3rd Ascent Ramble incoming! 😅 I had such an amazing time trying this boulder, from the first sessions with @simoore trying to puzzle out a sequence and do all the individual moves, to getting to try it with some of the best in the world, and ultimately being there to witness and support as @aidan.roberts98 and @keenantakahashi made the first and second ascents! I got close, but not quite in October ‘24. Trips, sickness and the typical Irish weather meant it was January’25 before I had the chance to try again. I was closer than before, and on the 12th February 2025 after previously stating “if I make it through the jump I’ll never fall off”, I dropped the last move first try of the day. Classic. After a chill and giving myself a talking to, I found myself sitting on the ledge at the top. It must have been the breeze! The best boulder I’ve done and if it’s the best I ever do, that’s ok with me… A massive thank you to @mattywenlock and @matthewirvine_ for the great footage and helping haul all the pads around on a particularly breezy day. They made a brilliant series called North Coast Riders, which I am very grateful to have been a part of, and is well worth checking out on Iplayer. You’ll see a bit more of the process on Bob, @rickybell back in action! Along with surfing and free diving off the Antrim coast. #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #bouldering_videos_of_instagram

Diamondback 7B+ish First Ascent This one had been in my mind to go and try for a while but only recently got around to it. This imposing diamond shaped bloc is tucked away up behind “Eat It”, right beside the “Disco” boulder. The landing doesn’t look great, but with 4+ pads isn’t too bad… Brilliant climbing on slopey pinches takes you to a glory meat wrap and easy top out! Well worth a nosey. A big thanks to @tom__nickels (who made quick work of it to snag the Second Ascent) for the spot. #climbing #bouldering #bouldering_videos_of_instagram #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering

The Abyss 8A First Ascent On the Red Cloud boulder, the next massive bloc down from the Boombastic wall. Spotted by the ever keen eye of @simoore , we cleaned it up and I had a few half sessions on it over the last couple of months. It always felt nails! With the main crux being not dabbing… This turbo dry cold spell, the slopers felt sticky and maybe I’ve shrunk?? I found my way out of the “Abyss”. Grade wise I’m not sure, but hopefully future ascents will bring a consensus! A big thanks to Jordan for the great footy and my good luck charm @thealifraser for the support! A nice way to end 2025 Here’s to another year at the ‘Head Happy New Year! #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #bouldering_videos_of_instagram

Game of Light 8A First Ascent The sit start to Board of Light, starting as for House of Rats. Adding 4 or 5 moves which pack a punch, building and droppable all the way to the lip. A game worth playing! A massive thanks to @simoore who spied and tried this line, and for doffing the cap and encouraging me to try it! And to Dave Pinkerton for the great footy and good times climbing on this outdoor board! #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #boulderingvideos #irishbouldering

Mr Druces Magical Adventure 7B One that I’d always been keen for, but had always seemed blank when I went to look at it! Tricky and body positiony, but like all the good ones not too bad once you know what’s going on. An absolute cracker, well worth checking out! #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering

Work Away sit 7C+ 2nd ascent One of Fairheads finest! 🗿 Had an all time day out with @ktlambies and @keenantakahashi on this one. After a mini epic building the landing, Katie dispatched the stand and sit with style! I managed the stand, but had to come back for the sit a few days later. A future Fairhead classic I reckon! Turns out 7C+ is a cool grade after all… #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #boulderingvideos #bouldering_videos_of_instagram

Mousetrap 7B+ish… An absolute cracker from over the summer! Just left of Angs Overhang with a good landing and hard tensiony moves through the steepest part of the wall it deserves a bit more attention. Originally given 7A, consensus seems like it’s a fair bit harder 😅 Was great to see Dave Pinkerton float it last week and brought it back to my mind. Seems like I was squeezing a bit too hard on this go! 💨 Thanks as always to @jimmyspotter on the camera 🎥 🪤🐁 #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #boulderingvideos #bouldering_videos_of_instagram

Spudmaster 8A First Ascent (Edit: 2nd Ascent by @tom__nickels confirmed my suspicions downgraded to 7C+) One for the Spudheads! Essentially a different sit start to Le surplomb de terre, adding 4 hardish moves to the jug spud. I’m unsure of the grade, and as there are so many options for feet and hands in this place there could very well be easier beta… But it did feel a good bit harder than the two classic 7Cs of the Potato Cave. Regardless of the grade, I think it’s one of the best sequences of moves I’ve done, on some really interesting holds. Had a couple of great days out with a psyched crew putting it together. Massive thanks to @manus.carson for the vision and the footy! Spud Cave Forever! 🥔🥔🥔 #climbing #bouldering #boulderingvideos #bouldering_videos_of_instagram #irishbouldering #spud

Ballycorna 7B The Mega prodge!! The hardest boulder in the world… Maybe not quite, but it felt like it at times. It was rarely the main objective but I’m pretty sure it has seen more sessions than anything else I’ve done… On the go despite the sloppy footwork and many mistakes, it didn’t feel too bad! Leaving me wondering why it took me so long to do in the first place??? At least I’ve still got the sit to the continue to flail around on… A cracking day out with @manus.carson who had his hands full on both spotting and filming duties! #climbing #bouldering #fairheadbouldering #irishbouldering #boulderingvideos #bouldering_videos_of_instagram