Mountain Rescue Ireland

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Saving Lives in the Mountains 24 / 7 / 365

MOUNTAIN RESCUE IRELAND Annual Report 2018 mountainrescue.ie Any individual or group requiring assistance in the upland and mountainous environs on the island of Ireland will be responded to by volunteers embedded in the local community.

These volunteers are organised into mountain rescue and take such action as may be necessary to promote a teams and tasked by the police force, A.G.S. within Ireland wider appreciation of the need for mountain safety. and the P.S.N.I. in Northern Ireland. M.R.I. is a member of the International This tasking leads to an emergency response which will Commission of Alpine Rescue (I.C.A.R.) search, locate and rescue those seeking assistance and the international body for mountain escort them to safety or deliver them to more definitive rescue organisations dedicated to medical care. the advancement of best practice in mountain rescue worldwide. Collectively these teams come together as Mountain Rescue Ireland (M.R.I.) to represent the views of its This report reflects back on 2018 and presents the members on mountain rescue and safety, to represent commitment and work of the teams dedicated to and liaise on general matters with government, to responding to those in need. 2 propagate information on mountain rescue and safety

Annual Report 2017 2016 M.R.I. consists of the following teams:

Donegal MRT North West MRT

Sligo/Leitrim MRT Mourne MRT

Mayo MRT

Galway MRT

Dublin/Wicklow MRT SARDA (Ireland) Glen of Imaal MRT

South Eastern MRA

Kerry MRT

mountainrescue.ie 3 Assistant Commissioner Michael O’Sullivan and wish you allasafe and successful 2019. Search andRescue Dog Teams for your commitment anddedication in2018 be overstated. I would like to thankMountain Rescue Ireland associated and The commitment of Mountain Rescue volunteers, andtheir cannot families, meet a wide range of challenges. demonstrated theseskillsalong with their dedication and commitment to The mountain rescue teams around thecountry have again,in2018, in theseincidentsrequiring theefficient response skillset. of aspecialist The challengingterrain andchangeable weather conditions often result With activities of this nature accidents and emergencies are inevitable. and mountain biking. ways, such ascamping,orienteering, walking, rock climbing,mountaineering level of useandenjoyment of our stunningnatural amenities. aIn variety of the response agencies andthegeneral public. There isanever increasing governance of Mountain Rescue Ireland, provide aninvaluable resource to The Mountain Rescue Teams across theislandof Ireland, under the Superintendent. John Clyde success in2019. teams for their assistance andcommitment over the years and wish you every I would like to thankMRIandtheir associated mountain andsearch dog and carry outallthe vital background work andadministration required. this service andtaketo thetime keep skillsuptodate, train new members It isacredit to thoseindividuals who give uptheir timeinorder to provide searchmissing person or assistingthoseinneedduringsevere weather. whether thisbeinmountainous environments, providing skillsin specialist committed volunteersat any whocanbecalledupon time of the day or night, changing weather conditions. We are fortunate to have highly and skilled and medicalemergencies, combined with thenature of theterrain andthe that theoutdoors provide there istheever present riskof accidents, injuries to thePSNIand wider community. Whilst many enjoy theopportunities Recent events have shown the value of thesupportthat provide theteams the supportprovided by their families andpartners. rescue teams andMountain Rescue Ireland (MRI)as a whole, not forgetting commitment of thoseinour community who volunteer mountainwith local I would like to take thisopportunity onbehalf of thePSNItorecognise the Síochána An Garda Northern Ireland Police Service of mountainrescue.ie

www.mountaineering.ie [email protected] Jane Carney Training Officer likelihood of needingtoberescued. this personal responsibility, we reduce the have fun inthemountains. By taking on and thuskeep ourselves safer whilst we to help manage, minimiseor avoid hazards areto make inaposition better decisions increase our enjoyment of theactivity and preparing andeducating ourselves, we risk inallthings we choosetodo.By must make ourselves aware of theinherent To become responsible participants, we this essential service. that allparticipants donating in them join to Mountaineering Ireland would like to ask to fundraise for provision of thisservice. members volunteer more of their time worst of conditions and at night time. Team during callouts, which are typically inthe to operate efficiently and safely asateam training and rescue practice, to enable them rescues, engage teammembers inskills weather events. Alongside attending number of incidents related to extreme have beenextended to assisttheincreasing for therescue teams, where their services of adventure. 2018hasbeenabusy year encounter difficultiespursuit whilstinthe service to many, includingthose who to provide anessential yet voluntary The Mountain Rescue Teams continue into remote and wild areas. inherent risksassociated with journeying with nature, are well evidenced, asare the challenge andinteraction & connection & wellbeing, through physical &mental mountains. The benefits to our health behaviour andsafe practice inthe respect are key aspectsof responsible training, self-reliance andenvironmental is thecore ethos of mountaineers. Skills responsibility of beinginthemountains Enjoying theadventure, thrilland Ireland’s Perspective Mountaineering Rescue Ireland to Mountain A bigthank you Annual Report 2018 Report Annual M.R.I. Chairman’s Report

2018 has seen a significant increase in mountain rescue team activity with 371 incidents throughout the year.1 This increase has arisen due to the increase of frequency of severe weather events which has resulted in extreme precipitation and temperatures.

This has caused the freezing line to descend from normal to the teams and special recognition is due again this altitudes and weather systems more normally associated year to Minister for Rural and Community Development, with mountainous altitudes have reached street level. Michael Ring T.D. and Minister for State Sean Canney This has resulted in mountain rescue teams working T.D. for the grant support for insurance costs for 2019. with other emergency services to render humanitarian The CLAR 2018 programme (Department of Rural and assistance during these weather events. With climate Community Development) also allowed teams much change bringing an increased frequency of extreme needed resources to replace command vehicles and other weather events, mountain rescue teams will be asked to equipment.5 fulfil duties to assist other agencies.2 Developments within mountain rescue from an MRI has completed its conversion from an association international context were engaged also, with attendants to a charity company during 2018 with the charity at the ICAR Congress at Chamonix joining the discussions registered as a CLG with the CRO, the Revenue and developments around best practice in the Commissioners and the Charity Regulatory Authority. commissions dedicated to terrestrial, aviation, medical The new structures have been designed to be complaint and search dogs. with the Governance Code benchmarks for charity best practice and will serve members best interests in years to I would like to thank the members of the Board and come and give certainty to stakeholders.3 Executive Committee for their dedication and service to the mission of MRI throughout my time in the chair and MRI was also able to develop a strategic plan for 201X extend my best wishes to the new directors and officers 4 to 202X and present to stakeholders in 2018.4 Focusing who will take MRI into the next decade. on the fundamentals required to maintain volunteer emergency responders in upland and mountainous Finally, MRI would like to express its deepest sympathies environments and seeking to ensure mountain rescue with the family, friends and fellow team members of teams have these supports, it is clear that the strategic those who have passed away within the community focus going forward into 2019 for MRI is to ensure that within 2018. Annual Report 2018 the remaining teams without mountain rescue bases secure the resources and support to develop them. Ar dheis dé go raibh a n-anamnacha

Teams responded to a 36% increase in incidents, year on Alan Carr year, during 2018 and this rescue activity was built on [email protected] a foundation of training, equipping and maintaining the organisational capacity to respond 24/7/365. Critical to these efforts is the insurance cover that MRI provides 1 See page 9. ² See page 22. 3 See page 5. 4 See page 6. ⁵ See page 11

M.R.I. Secretary’s Report

It has been my privilege to serve as Secretary of to develop in all sorts of ways, while at the same time Mountain Rescue Ireland for a third year. A significant maintaining a unique, professional, voluntary emergency portion of the job revolves around keeping a good line of service. communication open between the teams, the national officers and our various stakeholders. It has been an honour to work with my fellow MRI Officers and Mountain Rescue colleagues up and down Great strides were made by MRI this year in completing the country. I wish you all the best of luck in the future. the process of incorporation, securing funding for much needed equipment and insurance cover, and, as this Ray Bradfield report bears out, teams at their local level continue [email protected]

mountainrescue.ie 5 • • • • company objects: MRI now serves thecommunity through thefollowing Wheel for supportingusonthisjourney. completed during2018andrecognition isdeserved for thelegalfirm L.L.P. Dechert and The order to give certainty to both internal andexternal stakeholders M.R.I. in This process was organisational character andincorporate asacharity company limited by guarantee (C.L.G.) in As theorganisation developed becameappropriate andtimeschanged it tochange the mountain rescue team ready to volunteer 24/7/365to any request for emergency assistance. current stage of development where every mountainous location ontheisland of Ireland hasa development, andrepresentation collectively. This effort grew inthesubsequent years tothe Association meeting in Bryansford Co Down, we have sought to facilitate interaction From ahumblebeginningin1965, with 6attendants firstat the Irish Mountain Rescue by Guarantee (C.L.G.) MRI Company Limited Mountaineering External Community a wider appreciation of theneed for mountain safety; safety andtake suchactionasisnecessary to promote to propagate information on mountain rescue and objectives; services with regard to theachievement of its to represent andliaise with community andstate development of mountain rescue teams; to encourage andassistintheformation, training, and mountain rescue services inIreland; under review theneedfor, andtherequirements of, to benefit the community by assessingand keeping Public Relations Representatives from each of themember mountain rescue teams Aeronautical

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a n a n L r n r n L R g n rea R g n rea E a hÉi E a hÉi S S CUE CUE Members of MRI(CLG) MRI Board of Directors Medical Members of theCompany Elected Officers Project Officers Internal the Board Chair of H MO H MO IS UN IS UN

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O O I I C C T T I I A A Statistics Internal Treasurer SARCALL Treasurer mountainrescue.ie Peer Review External Charity Sector volunteered to serve ontheboard asexternal directors. like to thank Niall Greene and Jane Carney who have rescue volunteers throughout theisland. We would the new formation dedicated to servingthemountain MRI enters 2019 with theformer association dissolved incorporating bestpractice in atthedesignstage. demonstrate compliance with charity bestpractice by recognised by themassuch. As we go forward MRI will C organisation under the Governance Code andis MRI hasadapted thegovernance standards for a Type

External: Niall Greene Internal: Jerome Hopkins, Treasurer Internal: Alan Carr, Chair Internal: Ray Bradfield, Secretary External: Jane Carney MRI Board of Directors SARCALL -Donal McNamara Tetra -Kenny Roberts Aeronautical - Scully Diarmaid Peer Review -Derry Cullen Statistics - Lorcan O’Neill Medical -Paul Butcher Public Relations - Ruth Cunniffe Treasurer - Jerome Hopkins Chair - Alan Carr Secretary -Ray Bradfield MRI Executive Committee Annual Report 2018 Report Annual Strategic Plan 2018-2021

MRI developed its 3 year strategic plan during 2018 and declared the priority was to deliver to mountain rescue teams the means required for them to continue their mountain rescue mission of saving lives 24/7/365 in Irelands upland and mountainous regions, and to protect and support its members and their teams and volunteers as they save lives in mountainous areas.

M.R.I. will seek to secure funding towards the delivery throughout 2018 and your support will be required in of this strategic plan. M.R.I. will monitor the delivery of 2019. However, none of this would be possible without this plan at Board and Committee meetings and present the volunteers who dedicate themselves to be on call progress to the membership annually at general meetings. 24/7/365, along with their families and employers who form the foundation upon which this rescue service is MRI Stakeholders have been critical in allowing MRI built on. volunteers to deliver search and rescue services

To deliver on this, M.R.I. has identified the following strategic goals: 1. Insurance coverage to protect the team operations 2. Capital funding for teams to develop or maintain rescue bases 3. Capital funding for to replace team emergency response vehicles when needed 4. Current funding to maintain and replace rescue equipment

5. Current funding for training to maintain the mountain rescue skillset 6

• Training and equipment costs continue to be Annual Report 2018 a challenge especially in a context of increased Training rescue activity. MRI is engaged currently with the DTTAS in relation to a review of the grant support systems. Search & Emergency response vehicles Rescue equipment • , critical to reaching casualties, can now be funded through grants sourced through the CLAR scheme operated by Emergency the DRCD. response vehicles • Rescue bases are a need for all mountain rescue teams and MRI is assisting teams with sourcing the required support. Rescue Base • Insurance is foundational support for all volunteers and MRI would like to acknowledge Insurance the support of Minister Ring and the DRCD.

To deliver on this strategic plan MRI will seek to ensure that all mountain rescue teams are housed in appropriate bases. MRI will work with teams, local authorities, agencies and State funders to deliver on this strategic need.

mountainrescue.ie RESCU IN E A A T S N S O U

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THE HOLY MOUNTAIN TEACH NA MIASA CROAGH PATRICK Each year on the last Sunday of July Mayo MRT co-ordinate the Annual Reek Sunday operation. Once again 2018 was a full and busy weekend for MMRT but Annual Report 2018 this national operation wouldn’t be possible without the support of the other MRI teams as well as our colleagues in the PSNI and Calder Valley MRT. 7

In 2018, MRI teams dealt with a total of 17 MRI Teams Personnel (2100) casualties on the mountain. The 2018 Reek Sunday Operation required a total of 2665 MMRT Subcommittee (170) person hours to effectively plan, organise MMRT Preparation Fri/ Sat (266) 2665 and provide assistance over this weekend. Person Aer Corps (non-voluntary) (64) Hours Medical Tent Professionals (56) This year’s planning commenced in April with a weekly subcommittee of 7 MMRT SARCALL (60) personnel and involved working closely MMRT Catering Personnel (60) with MRI teams and a number of voluntary organisations including the Order of Malta, Mayo County Council, the Irish Air Corps, An Garda Siochana, Civil Defence, the Local MRI personnel (140) Church Authorities, Local landowners and the Murrisk Development Association. SARCALL (MRI) (4) Personnel Medical Tent professionals (5) Involved The following illustrates a breakdown of Catering (MMRT) (6) personnel numbers involved, person hours Aer Corps (8) and injuries sustained during Reek Sunday 2018.

Casualties Reek Sunday 2014-2018 Chest Pain (1) Fatigue/Dehydration (4) Vertigo/ Anxiety (5) Injuries Cuts/ Abrasions (2) Sustained 2014 2015* 2016 2017 2018 Lower Leg (3) Head Injury (1) 17 0 16 15 17 Lower arm (1)

*Event Cancelled mountainrescue.ie Lorcan O’Neill [email protected] 2018 STATISTICS REPORT

The most significant snow event for many years caused a spike in activity in 2018 for mountain rescue teams. Although the effects were felt everywhere and lasted many weeks, more than 60 of the 371 incidents in Ireland in 2018 occurred in the first few days of March and were concentrated mostly in the East and South-East of the country.

Mountain rescue teams have vehicles that can deal with in heavy snow and travel on foot can be impossible. difficult driving conditions, including snow and ice. At a Without proper clothing and food, hypothermia and even time when major and minor roads were impassable, these frostbite can set in very quickly. vehicles made it possible to perform essential tasks that otherwise might not have been possible. One of these Mountain rescue teams deal with fatalities every year vehicles (that was funded by a CLAR grant) enabled a and in 2018 there were 22. They were spread unevenly remote rescue in west Wicklow, one of many – see below. throughout the year with almost half of them occurring in the second quarter and none in the third quarter. Many Mountain rescue was no longer confined to the of the fatalities occurred in the lowlands or even urban mountains but instead was diverted to the lowlands to settings. Because of their search skills, teams are often assist in transport to hospitals for patients and medical tasked there to find a missing person. About a quarter of staff alike - a task willingly undertaken by mountain the fatalities in 2018 occurred in non-mountain settings rescue teams. where the services of search and rescue dogs were requested to find missing persons. Unfortunately, the snow brought out the usual number of snow tourists wanting to test their winter driving skills. The trend of response times getting shorter is continuing

In Wicklow one third of the severe weather incidents with many incidents being over within one hour of 8 were because of cars getting stuck in the snow. Mountain being tasked. On the other hand the random nature of Rescue personnel will only assist people and bring them incidents means multiple callouts can happen at the to safety if necessary. They will not rescue vehicles. This same time. In one case in recent months four serious can be a problem for some people who expect to have incidents happened almost simultaneously covering their cars rescued as well as themselves. the full area of operations for the team and stretching available resources to the limit. New medical equipment Annual Report 2018 Many people underestimate the risks of driving to the and expertise allowed one casualty to be monitored and mountains in snow and ice. Temperatures can drop very walked off rather than being evacuated by a helicopter quickly as night approaches, visibility can go to zero that was needed for another casualty.

Fatality

Serious Injury/ Medical Fatality (6%) Other (27%) Lost Missing (20%) Minor Injury/ Other Incident Medical Types Minor Injury / Medical (27%) Non Mountain / Severe Weather Serious Injury / Medical (20%)

Lost / Missing Non Mountain / Severe Weather (17%)

Case Study: DWMRT / GoI MRT - Storm Emma - Beast from the East Incident A callout was received for medical assistance in West where a farmer with a digger removed a fence on the Wicklow. Team members drove to nearest access point ditch and they drove the 4x4 over a very steep ditch and which was blocked by a 3m snow drift. They left the through fields to the house. Here the patient was picked vehicle and walked 1.5km over fields to the house up, evacuated and handed over to the waiting ambulance and gave medical assistance. The patient required an crew. evacuation, so the team walked back to their vehicle A total of 12 Mountain Rescue personnel were involved.

mountainrescue.ie Annual Report 2018 24 / 7 / 365 / PSNI GARDA Saving Lives Saving in the Mountains Callout SMS Mountain rescue teams are only only are teams rescue Mountain Callout Officer 83 NIGHT TIME NIGHT volunteers who dedicate to being on to who dedicate volunteers call 24/7/365 to assist those in need assist those call 24/7/365 to possible due to the commitment of the of the commitment possible due to

TEAM MEMBER 999 MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN RESCUE BASE HELP!

HOURS PERSON PERSON TOTAL 13,634 mountainrescue.ie

OTHER* SERIOUS INCIDENTS INCIDENTS INJURIES 98 73 donate today www.mountainrescue.ie/donate 10412 Number: (Revenue) 20026370. CHY Number: Charity Registered ANNUAL STATISTICS - 2018 STATISTICS ANNUAL TASKINGS 72

HELICOPTER

*Mountain rescue teams are tasked to a variety of incidents arising from their wilderness & mountainous capabilities. wilderness & mountainous their arising from incidents of variety a to tasked are teams rescue *Mountain operations in recovery services emergency other for support provide teams rescue ** Mountain 371

MINOR SEARCH INJURIES 97 79

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22 75 MOBILE BASE TOTAL NO. TOTAL FATALITIES** Jerome Hopkins [email protected] 2018 FINANCIAL REPORT

Income 2018 2018 2017 • Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport 78,520 78,520 • Department of Rural & Community Development 75,190 88,816 • Team subscriptions 3,144 12,435 • Donations 9,125 2,086 • Sundry and training 3,334 2,000 • Other Income 534 - • Fundraising - 285 Total income €169,847 €184,142 Expenditure 2018 • Training and accreditation 9,704 4,363 • Insurance 95,374 77,629 • National conference and AGM 2,327 13,314 • Fundraising costs [incl. P.R. and advertising] - 1,045 • Telephone - 75 • ICAR 4,397 - • Printing and office costs 5,417 3,634 • Website costs 90 400 • Mountain rescue and communications 62,037 16,490 10 • Travelling 990 897 • Legal and professional 492 369 • Bank charges 355 385 • General expenses 40 1 • Subscriptions and memberships 550 1,612

Annual Report 2018 • Auditor’s remuneration 1,574 1,574 • Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 64,102 63,292 Total expenditure €247,449 185,080

Amortisation of government grants €40,000 €40,000 Surplus/(deficit) for the year (€37,602) €39,063

2018 MRI 2018 MRI INCOME EXPENDITURE €169,847 €247,449

A copy of the company accounts can be found on our website mountainrescue.ie 11 end of itsoperational life. resources by replacing equipment that hadreached the finance andthenecessary fundingtomaintain effective stretchers or similar equipment. The challenge related to vehicles, organisational command vehicles, rescue replacement of large capitalitemssuchfirst response The greatest challenge for teams hasbeenthe this capability into thefuture. organisational administration andfundraising tosustain skill set, inspectionandmaintenance of equipment, This dedication extends to training tomaintain the assistance to uplandandmountainous areas 24/7/365. capable of responding to any request for emergency Mountain rescue volunteers maintain aresponse posture PROGRAMME CLAR 2018 mountainrescue.ie

supporting usinour mission. Department of Rural andCommunity Development for gratitude to Minister Ring andthe officials atthe and other equipment. MRI would like to express its needed vehicles, upgrade of vehicles, facility upgrades CLAR 2018allowed mountain rescue teams to procure and Community Development at theMRI AGM in2018. Kyne TD, Minister of State at theDepartment of Rural CLAR schemeandthese were presented to Deputy Sean able to replace aged vehicles andequipmentusingthe Inthese capitalitems. 2017mountain rescue teams were rural areas hasallowed mountain rescue teams to replace order to supportsmallscaleinfrastructural projects in Department of Rural andCommunity Development in The development of theCLARgrant schemefrom the Annual Report 2018 Report Annual North West Mountain Team Chair: Graeme Stanbridge Team Leader: Jonathon Shields Rescue Team Website: www.nwmrt.org

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In 2018 the team was called out on 46 occasions (as at With the introduction of new operational standards there 30 Nov 18). Most notably half of these call outs were has been much investment in training. In addition to in the first three months which has been an increasing Section training twice a month, monthly team training trend for two reasons. The first is an increased number was reintroduced allowing us to come together regularly of searches for despondents in the Belfast Hills. In under a central command for large scale exercises or response the team are actively seeking a base in Belfast specialised training. Across the team, members have where a fully equipped vehicle can respond more rapidly been improving in their core skills especially in rigging and than the East Section base in Broughshane 30 miles search. Our new Hilux vehicles introduced in 2017 came 12 away. Secondly, increased assistance to the Northern with blue lights and most of the team attended training Ireland Ambulance Service to access casualties in extreme with the Police. weather conditions. It was with great sadness that the team lost one of its Fundraising has intensified under a newly appointed father figures and President Uel Hamilton when he officer. Street collections throughout the province not passed on 4 August. Uel was a founding member of the

Annual Report 2018 only provide a valuable and regularly income but are team in 1980 and served in all major appointments. Uel essential in keeping the team in the public eye which aids was also a member of Foyle Search & Rescue and it is recruitment. The third Broughshane 5K & 10K run is commendable to be part of a voluntary rescue service, firmly established on the running calendar and we hope but to devote so many years to two organisations to break 500 runners in the next event on 5 Aug 19. We is exceptional public service. Many members have hope to replicate the run in another location using the benefitted from the skills and knowledge he passed experience we have learned. on and the team will try to emulate the devotion Uel displayed to enhance our support and standing in the Only one recruitment campaign rather than the normal community. two was completed. At the start of the year eight members completed an induction and progressed to probationary membership where they continue to gain skills and experience. Recruitment was paused whilst new operational standards were introduced allowing additional training time to upskill current members and recruitment will recommence on 2019.

The team was awarded a £16,000 grant from the Department of Justice under the ‘Search and Rescue Funding Scheme for 2018-2019.’ This grant helped fund 22 members becoming certified Search Managers by The Centre for Search Research; four members attend both the MRI Party Leader and Rigging Courses; the purchase of vital equipment including replacement ropes, tech kit and 12 man shelters to assist the NI HEMS team in carrying out advanced emergency medical procedures; fuel and maintenance for of our fleet of Hilux Vehicles.

mountainrescue.ie 13 52 CALLOUTS providing training for upto allmembers MREW Casualty capability. The team thesechallenges hasmet by involved inaccidents requires ahighlevel of medical The range andseverity of injuriessustainedby those received essential visits. get into work andpatients inthecare of District Nurses Several days were spent ensuringhospitalstaff could with emergency cover duringtimes of bad weather. Early inthe year other theteam assisted organisations myriad of other necessary tasks. do not record timegiven to training, administration anda ofmembers to putinalmost2,340man hours work, we jobs andfamily commitments. Calloutsalonerequired members are completely voluntary andhave normal week calls. This presents challenges to theteam whose week but we are seeinganincreasing number of mid- month of the year. Weekends remain our busy time of the Mournes, we canexpect at leastonecallduringevery two or three per week butsuchisthepopularity of the months see ariseinthenumber of call-outs with perhaps to oneper week butthereality isdifferent. The summer such incidents occurring in2018.Neatly, thiscorrelates Requests for Team assistance continues to rise with52 Website: Andrew McKee, Martin McMullan Team Coordinators: Team Chair: www.mournemrt.org Dave Goddard Neville Watson, Ian McCracken, mountainrescue.ie fly butsheepdefinitely don’t. Mourne ewe which injured apassing walker. Pigs might press andsocialmediacoverage concerned aplummeting Notable event of the year which received worldwide members beingintegrated into theteam. attended by our and 30fullmembers we have sixnew candidates for medicalexaminations. All have been well one evening session to preparewith additionalsessions Internal training isheldtwice per month, afullday and were involved intwo fatal accident recoveries. evacuating tohospitalcare. casualties Sadly the team and PSNIaircrews who have beeninvaluable inspeedily helicopter R116andUKcrews, our local Air Ambulance like to express our gratitude to thecrews of Coastguard number of very seriousandmultipleinjuries. We would involve thelower limbbut we have hadto deal with a The mostcommon injuries dealt with by theteam techniques for more effective intervention. has come to needfor more specialistequipmentand Technician) level or higher. Along with thisexpertise have attained WEMT (Wilderness Emergency Medical Care Certificate standard. Additionally tenmembers RescueTeam Mountain

Mourne Annual Report 2018 Report Annual Dublin & Wicklow Team Chair: Edmund Fagan Team Leader: Mark Flynn Mountain Rescue Website: www.dwmrt.ie

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Our team consists of 57 rescue team members as well as funding and our capabilities to support the local associate and honorary members. In 2018 we welcomed community were greatly enhanced by the vehicle and 7 probationary recruits. equipment we were able to purchase with the support of the programme. We would also like to thank Aviva We are constantly upskilling and developing our Insurance for their support in 2018. capabilities. In 2018 a group travelled to Scotland for winter conditions training. We also started training 13 We are grateful for every donation and all support

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) under the auspices however we would like to take this opportunity to 14 of The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps. The standard mention the fundraising of Pamela Hallahan. Pamela is of care the team will be able to provide will be greatly the sister of Kevin Hallahan who died in in an accident enhanced by these upskilled practitioners. Members also while training with the team in Wales in 2017. Pamela participated in technical rope course hosted by MRI in and her family and friends raised more than €10,000 in Doolin and ISRT in Ballykeeffe. sponsorship by running the Cork Ladies Mini Marathon. This was an incredibly generous gesture by Pamela and Annual Report 2018 We work hand in hand with Glen of Imaal Mountain all who supported her. We are very thankful for such Rescue Team and a joint callout officer arrangement generosity and goodwill. continued as a valuable and effective collaboration during the year. During 2018 the two teams also co-operated We would like to take this opportunity to express our to develop medical procedures and other initiatives. The gratitude for all of the support our team received during unprecedented impacts of Storm Emma will live long in 2018. Without the support we receive from friends, the memory. We responded to 28 medical emergency family, clubs, individuals, companies, community funds, callouts over one weekend. Our training, equipment and state agencies and participants and volunteers at our personnel allowed us to perform in the most extreme fundraising events the team would not be able to provide conditions. the service we want to provide. Thank you.

In October, the team responded to four callouts at the We have benefited from the hospitality of An Garda same time in four different locations across the Dublin Síochána who have provided us with space at and Wicklow Mountains. The nature of the incidents Roundwood Station for many years. We hope to establish reflected the diverse range of activities enjoyed in our a permanent base in the area and we are actively hills including hill-walking, rock climbing, paragliding and fundraising and engaging with stakeholders to hopefully mountain biking. realise what we have long dreamed about. We have three main fundraising events of our own which are all hill Our team were County Winners for Wicklow in the based and provide significant training opportunities. The National Lottery Good Causes awards and went on to win Art O’Neill Challenge is a long distance ultra-marathon the National Category for Sport and Recreation. We hope or trek in January. In March we host Walk the Line in our success in these awards will help raise the profile of the Dublin Mountains. Then in November we host Run Mountain Rescue nationally. the Line, a trail running event based around Glencullen Adventure Park. We would love to meet you at one of The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht’s these events in 2019! CLÁR Programme is a vital source of project specific

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that this will retain significant skillsand experience while Rescue through areserve membership category. We hope members to continue their commitment to Mountain a new membershipstructure which allows fullteam the good work of hispredecessors. We have introduced Our new TL, ChristiaanClotworthy hasbeenbuildingon our work inCo. Wicklow. groups andindividuals who make donations insupport of we are indebted to thenumerous clubs,companies, at their annualBlack Tie Ball. It goes without saying that on the10th Anniversary of theCorriebracks planecrash Foundation donation whomadeasignificant tothe team We are particularly grateful to theCharlie Froud upgrades andexpansion at our MR basein Trooperstown. VW Rockton response vehicles. We are alsoplanning including upgrades to our Toyota Hilux 4WDs and development projects plannedfor the coming year The fundsraised will play amajor partinsomeof the safely completing the course withnosignificant mishaps. an unmitigated success, witharound 750participants took place onthenight of 24thNovember and was Our major fundraising event - The Moonlight Challenge, calls. for closecooperation and collaboration onmany of the grateful to our good friendsandcolleagues inDWMRT improvements dueto the consistent useof Sarloc. We are completion of callshas continued tomake significant the dry summer weather. Speed of locating subjectsand some partandcertainly complicated by gorse fires during Camaderry followed by adawn heli-liftandcallscausedin during the year includinganovernight stretcher carry on There have beensomeparticularly interesting shouts followed by losthillwalking parties requiring assistance. typical with lower leginjuriespredominating, closely the high80’s. The call-outprofile remains reasonably Glen Team’s busiest years yet, in with call-outnumbers As 2018draws to aclose,itisproving to beoneof the

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a n r n L R g n rea E a hÉi S CUE Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.wmr.ie Brendan Beirne Christiaan Clotworthy mountainrescue.ie Merry ChristmasandaProsperous, Peaceful New Year. and supportthroughout the year. We wish you alla very and emergency services personnel for their kindness a particular thankstothefamilies of Mountain Rescue we cooperate inservingthepublic. We would like to say list of other statutory and voluntary services with whom Defence Forces, National Ambulance Service withalong colleagues inMRI, An Garda Siochana, Coast Guard, Cross Mountain Rescue Team would like to thankour The committee andmembers of Glen of Imaal Red in Slovenia in2019. Norway early inthe year andare planningasimilar event parallel. We hada very successful winter training tripto Swift Water and Search Management takes place in training includingPHECC EMT &EFR, Technical Rescue, with thefocus onsearch andmedicalskills.Specialist Our routine training continues every Wednesday night health. the Autumn and were delighted to begiven aclean billof Theteam tookpeerthe MRI partin review processduring in Co. Wicklow over thecoming months and years. they will besignificant to thedevelopment of theservice noteworthy hillandoutdoor experience we’re sure that Glen Team hasjust welcomed 8new members. All have After apausein recruitment of around 5 years, the work andfamily commitments. allowing to members better accommodate MR withtheir Glen of Imaal Mountain

Rescue Annual Report 2018 Report Annual South Eastern Mountain Rescue Team Chair: Michael Power Team Leader: Liam McCabe Association Website: www.semra.ie

52 CALLOUTS

South Eastern Mountain Rescue is a strong team who those who attended in the interests of skills development currently have 53 members. SEMRA has successfully in Mountain Rescue scenarios. trained an additional 10 members. All members have completed their training and have increased the strength The event was conducted over two days. The first day of the team to 53. To date in 2018 SEMRA have been involved a series of round robin training events on tasked with 6 Searches, 7 Rescues, 28 severe weather Saturday the 21st April where the teams got to mix and callouts and have been tasked to assist other MRT’s on 3 make new friends and re-establish connections with occasions. other friends while developing skills and knowledge. 16

2018 was a year of extreme weather conditions. In Sunday 22nd April a simulated major incident involving February the South East of Ireland came to a halt due to several missing persons and casualties across the Nire extreme snow. At this time SEMRA were tasked to assist Valley was conducted. Significantly, this event tested the both the HSE and An Garda Síochána. However, July saw use of the SARCALL log on the hill in a busy control room

Annual Report 2018 temperatures in the South East reach up to 33˚. while overseeing a difficult operation.

During the year a number of fundraising events were SEMRA also attended a winter training exercise in Poland conducted. These included the annual collections in to upskill members on the team in March 2018. The team Waterford, Dungarvan, Carlow and Clonmel. The money sent 8 members to the ‘Valley of the Five Lakes’ in the raised from these collections has gone to the general day TATRA Mountains for five days to train and experience to day running of the vehicles and upkeep of the team the more physically difficult conditions of these base. SEMRA also held a night walk called the Long Way mountains. The course was delivered by members of the Round where additional money has been raised and that TOPR Mountain Rescue Team of the Tatra Mountains. money has been directed into the day to day account of SEMRA for the general upkeep of the organisation. SEMRA is currently advancing towards registration as a PHECC licensed C.P.G. provider. All team members are SEMRA entered 2018 is a very positive light when they trained or at an advance stage in their PHECC training received a very welcoming donation from the Dara and this process will be completed in early 2019. Fitzpatrick Memorial Run to the value of €9000 in SEMRA has also a transparent and comprehensive safety January. This donation was directly used for training. management system in place. The money was initially used to hold a training event at Ballymacarbry Community Centre, Waterford on the Grants Received weekend of 21st April 2018. An invite was extended to all Coast Guard Grant: €7407. Waterford Leader Grant: other Mountain Rescue teams on the Island of Ireland to €18047.97. HSE Grant: €4000. participate in this event. Remembrance The event facilitated over one hundred attendees on each During the year SEMRA and SARDA member Gerry day. The attendees included a representative of Coast Tobin’s beautiful dog DEX passed away. This dog was Guard Rescue 117 and members of the Defence Forces. loved by all the members of SEMRA and we will all miss All teams brought their own special knowledge to the him dearly. occasion for the futuristic combined development of all mountainrescue.ie 17 19 CALLOUTS hills for our dog teams) andto assist with fundraising. to volunteer as‘dogsbodies’ (those who hideonthe with SARDA Ireland. Many new peoplehave started increased interest from thepublictobecome involved Meanwhile, we are happy to note that there hasbeen deeply regretted by everyone in SARDA Ireland. The lossof thisfinedog was untimely, unexpected andis casualty in Wicklow in2015directly saved aperson’s life. call-outs with Gerry, andDex’s findonanunconscious 2013. During his career, Dexter attended numerous Rescue Association) qualifiedasasearch dog teamin Tobin (who isamember of South Eastern Mountain saw thepassingof Dexter. Dex andhishandler Gerry been firstonscene at casualty sites. In other news, 2018 from theGardaí andMountain Rescue. Both dogs have Rescue Association and have been responding to tasking’s teams are membersof theSouth Eastern Mountain qualified asfullmountain rescue search dog teams. Both days upgrade assessments in Wicklow andsuccessfully Louise Burgoyne with Lyla got through thetough three- point inDecember. Mick Grant andZiggy alongside of our operational search dog teams featured asahigh very sadtimes for SARDA Ireland. The upgrading of two 2018 culminated insome very highpoints andalsosome Associations intheUK, Ireland andthe Isle of Man. organisation NSARDA which represents Search Dog throughout theisland. We are partof theumbrella Our capability is available to allmountain rescue teams are regularly tasked inmountain andlowland areas. rural andurbanareas, waterways andseashore. We in Ireland andare effective inmountains, woodlands, handler andtheir dog are tasked to search anywhere Ourmissing persons. dog teams, which consist of the of Air Scenting Search and Rescue Dogs to search for rescue organization concerned withthedeployment Ireland), isanational voluntary emergency search and The Search andRescue Dog Association Ireland (SARDA Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.sardaireland.com Henry Smyth Gerry Tobin mountainrescue.ie operational andupgrade assessments. SARDA Ireland with several dog teams inpreparation for and college visits. 2019 will seeanother eventful year for the UK. We alsoattended other events suchasschool were requested for asassessors sister organisations in several team attended members training weekends and their respective locations around the country. In2018 smaller groups meet together for training regularly in any team. Outside of thenational training weekends, us to get together aspectfor socially:alsoanimportant Ireland, these weekends alsoprovide achance for allof As we are anational team, based all withmembers over handlers andto share knowledge andexperience. each dog team’s progress, offer valuable feedback toall opportunity to set uplarge search areas, keep aneye on and Connemara. National training weekends offer an including Wicklow, Kerry, theComeragh Mountains These weekends take place indifferent locations, on national training weekends every sixor seven weeks. team. SARDA Ireland generally members get together handlers andsome very promising young dogs onthe There are alsoseveral more prospective operational Rescue Dog

Association

Search and Annual Report 2018 Report Annual Galway Mountain Team Chair: Dermot Hughes Team Leader: Rory Sherlock Rescue Team Website: www.gmrt.ie

17 CALLOUTS

The team responded to 17 callouts in 2018. These Recruitment of new members occurred in the months of March, April, July, August and Team added one full member in 2018 and currently has November and included assistance to the Gardaí during six recruits in training. Applications for new members will Storm Emma, three calls to Diamond Hill and two callouts reopen in January 2019. to search for elderly gentlemen who were missing in difficult terrain. Grants received Galway County Council €4,550 18 The most significant call out of the year was the rescue of Galway City Council €5,000 22 Venture scouts and five adult leaders from Ben Corr in Clar €8,988 March. This was a great team effort, when just 10 GMRT members were greatly outnumbered by their casualties, Training highlights but the team members on the hill performed superbly and The team held 44 training events representing 333 the callout ended well for all concerned. person hours. There were five interagency events

Annual Report 2018 including a joint exercise with the National Parks Service Summary of fundraisers – what the on Diamond Hill. money was used for and dates for 2019 Remembrance events The team received donations in memory of two members Fundraising income in 2018 totalled €12,278. Two of the local community - Sean Halloran Jr and Eoin Burke. supermarket bag packing events were held in August, a table quiz was held in September and a street collection took place in October. All funds went towards the teams running costs.

mountainrescue.ie 19 34 CALLOUTS large donations for the team. This year two casualtiesfrom Reek Sunday in2017 raised and casualtiesthat we have helpedisalways humbling. that the team receive from of themembers thepublic collections held inCastlebar and Westport. The support Mayo event (in itssecond year) andtheCommunity based ones that hadthegreatest buzz were theMoonlight in held anumber of fundraising events duringthe year. The increased as we needtomaintain thesenew facilities. We training. This meansthecosts of operating the team have equipment, vehicles andfor holdingmeetingsand long-awaited home which isessential for storing team Having anew HQbuilding,since 2016,hasgiven usa Fundraising isimportant for any mountain rescue team. training for theteam. pathway andhave secured Leader fundingfor EFR Management training. We are alsopursuing thePHECC WEMSI andin-houseCasCare, Party Leader andSearch true spiritof volunteerism. Team attended members REC, have generously given their time,andmuchmore, inthe have collaborated indeveloping thiscourse and who Course. The team wish to thankalltheinstructors who year was the10th year of hostingthe National Rigging Training isahuge partof theteam calendar andthis probationary membersthis year. members ontheteam. The team alsorecruited five greatly limitsour liability. There are currently 31active rules andarticles of association andmostimportantly whole new identity andanew constitution, with new a company limited by guarantee. This gives theteama significant step for the team was being incorporated as This year, from anorganisational point of view, a incidents coordinated onReek Weekend. Rescue Team with 34calloutsandanadditional17 2018 was, once again,abusy year for theMayo Mountain H MO IS UN IR T A

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O I C T I A Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.mayomrt.com Colm Byrne Robert Hunt mountainrescue.ie agibh! team to beavailable 24/7,365days/yr. Go raibh maith support from our team member families which allows the commitment to this voluntary service andhave fantastic MMRT team continue members to show great the donation to buy new equipment. through hisenjoyment of hillwalking. The team are using we helpothers justashehelpedbringpeopletogether outdoors. John will beremembered by theteam when different walks of life withthesameenjoyment of the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team itself, peoplefrom all community were madeupof peoplelike thoseinthe with theMayo Mountain Rescue Team. His walking in Alsace onthe12thMay 2018.His lossstruckachord died inatragic hikingaccident inthe Vosges mountains Castlebar, Co. Mayo, who hadbeenlivinginStrasbourg, family andfriendsraised inhismemory. John Quinn of in Westport to present adonation of €4,800 which John’s In August, thefamily of John Quinn visited usinour HQ service andthelocalcommunities throughout the year. the Gardaí, Coastguard, Order of Malta, the Ambulance operation this year andacknowledge theassistance of rescue teams inassisting withthe Reek Weekend acknowledge thetimeandeffort of allthemountain weekend operationally for the team. The team wish to to assistintheoperation in2018. It isthebusiest rescue personnelfrom across Ireland andtheUKcame and the11MRIteams. An average of 120mountain coordinated operation between alltheagencies Reek Weekend itself involves alarge plannedand RescueTeam Mountain

Mayo Mayo Annual Report 2018 Report Annual Sligo Leitrim Mountain Team Chair: Ciaran Davis Team Leader: Iain Mounsey Rescue Team Website: www.sligoleitrimmrt.ie

10 CALLOUTS

Incidents soon after by the announcement of funding under the During 2018 SLMRT conducted 3 Searches, 6 Rescues CLAR scheme from the Department of Culture, Heritage and over 240 person hours given. These were a mix of & Gaeltacht, This gave us funding of €27000 to upgrade operating with other agencies including other MRTs, our a vast array of equipment including communications, Garda, Irish Coastguard, RNLI, HSE and Fire Services. casualty handling equipment and PPE. We would like to thank the efforts of the Mountain Rescue Ireland and Training the Department of Culture, Heritage & Gaeltacht as this Training this year comprised of 40 sessions covering has made a vast improvement to the teams resources in 20 the following: REC 3, REC 4, Night Navigation, PPE being able to provide a professional service to the local Inspection Course, Joint exercise with RNLI, Joint community. The now infamous annual Ben Bulben Night Exercises with neighbouring teams, Communications, Walk continued our fundraising efforts with around 200 Medical Refreshers, Rigging Course Doolin and the Party supporters enjoyed the guided hike to the top Ben before Leader Course finally hitting the streets of Sligo for our annual street collection. Annual Report 2018 Events The team also committed to 10 different events as Members part of our fundraising strategy and public relations. Currently we have 18 active members with 8 Our fundraising covered a pub quiz, our annual street probationers approaching assessment. Over the course of collection and the centrepiece the Ben Bulben Night walk 2018 team members gave up over 4,440hrs of their time with continues to be a popular event. Other assistance to commit to incidents training and fundraising. has been given to local events based upon the numbers of people involved and the terrain covered, these include Vehicles the Warriors Run, Sligo Way Ultra, St Patricks day parades SLMRT has 2 Vehicles in use, a 2008 Ford Transit Van, a in Sligo and Leitrim, a number of education days with 2015 VW Rockton 4x4 various schools, scout groups, local community groups as well as the national exercise of Croagh Patrick. Team Base The team is currently housed within an area vacated Fundraising by the Sligo County Council. This has provided us with At the start of the year the team suffered a major setback a secure facility in which to keep all the vehicles and when our base was subject to a burglary. In our efforts equipment and also space to conduct training. We are to remain operational we would like to thank An Garda very grateful for the assistance provided by Sligo County Siochana, Sligo/Leitrim for the very swift action to Council. apprehend the perpetrators. In addition we would like to thank all the companies, organisations and individuals Equipment who helped us in any way they could. This was a huge With the announcement of funding by CLAR a huge boost to the team and we could not have recovered as amount of equipment has been changed, upgraded and quickly as we did without your support. During the year added to. For the team this was a very welcome and vital the team conducted 4 major fundraising events beginning source of funding which has enabled us to further our with the Pub Quiz to which we thank the Thomas high standards of team training and ultimately the care of Connoley’s, Sligo for hosting us. This was then followed our casualties.

mountainrescue.ie 21 19 CALLOUTS from some of thepeople that were assisted onthe holding fundraisers. DMRT alsoreceived kinddonations DMRTbusinesses supported throughout the year by clubs along with thelocalpeople of Donegal andlocal raising just over €2300.Many of thelocal walking raising just over €2000andthecollection in Buncrana support for DMRT with thecollection in Donegal Town the general publicstepped upto show their continuing funds for theday to day runningof theteam. Once again, year holdstwo street collections to raise muchneeded background completing grant applications. DMRT each annual bucket collections or the many hours spent inthe responders timeistaken up withfundraising, bethat the As always for DMRT alarge amount of theteam Communications. Search Techniques, First Aid, Navigation, Rope Work and days which inturn would cover Search Management and up of both training sessionsandscenariocallouttraining The structure of team training this year hasbeenmade First Responders and1Emergency Medical Technician. 20 responders under REC First AID 2 who are Emergency DMRT currently have 24Responders. We currently have location to the team usingitsGPS System. system whereby thelostpersonsmartphonecanpassits also deployed theuseof SARLOC oncallouts which isa various Coastguard teams, andtheRNLI.DMRT has Mountain Rescue Teams, An Garda Siochana, NAS,R118, DMRT have worked closely with our colleagues in various Throughout 2018either through Callouts or Training upland andremote areas inbetween. Range andtheBluestack Mountain Range andallthe of Slieve League while takingintheDerryveagh Mountain Ireland Malin Head stretching down to thestunningcliffs environment of Donegal, starting at thenortherntip of an emergency response for theremote andupland DMRT (Donegal Mountain Rescue Team) provides Website: Team Leader: Team Chair: www.facebook.com/DonegalMRT Brian Pat Murray Garret Wilson mountainrescue.ie operational base. representatives and County Councillors to secure an 2019 hopeto gainsupportfrom both localGovernment to try anlocate operate abaseto from andmoving into team hasisabase,DMRT hasbeen working over 2018 and 31stof March 2019.One of thebiggest needsthe the annualMountain Rescue Ireland AGM onthe30th Donegal Mountain Rescue islookingforward to hosting by usingtetra tracking. searchers cannow betracked intheincidentcontrol unit search teams now carry tetra radios during operations, all DMRT vehicles are equipped with Tetra radios and the County. people were from outsideof Donegal and were visiting out of by allthepeopleassisted theteam 16of these searches.missing person It was noticeable this year that along with assisting An Garda Siochana withlow land ranged from assistinggroups to lone walkers onthehills and have held37training exercises. This year thecallouts To date DMRT have beencalledout18timesin2018 scheme in2018. callouts. DMRT secured €18718through theClar funding RescueTeam Mountain

Donegal Annual Report 2018 Report Annual A rescuer’s perspective EMMA from DWMRT AND THE BEAST...

Early March 2018, inspired lots of talk about one of our favourite topics: the weather. The Beast from the East set the scene, and Storm Emma arrived to stop much of Ireland in its tracks. Emma gave us blizzard conditions and up to a metre of snow in places; she did her worst over eastern parts of Ireland.

During this time, community spirit abounded, and the houses helped out where they could. The team’s only voluntary and auxiliary emergency services mobilised in available response vehicle, MR2, began its day doing great numbers to assist their professional counterparts. emergency calls for NAS. Team members’ private Amongst the emergency services, mountain rescue four-wheel-drive vehicles were pressed into service, (MR) teams are uniquely placed to respond to severe transporting tired front-line emergency staff home, and weather of the kind experienced in March 2018. Being bringing in fresh troops to help keep the health services accustomed to operating in winter conditions, MR operational. MR2, crewed by a DWMRT advanced volunteers can offer a vital emergency service far beyond paramedic (AP) and an emergency first responder (EFR), where vehicles can safely reach. completed three calls that morning: epistaxis, a fractured

forearm, and a suspected deep vein thrombosis. All three 22 While Storm Emma’s worst effects were felt in Leinster, calls were in housing estates in south Dublin. A shortage severe weather of this nature can cause problems of available crews, and difficult access to minor roads anywhere in the country. A number of MR teams had a created significant problems for NAS for the first half of busy time during Storm Emma, this account is written the day. from the perspective of the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team (DWMRT). Meanwhile, in Roundwood, after much shovelling, Annual Report 2018 and more than a little swearing, MR3 and MR4 were At 02:13 on Friday, March 2nd, the team was woken with freed from their snowy barricade. Roundwood was still Storm Emma’s first tasking; a call to an abandoned car entirely cut off, most importantly, from Friday morning’s stuck in a snowdrift. Following investigation, it became milk delivery. A convoy of Land Rovers, equipped clear that no response was required. Stand down. Three with snow chains, met the milk delivery in nearby hours later, at 05:30, a second tasking; a request to Newtownmountkennedy and returned to a thirsty, but transport a patient from snowbound west Wicklow to grateful, Roundwood. Beaumont Hospital, in Dublin, for transplant surgery. Unfortunately, within minutes of the call coming through, At 12:35, Garda Command and Control tasked the team word was received that the donor organ had gone to to evacuate a family home near Ballinascorney, in south another patient. Dublin. MR2, the team’s trusty Volkswagen Rockton, responded with its crew of two MR personnel. The As dawn broke, the scale of the challenge began to vehicle was stopped by deep snow approximately 1.5km reveal itself. Roundwood, the village where DWMRT from the house, and from there, a chilly snowshoe trek is based, woke to 20-25 centimetres of snow on the through biting wind beckoned. More than 20 MR team ground, with drifts of up to two metres in the village and members responded in total, and with the help of the on the approach roads. This was the pattern all across Civil Defence Hagglund all-terrain vehicle, we safely upland areas of Dublin and Wicklow. Two of the team’s evacuated five people and an ageing German shepherd three response vehicles, MR3 and MR4, were snowed in, dog from the house. The operation lasted over six hours trapped behind a snowdrift over one metre high. from tasking to stand-down.

DWMRT was officially tasked to assist the National Saturday, March 3rd, started early with a tasking at 05:06 Ambulance Service (NAS) at 08:55. For the next few from the Gardaí to Manor Kilbride, in west Wicklow. A hours, the MR personnel who were able to leave their person needed to be evacuated to hospital from a family

mountainrescue.ie 23 arrive when itdid, thefocus of theteam’s job would have emergency, medical andhumanitarian.If thethaw didn’t winter conditions. Those 24taskings were a variety of provide anemergency service in,at times, very severe 2nd and4th, working alongsidea variety of agencies to DWMRT responded to 24taskingsbetween March vehicle asabackup. capable, four-wheel-drive, and was escorted by anMR patient was transported inan Order of Malta stretcher- to a help evacuate apaediatric patient to hospital. The vehicles, with five MRpersonnel, responded to Stepaside returned to base,asecond tasking was received. Two a 3.5kmsnowshoe backout.Before thehillpartieshad 10-tonne loader, the5kmsnowshoe to thehousebecame 08:30. Thanks totheefforts of alocalquarryman,andhis to theincident andthepatient was airliftedshortly before The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 116, was tasked followed the first, to perform astretcher-carry if required. they assessedandtreated thepatient. Another hillparty snowshoed over deepsnow to reach thehouse, where could get nocloser than5kmfrom thehouse. The crew MR team an members, AP andanEFR. This time,MR2 home. Again, MR2responded initially withacrew of two mountainrescue.ie

from thehills,andinto our towns and villages. weather events that will bringour operational areas down rescuers, we mustanticipate, and plan for, more cold mild, dampconditions to much colder ones. As mountain be. All of thischanges our localclimate from our usual has pushedcold, polar air further souththan itshould warming, causedbea warmer-than-usual Arctic Ocean, gave ustheBeast from theEast. A suddenstratospheric in January 2019,thesamemeteorological conditions that Storm Emma are becoming more frequent. We are seeing, The fact is,that with climate change, weather events like been describedasaonce-in-a-generation weather event. can provide a vital emergency response. Storm Emma has leaves a vehicle. When vehicles are not anoption, MR A mountain rescuer’s job,typically, starts when he/she services if weather conditions were not a factor. all would have beenhandledby thestatutory emergency were inlocations where the team normally operates, and had available. None of thetaskings duringStorm Emma placed huge demandsontheresources that DWMRT snowbound people.Such achange in focus would have switched to transporting food andessential supplies to Annual Report 2018 Report Annual Book Release

For over fifty years volunteer mountain rescue teams have 24 been on standby twenty four hours a day, every day of the year ready to help those in trouble on the hills and mountains of the island of Ireland. Annual Report 2018 This book describes how the teams in emergency services. It is, I hope, an and the search dog association have important milestone, a record of our 40 developed from very modest beginnings plus years of dedication and service. to become experienced and capable Thanks to all those who assisted and frontline 999/112 services. supported the work of research and preparation for publication. Many operational incidents are described and readers will understand The author has been a member of what it means to be a member of mountain rescue for nearly thirty a team. It also gives an account of years and has participated in many the foundation, development and rescues and searches as well as serving difficulties of the Irish Mountain Rescue as chairman of both the national Association which represents and association and his own team and also supports the teams in their work. as the team leader, the operational leader, of his team. This book will be of interest to anyone who has served in mountain rescue as c.180 pages, soft bound with sixteen well as those serving in, or interested illustrations

Available from Pat Holland ([email protected]) with a discount for bulk orders from MR teams and other emergency services. Single copies available from www.lettertecbooks.com, costing €20 plus P+P each.

mountainrescue.ie Expression of condolences IN REMEMBRANCE Since 1965 MRI and our mountain rescue teams have been led by people whose dedication built the organisations that we have today. It is important that we recognise their dedication and achievements.

Uel Hamilton Brendan Walsh 1946 - 2018 1942 - 2018 Annual Report 2018 25

A founding member of the North West Mountain On February 9th 2018, we were informed of the Rescue Team with 38 years of service, the Derry death of Brendan Walsh. He was a founding member man was also one of the longest serving member of the Irish Mountain Rescue Association (IMRA), of the Foyle Search and Rescue Team. For years he which later became Mountain Rescue Ireland. spent every Friday and Saturday night monitoring the shores of the lough for anyone falling into the water In the early 1960’s Brendan was the Mountain or supporting families. Rescue Officer for the Dublin Branch of the Irish Mountaineering Club and during that time developed In 1980 he and some friends formed the North relations with a number of like-minded organisations West Mountain Rescue Team after they were out hill including some in Northern Ireland. Arising from walking and stumbled across an accident. Over the this a meeting was held in 1965 at Lord Roden’s years he filled every key appointment, assumed the home in Bryansford, Co.Down. The Irish Mountain role of team leader in 1993 and was President at the Rescue Association was formed here with Brendan time of his death. Walsh as its first Secretary/Organiser. Brendan was a solicitor, Notary Public and Dublin City Sheriff in his In 2012 Uel’s dedication to mountain rescue was professional life. recognised with the naming of the team’s rescue base in Fermanagh to Hamilton House, and in 2018 A celebration of Brendan’s life took place at the Foyle Search and Rescue presented him with a special chapel in Mount Jerome Cemetery where MRI was recognition award for 22 years of service. represented by Diarmaid Scully. On that occasion, Brendan’s family asked that mourners make a Although ill in the last six years, Uel remained donation to MRI, if desired, in lieu of flowers. committed. He raised funds and supported other volunteers. He had tremendous pride in both North We extend our deepest sympathy to Brendan’s wife, West Mountain Rescue and Foyle Search and Rescue Ruth, his children, Sinéad, Cara, Aifric and Oisín, and instilled it in volunteers he trained. He had extended family and many friends, and thank them an innate kindness, which he used discreetly. UEL for the great generosity and support they have given Hamilton was “a shining example of service to the to Mountain Rescue in Ireland. community” and is sorely missed.

mountainrescue.ie Facing into 2019, recognition is needed that saving a life in an upland or mountainous environment requires commitment to the mission at many levels.

For the mountain rescue Training volunteer to assist the

casualty they must Search & 26 be supported by the Rescue equipment mountain rescue team Emergency in the provision of the response vehicles

Annual Report 2018 following: A Rescue base to store & support the volunteer, equipment and vehicles

Stakeholders in the mountain rescue mission

The casualty requiring assistance is dependant on all these levels for support, regardless of the casualty being a visitor to or a resident of the island. It is vital that all stakeholders: local councils, government departments and agencies, and other interested parties recognise their place in the mountain rescue mission.

Saving Lives in the Mountains www.mountainrescue.ie 24 / 7 / 365

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Alternatively volunteers who dedicate to being on being to who dedicate volunteers call 24/7/365 to assist those in need. call 24/7/365 to These volunteers achieve this with minimal state support, and assume state with minimal this achieve volunteers These of the costs

possible due to the commitment of the the of the commitment due to possible today donate www.mountainrescue.ie/ Companies Registration Office: 613336. Charity Registration No.: CHY 22253. Charities Regulator No.: 20202673 Regulator CHY 22253. Charities No.: Registration 613336. Charity Office: Registration Companies

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