ANNUAL REPORT:DUBLIN & WICKLOW MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM | 2011 1

.

Annual

Report:

Dublin &

Wicklow

Mountain

Rescue Team

2011

.

MOUNTAIN RESCUE IN DUBLIN AND WICKLOW THROUGHOUT 2011 IN THIS ISSUE

Exceptional year for the Team ...... 1 Exceptional year for the Team The Team Profile ...... 2 by Chris England, Team Leader A Tribute to Gerry ...... 3 Chairman’s Report ...... 5 Welcome to our first team annual report! To help in Finance report ...... 6 I hope you will enjoy reading about the all this we Public Relations Officer report ...... 7 highlights and huge success the team has have been Summary of Operations 2011 ...... 8 enjoyed had in the past year. Sadly this very Press releases ...... 10 was also the year we lost one of our fortunate Walk the Line 2011 ...... 12 founder members, Gerry Butler who is in to have a Participant Feedback on WTL ...... 14 all our thoughts and memories. large Thanks to our WTL Participants ...... 15 intake of New stretcher capable 4x4 ...... 16 2011 has brought many changes and new Probationary Diary 2011 ...... 17 developments in the Dublin Wicklow members Mountain rescue on the run ...... 19 Mountain Rescue Team and a new Team this year, “Callout 30” ...... 19 Leader was just one of them. Below is an all of “The Mega Callout” ...... 20 account of my experiences this year. whom are Cathaoirleach award! ...... 21 keen and Barking mad! ...... 21 The Team has benefited hugely from the capable. Person of the Year 2011 ...... 22 professional approach taken by our Team They proved themselves invaluable to the Annual Dinner 2011 ...... 22 Leaders in the past and this did fill me with Team during Walk the Line and have since The year in photos! ...... 24 some apprehension at taking on the role: Do been brought onto the live callout register. I The year in updates! ...... 30 I have the ability? The right approach? Or, have high hopes many will make the grade in Thanks to all our 2011 Supporters! ...... 34 even just the time? Ten months into the role, their full team membership assessment in Emergency contact ...... 35 I’m not sure I can clearly answer any of these. early 2012.

The dedication shown to the Team by our Other Agencies: We have continued to members continues to grow year on year. develop a closer working relationship with ANNUAL REPORT CREATORS These activities range from on the hill at a our neighbouring team the Glen of Imaal Red call out (were once again the numbers are in Cross MRT (GoI). In addition to this we This report for 2011 was created by: the 60’s), turning out for training events, the continued to strengthen our relations with  Brian O’Doherty (PRO) various committees and sub committees, not the Gardai and Eastern Regional Ambulance  Michelle Clarke (Assistant PRO) to mention fundraising events such as Walk Service. The Line. The time commitment given, away For questions or feedback on the from family and friends, in a selfless manner (Team Leader report is continued on page 3) contents contact: [email protected] is huge and an inspiration.

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The Team Profile

The Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team has 62 team members. The team is made up from people from all backgrounds such as accountants, doctors, police, firemen, engineers, paramedics, auctioneers, investment bankers and even first aid instructors. They are unpaid volunteers who heroically give up their time and skills going to the aid of anyone in trouble on the hills.

Honorary members (5 members) Full Team members (33 members) Probationary members (13 members) Awarded to team members or individuals who Fully qualified and active search and rescue Trainees who are currently undergoing have gone over and above the call of duty team members (*overall number includes the extensive search and rescue skills training as Committee, PRO & Member of the Year) part of the 2011 -2012 intake  Brendan Nolan  Brian Hayes  Alan Cronin  Adrian Nolan  Derek Keegan (Project Engineer, 4 months on the team)  Cormac Lynch (Solicitor)  Gerard Butler (RIP, see page 3)  Brian Farrell (Financial Analyst, 2 years  David Mahon (Self employed)  John Manning on the team)  Diarmuid O' Colmain (Engineer, Scientist,  Brendan Lawlor (Business Consultant, 9 Management Consultant) years on the team)  Gareth Little (Investment Banker) 2011 Member of the Year  Charlie McGuinness  John Shiels (Public Servant, 3 years on the team) (Photographer / IT consultant) Awarded annually to the highest achieving  Dave Cleary (Critical Care Paramedic, 6  Josephine Madden member of the team years on the team) (Pharmaceutical Marketing)  David Butler (DWMRT Deputy Team  Kevin Hallahan (R&D Engineer)  Gen Ward Leader, Company Director/Health &  Michelle Clarke (DWMRT Deputy Team Leader, Civil Safety Consultant ) (Lead Program Manager) Servant, 15 years on the team)  Declan Cunningham (Deputy Team  Rita Darcy (IT Consultant)

Leader, and a self-employed Rope  Robert Creevey (Self Employed) Access/Mountain Skills Instructor &  Committee members Ronan Friel Journalist, 10yrs on the team) (Self Employed Electrician)  Edmund Fagan (ex-Team Leader of  Chairman: David Williams, (Engineer, 13  Stephen McGuinness DWMRT, Operations Manager, Financial years on the team) (Electronic Engineer) Services, 25 years on the team)  Team Leader: Chris England  Fearghal Bracken (DWMRT Deputy Team (Project Manager, 11 years on the team) Leader) Associate members (11 members)  Treasurer: Shane Daly (Project Manager,  Gerry Condon 3 Years on the team)  Hugh O’Callaghan (Medical Doctor, 2  Alan Little  Secretary: Paul Keenan years on the team)  Bryan Murtagh (Software Project Manager)  James Connolly  Ken Duffy  Ordinary Member 1: James Connolly  Joe O'Gorman  Lisa O'Brien  Ordinary Member 2: Brian Condon  John Dowling (Auctioneer, 3 years)  Noel Barton  Ordinary Member 3: Kenny Roberts (ex-  John Noble (Programme Manager, 3  Paul Gilbert team leader of DWMRT and current Vice- years on the team)  Paul Moran Chair of Mountain Rescue Ireland, Airport  John O'Brien  Police Training & Development Officer, 23 Philip Little years on the team)  Ken Worthington  Shay Walsh  Mark Flynn (ex-Team Leader of DWMRT,  Terry Byrne self employed, 16 years on the team)  Willie Flynn Public Relations Officer  Michael O'Donnell  Tomasz Majszyk  Pat Reid  Brian O’Doherty (self-employed, 14 years on the team) (Engineer, 5 years on the team)  Paul Lynch We will be recruiting again in the summer of  Rowan Kavanagh (Programme Manager, 2012! To learn more about becoming a Friends of DWMRT 3 years on the team) member please contact recruitment  Stephen Lambe @dwmrt.ie  These are valued folk who generously  Vaughan Mason contribute financially to help with the (Firefighter/Advanced Paramedic, 22 running cost of the team years on the team)  Wayne Jenkins (Self-employed, 3 years on the team)

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Gerry - Our Team Founder and Friend

Recently the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team lost a dear friend Gerry Butler. He was a leading light as an honorary member. He had been a member of the An Óige Mountain Rescue Team before becoming a founder of the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team. He also served as the team secretary for several years.

Gerry’s passion was Mountain Rescue and he was very active in Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI). He had a depth of operational knowledge, loved radio's and communications. He could talk for hours about repeaters and channels.

Gerry loved the medical side of the service that mountain rescue provides and was an extremely well qualified first responder. He was instrumental in bringing the Wilderness Emergency Medical Technical qualification to Ireland and was an esteemed member of the Wilderness Emergency Medical Service Instistute (WEMSi) faculty. He was a skilled mountaineer and a very active hillwalker for several years.

Gerry was extremely helpful. With his trademark bushy beard and flowing locks he was impossible to miss in a group. He was well equipped – he was renowned for his heavy kit of personal gear that he always carried on the hill. He was a great asset to our team.

We have all lost a dear friend and esteemed colleague.Our thoughts are with Gerry’s family and friends, the mountaineering community and his wider family of Mountain Rescue. This is a great loss to our team.

Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam - May Gerry rest in peace.

A TRIBUTE TO GERRY

A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift. A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift. A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy and grace. And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place. I believe in angels, The kind that heaven sends, I am surrounded by angels, But I call them friends.

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An Exceptional Year launched just as R117 from Waterford arrived I’m not sure how many of us got much sleep on scene and fortunately was able to do the that day, I for one didn’t get any, so when the (continued from page 1) lift. call came in that evening for a person swept away in flood waters in what was still very Operationally we have had some very Ten minutes later we had Operation 4. A heavy rain I dreaded the worst. Searching at interesting call outs this year including three group had been out walking and a younger night around flood waters is inherently and four callouts in one afternoon, very busy member of the group had decided to run on dangerous. With fast flowing water this operational periods seeing us out for multiple ahead and go himself lost. After a quick danger goes up tenfold, added to this we had days in a row and also more tragic operations search of the forestry tracks in the area he fatigued rescue team members. Despite this, which seen loss of life. was located and both Teams stood down team members still stepped up. Very quickly from the busiest day either team had we learned the missing person was an Off 4 in an afternoon: Back in the summer we witnessed. Duty Garda. Despite being Off Duty he had had a very busy afternoon which tested our been trying to warn motorists to avoid a local resources and strength in depth. The day was Mullaghcleevaun & Garda Jones: bridge which looked close to being swept a bright and sunny one so the tourists were away. In doing this Garda Ciaran Jones, aged out in their masses when we responded to After the normal spell of one off incidents 25, was himself swept away. Both DWMRT our first callout of the day – a serious from the summer through to late autumn we and GoI searched what they could in the shoulder injury on the Spinc. This was were hit with the very heavy rain in late hours of darkness and resumed at first light immediately followed by a request for help October. Unusually heavy rain over a very on the Tuesday. Unfortunately his remains from a female hill-walker who had suffered short spell created havoc in Wicklow, a great were located at approximately 8.30am. I an ankle injury higher in the mountains. weekend for Team training. Towards the end would like to take this opportunity to again of two days of training on the Sunday pass on the Team´s condolences to Garda As team members were dealing with these afternoon, the team were called to assist in Jones family, our thoughts are with you. two incidents, we received a call for a third the evacuation of a group from Djouce who incident – a spinal injury at Lough Dan. had become wet and mildly hypothermic. I Following the two teams response to this believe we all felt that was it for the day, how incident, the friends and family of Garda Due to the nature of the injury and the wrong we were. At approximately 8pm we Jones held a fundraiser for both teams and remoteness of the casualty site the Coast got the call for a group of 11 walkers who had we received a donation. With this donation I Guard helicopter, R116, was requested. become stranded the wrong side of the am seeking to fund swift water awareness Normally this would be the end of things, Glenmacnass River in full flood and were now training for all team members. however, whilst attending the incident R116 on steep ground near Mullaghcleevaun. had to shut down their engines due to a Which way now? warning alarm activating. Unfortunately the heavy rains, very strong gusting winds and fast flowing river that With a large number of new enthusiastic prevented these persons crossing also team members, two new 4x4's to add to our slowed up our getting to them and prevented existing two vehicles, Walk the Line 2 and the their immediate Art O’Neill Challenge, 2012 is already evacuation. After shaping up to be busy. In order to give the considering several Team some direction beyond the next call options we were faced out I will be working with the Committee and with the decision that we Deputy Team Leaders to develop an action needed to wait out the plan for the Team for the next 3-5 years. I darkness and wait the would hope this plan will give some direction easing of the weather on where we want to go as a team in areas predicted around dawn. such as career management & training, To do this we then had to fundraising and base development. get food, warm drinks, shelters and casualty Hopefully following all this I will be able to wraps to those on the hill give answers: do I have the ability? The right to see them through the approach? Or, even just the time? night. No small logistical task to assemble and a ABOUT CHRIS greater task for those to carry in. Chris is a project manager with an international construction company. He has been an active We are now onto alternative plans: B: get Some of the casualties may have required a mountaineer for many years and has enjoyed another helicopter, C: Carry out over the stretcher evacuation so we decided to call on many trips to the alps in between competing in rough track to an awaiting ambulance, D: neighbouring teams, Mourne MRT, SEMRA & triathlons at ironman distance. He is married boat the casualty down the nearby Lough North West MRT, to assist. Thankfully for us with two children and lives in Wicklow. Dan to an awaiting ambulance. We decided all, at approximately 4.50am the lull in the CONTACT:[email protected]

to go for both B and D, just in case we got weather arrived and one hour later the river another sick helicopter. With a member of had receded enough to allow it to be crossed. the GoI also being National Park staff they By 8.30am, some 12.5 hrs after being tasked were able to get the park boat and this was all were safely off the hill. ANNUAL REPORT | 5

The money that was raised is Chairman’s Report being put towards the by David Williams, Team Chairman purchase of a much needed 4x4 stretcher This year was a very busy year for the team. capable As per 2010, team members took part in the vehicle, notably a Landrover 110. We Wicklow Way Relay, a race of 126 km along plan to take receipt of this vehicle in the Wicklow Way. 2011 was a little different, early 2012. Most importantly we plan due to the large numbers of team members to run this event again in 2012 as one having taking up hill running over the last of our key fundraisers. As a couple of years, we were lucky enough to be consequence of the work completed able to enter 2 teams and get 20 members by Gen Ward for Walk the Line, she involved. was awarded 'Team member of the year' for 2011 in recognition of the hard work The Wicklow Way event did a couple of she put in for such a successful event. The things for team members, improved our team has gone from strength to team comradeship, team member's fitness strength over the last number of years, we and also gave us an additional avenue to continued to grow as an organization and raise much needed funds. It was also a good As an expanding area of the team we formed increase our strength in operational social outlet, a number of team members a new PR group. This group of people not capability. The development of the team and know meet regularly at weekends to go hill only deals with the social media but also look its team members are very much a driving running. after our website, news releases and general force to the future. Team members are like news queries that come into the team. This is an extended family of which you put your life In June of 2011, the team was honoured to very much one of the hidden tasks that in their hands. Without each other we could receive the An Caithaoirleach Award from members of the team are involved in but a not be the team that we are. Lettie McCartney, Chairperson of Dun- very necessary requirement. LaoireRathdown County Council. We “As we embark on a new year it really

received the award for services provided by is a great time to be part of the Team, the team in the European Year of the Volunteer. The team where delighted to As the year was coming to a close the team I'm proud to be a member.” attend and receive this award and it now was very fortunate to receive funding from hangs proudly in our base in Roundwood. the National Lottery through the Department of Health and Children to the Our big event of 2011 was 'Walk the Line', for tune of €45000 for the provision of a 4x4 ABOUT DAVID years we've talked about organizing a Landrover 110 stretcher capable vehicle. This fundraiser like this but we just never got is in addition to the vehicle being purchased David is an engineer with a large medical around to it! With the decrease in by the funds generated from Walk the Line. manufacturing company. He is an avid hill government funding we had to think of a walker and runner as well as being the team diplomat and agony aunt. He is often seen creative way to raise much needed funds for We should not forget our team's biggest supporters, the wives, husbands, partners, traipsing around the Wicklow hills with his wife the team. The initial planning started in late and child in tow. 2010, and in early January 2011, Gen Ward children and extended families of our team was appointed event manager. For a members. They allow us to disappear at CONTACT: [email protected] volunteer, Gen ran the event like a short notice without question to rescue a professional event management company; complete stranger often in inclement everyone knew what their role was and what weather. They are the unsung heroes of was expected of them! The event was a mountain rescue. Without the support of massive success, we had almost 300 people these people we as team members could not take part and raise in excess of €38,000 for do the job we do. the team. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 6

Finance report The upkeep our team high priority for the base in Roundwood team for FY11 since by Treasurer, Shane Daly and the costs the number of required to callout’s continues Balancing the team finances is always operationally to increase year on challenging for any charity and particularly so maintain and run our year. In addition to in the current difficult economic climate. The team vehicles are the this the Dublin Wicklow Mountain rescue team could other main contributions not be successful or be equipped to save lives components of received through without the continued great support we get expenditure for the donations, street from the public. team. collections, collection box’s in The team needs roughly €70,000 a year to What were the local shops and run the team. This is funded in part main sources of Remote (approximately 20%) by an Irish government income for the team in 2011? Emergency Care grant. In 2011 this grant got cut down from first aid courses all helped cover the cost of the 30% funds we depended on in previous the day-to-day operations of the team. years which was a funding gap challenge that the team had to respond to in the past year. In 2012 the team will again be reliant on donations and support for our fundraising Unfortunately the more time the volunteers activities from the general public, and we on team dedicate to fundraising activities the hope to concentrate a good deal of our more it distracts from their core focus of funding in the coming year on team training. responding to incidents and improving their rescue skills. This is exactly why the support “Huge thanks to each of our Primarily funding comes from our of you, the public is a critical part of the supporters in 2011. The team continued viability of our team finances. fundraising activities and the generous donations we get from clubs and individuals. volunteers deeply appreciate your What do you spend money on? This has helped bridge the government grant continued support into 2012.” funding shortfall we experienced this year. We are always under pressure to replace and update equipment to ensure the highest level In June, the team organized a very successful of safety when responding to callouts. In “Walk the Line” challenge event, which ABOUT SHANE order to ensure our people have the best raised over €38,000 for the team. This possible skills when handling a casualty we successful fundraising together with some Shane works with a US multinational and is need to provide a high level of professional team savings and a HSE National Lottery married with three teenage sons. He is with training. grant for €45,000 Euro, enabled us to the team 3 years and was previously purchase two new team vehicles. This was a involved in Scouting for many years.

• Deputy Team Leaders training in managing incidents,operating procedures and call out Training report procedures • Medical training ranging from Emergency Medical Technician, Remote Emergency by Mark Flynn Care 3, 4&5

The following are the highlights of the 2011 • Balanced training with sixty plus incidents a Training Program for the team year is always challenging and we will continue to embrace that in 2012 and • 27 internal training events comprised of continue to train to the highest standards 11full training days dedicated to a wide range available to the tea of mountain rescue skills & 16 evening sessions • Trained sixteen new recruits in 2011 – this year we had a busy probationary programme • Team members attended six external running through 2011 with a very promising specialist courses such as swift water technician, advanced rope rescue to incident group who will be getting prepared for management assessment in mid-2012 ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 7

out on the hills and at rescue base during real callouts. We believe the show will go to air in the Autumn/Winter of 2012.

Public Relations Officer report Throughout the year the team continued to build on the use of social media with RTÉ proposed that we carry cameras on our by Brian O’Doherty Facebook and Twitter. In today's world of callouts to get a close up picture of what instant news and information, the Team felt really happens. I took on this role halfway through 2011 we needed to embrace this to ensure all our after successfully promoting the Walk We met with the supporters and sponsors could get updates the Line event over a very hectic 5 on what the team was doing but also give months – it was fantastic to see the producers of the show and agreed brief details of the callouts and events that support the public had for that event the team was involved in on a real time basis. and I enjoyed telling people about the how we could best achieve what they things we do. There’s a huge amount of A few commentators used the media to needed without work from the website to writing press express their desire to see people charged for compromising releases to dealing with calls from the our services, calling those rescued safety. Whilst public on all sorts of things – the latest “irresponsible”. We reject this idea both on apprehensive about included a request to rescue a cat and a the grounds that it is impractical as well as this at first, we did man who wanted to know where he anathema to our ethos as a voluntary and not want this to was (see callout number 1 of 2012!). I’m community based service. Of course we urge detract from our lucky to have two other team members people to enjoy the hills safely and consider primary function of to support me – Michelle Clarke and their actions carefully but we will never serving the causality Rita Darcy. charge anyone who calls us looking for help. on the hill. We agreed to take the proposal back to the This year we were approached by RTÉ with The next year promises to be even busier as membership for ratification. Team members an opportunity to showcase not only we find more and more ways to backed it whole heartedly. On the various ourselves and the Glen of Imaal team but communicate about the team and public callouts throughout the year team members Mountain Rescue as a whole by taking part in interest in good stories about volunteers carried a number of helmet cameras and got a new documentary style TV show for RTÉ. working in rescue continues to grow. Similar to the recent series of Rescue 117, close up details of the work the team does

Medical report • Medical training ranging from Emergency LEVEL OF MEDICAL EXPERTISE Medical Technician, Remote Emergency Care 3, 4&5 was ran in 2011 All team members must have a basic By Pat Reid wilderness first aid qualification (such • Team will have its stretcher capable on the as Rescue and Emergency Care Level Here are the highlights of the 2011 Medical road in 2012; vehicle will be equipped with 3). Program for the team extra medical equipment Most team members are trained to a higher level and we are fortunate to • Team will be running a PHECC Emergency • Hugh O’Callaghan (Medical Doctor) have a high number of medical First Response in Feb/March 2012 became a full time member of the rescue professionals on the team from nurses team in 2011 and emergency medical technicians to advanced paramedics and doctors.

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the missing lady was located safe/well and walked off to safety.

21) 25-Apr-11: "The Spink" - Summary of Operations 2011 Glendalough: Woman who fell on the 'Spink' whilst walking in Glendalough and had injured her shoulder. 1) 01-Jan-11: Lugnaquilla Mountain: Two Evacuated by stretcher. hillwalkers who became disorientated on 11) 17-Mar-11: Lugnaquilla, Co. Wicklow: 17th Lugnaquilla Mountain in Co. Wicklow when a March 2011 - Walker injured descending from 22) 25-Apr-11: Borenacrowwoman - Wicklow mist descended on the area leading to poor Lug. MR assisted the Def Forces. Way: Lady who sprained her ankle on the visibility. The two were guided off the Wicklow Way near Borenacrowwoman. mountain by rescuers 12) 03-Apr-11: Bray Head Co. Wicklow: Male hillwalker in his 40's, who while descending 23) 25-Apr-11: Inchavore Valley - Lough Dan: 2) 07-Jan-11: Slieve Foye, Carlingford: Male Bray Head Co. Wicklow sustained a lower leg Hillwalker who had been camping in the hill walker who had sustained a lower leg injury. Team members located the injured Inchavore valley near Lough Dan and had injury on the northern side of Slieve Foye in walker with the assistance of the local gardai. fallen and injured his lower back and ribs. Carlingford. The casualty was treated for his injuries by a During this rescue the Irish Coastguard mountain rescue medic and packaged onto a helicopter developed a fault and a second 3) 07-Jan-11: Art O'Neill Walk: The Team stretcher for extraction by helicopter. helicopter was required. were requested to support a walking challenge "The Art O'Neill Challenge" which 13) 08-Apr-11: GlenmalureValley Lone walker 24) 25-Apr-11: Glenmalure, Co Wicklow: Our was taking place over 2 days, the 6th & 7th in the Glenmalure Valley had become fourth callout on the Easter bank holiday January 2011. disorientated after losing his map. monday began at 6pm, and consisted of a missing 16 yr old teenager who was walking 4) 16-Jan-11: Lugnaquilla: Male walker who 14) 10-Apr-11: Raven's Rock - Wicklow Way: with his family but had become separated had slipped whilst descending the summit Request for assistance from a lady in her 60’s from them. They had been walking near rock band on Lugnaquilla Mountain. The lone had received a lower leg injury. Lugnaquillia near Glenmalure and had lost walker had sustained a dislocated knee cap. contact from each other in the Kelly's Lake 15) 10-Apr-11: Sugar Loaf Mountain: While area, quite high up on the mountain. 5) 05-Feb-11: Annalecka Brook: Kayaker the team was dealing with our other incident Thankfully, the youth was discovered on a trapped in a branch in flood waters. The near Raven Rock, we were alerted to a track in the Glenmalure valley. Kayaker and his paddling partners were able second incident on the Sugar Loaf to self-rescue without injury Mountain.. Rescue 116 had dropped off the 25) 02-May-11: Glendalough: Lady with a first casualty to Tallaght and routed back to lower leg injury on the Zig Zag track at the 6) 07-Feb-11: Galteee Mts, Co. Tipperary: 7th the Sugar Loaf to pick up this casualty. head of the Glendalough Valley. Feb 2011 - standby for missing walker in Galtee Mts 16) 10-Apr-11: Long Hill Road: Team 26) 13-May-11: Glendalough: 65 year old members returning to base after the two male, who had sustained a suspected lower 7) 12-Feb-11: Lugnaquilla Mountain: Group of callouts, came across a RTC on the Long Hill leg fracture. four people lost up Lugnaquillia, one of road, Mountain Rescue Medics are treating whom sustained an ankle injury and had to and stabilising the casualty an elderly female 27) 28-May-11: Fairy Castle - Wicklow Way: be carried off. and are awaiting the arrival of other services. Young female girl guide who was on a day hike from Larch Hill Scout Centre near 8) 05-Mar-11: Bray Head, Co Wicklow: Gardai 17) 16-Apr-11: Glendalough, Co Wicklow: Kilmashogue, the young girl tripped while requested the assistance of the Dublin / Woman trapped in Glendalough boulder field descending from Fairy Castle along the Wicklow Mountain Rescue team for an near Miner's Village Wicklow Way, sustaining a forearm injury. ongoing search for a missing female. The search turned up nothing and the team was 18) 16-Apr-11: Wicklow: Sunday 17th April 28) 04-Jun-11: Bansha Woods: The South stood down. 2011 - At 3.30pm a walker on Derrybawn Mt Eastern Mountain Rescue Association suffered a cardiac arrest and was airlifted to (SEMRA) requested our team’s assistance in 9) 05-Mar-11: Mullacor, Co Wicklow: 5th Tallaght for further treatment. The man in a search for a missing male in the Bansha March - Rescue of Scout with lower leg injury his 60's was pronounced dead in hospital. area of Co. Tipperary. on Mullacor saddle- Evacuated via MR Land Rover 19) 21-Apr-11: : 3 children became lost for a 29) 07-Jun-11: Lugnaquilla: Group of four short period in Devil's Glen. hillwalkers in their 30's who, due to bad 10) 13-Mar-11: Glendalough, Co Wicklow: weather conditions became disorientated on Sunday, 13th March, a 16-year old fell in 20) 23-Apr-11: Boulder Field, Miners Village, Lugnaquilla. Glendalough while hillwalking. As the Glendalough, Co Wicklow. Missing person in weather was clear and visibility very good, the boulder field, Miners Village, 30) 08-Jun-11: Brockagh Mountain: Hill- the Sikorsky helicopter was able to airlift the Glendalough. Within a short period of time runner was injured during an organised injured gir... ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 9

mountain run on Brockagh Mountain , near 43) 30-Jul-11: Fairy Castle. Rescue. having fallen from a cliff. The casualty was Laragh, Co Wicklow. Unconscious casualty experiencing seizures evacuated later that evening by a RAF was airlifted to hospital. Seeking helicopter 31) 11-Jun-11: Brockagh Forest: A lady in her 30’s had sustained a lower leg injury while 44) 31-Jul-11: Croagh Patrick. Rescue. 52) 18-Sep-11: Bohernabreena. Rescue. Male participating in an organised hill running Casualty fell close to the summit whilst sustained a lower leg injury whilst hunting. event. descending the mountain on Reeks Sunday. She suffered bruising and abrasions to the 53) 19-Sep-11: Glencullen. Search. Missing 66 32) 12-Jun-11: 4 Peaks Challenge: The team side of her head and also sustained a lower year old hill walker located using Gardai FLIR provided rescue cover on an organised 4 leg injury. (Forward looking infra red) camera and was peaks challenge event, there was no injuries treated by mountain rescue medics. to report 45) 06-Aug-11: 83 year old woman sustained 54) 25-Sep-11: 25th September 2011 - MR a lower leg injury. and was quickly treated for assist a scout walking in the Glendalough 33) 25-Jun-11: Walk the Line Challenge Event a lower leg injury before being packaged for valley who had suffered a lower leg injury. a stretcher evacuation. 34) 27-Jun-11: Flares reported to 55) 29-Sep-11: Bray Head. Rescue. Assisted An Garda Síochána. Apparently with a casualty who had sustained a lower leg Army continued night firing injury near the summit of Bray Head. beyond their schedule. Visited Army camp in Kilbride to resolve 56) 07-Oct-11: Female with a lower leg injury situation. on the Spink in Glendalough. Mountain Rescue medics on scene treated the casualty, 35) 02-Jul-11: Lugnaquilla. packaged her onto a stretcher and carried Assist. Female hill runner her safely off the mountain to an awaiting suffering from dehydration and HSE ambulance. heat exhaustion was assisted by team members. 57) 16-Oct-11: Lady and 2 children who had become disorientated and could not find 36) 12-Jul-11: Three Rock their way on Bray Head, Co Wicklow. Mountain. Standby. Hillwalker who had sustained a lower leg 58) 23-Oct-11: Family group of 5 who had injury. started a walk near Djouce Mountain and had been surprised by the high winds and driving 37) 16-Jul-11: Lugnaquillia. rain Assist. Group of 3 who had become disorientated whilst 59) 23-Oct-11: Overnight rescue of 11 hikers descending Wicklow highest mountain 46) 10-Aug-11: Three Rock Mountain. trapped by swollen rivers (see separate Mountain biker fell while descending a rocky report). 38) 17-Jul-11: Glen Of Imaal Army Range. path sustaining head and arm injuries. Assist. A man and woman had strayed into 60) 24-Oct-11: In the evening of Monday the Artillery range operated by the Defence 47) 13-Aug-11: Glendalough. Rescue. Climber 24th October Dublin Wicklow Mountain Forces. took a fall while climbing. The casualty was Rescue Team and the Glen of Imaal Red treated for a suspected spinal injury as well Cross Mountain Rescue Team, participated in 39) 20-Jul-11: Glenmalure. Rescue. Female as a dislocated shoulder and a number of a search in the Blessington area after a man with a lower leg injury in the area of lacerations. was swept into a fast-flowing river whilst Clohernagh. Rescue 116 was tasked by the trying to assist fellow motorists to safely HSE due to the difficult terrain. 48) 20-Aug-11: Ballinastoe Woods. Rescue. navigate the flood water. Mountain biker who had sustained a shoulder 40) 24-Jul-11: Lough Dan. Standby. The team injury. The team were contacted directly by An were requested to do a radio standby for the Garda Síochana just after 7pm on Monday "Beast of the East" triathlon covering 49) 20-Aug-11: Lugnaquilla. Search. Lost lone night when a report was received from a swimming, running and cycling walker ended up in the Military firing range. member of the public of an incident at Located by members of a mountain rescue Ballysmuttan Bridge, Co Wicklow. The team 41) 25-Jul-11: Glen Of Imaal. Search. Assisted search party and walked safely off the spoke directly to an informant who had in a search for a missing 62 year old local mountain. witnessed the incident and the team callout man in the area. officer immediately alerted other search and 50) 27-Aug-11: Glenmacnass Car Park. rescue agencies and initiated a full team 42) 27-Jul-11: Bray Head. Standby. Casualty Search. Missing hillwalker who eventually callout for DWMRT. Two of our local team with a lower leg injury at the cross on Bray turned up safe and well. members were very quickly at Blessington Head. Coastguard winched the casualty to Garda Station where An Garda Siochana safety. 51) 08-Sep-11: Yorkshire, UK. Standby. 2 were coordinating the search operation. team members were attending an event in Team vehicles were escorted to the scene by the UK were requested to give assistance to a a Garda 4x4 due to chaotic traffic conditions female walker who had sustained injuries in Dublin and Wicklow. Nearly 20 team ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 10

members were involved in both stages of the visibility whilst descending from the summit 65) 06-Nov-11: Lady with serious upper arm operation and a number of other team of Lugnaquillia. Search teams eventually injury on the Sugar Loaf members who responded to provide located the group at 11.45pm, and the assistance had to turn back due to the operation was completed by 1.00am. 66) 11-Nov-11: Group of three female hill difficult road conditions. Members of the walkers seperated by flood water were Glen team were also involved in the search. 62) 02-Nov-11: Two female hill-walkers assisteed by a mountain rescue hill party. found themselves lost in dense mist and The search continued over night in testing failing light, near the summit of Mullacor 67) 20-Nov-11: Father and son lost on Lug and dangerous conditions. The following mountain (660m). near Fraughan Rock Glen morning, searchers located and retrieved the man's body from the river near to where he 63) 05-Nov-11: A walker ascending 68) 26-Nov-11: A female hillwalker sustained was swept away and the search operation Lugnaquillia experienced chest pains and a minor injury at Lough Dan. She was was stood down by An Garda Síochana. weakness. Rescue teams reached the man assisted by a small number of mountain and his companions by 1.30pm and were able rescue team members. The Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team to make him more comfortable. The Irish would like to express its deepest sympathies Coastguard helicopter was tasked to assist 69) 17-Dec-12: Team member treated a to the family, GAA club members, friends and airlift the Irish hill-walker. The man in his member of the public with a suspected and colleagues of Garda Jones. Funeral 60's was winched aboard the Sikorsky cardiac arrest in Glenmalure arrangements and a statement from the helicopter at 2.00pm and transferred to Garda Commissioner follow below. Tallaght hospital for further treatment 70) 27-Dec-11: Female in her early 20's who had suffered a lower left leg injury out May he rest in peace. 64) 06-Nov-11: Lady with injured foot near walking on Djouce in a group of 7 friends and Ticknock, treated and transported by their dogs 61) 30-Oct-11: A father and his two young mountain rescue sons had become disoriented in very poor

responded quickly to the scene and were (DWMRT). "A lot of hunters are out at night able to locate the man quickly. and as the weather starts to get colder it is imperative that they request assistance as Press releases Their approach involved a 3km drive in 4x4 soon as possible in the event of an along a rough track followed by a 3km hike emergency. Mountain Rescue is entirely carrying first aid equipment across the bog. by Brian O’Doherty, PRO staffed by volunteers and operates 365 days The difficult access route combined with the a year in all weather conditions. We're there deteriorating weather conditions led to the to help if we're needed" decision to request the assistance of the Irish The team generally issues a press release Coastguard helicopter. Whilst they waited The attached image shows mountain rescue following callouts. Normally these are picked they treated the casualty for his injuries and volunteers Gerard Condon and Rowan up by local news and some websites. Every made him comfortable. The Sikorsky S-61 Kavanagh escorting the man's companions now and again the story merits wider helicopter was quickly airborne and the and dogs to the roadside whilst carrying his attention and it appears on national media. rescuers relayed their position via the more shotgun. The effort is important – it informs the public powerful radio equipment in a nearby about the work of mountain rescue and it lets Mountain Rescue 4x4. Once the helicopter Many thanks to all those attending the scene people know that this type of service is was at the scene the rescuers deployed including the injured party's friends and the available. We’ve included a sample here. smoke flares to assist the pilot in his crew of Rescue 116. approach. The casualty was airlifted in Hunters urged to take care on the hills as difficult wind conditions and taken to Lugnaquillia Mountain (20 August 2011) deer season kicks off (19 September 2011) Tallaght hospital where he is expected to make a full recovery. His companions, along At 16:00hrs members of the Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue in Wicklow was yesterday with his hunting equipment and dog, were Mountain Rescue Team and the Glen of (Sunday 18th Sept) tasked to assist a hunter escorted to the road side by the volunteers. Imaal Red Cross Mountain Rescue Team who had sustained a lower leg injury whilst received their second callout of the day for a out with friends near Corrig Mountain in lost lone walker on Lugnaquillia. The male North Wicklow. The group attempted to walker had reached the summit of move the man themselves but quickly Following the call, Mountain Rescue would Lugnaquillia however due to deteriorating realised that they would need help in order to like to urge all visitors to the Wicklow weather conditions whilst descending he bring the injured party to safety. They uplands to exercise appropriate precautions ended up in the Military firing range. contacted Mountain Rescue by dialling 999 in the hills. "September is the start of the on their mobiles and describing the situation deer season and many hunters are unaware At 19.15hrs the gentleman was located at the to the operator. A group of mountain rescue that a rescue service is available to them in base of the north prison cliffs by members of volunteers who had been attending a first aid the hills" says Brian O'Doherty, PRO for a mountain rescue search party and walked course in the nearby Knockree Youth Hostel Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team safely off the mountain. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 11

Glendalough (13 August 2011 condition of each member of the Mountain Rescue Teams responded party and treated minor injuries. to a report of a 29 year old male Torrential rain, howling winds, climber who had taken a fall while hailstones and plummeting climbing in Glendalough. Both the temperatures ensured that keeping Dublin & Wicklow MRT and the Red the group and the mountain rescue Cross Glen Of Imaal MRT responded. volunteers warm and dry was a Mountain Rescue medics treated the priority. Equipment such as group casualty on scene, who had sustained shelters, specialised, lightweight a number of injuries from a 6 meter heatpacks and technical bivy bags fall. The casualty was treated for a proved invaluable and all members suspected spinal injury as well as a of the group were given hot drinks dislocated shoulder and a number of and food. At this point the situation lacerations. The Irish Coast Guard remained extremely serious and rescue helicopter Rescue 116 based assistance was requested from at Dublin Airport was dispatched to three neighbouring mountain airlift the casualty to hospital. rescue teams in case conditions deteriorated further. Three Rock Mountain (10 August 2011) Spirits in the group remained high despite the weather conditions and On Wednesday 10th August at the news that an overnight stay at approx. 8pm the Gardaí requested their current location was likely to the assistance of Mountain Rescue. A be necessary. The Met Office in mountain biker in her early 20's, was They were quickly assessed by a mountain Dublin Airport were assisting the planning of mountain biking with a group and fell while rescue medic and provided with warm the evacuation of the group by providing us descending a rocky path on 3 Rock Mtn. clothes and food. They were then escorted a with weather updates throughout the night. sustaining head and arm injuries. Both the short distance across a river to a forest track A break in the weather around 4.30am Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team where Mountain Rescue 4x4 vehicles were allowed rescue personnel to start moving the and the Glen of Imaal Red Cross Mountain able to transport them back to their cars. stranded group to safety. The evacuation Rescue Team responded to the incident. The involved providing roped security measures The second incident involved an experienced ambulance service was able to access the on three rivers and leading the group across group from a Dublin based hiking club. The tracks and a paramedic was on scene quickly the rough and treacherous terrain to safety. 11 people in the group had started their walk to provide medical aid. The mountains rescue Each member of the group was assigned a from the car park above Glenmacnass teams then stretcher-carried the injured mountain rescue team member to support waterfall at 11am that morning. When they woman down to the forest road, to the them on the evacuation whilst other team were about to finish their hike that evening awaiting ambulance. members navigated, rigged the ropes on the they realised that the river between them rivers or carried out equipment which had and their cars had swollen and they would She was quickly then transferred to St been used during the night. Vincent's hospital for further treatment. not be able to cross it safely. The group decided to move upstream in order to find a At approximately 6.30am, the last member 16 people rescued in one day in Wicklow (24 safer place to cross but remained stranded of the group reached a waiting mountain Oct 2011) on the wrong side of the river. At rescue 4x4 and was driven down a track to approximately 7.30pm, they found rescue base. All members of the group were Extreme weather conditions combined with themselves under a small cliff beside the assessed by a waiting HSE ambulance crew very high water levels in rivers in the Wicklow fast-flowing river with no hope of crossing or as a precaution – none required further mountains contributed to 16 people requiring moving further upstream. At this point they treatment and were able to drive home, a rescue yesterday,. Despite completing a decided to call mountain rescue and ask for little later than expected. Team members strenuous training exercise earlier on assistance. packed up all the wet gear and were able to Sunday, Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue leave the scene at roughly 7.30am after a A full callout was initiated at 8pm and over and the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue long and difficult night in the mountains. responded to two separate incidents during 40 members of Dublin & Wicklow Mountain the day, with the last rescue continuing Rescue and the Glen of Imaal Mountain Mountain Rescue would like to thank all of through the night until 7am this morning. Rescue quickly responded to a remote the participants in the two rescues: location just south of the Sally Gap. The The first rescue involved a family group of 5 volunteers made their way to the group in who had started a walk near Djouce horrendous weather conditions across rough, Mountain and had been surprised by the high steep ground, crossing three swollen rivers winds and driving rain. At about 1.30pm, as along the way. Radio communications in the they sought shelter behind a wall, mountain area proved to be difficult due to the steep rescue volunteers who had been out walking terrain and a relay station was established at in the area spotted them. They approached a high point in order to ensure complete the group and quickly established that they coverage. Once the group was reached, needed help in order to ensure their safety. mountain rescue medics assessed the ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 12

Walk the Line 2011 by Declan Cunningham, Journalist with Outsider magazine and DWMRT Deputy Team Leader. * Many thanks to Outsider Magazine for permission to reprint this article

their boots on. So we got busy on the On June 26 2011, roughly 300 people took to 99% preparation by doing a full recce the hills of Wicklow to take part in the Walk of the route. We didn’t want any The Line fundraising event for the Dublin surprise on the night so we Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team. The night acquainted ourselves with just about every step of the way in advance and hiking event, which was sponsored by Great in the dark. This might sound daft Outdoors, traced a 32km route along the but things look different when you Dublin Wicklow border from Kilbride right can’t see them! into Marlay Park. A long-standing member of DWMRT team, Outsider’s mountaineering The Walk the Line route can be easily Declan Cunningham reccied the trek and also broken down into three sections, We had been skirted by passing showers but guided on the eventful night. Here he takes each of which is a worthwhile outing in its it was a warm evening and pleasant going as own right. Leg 1 runs from Kilbride to the we descended into thePass of Athdown, us through the route, which he reckons is as Military Road and takes 3-4 hours. Leg 2 otherwise known (to me at least) as the Black good as any if you fancy a challenging night takes about the same time and takes you to Hole of Calcutta. (or day) of walking. Glencullen. The final stage only takes 2-3 hours as it’s all on tracks. (See more details This has to be the bog capital of Ireland, a The inventor Thomas Edison once said, below.) Add it all together though and it’s soggy Bermuda triangle even. Our goal was “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% quite the route! to pick as environmentally friendly a route perspiration.” When heading out in the hills through this area as possible for exactly that you’d do well to remember my own slight Out after dark reason. The team had been in contact with variation on that famous quote: enjoying the national park and Mountaineering Ireland your walk requires about 99% preparation So four of us from DWMRT got deposited at about this area and how it was likely to hold and 1% respiration. Kilbride just to see what people were letting up to a big event like our one. In the end, we themselves in for. Our route climbed easily selected no less than three potential routes Basically, picking the right route, having the up the tree line as it skirts the boundary of through this delicate spot to minimise wear. right gear and knowing not just what the the Kilbride Firing Range. Keep that in mind weather will do, but what you are capable of, if walking in the area and make sure not to By now, dusk was catching us. Getting will ultimately result in a great day out, stray onto the range. benighted is generally a bad thing on a walk regardless of where you choose to go. Now, but when you go out with that intention I sort if you’re a bit of a heavy breather you may The first little summit of Seefin is adorned of look forward to it. I like to walk through decide to change the percentages slightly to with an impressive Bronze Age tomb but its the fading light and enjoy that added avoid asphyxiation but you get the gist of the narrow entrance is best admired from the element of madness of being out in the idea. Hence, given that our plan was to bring outside to avoid damage. This is the seat of middle of nowhere at all hours. I’ve heard it around 300 hikers out for the Walk the Line the legendary Fionn MacCumhaill of the said that there’s no such thing as gravity night hiking challenge to raise much needed Fianna who supposedly loved to hunt stag because the earth sucks. funds for DWMRT , we knew that and elk in the area. Well that is very much the case on the way we had to put in a lot of organising and Descending into the col en route to across and up to Kippure. Every step is Seefingan the going gets pretty boggy. gained against the bogs gluey reluctance. legwork before the first participant even put There are a few variations on direction possible here with the most Boots and gaiters are an absolute must but it obvious one leading directly to is fun all the same. In fact, in good visibility yet another megalithic tomb you can pick out the grassy peat hags and just west of Seefingan’s 726m avoid the worst of the muck. Some showers summit. Close to the actual finally found us on this crossing but the summit is the partially buried resulting rainbows seemed to descend War Department boundary directly into the dark earth in the distance stone which was used to with the customary arcs lost in even darker indicate the limits of the firing cloud. At times like that the madness that range. gets me into the hills seems more an enlightenment than an affliction. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 13

Kippure’s Mast is over 100m high and as Take care to pick up the correct track leaving mast. Kippure is the oldest television good a landmark as you’re likely to find on Prince William’s Seat to regain the Wicklow transmitter site in the Republic of Ireland. any hill or mountain in Ireland. The amazing Way which is followed down to the road at The Irish Government Board of Works built thing is that Glencullen. Our night an access road to the site in 1959 and by the despite its recce ended here summer of 1961, the mast was erected. size, fogand leaving only the Television trade transmissions followed, cloud can shortest and final leg consisting of slide views of Ireland and the often for another day. music ofCount John McCormack. conceal its pulsing Section 3 The slopes of Kippure hold the sources of beacons till multiple watercourses, including the River you’re close The third section Liffey, which rises in the Liffey Head Bog on enough to trip takes you up to Fairy the western slopes. over the stay Castle for more wires. excellent views of The area surrounding Kippure is mostly bog Dublin City to the land and anyone who has ever walked the Beware the sink north as well as the area will tell you of the countless peat hags holes rolling hills of that have to be negotiated. These are the Wicklow to the south. result of turf cutting, and this proved to be a Our route Whatever time you visit the huge commercial interest for locals, descended from here towards the old bog aptly named Fairy Castle the views are especially during “The Emergency”. road that leads to the Military Road and The magical. Then it’s on to Three Rock before Featherbeds. The bog takes on a slightly re-joining the Wicklow Way for the final Locals say that the whole bog is full of ‘dale different character on this section with great weary kilometres through Kilmacshogue and holes’, which are essentially bottomless pits big sink holes dotted around the area. Some onto Marlay Park. and probably best described as bog are deep enough to need a rope to get out of quicksand. Anyone unlucky enough to fall and there’s plenty of opportunity to come a The first version of Walk The into one will cropper here so watch where you’re walking, Line took place on 26 June 2011 not day or night. We just about made it to the which was the very day in 1284 head of the bog road before resorting to the Pied Piper led 130 children be coming using head torches. from the village of Hamelin and back out they were never seen again. again. Back I like to get as much use out of night vision as DWMRT ended up leading in the days of I can. Besides it’s fun to wonder what goes almost 300 away that night but the gentry, through a motorist’s mind as they notice four while they were battered, local men head torches bobbing along in the dead of bruised and boggy at the finish would have night where there was nothing a moment they were all accounted for. Not to before! The Military Road marks the everyone had managed all 32km accompany welcome end of Section 1 and the easy road of the challenge but everyone gentlemen and trail-based start of the middle leg. We had memories of a Wicklow they on a day’s made quick progress up onto Glendoo hadn’t known existed that would shooting to Mountain to be greeted by excellent views of survive longer than any of the ensure they the city lights spread before us. blisters! didn’t disappear, or The route then descends gradually over A brief history of the Walk the Line Route maybe give the odd one a nudge in the soggy ground. It’s not so much bog at this wrong direction, depending on how well they stage that could hamper progress, but water- One additional aspect DWMRT wanted to were tipped! logged sections. For the most part there are add to the Walk the Line experience was the minor trails that avoid most of these natural folklore, history and legend of places along In the past, people who died by suicide, and hazards as you head down to the col. If the route. Guides on the night regaled their therefore were not allowed to be buried in visibility allows you should have sight of the charges with interesting facts like the consecrated ground, were often buried in the red lights of Three Rock over your left following as they treaded the county bounds. dale holes. shoulder and the white lights of Kippure over your right before heading up the easy climb There was once a tradition amongst parishes It is said that their ghostly figures can still be to Knocknagun. The elaborate granite tor at called ‘beating the bounds’. As there was seen wandering the bog of a midsummer’s this little summit looks almost carved and is a often no written record and no maps, elder night. perfect spot for a break or to get out of the villagers would take young boys along parish weather for a while. Ahead of you lies the boundaries so they would be able to pass on The Military Road, which traverses this dark final easy climb of this section to the the details of exactly where boundaries lay. moor land, forms the sole link with mysteriously named Prince William’s Seat or civilisation in this region. Glencullen Mountain. Mysterious because no Kippure can be seen from miles from various one is quite sure about the origin of the name locations throughout Dublin and Wicklow and which top he actually sat on. and is recognisable by its huge television ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 14

Construction started on 12 August 1800 and found nowadays – a beautiful preservation of So where and who was Prince William? was completed in October 1809. It was built our ancient history. in the wake of the1798 Rebellion to allow the Well, in 1577, extensive lands around British Army access to insurgents hiding in Killakee is probably best known for Mount Kiltiernan and Glencullen were bought by Pelier Hill and the Hell Fire Club. While the Thomas Fitzwilliam. The mound of rock Walk the Line route doesn’t actually go to subsequently became known as ‘Fitzwilliam’s the hill, it travels nearby. Seat’ which was used as “a resting place for gentlemen when fowling on the top” – in A hunting lodge was built here in 1725 using other words, somewhere to have a rest out of stones that were said to have been taken the wind when the lads were outshooting on from a prehistoric passage grave. Shortly the hill! Later on, the ‘Fitz’ was dropped, and after completion, a storm blew the roof off. it became ‘William’s Seat’. It first appeared as Local superstition attributed this to the work Prince William’s Seat on the Ordnance of the devil, a punishment for interfering Survey map in the 19th Century, and it is said with the cairn. that it was called after William, son of King George IV of England who visited in 1821. Later in the 18th Century, Mount Pelier was the Wicklow Mountains. It was the first let to the Hell Fire Club – renowned for Across from Glendoo, on the side of the road, purpose-built road in Ireland, with five debauchery and dealings with the occult. lies a huge lump of granite known as barracks along it at Leitrim, Glencree, Local legend has it that a stranger arrived at O’Connell’s Rock. Daniel O’Connell or ‘The Laragh, Glenmalure and Aghavannagh. the club on a stormy night and joined the Liberator’ led a huge rally here with people members in a card game. from all over Dublin and Wicklow on 23 July Glencree was in ancient times a Royal Park 1823. He often stayed with his cousin in almost entirely covered by primeval oak One player dropped his card under the table Glencullen House and was very fond of the forest. In 1283, Queen Eleanor, wife of and when he bent down to pick it up, he area. Glencullen House still stands and is Edward I (who you might know better as noticed that the stranger had a cloven hoof. currently being restored, hopefully to its Edward Longshanks from the movie When he looked back up, the stranger former glory. Braveheart), established large timberworks disappeared in a ball of flame. Prince for providing wood for her castle. This William’s Seat is well known throughout The summit of the Fairy Castle is marked by resulted in considerable thinning of the Royal Dublin and Wicklow but what’s not so well a stone cairn – the remains of a passage Forest. During England’s war with Scotland, known is how it got its name. Originally, the tomb. It is the eastern most of a series of the fate of the oak forest was eventually left large granite tor was almost certainly known such tombs that stretch across the Dublin in the hands of locals because the king had as Cloch na gCon or The Rock of the Hounds, and Wicklow Mountains. Theentrance of no ranger there to protect it from the local which now gives its name to the hill as a which can no longer be seen due to the savages! Hence, bog oak can sometimes be whole, Cloghnagun. collapse of the edges of the cairn.

Participant Feedback on the Walk the Line event from a few of the participants:

“It's shocking how well-organised everything is. I've felt completely safe throughout.” - Anonymous Walk the Liner!

“I was delighted to participate in the Walk the Line event last weekend. I am blind and I went along with the assistance of my daughter Aoife, who persuaded me to take part.” - Ronan McGuirk “I want to say that all of the staff on the event from the checking in staff to the marshals on the course were great. Seeing the flags and glow sticks at points along the route showed us how much effort you and your team put in. The food stations were very welcome and when we got in just before 7 the breakfast was tasty too. I honestly can’t fault a single thing about the event, well done to all involved.”- Mark H “Thanks for an incredible experience... had no idea it would be that tough!! so well organised and u guys provided such encouragement and cheerfulness the whole way round. You definitely helped me keep going when the body was shouting to give up!” - Ann O’G “It was an amazing night. I’m a novice walker so wasn’t physically prepared for it so was relieved to get to Marley. It was incredibly well organised and comforting to only have to worry about the next bog hole as opposed to 'where are we going?'” - Andrew M

Walk the Line is now accepting registrations for 2012, visit www.walktheline.ie. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 15

Thanks to our Walk the Line Participants from every member of the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team

Almost every volunteer on a mountain rescue comfort zone and trusting us to keep them duty of care to the 300 people we were about team has had that moment where they are safe was touching. The disappointment on to spread over 32km of wild, mountainous standing all alone on a remote mountainside the faces of the few when they had to cut terrain meant that team resources were in the middle of the night, struggling to stand their challenge short, the courage of those stretched to the limit. Mountain Rescue is against a gale of wind and rain, radio in one overcoming physical limitations, the craic in traditionally a community organisation – we hand and a stretcher in the live in the community we operate in, other. Rain dripping down we serve the larger community of your back, shivering against outdoor enthusiasts and we support the cold, you wonder why you the growing industry which supplies bother doing this and if training and equipment to those who anyone cares. You can’t hear love the mountains. It shouldn’t be the radio and the stretcher is surprising that so many from these heavy. If you didn't trust your communities volunteered their fellow volunteers, you'd be support and services to facilitate this scared. If you didn't know event – from retired team members someone was out there in to professional guides, from bus- trouble and waiting for you to drivers to generous companies such help them you'd go straight as the Great Outdoors, from friends home to your family. and family to complete strangers who offered to spend a cold night on On June 25th we were the hill marshalling the route. reminded that we're never Nonetheless we found ourselves alone out there. When we constantly surprised at the dreamed up Walk the Line we generosity of the many people who felt we would probably be made this event possible and we’d organising a hike for 50 or 60 like to thank them all sincerely for of our friends and squeezing their help. Without the communities them for a few quid along the that support us, we wouldn’t have a way. We never imagined the purpose or the ability to do what we overwhelming response to the love to do. event would mean that we would have to turn people We look forward to inviting you to away. We never realised the view our new 4x4 ambulance event would change the team whenever we complete the refitting. for the better. We didn’t think We look forward to delivering our we could reach out a touch so first patient safely to hospital in it. many people. We never We look forward to our next callout, imagined this event would knowing that so many of you know bring in over €38,000 - the what it’s like to be out on that generosity of our friends and mountain at night and will be there supporters has blown away all along with us. We look forward to our expectations and our meeting you all again in 2012 and aspiration of a 4x4 ambulance once again thank you sincerely for for Wicklow is a lot closer to your support and generosity. realisation. Hundreds of photos from the event But more important than any are on Facebook (you can see them money raised was witnessing that so many the groups, the speed of the runners, the without having a Facebook account). people were willing to put themselves on the exhausted joy of the many who enjoyed a line for us when we needed them. Walking well-earned breakfast in Marlay Park meant Yours in sport and rescue the line on July 25th was always supposed to so much to team members that we don’t Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team be a challenge for any participant. The mist need to debate about whether we’re doing and the bog, the darkness and the distance this again next year – we couldn’t not run it. all make this an event that not everyone can Walk the Line is now accepting take on. That so many people were with us The scale of our ambitious route, our registrations for 2012, visit throughout the night, outside of their determination to do it the right way and our www.walktheline.ie. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 16

DEFENDER 110 TRANSFOMRATION The new “Wicklow MR3” ready to leave the workshop where it was fitted out. It wasn’t long before it was involved in its first callout near Djouce.

Base Vehicle The base vehicle for our new Mountain Rescue stretcher capable 4x4 is a standard Land Rover Defender 110 New stretcher capable 4x4 station wagon. We got ours from Spirit Motors in Sandyford. by Brian O’Doherty

The two sources of funding will now be used As winter arrived in Wicklow in late to purchase two rescue vehicles for use in the November, Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Dublin and Wicklow hills. The team has Rescue Team was delighted to announce already purchased the first, a Land Rover that they have secured funding for two new Defender 110, a vehicle which has been 4x4 rescue vehicles for use in the Dublin and proven again and again in a Mountain Rescue Wicklow hills. role throughout Ireland and the UK. This vehicle is now kitted out with specialist A significant part of the funding comes in rescue equipment, radios, appropriate livery the shape of a €45,000 grant from the and fittings to secure a casualty on a National Lottery which was approved by stretcher. This means the team will now be Department of Health Minister James able to carry a casualty on a stretcher from Fitting the toys O’Reilly. Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael TD in remote mountain tracks and upland areas The standard vehicle is tough and practical but our Wicklow, a long term supporter of the work during adverse weather conditions. requirements are pretty special. We’ve fitted a heavy of mountain rescue in Wicklow, had this to duty roof rack for carrying a spare tyre, recovery say about the good news: “This shows a equipment and extra kit, additional lighting for off-road A final decision on the specification of the use and tree sliders under the doors to protect the genuine commitment and appreciation on second new vehicle will be made shortly and vehicle in the tight Wicklow forests! A lot of the work is the Governments part to acknowledge the it is hoped to have this in place in the New being done by Paul in Rovercraft, a team member and vital work that is being carried out on a daily Year, ready to serve the local and land rover specialist. basis by those who volunteer on Mountain mountaineering communities that helped to Rescue teams to assist those in need.” fund raise for it.

The other main source of funds was from the These vehicles represent a greatly enhanced fantastic fundraising efforts of our Walk The operational capability for the team. This Line Participants who raised €38,000. The comes at a time when the team is level of support and generosity from experiencing a record number of incidents as participants and the local community was interest in outdoor pursuits continues to soar overwhelming and the event will be run and unpredictable weather patterns continue to make such pursuits challenging. In the last again in June 2012. five years alone the number of callouts has nearly doubled. The purchase demonstrates DWMR Team Leader, Chris England, said the high level of support the team continues “The team is hugely grateful to the National to enjoy as well as a commitment on behalf Lottery Good Causes fund. Combined with of the team to continue to provide an the fantastic local fundraising efforts of our excellent and professional service to the Wiring the lights Walk the Line participants the team is now in community. The next step is to rip out the entire interior and start the lucky position to be able to secure these wiring radios, lights and sirens as well as additional vehicles. This is just in time for the busy power points. winter rescue period.” ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 17

Probationary Diary 2011

by Michelle Clarke, Probationary Member

My interest in mountain rescue all began team, I convinced myself that all with an article I noticed in Outsider magazine the challenges involved would back in Jan‘11. There was an advert for new simply make the experience all the recruits for the Dublin Wicklow Mountain more rewarding in the end. Rescue training program and I was eager to join. I was almost as excited as a lottery winner when I found out a few The following diary captures my experiences weeks later that I’d made the final crew! to date. It covers tips for successfully training that applying to the probationary program. A Training and building skills as a probationary myself and team members first-hand account is provided of the training member have been undertaking. involved. It also provides an insight into the best part of mountain rescue which is of The months that followedthe assessment This included challenging ourselves with both course the personal reward involved in involved an intensive skills program to train regular mountain running and rock climbing rescue incidents. up as capable search and rescue volunteer. to really push individual fitness levels in the team to peak standards. This training Applying to join the team The first highlight from that period on the culminated with the 129km Wicklow Way team was the professionally run search and Relay team challenge Last winter I attendedthe rescue open rescue training that I’ve been lucky enough evening down in Roundwood. I highly to be exposed to. This has been both on land That took an unexpected turn when one of recommend this introduction if you think and helicopter-based. our very own team was actually rescued as mountain rescue volunteering is for you. part of the event (you can read all about that The picture above captures the training on page ‘20’of this report!). Soon after submitting my application & scenario where a teammate& I were winched initial paper assessment I was delighted to From a personal perspective I also undertook find out I had been selected to participate in a successful summit attempt of Kilimanjaro a full day of fitness and skills assessment out (the highest free standing mountain in the on Lugnaquilla. world) and completed my first marathon in Berlin in the past year. While neither of these As luck would have it the conditions on the challenges were with the rescue team, I did assessment day on Lug turned out to be discover during the year that highcaliber of downright abysmal. Visibility was minimal outdoor folk on the team inspired me to get and a dense fog enveloped the national park. out and push myown personal boundaries.

My heart sank as I realized the regular map The final big highlight from a training features were not visible to help form perspective was experiencing first-hand how triangulations of our location out on the team rose to the challenge of bridging Leinster’s highest peak. Given that I could the funding gap when recessionary cuts in see less than a few meters ahead, I had no government funding severely threatened choice but to rely on pacing combined with for the first time by the Irish coastguard as team finances. The rescue team addressed time estimations calculated on Naismith’s part of heli-operations training. This and the this by running a hugely successful rule to ensure I was successfully getting to crag (rock & rope) work are definitely the sponsored 32 km night-hike for over 300 local the various spot heights and features more adventure filled side to mountain hikers. throughout the day. rescue and a huge amount of fun to take part in. Assisting on incidents The reality of the challenges involved in mountain rescue struck home after we had On the more serious side of things all the Finally by far the best part of the year has been hiking over steep terrain for many recruits have been going through search and been all the callouts that I’ve been lucky hours. As we tried to negotiate our way down rescue operations, radio operations, patient enough to assist on. a particularly steep valley-side, the assessor packaging and theessential Remote brutally took that opportunity to remind me Emergency Care training to ensure that as a My first major callout involved a stretcher that in real rescue operations we would also first responder we have all of the skills and carryout of young woman who had badly be carrying rescue kit, ropes and a casualty training needed competently assist in an injured her leg on the Spinc in Glendalough.3 on a stretcher as well. emergency. full team members& I had all just gotten in the car to depart for an intensive weekend of It was at that moment that I really started to The second training-related highlight from rescue rigging training in Doolinwhen we reconsider whether I was cut out for the the past year has been the extensive fitness simultaneously all received texts that an ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 18

incident had occurred. Given that we were all Glenmacnass waterfall. base just after 2am at night. packed up in the car with our rescue gearat Night had descended My backpack just happened hand we were ideally positioned for a fast and their condition was to be stock with lots of jellies response. So we turned the car around on the deteriorating rapidly. and sweets to keep me going road headed for Glendalough. on the hills, and it was just My role that night was super to see the delighted to hike in with faces of the 2 young kids additional food, water tucking into them after their and shelter supplies. I 13 hour ordeal on the hillside. participated in a As you can probably tell by human belay to assist now from this diary, 2011was a rescuers across the yearof amazing adventures flooded river using getting to know a friendly and ropes. By 7am the relaxed team of extraordinary next morning the professionals. supplies had been dropped and Along with both their regular casualties were day-jobs and their rescue We were first party apart from the medic on being assisted to commitments on the team, scene to respond and it was a superb way to safety I made the these folks are dedicating a kick off my mountain rescue voluntary journey back home to a stunning amount of time and career. I got to assist with the end to end quick shower and coffee and in to the energy to helping new recruits patient packaging and carryout of a casualty. office to my day job. learn the skills necessary to find, Four hours later when the lady as safely back protect & rescue casualties on the hills of down to the awaiting ambulance we headed The final most memorable incident was on Dublin &Wicklow. to Clare for a very educational weekend of Halloween night when a dad and his 2 sons learning the ropes in Doolin. got lost coming down off Lugnaquilla. I am hugely excited about challenges that lie in the year ahead and have my finger’s The next major highlight was after a full My role on the night was as navigator crossed that I’ll make it through to full team weekend of rescue training a callout alert directing the driver of the rescue vehicle member in 2012! was raised late evening during the bad while we traversed through fire-tracks in flooding in October. local dark forests attempting locate the For folks who are interested in joining the 2012 casualties. probationary program please email After careful driving to the incident scene [email protected] through precarious driving conditions of very As luck would have we were closest to wet and windy weather on the dark Wicklow casualtieswhen they were located after a 5 roads we arrived on site to be informed that hour search so we got the heroic role 11 hikers had become trapped behind the ofdriving them back down safely to rescue

Recruitment 2012 – Do you have what it takes? by David Butler (New Recruits Leader) Following a very successful recruitment members and find out a bitmore about the continuous assessment over a minimum of campaign in 2011, the team are planning on team and what we do. Following the initial 12 months. After a final assessment, recruiting again in 2012.The team are application, selected applicants will be probationary members will then be proposed reviewing entry requirements this year with a invited to participate in a daytime and night for full team membership. view to making some small changes to the navigation assessment which will review selection and recruitment process which will navigation skills, fitness, equipment and Recruitment is likely to be advertised in make the initial assessment a little more knowledge of the Wicklow Mountains. Summer/Autumn 2012, so for interested applicants please sign up to our Facebook challenging! As in previous years we will be Successful candidates will then be invited page and keep an eye on outdoor magazines organising an open night in due course to onto the team probationary training and the team website for application detail. provide an insight into team operations and programme where they will be trained in for potential applicants to meet team mountain rescue skills and undergo ANNUAL REPORT:DUBLIN WICKLOW MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Annual Report 2011

outside Glendalough one of our own Mountain rescue on the run (for fun!) runners sustained a leg injury necessitating a further team callout by Brendan Lawlor and a trip to A and E for our unlucky colleague -- well we never said it was Mountain rescuers need to be fit – carrying captains Dave Butler and Brendan Lawlor easy! Thankfully the ankle was sprained and stretchers, ropes and other equipment up pushing the healed up quickly mountains is strenuous work and our team fitness limits and our colleague encourages all our members to keep up every is back running themselves in good hill fitness. week. with us again. Despite this The last two years has seen a growing group Several of setback, both of our members take to the somewhat the team teams finished in eccentric activity of Mountain Running. This also took very respectable activity is organised by the Irish Mountain part in the times and we plan Running Association and a number of our Leinster to be back again in team members have been involved for many League 2012 for this years. races on fantastic race. Wednesday One of the key races in the mountain running nights. On Our team leader is calendar is the Wicklow Way Relay where two also a bit of a teams of 8 runners tackle 120km of this route occasions fitness nut, with the race became a team callout as athletes the Ironman Triathlon being his thing. This in relay legs. The legs vary in distance and fell and sustained ankle injuries. difficulty so both novice and experienced involves a 2 mile swim, followed by a 120 mile cycle and then to top it off a 26 mile team members could take part. We had two The day of the Wicklow Way Relay race itself marathon run – daft or what?!Anyhow, Chris teams this year and organised weekly was most eventful – we had eighteen team England has done two of them and is training sessions at Djouce Forest with team members taking part in out day-glo orange planning more for 2012 - fair play to him. tops sponsored by the Great Outdoors. Just

people, point, and in this lapse of concentration I why would heard a pop as I saw my foot twist to an un- I want to natural angle with my leg. I refused to “Callout 30” run up a believe I had done anything that bad and mountain? tried to keep going, but I thought I was going By Josephine Madden to get sick so I had to lie down. The next But I runner alerted the stewards at the handover When I joined the DWMRT as a probationary embraced point (which was probably about .5km away), member this year, I didn’t image I’d become the and next thing I know I’m “Callout 30” a statistic, “Callout 30”. It all started back in challenge March sometime, I’d just been accepted onto and joined In hind-sight it was actually great to have the team as a probationary member and the the experienced life on the “other side”; the call was put out for people interested in Monday professionalism of everyone on the team doing the Wicklow Way Relay. I’d never night runs really gives the casualty a great sense of trust heard of the Wicklow Way Relay before, and I at Earls in what is happening to them. It was a well wasn’t fully sure what it entailed but I put my Drive and next thing I know I’m running in oiled machine which ran extremely name forward, I thought it’d be a great the IMRA Leinster League Wednesday night smoothly, and even when I was in the opportunity to get to know the team, races, and loving it. So after many weeks of stretcher I was relaxed as I had the utmost improve my fitness and hopefully have a bit training and recce’s finally it was Relay Day. confidence that I was the number one of fun. priority of everyone involved...... but maybe We had 2 teams competing, so there was a the Entonox helped a little. And so reality kicked-in, I was given Leg 4 bit of healthy rivalry and the craic was good (one of the easier Legs) 10km from Oldbridge on the day. The weather was beautiful and I I’m still embarrassed by it all, but I just want to Glendalough. My running experience to really thought there was nothing that could to say a big thank you to everyone involved, this point included some cross-country, but go wrong; all I had to do was give it my best, but especially Michelle who followed to me mostly road-running on nice flat surfaces finish my leg in a half-decent time and to St Vincent’s and got me safely home. I with maybe a little hill along the way. I handover to Gareth at the start of Leg 5. managed to do a lot of damage to my ankle suddenly realised that what I had signed-up but thankfully I’m fully recovered. I now for bordered on mountain running, which at But alas it was not to be. I’ll be honest, as I really have a true appreciation of what that point I considered was only for crazy was running down the trail through Brockagh happens on both sides of a rescue. Forest my thoughts were on the hand-over ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 20

However because of the deteriorating weather the MR decided we’d stay put till “The Mega Callout” first light and sure enough we could feel the rain and hailstones pelting the kisu and the by Michael Kaliszer (Casualty) & Brian O’ Doherty (Rescuer) wind threatening to tear it from beneath our The following article documents the rescue the wrong side of a river. I grabbed some dry bottoms. But I was quite warm and cosy which now has infamously become known as clothes and headed to the team van which is inside at that stage and quite happy to stay the mega callout where 11 local hikers were kept in Templeogue for easy access to east for a while. rescued after bad flooding in October. and west Wicklow. I met two colleagues Brian: More rescuers arrived with food and there and together we drove up over the It is told from 2 perspectives, firstly from the hot drinks which were very welcome in our rescuer (Brian)’s perspective and then from Sally Gap to an area known locally as the small plastic shelter jammed full of wet the casualty (Michael)’e perspective. Oasis. rescue volunteers. There was some talk of Brian: We had been training all day on the The weather was appalling as were crossing the Coastguard helicopter arriving at first steep ground near Barravore since early on the Sally Gap and the flashing blue lights on light to airlift the casualties – we could hear Sunday morning. It had been raining all day the van created a disorientating strobe effect nothing over the hailstone and wind so we and everyone and everything was wet. as they bounced off the mist and rain. Once doubted it would be possible. we reached the meeting spot, we were out in Michael: I asked Brendan how they got to us We had an incident to deal with in the the rain again, getting ready and organising so quickly and how and where they crossed afternoon as well - a family were caught out gear and hill party teams. by the bad weather and needed our the river. ‘Just about here and we jumped’. assistance to safely make it back their car. It The team van was sent up to high ground Yes.., I see.., I said. But it was true, as I was was quickly dealt with but a good example of about a kilometre along the road in order to to discover shortly. ‘So we’ll have to jump how the weather can make a simple and facilitate radio communications. The wind too, right? ‘ ‘Oh no, there will be ropes, short hike much more complicated. and the rain were so bad we had to shout maybe ladders..’ Mhmm. into each other's ears in order to Brian: In the end the weather cleared Michael: The set route was Tonelagee, communicate. We quickly got geared up and Brockaghs, Paddock Hill, and Scarr. dramatically at about 4.30am. The casualties set off on foot across the mountain. Concerned at the state of the river and the were in great spirits after their midnight feast weather forecast, we reasoned that crossing Michael: Amazingly the first mountain of coffee and sandwiches and we were eager the river at the end of the hike we could to get them all to safety. We decided to afford to get seriously soaked. rescuer, greeted by a loud cheer, got to us by 10 followed by the advance party some move and quickly got all of the casualties up. By the time we arrived at the intended minutes later. Our relief was palpable. They Michael: As I set off I saw not twenty feet crossing point opposite the CP the river brought food and equipment galore and in water level had risen and the crossing was away a cluster of torches to which we no time they got us sheltered, warm, and deemed too dangerous to attempt, and so headed. It was the crossing point over Fall fed. I was handed a two person kisu and we set off upstream to seek another. The Brook. We had been so close! It was at most time was roughly.4.45. shared it with Milo and Brendan from MR a metre across and with good rock platforms who helped me into a silver survival bag. Milo for takeoff and landing and wouldn’t be a Commonly used crossing points where the got a bag and extra clothing. We got hot serious obstacle in normal conditions. river is usually wide and shallow were drinks and food. considered but also rejected as too Yet it was intimidating in the dark with the gushing brown water tearing through the dangerous at this time, and so the upstream Brian: Our hill party arrived at this point – we trek continued as light faded. Our group had gap and then dropping sharply. But there had taken a route higher upstream in order only one torch. As we stumbled along in was a helpful hand on each side and in darkness, we heard the gushing torrent to cross the rivers which took a while. It had addition a stretched rope between two below us which we could barely see. been a long day and I was a carrying a lot of human anchors provided a reassuring rescue gear, had ran out of water and my handrail. It was the same story with White We had no shelter and were getting cold. It head torch was giving out, making it difficult Brook, then a third easy mini torrent requiring no assistance and we were across. was clear that the situation was critical, to walk without tripping; I was happy to get movement forth or back was dangerous and Phew! Was that IT? there so and get some food and water on we wouldn’t be able to survive the night in the open without high risk of hypothermia. board. Our medic, Gen, quickly assessed Brian: I accompanied two of the older And so at about 7.30 Anne called the each of the casualties and our hill party got casualties. Both slipped and fell a few times mountain rescue. cosy under a kisu and waited for further on the rough ground but both kept walking instruction. and remained cheerful and upbeat Brian: Most team members were barely throughout. It was very calm, like someone home when we received a call for a second Michael: To cope with taking out 11 people a had turned off all the background noise. incident. A group of eleven were trapped on second group of rescuers arrived at midnight. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 21

Michael: We headed uphill through the trees away (though carefully feet watching), with and loads of other people milling around. All for a while, levelled off, and joined the long the occasional burst of radio chat among the of our casualties were assessed and all were track through the forest beneath Carigshouk rescuers cross checking numbers and able to make their own way home. locations. After about two and bit hours we to the road at O 103 045. The track wasn’t reached the road. What a sight! Michael: It was then about 8 and I was home the best, but who cared! at ten. I cannot express my gratitude and Three 4+4’s brightly lettered with flashing admiration of the MRRs strongly enough, not Brian: Halfway out we met with some more amber and blue lights enhanced the just for their flawless professionalism, self rescuers who had just arrived. They were realization of the scale of the operation we evident throughout the night, but also for able to take some of our gear and lighten our triggered off. their dedication and constant attention and load – the banter and the mood improved concern for their charges, and their good immensely as we got closer to base. Brian: Base was the usual organised chaos humour. with much more chaos than normal – there Michael: It was actually quite pleasant were volunteers from the Mournes Mountain walking through the forest at night chatting Rescue Team, a large HSE ambulance crew

Winners the prestigious 2011 Cathaoirleach award! Given that 2011 was the European Year of volunteers to see their dedication and Volunteering the Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown commitment get this type of recognition. County Council choose to honourthe Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team with 2011 On presenting the award County Councillor Cathaoirleach’s Award. Lettie McCarty of had the following to say:

This annual award commends those who act “I would like to pay tribute to the Dublin & as exemplary role models and who have Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team for their given special service to their community. dedicated work in contributing their time and expertise to helping people in need of The team was delighted to accept the award assistance on mountains and hills.” and it was a great boost to morale forour

had reported the dog as missing to Park staff on safer ground. Owners would do well to but weren’t holding out too much hope. heed the message that dogs should be kept on a lead on the Spink especially but also in Barking mad! Only months before the Dublin Wicklow any area of parkland or where encounters Mountain Rescue Team had to rescue a Jack by Declan Cunningham with wildlife are likely. Jaffa was one dog Russell from the gulleys below the Spink. On who had definitely had it’s day but at least Two members of Dublin Wicklow Mountain that occasion members had to abseil 150m this tale had a happy ending! Rescue Team were doing a recce for an into the gulley to the stricken pup. Who says upcoming training exercise in the St. Kevin’s only cats have nine lives? Bed area of the upper lake in Glendalough When the Dublin Wicklow rescuers informed when they were surprised by growling the park staff that they had found a dog the noises. Initially they thought the sound was owners were contacted. Amazingly the dog just carrying across the lake until they was in good shape after it’s 200m tumble and spotted a very forlorn looking dog on a ledge was very wary of its would be rescuers. After at the waters edge. calming the dog a bit and bribing it with The wayward pooch had been on the missing chocolate they managed to get it into a list for four days. Its owners were out walking rucksack for the climb back out. the Spink and Jaffa, as the dog is called, The rescuers and the now very happy dog chased a goat down one of the gullies. They were met by extremely grateful owners back ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 22

Person of the Year 2011

by David Williams, Team Chairman

Gen Ward is pictured here being awarded the Finally, a third great Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team 2011 reason why Gen is such a Person of Year. strong asset to the Dublin Wicklow Firstly we selected her for the award for the mountain rescue team is energy, leadership and commitment she due to the abundance of applied to the Walk the Line event. Gen was strong skills she instrumental in making the event such a consistently great success. demonstrates on callouts. Secondly it was for the tenacious drive she applied when ensuring grants and Throughout the year this fundraising for the team was followed translated into her through. This was critical to the success of assisting in a record the team being adequately funded when it number of incidents alongside her husband “Gen was the obvious choice for 2011. The came to major purchases such as the recent Kenny Roberts who is also a long standing team could not think of a more deserving rescue vehicle acquisition. team member. She leverages her excellent volunteer for this award. Her professionalism, medical skills and qualifications to ensure she dedication and drive are renowned among her Ask any member of the team and they will provides all our casualties with expert care. peers. heartily agree that this award could not have gone to a more deserving person. Thanks Gen for your fantastic work all year!” – David Williams, Team Chairman.

Annual Dinner 2011

by Brian O’Doherty

A lot of the events at the annual dinner will the opportunity to cement be forever shrouded in secrecy, mostly to the bond between the two preserve the reputation and good-standing teams of our membership in the community! We also had our local A number of key moments should be member of parliament mentioned – the most important is that for along as our guest – many of us it was an opportunity to bring Andrew Doyle TD. along our partners and introduce them to our Andrew is a local farmer team members and their partners. A lot of us as well as a legislator and rely on our families to take care of normal has been a long term business when we go running around the hills supporter of the team on training or callouts and we’re very grateful and the work done by mountain for their support. rescue in Wicklow. As a token of our gratitude for his support we presented We also had some friends from Calder Valley Andrew with a team plaque. Rescue Team join us for dinner – this gave us

ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 23

Calling out Mountain Rescue; a Call-out Officers perspective.

by Ed Fagan I’ve had the privilege of being a Call-Out If the incident is serious such as a fallen Officer for the Dublin / Wicklow Mountain Climber or cardiac arrest, I will go straight to Rescue Team for many years. the Coastguard and request the tasking of the Coastguard rescue helicopter based in The Callout Officer is the Guy or Gal on our Dublin Airport (Call sign Rescue 116) before team that takes the initial information about alerting the team. If we’re lucky the an incident and then manages the initial Coastguard helicopter may be able to response to the incident. complete a Rescue while the team is making computer if one is available. If I’m at home its way to an incident. However, in the my kitchen table will become covered with If you’re in need of Mountain Rescue majority of cases both team members on the maps, Teenagers will be banished from the assistance the drill is to dial 999 or 112 and ground and a helicopter will be required. The family computer and Wife to Mother in Law ask for Mountain Rescue. The operator team will always respond if a helicopter is phone calls cut short. should put you through to the nearest Garda tasked as the helicopter may not be able to control centre. They will take your initial complete the mission for many reasons There is much work to be done, a suitable message and then notify the nearest including local severe weather, it could Rescue base location needs to be decided, Mountain Rescue team via Pagers or a group encounter technical difficulties or it could be ideally with good phone and radio SMS text. re-tasked to a more serious incident. communications, I need to ensure that I have Team Drivers to take our vehicles to the When I receive a SMS message from the Once I have a clear picture of what’s going on incident and regular communications needs Gardai, I will make contact with the Garda I’ll quickly liaise with my Counter-part on the to be kept up with the informant and any requesting Mountain Rescue to gather “Glen” team and our Team Leader to devise other Emergency services responding, I need details of the incident; I may also request a an appropriate response. (It may also be the to record which team members are Garda presence on-scene depending on the case that the “Glen” Callout Officer will have responding to enable the Incident circumstances. My next step is usually to spoken to the Informant before me and they Management team to commence planning contact the Informant directly to gather a are calling me to agree a response.) once Rescue base becomes established. more detailed picture of what’s going on. Often an extra few moments spent ensuring The response may vary from dispatching a The job is immensely satisfying; there is a that I fully understand where they are and vehicle and a few local team members to a real feeling of making a difference to what’s going on can save valuable time full callout of all available team members someone in need. Although when a Garda during the Search or Rescue phase of the (Again utilising our group SMS system.) message comes through at 2am these operation. It is also vital to re-assure the When we go to full Callout, the Callout thoughts are not the first ones that come to Informant that we are responding and to Officer becomes a very busy one-person call- mind. - Be Careful out there! ensure they are aware that it may take us centre typically utilising my team and some time to get to their location. personal mobile phones, a land-line and a

self-rescue, swift water swimming and the fundamentals of shore, boat and in-water rescues. Additionally students are introduced Swiftwater Technicians Course to the basics of boat handling and the fundamentals of rope rescue, although, very by Dave Cleary specific to the swift water environment and largely dissimilar to techniques to which With the recent increase in water related The course is based on the philosophy of self- Mountain Rescue would be normally incidents in DWMRT’s area of operations protection and application of low to high risk accustomed. coupled with the essential practice of both solutions. The course provides rescuers with rescuer and casualty safety, two team- the fundamentals of survival in moving water The course was conducted in various members underwent and successfully and is recommended for anyone who may be locations on the Glenmacnass, Avonmore completed Rescue 3 Europe’s Swift Water& called upon to effect in-water rescues. and Glendasan rivers in Wicklow. Training Flood Rescue Technicians Course in mid - sites were carefully selected to augment December. Students gain knowledge in hydrology and specific skills. Water temperatures remained river classifications, size-up, site control and a constant however and made for a scene management. Practical skills include challenging if not a motivating experience. ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 24

The year in photos!

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The year in photos continued...

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The year in photos continued…

All photographs were taken by team members on the hills or during callouts 2011 ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 27

The year in photos continued…

All photographs were taken by team members on the hills or during callouts 2011 ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 28

The year in photos continued…

All photographs were taken by team members on the hills or during callouts 2011 ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 29

The year in photos continued!

All photographs were taken by team members on the hills or during callouts 2011

ANNUAL REPORT:DWMRT ANNUAL REPORT |2011 30

The year in updates!

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The year in updates continued…

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The year in updates continued…

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The year in updates continued…

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Thanks to all our 2011 Supporters!

From each Member of the Team

The Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team could survive without the generous donations and fundraising from the public and businesses around the Dublin and Wicklow area. All the folks below helped in some way towards supporting the team throughout 2011. Massive thanks from the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team to:

. Action Photography (http://actionphotography.ie/) . Anderco (http://www.anderco.ie/) . Arqiva (http://www.arqiva.com/) . Blue Pearl Media (http://www.bluepearlmedia.co.uk/home ) . Blueprint in Stillorgan (www.blueprint.ie) Charles Camping (http://www.charlescamping.ie/ ) . Coillte (http://www.coillte.ie/ ) . Cuisine De France (www.cuisinedefrance.ie) . Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (http://www.dlrcoco.ie/parks/marlay_information.html ) . EastWest Mapping (www.eastwestmapping.ie) . First Aid for Life (http://www.firstaidforlife.ie/) . Fyffes (http://www.fyffes.com/home.aspx ) . Honda (http://www.honda.ie/contentv3/ ) . Industrial Safety and Rescue Techniques (http://isrt.ie/) . Kelloggs (http://www.kelloggs.ie/ ) . Larch Hill Scouting Ireland (http://www.larchhill.org/ ) . Lough Dan House (http://www.loughdanhouse.com/ ) . Maddens Bridge Bar (www.maddensbridgebar.com) . Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/ireland/community) . National Lottery (www.lottery.ie/en/Good-Causes-and-Winners/Good-Causes) . Rovercraft (http://www.rovercraft.ie/) . Scientific Safety and Health (http://www.scientificsafety.com/ ) . Simply Mountains (http://www.simplymountains.com/ ) . Spirit Motor Group (http://www.spiritmotorgroup.ie) . The Great Outdoors (http://www.greatoutdoors.ie/) . Tetra Ireland (http://www.tetraireland.ie/) . This Water (http://www.thiswater.co.uk/) . Viewranger (www.viewranger.com) . Xtreme.ie (http://www.xtreme.ie/ ) . IBM (http://www.ibm.com/ie/en/)

We would also like to thank the many people who have made donations over the past year. Your support is appreciated and we are very grateful for your trust in us. The following list is a selection of some of the people who have been able to make a donation – please accept our apologies if we’ve missed you out.

. Trinity Climbing Club . CIE Hillwalkers . Bren Whelan - Winter Talk . Marley Hillwalking . Clondalkin Rugby Club - In connection with Garda Ciaran . HF Walking Club Jones . Maynooth Walking Club . Countrywide Hillwalkers Assoc . Irish Mountain Running Association . Na Coisithe Family Ramblers . The Irish Ramblers . Rainbow Hillwalking Club . The Trekkers Mountaineering Club . Irish Christian Hillwalking Club . Lung Gompas Walking Club . Wayfarers Association . Dublin Walking Club . National Assoc of Regional Game Councils Compensation . Stillorgan Girl Guides Fund ANNUAL REPORT:DUBLIN WICKLOW MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM Annual Report 2011

Over the years, the Great Outdoors has constantly supported the team in our efforts to provide a professional mountain rescue team on a voluntary basis. The Great Outdoors, being outdoor equipment specialists, have regularly provided the team with expert advice and arranged for a sponsorship deal through the shop for the team outdoor clothing. They have help to produce a safety leaflet and were fully come on board in the development of our website. Most recently in 2011 they were a tremendous support as the main sponsor of our Walk the Line event.

Thanks a million guys –your support is invaluable to the Team!

ABOUT THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Address: Great Outdoors, Chatham Street, Dublin 2, Republic Of Ireland.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01 679 4293 Website: www.greatoutdoors.ie

To contact Mountain Rescue in an Emergency  Dial 112 / 999 from any telephone and ask for Mountain Rescue.  The Garda (Police) controller will ask your location and the nature of the incident.  Provide your telephone number and if possible the grid reference for the location.  Stay in a place where you can receive a signal on your phone.  A Mountain Rescue Callout Officer will contact you directly for more information.  The Callout Officer will then deploy the rescue team to the incident location.