ANNUAL REVIEW 2019 Contents CEO’s Address 2 Supporting and Developing Hillwalking 4 Supporting and Developing Climbing 6 Training and Skills Development 8 Improving Access and Protecting the Mountain Environment 10 Club Development Programme Northern Ireland 12 Get Climbing Initiative 12 Get Ireland Walking Initiative 13 www.mountaineering.ie Mountaineering Ireland Annual Review 2019 Last year was an extremely busy and enjoyable one for Mountaineering Ireland, with many successes and many positive developments coming to fruition. As we continue the journey of delivering on our current Strategic Plan’s goals, which are all aimed at supporting our membership of hillwalkers and climbers and increasing our service capacity, we have seen some great progress in that regard. In addition, as we expand our reach to attract new members, 2019 has seen us continue to develop our governance and best practice structures, all supported by the Board of Mountaineering Ireland. We have also made progress in the important areas of child protection and safeguarding, and in improving our capacity to communicate effectively with our members. One remarkable achievement in 2019 350 people. As always, it was hosted by was the formation of a Hillwalking the wonderful courtesy of the McBride Committee in early March. Chaired by family, who continue to support the Grainne McLaughlin, they hit the ground development of climbing at these running. That also coincided with the amazing cliffs. The Climbfest in Donegal appointment of Ruth Whelan to her new and the Burren Climbing Meet were also role as Hillwalking Development Officer. well attended and had about eighty participants each. Rob Hunter took on Our membership continues to grow and the role of Head Coach from Terry 2019 saw ten new clubs affiliated, O’Connor for the Youth Climbing Team. bringing the overall membership to 14,020 as of October 31st, which In 2019, there were also increased included 191 clubs and 1,770 individual pressures and challenges faced by members. The annual increase in climbing walls, with increasing insurance membership that has occurred since premiums. Great credit must go to the 2017 has us on track to increase our Climbing Committee and Damien membership by 25% by 2021, as per the O’Sullivan, Climbing Officer, who have goal in our Strategic Plan. continued to work closely with the sector, providing support and ensuring The 2019 annual programme of activities high standards are maintained through There were many for our members included an extremely close work with wall owners, insurance “ well attended Women With Altitude companies and the Route Setting successes for event. With over ninety participants, it Association. was one of the largest such events that Mountaineering Ireland we have organised. The Autumn Our Access and Conservation Gathering, hosted by Kilmacthomas Committee and the Access and in 2019 and much Walking Club in Dungarvan, Co Conservation Officer, Helen Lawless, Waterford, was also a huge success. have continued to work diligently to progress was made on Our annual Club Support Meetings support access and promote responsible were held in the four provinces, with use of our upland areas. There was a our Strategic Plan’s representatives from more than positive development also, with a new forty-five clubs in attendance. chairperson coming into Comhairle na goals. Our membership Tuaithe in June and a new mandate for Another highlight of the year was the the body. continued to grow, Mountaineering Ireland Lynam Lecture, which was delivered by Sir Chris In 2019, we focused a lot of energy reaching over 14,000, Bonington (pictured opposite) to a towards new opportunities in locations captivated audience of more than four like the Luggala estate and building with 191 member hundred members, making it the first relationships with the new owner, and in clubs. ever Lynam Lecture to be sold out. promoting the principles of Helping the ” In the spring of 2019, Alan and Margaret Tees commenced the work of putting together Mountaineering Ireland’s Irish Peaks book, supported by Helen Lawless and Zest Design. This project took all of their time and energy, right through to completion. It is truly a magnificent piece of work and I am pleased to say Mountaineering Ireland gratefully that it is available to buy now from our acknowledges the funding that it receives from website. Sport Ireland, its Women in Sport programme and the Dormant Accounts Funding, and from The three annual Climbing Meets Sport Northern Ireland, and from Healthy continue to grow in size. The Fair Head Ireland for the Get Ireland Walking programme. Climbing Meet is one of our biggest events and, in 2019, attracted around 2 Hills in popular locations, where role in the Get Climbing initiative, Ruth trampling and path erosion are ever Whelan moved into the Hillwalking more evident, like Slieve Donard, Errigal, Development Officer role and Laura Croagh Patrick and Cuilcagh. Griffin moved into the Training and Membership Support Administrator role. An exciting and welcome initiative saw At the end of 2019, Linda Sankey joined the establishment of an Access and the staffing team in the role of Conservation Network with over one Communications and Administration hundred members, allowing them to Officer with Get Ireland Walking. I would feed into Mountaineering Ireland’s policy like to thank Natasza for her contribution development, submissions and specific to the Get Climbing programme and wish projects. Ruth, Laura, and Linda all the best in their new roles. In the past year, we have also seen significant work completed by the During 2019, we also saw some Mountain Training Board Ireland (MTBI), movement in the Board, with Irene supported by the Training Officer, Jane Sorohan and Simon Walsh stepping Carney, and by Laura Griffin, the Training down to focus on work commitments, and Membership Support Administrator. and Geoff Thomas coming in as the new Chairperson of the Climbing Committee. Also in 2019, we saw the completion of I would like to thank both Irene and the MTUKI Climbing Awards Review, the Simon for their support and revision of the climbing awards, and the contributions to Mountaineering Ireland, launch of the new Rock Skills Personal and I welcome Geoff in his roles as Board Proficiency Scheme, the Indoor Climbing member and Chairperson of the Climbing Assistant award and the Rock Climbing Committee. Development Instructor qualification. I want to pay a special thanks to Jason Almost seventy members enjoyed some King for his commitment and dedication wonderful Alpine experiences in the to Get Ireland Walking during 2019. He Mont Blanc massif, where the 2019 carried the responsibility for the Summer Meet was located. It was programme nearly singlehandedly during extremely positive to see four Irish the year. I must also thank Siobhan Mountain Guides work on the Meet. The Quinn, our Administration Officer, for her Meet focused on having a strong youth enormous contribution as the first point attendance, resulting in 44% of the of contact in our office, for her support overall numbers attending being youths. to our clubs and members, and for 2019 also saw the continued offering her expertise in supporting my developments of partnerships with priorities. Mountains for the Mind, Adventure Smart and the Irish Girl Guides. I also want to acknowledge the massive The progress made by contribution made to Mountaineering “ Across Northern Ireland, our Club Ireland by the Finance, Audit and Risk the newly established Development Programme, delivered by Committee, chaired by Imelda Buckley, Kevin Kilroy, the Youth Development which all goes on in the background, Hillwalking Committee and Officer for Northern Ireland, has mostly unnoticed, and the excellent work continued to provide support and delivered by IFT Financial Management in by Mountain Training Board direction in the development of both providing our accountancy requirements. hillwalking and climbing clubs there, with Our National Children’s Officer, Gerry Ireland is striking in a year a keen focus on involving young people. Gorman, also worked away diligently Our Get Climbing Programme offered behind the scenes and must be that was not without its nearly 1,000 climbing and hillwalking acknowledged for his essential opportunities to young people during contribution. Thank you all very much. challenges to all aspects 2019, all under the watchful supervision of Natasza Berlowska. In conclusion, I would like to record my of our sport. sincere gratitude to all our steadfast ” During 2019, we continued to monitor volunteers, our sub-committees and progress as set out in our Strategic Plan. working groups, our dedicated staff We continued to develop and nurture key team, to our President, Paul Kellagher, relationships with our core funders in and the Chairperson of the Board, Paul Sport Ireland, Department of Health, Barron, and to all our Directors, who Healthy Ireland and Sport NI. These contribute to and together deliver an funding streams are channelled towards effort far greater than the sum of its helping us to achieve our strategic goals many parts. It is a pleasure to serve and and developing improved collaborations lead you, and thank you all for your with our partners to ensure we meet our continued support. Strategic Plan’s objectives. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our Murrough McDonagh funders. Chief Executive Officer The year 2019 saw some small changes in our staffing. At the end of December Natasza Berlowska moved on from her 3 Supporting and Developing Hillwalking Growing our membership and Strengthening our support part of Mountaineering Ireland’s democratic process. They are often the developing hillwalking for hillwalkers catalyst for the review of a policy or for a campaign or action to be launched. Mountaineering Ireland’s new Hillwalking In 2019, four Club Support Meetings Some of the topics that were raised last Committee commenced work in 2019 were held around the country, where year concerned developments re and held four meetings.