South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association Blog

The local Mountain Rescue team here in the South East of Ireland is on standby this Christmas after getting a call from the "North Pole". Santa likes to stop off on the Comeragh or Galtee mountains where he gives Rudolf and all the other reindeer a well earned rest on their long trip. So just in case he needs a push or a pull to get going he has asked the Mountain Rescue team if they will help, so he can deliver all the presents to the girls and boys this Christmas.


SEMRA would like to wish everyone (including SANTA) venturing into the mountains this holiday season a safe and enjoyable trip.

SEMRA's most recent recruits were treated to a guided tour of the Irish Coast Guard HeliBase at Waterford Airport recently, as part of their preparation to become full team members. The visit included an opportunity to get "up close and personal" with the magnificent Sikorsky S61 rescue helicopter. This aircraft, with its distinctive red and white livery, has been the difference between life and death for many a person in distress on land and sea. No less impressive are the inspirational men and women who make up its crew, on the ground and in the air. SEMRA is very grateful to them all for the warm welcome received on the night and for giving our newest members, in their own words, "the highlight of the training so far". As a token of SEMRA's appreciation, a framed team insignia was presented to Dara Fitzpatrick (pilot) on behalf of all our esteemed colleagues based at Waterford.

The picture shows from left to right:
Matt Joy, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA
Ray Bradfield, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA
Christy Mahady, Winch Crew, IRCG
Dara Fitzpatrick, Pilot, IRCG
Mark McDermott, Pilot, IRCG
Mike Sandover, Winch Crew, IRCG
Paddy Looney, Deputy Team Leader, SEMRA

At around 3.30pm on Sunday, November 1st, 2009, the mountain rescue team was alerted to an incident in the Comeragh Mountains. A lady hillwalker had fallen and injured her lower leg during an organised walk around Lough Coumshingaun. Two members of the mountain rescue team happened to be near where the accident occurred and went to her aid, and were able to direct more mountain rescue volunteers to the exact location. It was decided to call on the Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford to evacuate the woman.

The Marine Rescue Coordinating Center in Dublin tasked the Sikorsky S61 helicopter, which was flying over the accident site within ten minutes. The hillwalker was airlifted and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital. Mountain rescue personnel escorted the remainder of the walking group off the mountains to their cars.

This is the second incident in the south east in six days to which the team have responded. Earlier in the week, the team rescued twelve people in the Galtee mountains in Tipperary after they had gotten lost in atrocious weather conditions.

In a major search and rescue operation on the Galtee mountains in Tipperary, twelve people were located and taken to safety by mountain rescue volunteers who came to their aid from all over the south east of Ireland. On October 27th 2009, the mountain rescue team was alerted by Gardai in Cahir when the group rang the emergency 999/112 number and requested assistance. The twelve, comprising of adults and teenagers, had climbed Galtymore earlier in the day, but had gotten lost in dense fog and mist on their descent.

At 1600hrs, the mountain rescue team issued a full team call out to all its members and set up an incident command post at the top of the Black Road, that leads into the mountains from the Cahir Mitchelstown road. By 16.30, the first search teams were on their way up the mountains to search for the group in what were described as terrible weather conditions. An incident commander was in mobile phone contact with the group, who were able to describe their position on the mountains. At 18hrs, up to thirty mountain rescue members were searching from Galtymore to Greenane, an area of 10 square km, concentrating on the southern slopes of the mountains. Because of very poor weather conditions, rain, fog, and very strong wind, the group were only located at 21.30 that night. They were rewarmed in team shelters and assessed by team medics, given hot drinks and extra clothing. When more mountain rescue members reached the area, the party was escorted to team off-road vehicles and driven back to their cars. All the group were very cold, but none needed hospital treatment. All the mountain rescue search parties were off the mountains by 23.30hrs.

SEMRA would like to thank all who assisted in this search and rescue, the Gardai in Cahir, and the Coast Guard Helicopter crew in Waterford, who had been but on standby, its own volunteer members, who worked in atrocious weather condition to achieve this successful outcome.

Just after 15:00 on Sunday, August 23rd, the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by Gardai in Tipperary about an incident in the Galtee mountains. A walking group of five (an adult and four children) had gone walking to Lough Muskry, and on their way back down, two of the children found they were unable to cross a river that had risen by a few feet in a matter of minutes because of a localised cloud burst. The mountain rescue team were training on the far side of the Galtees and within 5 minutes of receiving the call, had sent two 4x4 vehicles and its new command and control vehicle, along with thirteen team members and a Search and Rescue Dog team to the incident. The team also contacted Irish Coast Guard to put a helicopter on standby if it was needed.

At around 16:15 the team located the walking group, one member of the team made his way across the swollen river and was able to secure ropes to the far bank. The children were then put into harnesses and, with safety ropes attached, were winched one at a time across the river to safety. The children were rewarmed, given food and then taken back to their car. Members of the rescue team said they had never seen this river in spate with that amount of water, lower down the river boulders were being moved by the force of the water.

The South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association (SEMRA) would like to thank everyone for their help in the rescue today, the Gardai, Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA), Irish Coast Guard, and its own members. We would also like to say well done to the adult and the children for doing all the correct things in the situation in which they found themselves.

Name: Bono

Lives: Co.Kilkenny

Occupation: Qualified SARDA air scenting search dog.

Interests: Finding the ball, sandwiches, going for a dip.

In the team since: 2004 - and I don't think I was the first pup to join SEMRA either.

Current position in the team: On a search, I do the work of fifty humans. I also try to be a good influence on Mick Grant.

Lowlights: Always getting the blame when somebody piddles on a rucksack. Being told to shut up at team debriefs.

Highlights: Getting out of the van for a stretch after a long journey. Giving the dogsbodies a good workout on training days. Keeping Irene Codd awake on Croagh Patrick.

Name: Mary J Mullins

Lives: Horse and Jockey, in Tipperary, “The Home of Hurling”

Occupation: Community Worker

Interests: When not on the mountains, long walks with my Red Setter through the fields at home, going to concerts, skiing, swimming, coffee with the girls, different kinds of coffee.

In the team since: Member of “Club 2000”

Current position in the team: Night chef at the winter training session, bread and butter pudding the speciality.

Previous Positions held: Secretary, Chair.

Lowlights: Bono’s bark, and my lunch disappearing when he’s around. Losing my “bad hair day” title. Returning from Kerry a few years back after we had not found the missing person; it was a very hard journey to make.

Highlights: Training as a search manager, and then being able to use its scientific approach to saving lives. Being part of a team that is going from strength to strength. Getting involved in IMRA and being elected to the national executive. Meeting President Mary McAleese. The friends I have made in the fantastic bunch of people that make up SEMRA.