Name: Jimmy Barry
Lives: County Tipperary. Just ten minutes from the Galtees.
Occupation: Logistics Manager
Interests: History, poetry, canoeing, photography.
In the team since: 2000. In 1999 I met Pat and Roy when they gave a presentation about SEMRA in Aherlow. Pat invited me to the open night in Clonmel and asked me to bring along a few people who might be interested. Where did the time go?
Current position in the team: Press/Public Relations Officer
Previous positions held: Deputy Team Leader
Lowlights: Knots!
Highlights: Team mates. Friends in other MR teams all over Ireland, all over the world. Watching the sun rise from the top of Croagh Patrick. Sitting on Galtybeg at four in the morning drinking tea. Being able to say "it's ok, you're safe now". The support I get from my family and friends.
The sun came out on Saturday June 20th, for SEMRA's annual Waterford street collection, a pleasant change from last year when it bucketed down for the whole day. As so often before, the people of Waterford were very generous indeed to their local, voluntary, Mountain Rescue team. SEMRA could not exist without the funds raised at our flag days, and the kind words of support received are very much appreciated. SEMRA is grateful to An Garda Siochana, Waterford City Council, and its friends in the local media who helped to get the word out, also we acknowledge our colleagues in the Search And Rescue Dogs Association, who took time out of a busy training weekend to come and help on the day.
In a major search and rescue operation on the Galtee Mountains in County Tipperary on Sunday evening, April 26th 2009, two people were rescued and nine were assisted off the Mountains. In a five-hour operation, involving search teams from SEMRA and a search dog team from the "Search & Rescue Dog Association" (SARDA), two female walkers that had become separated from a family group were located. The two, who were very cold and wet, were found between Galtymore and Galtybeg, in what was described as terrible weather conditions. They were given clothing and food and rewarmed before they were taken off the mountain. The remainder of the family party also became lost on Galtymore, but managed to make their way into the Glen of Aherlow. As the search for the two female walkers began, four other walkers became lost on Galtymore. Fortunately for them, they were able to make their way down the mountain and be picked up by Mountain Rescue personnel, or made their own way back to their cars.
SEMRA would like to thank two hillwalkers from the UK who gave assistance in locating the two female walkers, their intervention and help saved a lot of time and was much appreciated by all. Team Leader, Michael Power, said "very poor weather conditions descended on the mountains and people who were unprepared got caught out," he reminded people that if they intend to walk in the mountains, "they should go prepared, with map & compass and the proper clothing, footwear and food, and not to rely on mobile phones to get out of trouble."
Members of South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association made their TV debuts recently when a team training day was featured in a special edition of Nationwide, RTE's long-running magazine programme. A camera crew followed the team as it went through a real-time scenario which involved deployment of personnel and equipment by the Coast Guard Sikorsky S61 helicopter, followed by a search and rescue.
In total, fifteen volunteer members of the team took part in the large-scale search for the two men who were lost, and subsequently air-lifted off Lugnaquilla this evening. SEMRA Team Leader, Michael Power, said he was proud of the commitment and dedication of the members of the team. When the pagers went off last night ten members were on their way to help in the first hour, and another five followed with team vehicles this morning. Working in some of the worst conditions ever seen on Irish mountains, mountain rescue volunteers from all over Ireland, North and South, along with two teams from Wales, managed to locate and evacuate the men to a location where they could be air-lifted to safety. Well done to all who helped over the last two days, not least for exemplifying the qualities we should value in the times ahead.
The 2009 Irish Mountain Rescue Conference & AGM took place in the Burrendale Hotel, Newcastle, County Down, hosted by the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.
The SEMRA delegation is pictured here with distinguished guests. From left: Jimmy Barry, PRO SEMRA; Garry Farrell, Honorary Secretary, SEMRA; Deputy Mayor of Newry and Mourne City Council, Councillor Isaac Hanna; Donal McNamara, IMRA Development Officer; Liam McCabe, Chairman IMRA; Pat Holland, SEMRA; Deputy Chairman of Down District Council, Councillor William Dick; Mary Mullins, Honorary Secretary, IMRA; Mike Power, Chairman, SEMRA.
Two people were rescued from the Galtee Mountains in Tipperary on January 1st. The man and woman had contacted the Mountain Rescue team when they become lost at the top of the mountains in thick fog and in very cold conditions. The rescue team set up a search base at the top of the Black Road on the Cork side of the mountains and advised the couple to stay where they were because of fading light. In a five-hour operation, involving twenty mountain rescue volunteers and a search dog team, the couple were found safe and well, but cold. They were given hot drinks and food before being escorted back to their car. This was the second incident to which the team responded on the day. Earlier, a family had contacted the team when they became lost in fog on the top of Slievenamon in Co Tipperary. As the team responded, the fog lifted and the family were able to make their own way off the mountain.