Galway Mountain Rescue Team will hold its annual collection day this weekend, and is appealing to the public to support this worthy cause.
Galway MRT is a voluntary emergency search and rescue service covering the upland and mountainous areas of counties Galway and Clare. The team, which provides a 24/7 rescue service, has been in operation since 1975 and relies heavily on donations to maintain the service. One third of its funding comes from the State with the remaining two thirds coming from the public.
The team regularly assists climbers who have become lost or stranded, or who require medical assistance. Its most recent call out was on Tuesday night when several rescue teams were dispatched following reports from local residents of lights on Binn Gabhar, one of the Twelve Bens, in the Glen Coaghan Valley.
Using multiple teams in different locations facilitated by residents in the valley, the light source was found and two people were discovered camping on the mountain side. The team was stood down after determining these people did not require assistance, and all volunteers returned home after midnight.
Following this incident, Galway MRT has stressed the need for mountaineers to notify local authorities and local mountain rescue teams if they intend to camp overnight in the mountains. The team has also extended its thanks to the residents who assisted on the night.
The Galway Mountain Rescue Team collection day will take place on Saturday, with team members collecting donations in Shop Street and at the Galway Shopping Centre on the Headford Road. All donations will go towards maintaining the service. The team can be contacted at [email protected]
In the event of an emergency, Galway Mountain Rescue Team can be contacted through the emergency service at 999 or 112.
