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Busy year for mountain rescue volunteers
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BY MICHELLE CREAN
With seven mountain fatalities, 44 callouts resulting in 67 people assisted, and a total of 2400 rescue hours – it’s certainly been a busy year for the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.
And the voluntary organisation, which currently has 35 voluntary members, is appealing to the public to think safety when heading out to the mountains.
During 2018, callouts have ranged from search and rescue to medical assistance and recovery operations in and around the mountain ranges of the southwest, Colm Burke
PRO Kerry Mountain Rescue Team,explained.
“The team has unfortunately had to deal with an unusually high number of tragic incidents this year, with seven fatalities recorded since February,” he said.
During the year, the team, who were honoured to be a joint recipient of the prestigious Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award, have put in 2000 training hours, he added.
“Team training sessions during the year have focussed on the traditional aspects of casualty care and search and rescue in upland areas, along with the introduction of some new technical equipment to improve rope safety systems.”
And he had a safety message for anyone thinking of heading out climbing in the next few weeks.
“With the short winter days, cold weather and dark skies, it's more important than ever to plan ahead to ensure you stay safe out there. As the winter sets in, there are a few key safety considerations for those heading into the mountains.
“Make sure you start your walk or climb early enough in the day; be aware of what time it gets dark and allow for a change in the weather too. Plan your day and route taking into consideration a reliable mountain weather forecast. Leave a route plan with a responsible person. Don't forget to keep an eye on the weather during the day. Always be prepared to turn back or take a shorter route. The mountains will still be there another day. Whatever your plans, you’ll need a good torch and spare batteries in case you get delayed. People sometimes prefer to carry a second lightweight torch so they don’t need to change batteries in the cold or the dark if the head torch packs up.
If you need help, he added, dial 999 or 112, then ask for ‘Mountain Rescue’.
“Give all your prepared details of the incident and stay where you are until contacted by the rescue team.”
He added, at their recent annual Christmas gathering, a special presentation was made to those team members with in excess of 25 years’ service. Among those individually honoured were Maureen Chevens and Maureen O’Reilly, affectionately known as ‘The Two Maureens’.
“The Maureens were an integral part of the team for many years, assisting with the co-ordination of rescue operations and painstakingly recording all rescue events, timelines and communications. And he said that KMRT would like to extend a sincere thanks to all those who have donated funds to the team over the year.
“The team relies heavily on donations to meet our annual running costs and we very much appreciate the effort that donors and fundraisers make in this regard.”
Adventure runner completes all Dublin streets
Killarney native Seanie Clifford has completed an extraordinary 25-day endurance challenge that saw him run all 4,400 named streets in Dublin while sleeping rough on the city’s pavements every night.
The local athlete completed his final stretch in the capital on Saturday, August 29, after covering a total distance of 2,000 kilometres. Running under the project banner 4400 Streets & Nowhere to Go, Clifford undertook the gruelling schedule to raise vital funds for Focus Ireland, Liberty Soup Run, and Dublin Homeless Awareness.
To mirror the reality faced by thousands of individuals across the country, the Killarney man spent 25 consecutive nights sleeping out on the very streets he ran during the day. Averaging close to 80 kilometres every 24 hours, he navigated heavy traffic, intense asphalt heat, and constant route adjustments alongside his partner and sole support crew member, Alicja.
Reflecting on the experience, Clifford praised the overwhelming backing he received from members of the public throughout the capital. He stated that he went into the challenge with extreme positivity and was rewarded with extraordinary kindness from people across Dublin, with residents from Ballymun to Donnybrook coming out to offer support.
Local support carries
By the midpoint of the challenge, physical exhaustion presented severe hurdles. However, local running clubs and individuals joined Clifford on various sections of the daily routes to assist his progress.
On Day 12, runners from Artane Beaumont Running Club and local supporters joined him on the road, allowing him to complete his daily 80-kilometre target ahead of schedule as community support carried him through the toughest miles.
The final stage of the run coincided with the release of official monthly figures from the Department of Housing, which recorded a record 17,527 people living in emergency accommodation across the country, including 5,659 children.
During the closing days of the project, Clifford was invited into Leinster House to meet with TDs and discuss the conditions he witnessed while sleeping on the streets. He stressed throughout the campaign that while his temporary homelessness would end with a return home to Kerry, thousands of families across Ireland remain without permanent shelter.
Triple Crown completed
Following his arrival at the final street, members of the national ultra-running community confirmed that Clifford had achieved what is widely regarded as the Triple Crown of Irish Endurance.
A former student of St Oliver’s Primary School and St Brendan’s College in Killarney, Clifford first set a national record in 2024 by running all 275 Irish mountains over 600 metres in 21 days. In 2025, he ran the entire 2,700-kilometre length of the Wild Atlantic Way from Malin Head to Kinsale in under 30 days.
Despite his previous mountain and coastal records, Clifford described the urban street challenge through Dublin as his most difficult undertaking to date.
Clifford, who now organises trail running retreats and uses endurance projects to highlight mental health and social issues, finished his final street run on Saturday afternoon to complete the historic trilogy of Irish endurance challenges.
Kerry Stars volunteer appreciation night
Kerry Stars Special Olympics Sports Club hosted a volunteer appreciation night at the International Hotel on Monday, August 31, ahead of the upcoming sports season.
The event brought together both new and long-standing volunteers to celebrate their contribution to the club, which provides sporting opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the region.
Run entirely by volunteers, the club relies on helpers who dedicate an hour each week from September through May. The gathering provided a chance to recognise their effort following a successful summer where four Kerry Stars athletes secured a haul of gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games in June.
The club caters to both competitive athletes and members who participate primarily for the social aspect and inclusion. With the new season resuming in mid-September, Kerry Stars is inviting new volunteers and athletes to join its weekly training schedule.
Weekly sessions take place at various local venues, including Monday athletics at Spa GAA from 6pm to 7pm, Wednesday basketball at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre from 7pm to 8pm, and Thursday soccer at the same location from 7pm to 8pm. The club also runs therapeutic horse riding and swimming programs in Killarney and Tralee, both of which currently operate waiting lists.
Anyone interested in getting involved as a volunteer or athlete can contact the club directly at kerrystars63@gmail.com.
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