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Male walker airlifted to hospital following Carrauntoohil fall

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A male walker in his 40s was airlifted to University Hospital Kerry (UHK) yesterday (Sunday) after sustaining injuries in a fall near the top of the Devil’s Ladder.

A full callout was initiated and 24 Kerry Mountain Rescue Team members came to the walker's aid at 2.45pm on Carrauntoohil.

Members of the team treated the casualty at the scene before lowering him by stretcher down to Ard na Locha where he was subsequently evacuated to UHK by Coastguard helicopter R115. The rescue, the 16th incident in August alone, concluded at approximately 8pm.

The latest rescue follows a number of busy periods with nine callouts in June and eleven in July.

Of the August callouts to date there have been eleven injuries including five ankle/knee injuries, one broken leg, two broken ankles, one suffering from exhaustion, one dislocated shoulder and one broken hip/pelvis. There were also five incidents of lost parties.

ILL-EQUIPPED

"While a number of the incidents over the summer could be classified as accidents suffered by experienced hill goers, unfortunately the vast majority have involved parties who were unprepared and ill-equipped for their mountain activity," according to Colm Burke, PRO of Kerry Mountain Rescue Team.

"There have been numerous examples of people with inappropriate footwear suffering injuries from slips and falls, groups starting out too late and not taking account of weather conditions, and parties with no knowledge of the ground or area they are in subsequently getting lost."

A concerning trend observed in recent weeks has been the number of families with young children attempting to climb Carrauntoohil without the appropriate footwear, clothing or equipment.

"The rise in the number of incidents and the types of trends being observed is of particular concern to the team as the potential for more serious injuries or fatalities is greatly increased."

APPEAL

He said that the volume of callouts is putting huge pressure on the team of volunteers who willingly sacrifice their own time to respond, often in difficult conditions and late in the evening.

The team would urge people to take more personal responsibility and ask themselves the following questions before venturing out into the mountains:

* Are they fit, competent and experienced?

* Are members of their group similarly fit, competent and experienced?

* Do they know the area and can they navigate effectively in all weather?

* Are they appropriately equipped? (Good boots, appropriate clothing for the mountain, raingear, spare clothing, food, water, map and compass and ability to use same, fully charged mobile phone, First Aid kit, bivvy bag/shelter etc.)

* Have they checked the weather forecast?

* Do they have a route plan and have they notified someone on the ground of their intended route, start time and expected return time?

"The team fully understand that accidents can happen to anyone on the hills at any time regardless of experience and competence, so if you or your party does get into difficulty do not hesitate to call 999 or 112 and ask for Mountain Rescue."

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Street Orienteering added to Wander Wild programme

By Sean Moriarty A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend. Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the […]

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By Sean Moriarty

A new event has been added to the extensive Wander Wild Festival next weekend.

Kerry Orienteers will run a family-friendly Urban Orienteering event as part of the festival on March 25.

Participants can start at the Killarney Plaza Hotel Basecamp anytime from 2-4pm on Saturday.

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass. And the Wander Wild Street Orienteering will have courses suitable for all ages and abilities.

“The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace. If you need any help or tips members of Kerry Orienteering Club will be available to assist during the day,” said organiser Brendan O’Brien.

Two routes are available: ‘Wander’ – 2km (easy, wheelchair and buggy accessible) and Wild – 4km (moderate), and bookings can be made via: https://t.ly/jHm2R.

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Quiz helps to fund Easter pilgrimage

A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week. The Tim Moore […]

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A popular annual table quiz, which raises funds to send Kerry children and young adults with special needs to Lourdes, will be held in Killarney next week.

The Tim Moore Memorial Table Quiz will be held in the Gleneagle Hotel at 7.30pm on Wednesday, March 29.

The entry fee for tables of four is €40 and it is €20 for teams of four schoolchildren with great prizes up for grabs on the night.

All proceeds will go to the Irish Pilgrimage Trust which organises trips to Lourdes every Easter for children and young adults with additional needs.

They will be brought on the pilgrimage on Easter Sunday and all the volunteer helpers and medical staff that will accompany them will cover for their own travel costs.

The annual quiz, which is running for close on 30 years, is dedicated to the memory of the late Killarney accountant Tim Moore who was a tireless campaigner for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. He passed away, suddenly, in 2002 and his friends have continued the quiz as a tribute to his legacy and to ensure the charity continues to be supported.

It hasn’t been held for the past two years due to the pandemic but all involved are thrilled that it is back for 2023.

Kieran Coffey, the retired principal of Fossa National School, is one of those who spearhead the Kerry pilgrimage to Lourdes and he has appealed to the public to support the very important fundraiser which helps offset some of the costs involved.

“We are delighted to be in a position to continue Tim’s great work and to dedicate the quiz to him. The event is always so well supported by the people of the greater Killarney area and we greatly appreciate that generosity,” said Kieran.

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