By Sean Moriarty

Carrauntoohil and other popular mountaineering treks in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks should be deemed out of bounds during specific weather alerts.

That is according to Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Cahill who raised his concerns at a recent Kerry County Council meeting.

Earlier this month, 26 members of Kerry Mountain Rescue were tasked with helping several climbers off the mountain on a night of heavy snowfall.

“Hiking and mountain climbing are enjoyed by many as a healthy outdoor adventure and are fantastic experiences. However, like in anything there are inherent dangers, where injuries may be sustained or lives lost unfortunately. Kerry Mountain Rescue are an amazing gathering of dedicated, highly trained individuals, who regularly put their lives on the line for people in danger on our mountains," he said.

"I believe that when severe weather alerts are in place by Met Éireann, places like Carrauntoohil should not be open to visitors who are putting, not alone their own lives in danger, but also the lives of our rescuers,” Councillor Cahill told the meeting. It is quite understandable that you could set out in good weather conditions and all of a sudden a major change could occur putting you and your friends in danger. But there are also people who set out knowing well that there are adverse conditions from Met Éireann warnings and yet they persevere with their trip, putting lives in danger.

"This is a form of negligence on their part and to ensure the maximum safety, we need to have a protocol in place, advising no access is allowed to these places, such as Carrauntoohil, during specific weather alerts.”