Scope of MRI services
| |
| Abbreviation | MRI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1965; 59 years ago (1965) |
| Purpose | Mountain rescue |
Region served | Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland |
Main organ | Committee |
| Affiliations | International Commission for Alpine Rescue |
Volunteers | circa 400 across the 11 member teams |
| Website | mountainrescue |
Mountain Rescue Ireland (Cumann Tarrthála Sléibhte na h-Éireann) is the representative body for mountain rescue services on the island of Ireland. It has eleven member organisations - ten regional mountain rescue teams and one national canine search team (SARDA). Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI) is a member of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (IKAR-CISA).[1]
Mountain rescue teams in Ireland are independent charities whose membership consists of highly trained volunteers who are called out by the Garda Síochána in the Republic of Ireland or the coastguard, Police Service of Northern Ireland, or Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in Northern Ireland. The teams affiliated to MRI cover all the major mountain areas in Ireland and though each team covers a defined area, the teams also support each other as required. The teams are also supported by SARDA Ireland, (Search and Rescue Dog Association-Ireland) and also co-operate with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO).
SARDA Ireland is a voluntary emergency search and rescue organisation concerned with the training, assessment and deployment of search and rescue dogs, to search for missing persons in the mountains, woodlands rural and urban areas including rivers, lakes and seashores, as well as avalanches and demolished buildings.
The 11 teams which comprise Mountain Rescue Ireland, with their operational areas, are as follows:
