The official opening of South Eastern Mountain Rescue’s (SEMRA) new base took place last Saturday, August 22 in Clonmel.

The voluntary, non profit organisation affiliated to the Irish Mountain Rescue Association is often called out to assist in The Avondhu circulation area and its chairman Roy Johnston informs us that although the base is located in Clonmel it won’t be just for Co Tipperary.

“The base in Clonmel has been operational for about a year now. The area our team covers extends from the west end of the Galtees in the Mitchelstown area to the Blackstairs Mountains in Wicklow. I estimate that we have had at least 10 call-outs to the Avondhu area in the last 4 years.”

All SEMRA members are volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They attend between 15 and 20 call-outs annually. The new base is located in the grounds of the fire service and civil defence headquarters on the Heywood Road, Clonmel.

“It’s thanks to the support of the Boston Scientific Charity Committee, ongoing contributions from the mountaineering clubs and the general public in the south east and beyond, the funding from the South Tipperary Development Company and the generosity of Tipperary County Council that we have been able to build our base. It is being used to house our mountain rescue vehicles and equipment, conduct training activities and host association meetings.”

On Saturday it was Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council Seamus Hanafin who performed the official opening of the base. He said ‘volunteers like the people in SEMRA are the back pone of so many communities all over this country and we owe them our gratitude and thanks for the work they do’. A large number of people attended the opening, including TD's representatives from all the state and voluntary services, past members of the team, and members from many walking clubs in the area.

Annual running costs for SEMRA amount to €35-40k approximately €10K of which is supplied by government. The shortfall is made up through donations and fundraising. There are 12 mountain rescue teams in the country. All 12 teams are affiliated to The Irish Mountain Rescue Association which can be called out using 999/112.

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