Mountain Rescue Ireland

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Mountain Rescue services in Ireland operate under the umbrella association of Mountain Rescue Ireland (Cumann Tarrthála Sléibhte na h-Éireann in Irish) (Irish Mountain Rescue Association) (IMRA). Mountain Rescue Ireland

IMRA is a member of the International Commission for Mountain Rescue (Internationale Kommisia fur Alpines Rettingwesen, (IKAR)).

Voluntary mountain rescue teams in Ireland are independent charities whose membership consists of highly trained volunteers who are called out by the an Garda Siochana (Police) in the Republic of Ireland or the Coastguard in Northern Ireland.

Teams exist in all the major mountain areas in Ireland. These teams are independent democratic bodies. A federation of the teams form the overall body, Mountain Rescue Ireland which supports and represents them.

Each team has its own area of responsibility but can deploy outside these areas in support of other teams.

The association teams are also supported by SARDA Ireland (Search and Rescue Dog Association-Ireland) and the [Speleological Union of Ireland & Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO).

SARDA Ireland is a voluntary emergency search and rescue organisation concerned with the training, assessment and deployment of Air Scenting 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 [Speleological Union of Ireland & Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO) is a self help organisation specialising in cave rescue who have recognised the need for expertise in such situations and who will attend, manage and carry out rescues at the request of one of the police services. Throughout Ireland cave rescue is the responsibility of an Garda Siochana in the Republic of Ireland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in Northern Ireland.