Helping DWMRT Build a Base
| Author | Date | Message |
|---|---|---|
| Stuart Scott | Jan 27 2025, 9:57am | Morning all. With this morning's damp weather it's time for a shameless plug... Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team (DWMRT) are on the verge of building a base - at long last! There have been a number of disappointments over the years but we're now almost there. The team has saved over 600k but needs to raise another 250k to ensure the project can be completed without resorting to borrowing. If anyone is planning any fundraising events or knows of any willing corporate sponsors could you please keep this in mind? Every little helps, no matter how small. The new base will be built just up from Annacarter Crossroads on the road to Pier Gates. With any luck, we'll be able to run a few IMRA events out of there too. There are a number of past and current team members within IMRA - if you'd like any more info just give us a shout! The link to the GoFundMe is: https://gofund.me/b8abfda6 Thanks in advance! |
| Richard Fox | Jan 27 2025, 10:35am | Hello Stuart. Mountain rescue teams deserve every sort of support for the great service they provide and the extraordinary lengths they go to to help all and sundry on our hills. It’s a huge investment and I wonder would such an amount not be better used by amalgamating the DWMRT with the Glen of Imaal team? The Glen team already have a super premises in Trooperstown and, as far as I know, whenever there’s a callout both teams attend as if they were one? Wouldn’t €850k be better spent on new equipment to cover two teams amalgamated?? Cheers foxy |
| Stuart Scott | Jan 27 2025, 4:06pm | Hi Foxy. It's a good question! Both teams emerged in the early 1980s as separate entities for historical reasons. However, at this stage both teams are very similar, they follow the same training standards and qualifications and mostly attend the same callouts. Personally, I had previously thought merging them was a good idea but now both teams have grown I can see the merits in keeping them separate. Managing a group of 60 active members is difficult and 100 would be a whole extra ballgame. On top of that, there's a geographical spread: DW members tend to be based closer to south Dublin/north Wicklow and the Cooleys are also part of our operational area. GOI members tend to be based more towards south Wicklow. Of course you'd still get the same geographical spread if the teams were merged but it allows teams to easily deal with multiple callouts at the same time and still maintain the chain of command. GOI are also part of the Red Cross and subject to their organisational policies and governance. DW is a fully independent organisation as is every other MR team in the country. At a practical level, merging the teams would not be so simple. Finally, you'd still need the same number of vehicles and kit and training, and the GOI base would have to be expanded to cope with it. There's no denying the cost but with over 110 callouts a year (and growing), it is no longer practical to rely on a small unheated shed at the back of Roundwood Garda Station and team members' houses (and the goodwill of their families) for cleaning and drying gear. There's no denying it's a huge sum of money but it will lead to reduced costs in the long run as the team will no longer have to rent training space, and ultimately be an asset to the entire outdoor community as a whole. |
| Richard Fox | Jan 27 2025, 5:10pm | Thanks a mil Stuart for that great explanation. I’m living in the area and was always aware of the fact that there were two teams in close proximity. Didn’t really think too much about it. I know people in both teams and also know about the great work they do, ie like saving lives etc etc. Anyway thanks again for the explanation and for the job you and other MR people do for all our benefit. Donation on the way. Cheers foxy |
