Mountaineering Ireland

Last updated

Formation1971 (1971)
HeadquartersIrish Sport HQ
Location
Coordinates 53°23′47″N6°21′25″W / 53.39630621°N 6.3569524°W / 53.39630621; -6.3569524
Region served
island of Ireland
Fieldsmountaineering, hillwalking, climbing, bouldering
Membership (2020)
14,000 [1]
Secretary General
Murrough McDonagh [2]
Chief Executive Officer
Paul Barron [3]
Chairperson
President
Affiliations International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation,
Olympic Council of Ireland
Funding Irish Sports Council
Staff (2019)
10 [2]
Formerly called
Federation of Mountaineering Clubs of Ireland
(1971–1990)
Mountaineering Council of Ireland (1990–2009)

Mountaineering Ireland is the representative association for hikers and mountaineers on the island of Ireland. [4] [5] It is recognized by both Sport Ireland, the Irish authority for sport, and Sport Northern Ireland, the corresponding authority of the Government of Northern Ireland, thus operating across the island of Ireland. The association has been an International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) member since 2004, as well as a member of other federations. [6] The association is also a publisher of walking and climbing guides. [7]

Contents

History

The association was founded in 1971 [8] as the "Federation of Mountaineering Clubs of Ireland" (FMCI), [9] by eight clubs with 300 members at the time. [10] In 1990 it became the "Mountaineering Council of Ireland" (MCI). The current name was adopted in 2009.

Mountaineering Ireland became a member of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) in June 2018, with Sport climbing set to become an Olympic sport at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021. [11] Under the Good Friday Agreement, climbers from Northern Ireland are free to compete for Ireland, Northern Ireland or Team GB.

Activities

In its work, the association concentrates on achieving and maintaining continuous access for everyone to the mountains and cliffs of Ireland and on building and maintaining the appropriate network of paths for this purpose. [12] It also promotes and regulates the responsible use of hills and mountains in order to preserve them. [5] [13]

It works in the fields of mountain hiking, [14] mountaineering, rock climbing, indoor climbing and bouldering. The MCI also runs competitions in the areas of indoor climbing and bouldering. [15]

The association itself runs training courses for mountaineers, climbers and mountain guides and also awards its members grants for external courses. The training is carried out by Mountain Training Board Ireland (MTBI), the training committee of Mountaineering Ireland. Together with the relevant organisations for the other parts of the Islands of the North Atlantic, MTBI is a full member of Mountain Training UK and Ireland, a coordination body with the aim of a uniform training standard in the UK and Ireland. [16] [17]

Mountain Guide training for activities outside the British Isles is only available through Mountain Training UK and Ireland. The representation of such mountain guides in relation to the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations is carried out uniformly by the British Association of International Mountain Leaders. [18]

Mountaineering Ireland provides information and maps of all of Ireland's mountains and hills through the MountainViews.ie website. [12] There, members have the opportunity to add their own reports on their expeditions.

Youth Funding

In order to encourage young people to climb indoors, the association works with the Association of British Climbing Walls Training Trust and supports the programs and training courses developed by them. At the same time, there is a separate program (Climbing Development Squad) to promote young climbers in general. [19] There is also dedicated program (Climbing Development Squad) to support young climbers in general. [20]

It also organises two weekend workshops for young mountaineers up to the age of 24 every year. Together with youth organisations, it runs programs with young people from economically or socially disadvantaged communities in climbing gyms, each lasting eight weeks.

Memberships and Partnerships

Mountaineering Ireland is a member of the following organisations: [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climbing</span> Activity to ascend a steep object

Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains to small boulders. Climbing is done for locomotion, sporting recreation, for competition, and is also done in trades that rely on ascension, such as rescue and military operations. Climbing is done indoors and outdoors, on natural surfaces, and on artificial surfaces

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountaineering</span> Sport of mountain climbing

Mountaineering, mountain climbing, or alpinism is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas that have become sports in their own right. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, and bouldering are also considered variants of mountaineering by some, but are part of a wide group of mountain sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grade (climbing)</span> Degree of difficulty of a climbing route

Many climbing routes have a grade that reflects the technical difficulty—and in some cases the risks and commitment level—of the route. The first ascensionist can suggest a grade, but it will be amended to reflect the consensus view of subsequent ascents. While many countries with a strong tradition of climbing developed grading systems, a small number of grading systems have become internationally dominant for each type of climbing, which has contributed to the standardization of grades worldwide. Over the years, grades have consistently risen in all forms of climbing, helped by improvements in climbing technique and equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation</span> International sport governing body

The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, commonly known by its French name Union internationale des associations d'alpinisme, was founded in August 1932 in Chamonix, France when 20 mountaineering associations met for an alpine congress. Count Charles Egmond d'Arcis, from Switzerland, was chosen as the first president and it was decided by the founding members that the UIAA would be an international federation which would be in charge of the "study and solution of all problems regarding mountaineering". The UIAA Safety Label was created in 1960 and was internationally approved in 1965 and currently (2015) has a global presence on five continents with 86 member associations in 62 countries representing over 3 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eight-thousander</span> Mountain peaks of over 8,000 m

The eight-thousanders are the 14 mountains recognised by the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) as being more than 8,000 metres (26,247 ft) in height above sea level, and sufficiently independent of neighbouring peaks. There is no precise definition of the criteria used to assess independence, and at times, the UIAA has considered whether the list should be expanded to 20 mountain peaks by including the major satellite peaks of eight-thousanders. All of the eight-thousanders are located in the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges in Asia, and their summits lie in an altitude known as the death zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice climbing</span> Type of climbing with ice tools

Ice climbing is a climbing discipline that involves ascending routes consisting of frozen water. To ascend the route, the ice climber uses specialist equipment, particularly double ice axes and rigid crampons. To protect the route, the ice climber uses steel ice screws that require skill to employ safely and rely on the ice holding firm in any fall. Ice climbing routes can vary significantly by type, and include seasonally frozen waterfalls, high permanently frozen alpine couloirs, and large hanging icicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock-climbing equipment</span> List of manmade gear

Rock-climbing equipment varies with the type of climbing undertaken. Bouldering needs the least equipment outside of shoes and chalk and optional crash pads. Sport climbing adds ropes, harnesses, belay devices, and quickdraws to clip into pre-drilled bolts. Traditional climbing adds the need for carrying a "rack" of temporary passive and active protection devices. Multi-pitch climbing adds devices to assist in ascending and descending fixed ropes. And finally aid climbing uses unique equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Mountaineering Council</span> National body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers. The BMC are also recognised by government as the national governing body for competition climbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peak bagging</span> Goal to reach a collection of summits

Peak bagging or hill bagging is an activity in which hikers, climbers, and mountaineers attempt to reach a collection of summits, published in the form of a list. This activity has been popularized around the world, with lists such as 100 Peaks of Taiwan, four-thousand footers, 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, the Sacred Mountains of China, the Seven Summits, the Fourteeners of Colorado, and the eight-thousanders becoming the subject of mass public interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport climbing</span> Type of rock climbing

Sport climbing is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber clips into pre-drilled permanent bolts for their protection while ascending a route. Sport climbing differs from the riskier traditional climbing where the lead climber has to insert temporary protection equipment while ascending.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpine Club of Canada</span>

The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) is an amateur athletic association with its national office in Canmore, Alberta that has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineering since its founding in 1906. The club was co-founded by Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who served as its first president, and Elizabeth Parker, a journalist for the Manitoba Free Press. Byron Harmon, whose 6500+ photographs of the Canadian Rockies in the early 20th century provide the best glimpse of the area at that time, was official photographer to the club at its founding. The club is the leading organization in Canada devoted to climbing, mountain culture, and issues related to alpine pursuits and ecology. It is also the Canadian regulatory organization for climbing competition, sanctioning local, regional and national events, and assembling, coaching and supporting the national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian McNaught-Davis</span> British television presenter

Ian McNaught-Davis was a British television presenter best known for presenting the BBC television series The Computer Programme, Making the Most of the Micro and Micro Live in the 1980s. He was also a mountaineer and alpinist. He was managing director of the British subsidiary of Comshare Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Competition climbing</span> Competitive rock climbing

Competition climbing is a form of regulated rock climbing competition held indoors on purpose-built artificial climbing walls. The three competition climbing disciplines are lead climbing, bouldering, and speed climbing. The result of multiple disciplines can be used in a "combined" format to determine an all-round winner. Competition climbing is sometimes called "sport climbing", which is the name given to pre-bolted lead climbing.

The Irish Mountaineering Club is a mountaineering club whose activities include climbing. The club has over 200 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyrunning</span> Extreme sport of mountain running above 2,000 metres

Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) where the minimum average incline is 6% over the total distance and at least 5% has an incline of 30% or more. The climbing difficulty does not exceed II grade UIAA. Poles, crampons, and hands may be used to aid progress. The governing body is the International Skyrunning Federation.

The Lairig Club, commonly referred to as "The Lairig" is the University of Aberdeen’s Mountaineering Club and was founded in the early 1940s. Members take part in a wide range of activities from hillwalking and sport climbing right through to winter climbing, Ski touring and alpinism. Due to the university calendar and its close proximity to reliable venues winter mountaineering is the main focus of the club along with hillwalking. Over the winter season the club prides itself as being one of the most active university mountaineering clubs in the UK and works with the mission statement: "To give the opportunity to participate in, and develop the skills for, safe mountaineering in all conditions." The club has a long and distinguished history painted by famous names such as Tom Patey and Andy Nisbet, two of Scotland's most prolific new routers, who learnt their trade in the Lairig.

Joss Lynam was an Irish civil engineer who was well known as a mountaineer, hillwalker, orienteer, writer and sports administrator. He was one of Ireland's most influential figures in outdoor activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marco Maria Scolaris</span> Italian climber and IFSC president

Marco Maria Scolaris is a professional photographer and former amateur rock climber who founded the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), which is the international governing body for competition climbing in the disciplines of lead climbing, bouldering, and speed climbing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artimes Farshad Yeganeh</span> Iranian rock climber (born 1981)

Artimes Farshad Yeganeh is an Iranian rock climber who has specialized in both competition climbing, and outdoor sport climbing and bouldering. He has been climbing for 30 years as a professional climber, a member of the Iranian National climbing team for many years, as a route setter in many national, continental, and world cups and championships, and Head Coach of the Iranian National climbing team for 6 years. He also participates in sport climbing and bouldering competitions and is one of the most famous Iranian climbers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armenian Mountaineering and Hiking Federation</span> Sporting Organization

The Armenian Mountaineering and Hiking Federation, also known as the Armenian Federation of Alpinism and Mountain Tourism, is the regulating body of mountaineering, hiking, and climbing in Armenia. The headquarters of the federation is located in Yerevan.

References

  1. 1 2 "Members Federation". UIAA . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Staff". Mountaineering.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "2018 News Items". Muntaineering.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. ↑ Long, Steve (2014). Hillwalking: The official handbook of the Mountain Training walking schemes. Vertebrate. p. 144. ISBN   978-0993033704.
  5. 1 2 "'Dogs not welcome in upland areas' – Mountaineering Ireland warns walkers". Independent.ie . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Affiliated to". Mountaineering.ie. Mountaineering Ireland. 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "Mountaineering Ireland". International ISBN Agency . 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ↑ Merrick, Robin, ed. (1971). "Irish Mountaineering 1971" (PDF). Irish Mountaineering Club .
  9. ↑ "Twelve Bens : hill walkers and rock climbers guide". National Library of Ireland catalogue. F.M.C.I. guide. Federation of Mountaineering Clubs of Ireland. 1971. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 "History". Mountaineering Ireland. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Mountaineering Ireland joins the Olympic movement". Mountaineering Ireland. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. 1 2 Siggins, Lorna. "Irish Peaks — a glossy new guide to Ireland's mountains". Sunday Times (Ireland edition) . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "A new litter-picking initiative is urging people to pick up one piece of litter". AgriLand.ie. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "Let's Walk On Wednesday!". RTÉ.ie . 18 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "National Climbing Competitions: 2021 and Beyond". TheBMC.co.uk . Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "Mountain Training Board Irland". Mountain Training. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "How is Mountain Training funded?". Mountain-Training.org. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "international Mountain leader". Mountain Training. MountainTraining.org. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "Indoor Climbing". Mountaineering Irland.
  20. ↑ "Talent Development". Mountaineering Ireland.
  21. ↑ "Members Federation" (en). International Federation of Sport Climbing.
  22. ↑ "EURANDO 2011 Members". European Ramblers' Association. 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Members". Federation of Irish Sports. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "Members". Northern Ireland Environmental. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "Representative Members". Northern Ireland Sports Forum.
  26. ↑ Spriggins, Zoe (26 November 2020). "National Climbing Competitions: 2021 and Beyond". TheBMC.co.uk . Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  27. ↑ "ANNUAL REVIEW 2010" (pdf). Mountaineering Ireland. 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
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