Colm Byrne joined the team in 1997, and like Shane, was on the coal face at the inception of the organisation which was to become the professional rescue team it is today.

He has made a significant contribution to our team and has held the offices of Team Leader, Safety Officer, Chairperson, Training Officer and is currently Secretary, one of the busier roles on the team, doing the dreaded and unpopular….paperwork!!

Along with a few other members, he has also done important work behind the scenes on policies and procedures, so that we operate as a modern organisation and charity, within the scope of good practice and transparency.

An avid and experienced rock climber for years, he established the 1st Mountain Rescue Ireland National Rigging course in 2009 and ran these courses as director for the following 10 years. Every mountain rescue has different specialities within the general training and rigging and rope work are hugely important skills. Thanks to Colm, a large number of mountain rescue personnel all over the country are trained to a high standard in rigging systems, which means technical rescues and recoveries- where the patient may be in very austere and dangerous terrain- can be done to the highest standards of safety.

Colm received a Distinguished Service Award from MRI in 2021 and he says his participation and long service was made possible by a very patient Maura, his wife of 54 years, and the kids and grandkids who keep him from rusting on the couch.

Not that there was ever a single chance of that, as his hobbies as well as rock climbing, are also cycling and kayaking, here and abroad. With Clew Bay lapping at the end of his garden he still hops into his kayak and off he goes. He is 77 years old and obviously, old age can take a running jump...