Day 34 - County Down, Northern Ireland

Today I walked in the County of Down.  County Down (named after its county town, Downpatrick) is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland.

Adjoined to the south-east shore of Lough Neagh, County Down is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland, lying within the province of Ulster and it borders County Antrim to the north, the Irish Sea to the east and south, County Armagh to the west, and County Louth to the southwest.

I walked my 10 miles today in Newcastle, County Down and started next to the tribute to (William) Percy French (1 May 1854 – 24 January 1920) who was one of Ireland's foremost songwriters and entertainers in his day.

He wrote the song “The Mountains of Mourne” which is a contrast of the artificial attractions of the city of London in the late nineteenth century, with the more natural beauty of his homeland) as seen from the point of view of a somewhat naive young visitor from a village near the Mountains of Mourne. It is written as if the singer is sending a message to his friend back home.


Today I had the pleasure of being joined by volunteer members of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.

With some of the Mourne Mountain Rescue
Team at the beginning of todays 10 miles

The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team ("The Team") based in Newcastle, County Down serves to help anyone who gets into difficulties in the area of the Mourne Mountains and surrounding hills. The Team is made up entirely of volunteers who live close by and are on standby to respond to incidents 24-7-365. The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team was established in 1962 and is based at the foot of Slieve Donard in the coastal town of Newcastle.

With volunteers from the Mourne
Mountain Rescue Team

This was the first mountain rescue team in Ireland and it currently consists of 25 full members and 6 associate members with this number increasing every year. The Team is made up entirely of volunteers who live close to the Mournes. Everyone in The Team has something in common in that they are highly skilled and experienced mountaineers willing to turn out in all weathers, day or night, every day of the year.

The stunning view of the Mourne
Mountains from Newcastle, County Down

As a Mountain Rescue Team they endeavour to:

"Relieve the suffering and distress of persons injured or in danger of injury through accident or natural hazard particularly in the area of the Mourne Mountains but elsewhere if necessary. To educate and inform the public concerning safety and rescue in mountainous and other outdoor environments".

The Team are requested by one of the statutory emergency services, usually either by the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Maritime Coastguard Agency, to attend situations where the circumstances require more specialised assistance.


The Team is an entirely voluntary organisation and accepted as a charity. They rely almost totally on fundraising to equip and run the team. They receive some grant aid from the Sports Council of Northern Ireland towards training and equipment costs, but otherwise they rely on charitable donations and fundraising.

Their annual running costs are in the region of £10000 - £15000. Essentially expenditure is towards:
  • paying for training courses for members;
  • replacing damaged or older equipment;
  • maintaining their vehicles; and
  • insurance costs.

This piece at Newcastle, County Down,
celebrates Percy French, the songwriter,
painter & poet who wrote the Mountains of Mourne

Like all Mountain Rescue Teams across the country, the Mourne Mountain rescue Team rely on the generosity of many individuals, groups and organisations to help raise the funds that are necessary to run the team. Much of their income comes in the form of small, annual, donations from private individuals, clubs and organisations and people they have rescued. In addition to this, team members undertake talks and lectures to interested groups, and many of these groups make donations as their way of thanking the speakers.

I am in awe of these remarkable men and women who risk their own lives to rescue others in distress.

I was honoured to be joined by the team today until they received a call and left to respond to an emergency.  If you would like to support the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, this is the link; http://www.mournemrt.org/funding.html or go to this fundraising page belonging to “Friends of the Mountains”; http://www.justgiving.com/mmrtfriends

The team presented me with their badge and their “Rescue Teddy Bear” which is now attached to my walking stick as a reminder and a tribute to the outstanding work of this exceptional group of volunteers.

My sincere thanks to Jeremy Purdy, the Honorary Secretary of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, and to all the volunteers who were able to join me and supported me through my 10 miles today.

1746 miles to go,

Best wishes,

Phil