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Briain Kelly, 28 Sep
Ireland’s mountains, seas and coastline provide an irresistible draw for
holiday makers, hikers and those seeking adventure. But things can go
wrong in the blink of an eye.
In Tarrthálaithe na hÉireann, a new series for TG4, we follow the brave
men and women of the Irish coast guard, mountain rescue teams and
community rescue boats across Ireland.
The everyday heroes who drop everything to come to the aid of people in
need across Ireland at sea, on the ground and in the air.
We follow the teams as they put themselves through rigorous training, join
them at community events & fundraisers and hold our breath as they perform
daring rescues around the country.
In the first episode we revisit the remarkable story of Sara Feeney and
Eimear Glynn’s rescue off the coast of Galway in 2021, with members of the
rescue team tasked with finding them.
In Kerry, we meet the team at Valentia Coastguard, the oldest station in
the country. We also meet the Banna Coastguard team who are keeping the
waters of this beach safe, and follow some willing volunteers as they
fundraise much needed funds for this service at the Ring of Kerry Cycle.
Since Covid our mostly voluntary rescue teams are now busy all year round.
Their training, equipment and rate of call outs is of a very professional
standard.
They are hugely committed people, rooted in their communities, ready to
search and rescue at a minutes’ notice.
Over the Summer and early Autumn of 2022, teams from Big Mountain
Productions followed the men and women of the Irish Coast Guard, our
mountain rescue teams and community rescue boats across Ireland.
Having access to the coast guard co-ordination centre in Valentia we
follow one of the four full time Coast Guard rescue helicopters based
around the country – R118 stationed in Strandhill, Sligo.
At the heart of the series is the extraordinary commitment and work of
volunteers the length and breath of Ireland.
These men & women make up the unpaid coast guard units along our coast
from Malin to Greenore, the mountain rescue teams to the community inshore
lifeboats.
We witness the training, fund raising and local characters who make up the
voluntary Coast Guard units from Mulroy & An Bun Beag in Donegal, Ros an
MhĂl in Conamara to Wexford’s Cahore point.
Viewers will be given an insight into the skills and training needed to
become a member of the Mountain Rescue teams.
Among the teams featured are Sligo/Leitrim, Kerry, Dublin/Wicklow and the
Southeast Mountain Rescue team based in Clonmel.
Meet volunteers from the specialist dog rescue unit SARDA who demonstrate
the invaluable work they and the rescue dogs carry out while searching for
missing people.
The commitment and dedication of voluntary inshore rescue teams often
founded after tragedy is poignant and inspiring in equal measure. Two of
these teams, Banna Beach Kerry and Bantry Bay, West Cork are featured.
Tarrthálaithe na hÉireann will air on Thursdays at 8pm on TG4 starting
from October 5, with episodes available on TG4 player.