SEMRA is a volunteer search and rescue team comprising of approximately 50 members. The team is based in the major population centres of the South East of Ireland, including Carlow, Clonmel, Dungarvan, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Waterford. The team has a base in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary which is central to the geographical response area which covers the Galtee, Comeragh, Knockmealdown, Ballhoura, Slievenamon, Nagle and Blackstairs Mountains.
The team typically responds to 30 – 40 call outs per year. In 2020 the team responded to over 40 call outs. Call outs usually last several hours from the time the call is received from An Garda Síochána to the team members reaching home afterwards. Searches for missing persons can often carry on through the night and into the next day and in some cases into several days. SEMRA team member skills include first aid, stretcher evacuation, steep ground traverse, heights rescue, off road driving, search planning, communications, logistics, and working with the Coast Guard helicopters.
SEMRA collaborates with national agencies including An Garda Síochána, the Health Services Executive (HSE), Search & Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA), the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), Civil Defence and the Air Corps to provide expertise in the area of remote search and rescue
SEMRA also supports other mountain rescue teams in Ireland. Members from SEMRA travel to Croagh Patrick every year to assist Mayo MRT with Reek Sunday. SEMRA also assists Dublin/Wicklow and the Glen of Imaal teams on occasion in their areas of operation.
More detail about Waterford mountain rescue incidents can be seen here.
