Insurance
Updated April 2026
Mountaineering Ireland's club members and individual members are insured for public liability (€13,000,000) and permanent injury personal accident cover.
Insured by
Mountaineering Ireland’s Insurance is provided by Aviva Insurance DAC through our brokers,
Arachas.
Activities Covered
The activities noted as Hillwalking/Hiking/Rambling/Trail Walking; Mountaineering, including Alpine/winter/ice climbing; Mountain/Hill/Trail running; Canyoning; Ski mountaineering & Ski touring; Indoor Climbing – Leisure/Recreational/Competition Climbing including MI designated competition and training events held at 3rd party facilities; Sport Climbing (indoor & outdoor); Trad Climbing (including top/bottom roping); Coasteering; Bouldering (indoor and outdoor); Scrambling; Snowshoeing; Organised Litter picking; Camping as part of the Mountain Leader and Camping Leader programmes; Volunteers in maintenance of trails, upland paths and restoration of habitats in conjunction with land managers and under supervision, these activities include the use of handheld tools only. Mountain biking and kayaking – only when used on approach to access points/trailheads
All individual and club members are covered while participating in any of the above activities on a worldwide basis either on a club activity or on an individual activity.
Cover under Mountaineering Ireland's Insurance Scheme provides for:
- Individual activities
- Clubs' activities
- Training, coaching, instruction
- Participation in meets, gatherings, competitions
- Attendance by club officials, instructors, leaders, teams and members in external meets and competitions sanctioned by the club and / or Mountaineering Ireland
- Whilst representing the club, in the participation of the sport or activity
- In the necessary administration and running of the club
- Club publications, website and social media channels
- Path repair and maintenance with hand held tools
- Club arranged presentation ceremonies, social events
- Whilst representing the club at such events arranged or organised by third parties
Public Liability: This is injury or damage to third party property or persons. All club members are covered while participating in any of the above activities on a worldwide basis either on a club activity or on an individual activity. Public Liability also provides cover for;
- Professional Indemnity, which protects (for example) the role of leaders and coaches in the event of a loss occurring to another.
- Libel and Slander Protection, which protects the club and its Officers in the event of being sued for unintentional libel/slander, e.g. emails, bulletins, website
- Directors’ and Officers’ Protection: This covers club officers / members of committees in their capacity as decision makers on club business.
Cover is also provided specifically for:
- Legal Defence Costs
- Child Welfare, Protection and Vulnerable Adults Cover
| Combined Insurance |
| Public Liability – Limit of Indemnity any one event | €13,000,000 |
| Products Liability – Limit any one Period of Indemnity | €6,500,000 |
| Professional Indemnity | €1,300,000 |
| Arag Legal Expenses & advice | €150,000 |
| Directors & Officers Insurance |
| Directors & Officers Liability | €500,000 |
| Organisational Liability | €500,000 |
Public/Products Liability - Excess €500
Public liability insurance protects the Association, Club and Members against claims made against you in respect of your legal liability for property damage and bodily injury to a third party arising during the course of your activities. The policy protects you against the costs of any legal action against you and the value of any awards made.
NB – It is important to note public liability cover protects landowners against claims arising from the negligence of our members; it does not cover the landowner’s negligence or protect the landowner against claims from walkers and climbers who are not members of Mountaineering Ireland.
Professional Indemnity – Excess €500
If you give advice or instruction as part of your activities, an important extension to this cover is Professional Indemnity Insurance. Professional Indemnity Insurance aims to protect your leaders, coaches, trainers and instructors from their legal liability to compensate third parties who suffer financial loss as a result of errors or mistakes in the instruction or advice they give.
NB – Any Mountaineering Ireland member leading or instructing for their own financial gain should have their own insurance in place.
Arag Legal Expenses and advice
This is free to all member clubs, as soon as you are aware of a potential legal problem, you should get legal advice from the Legal Helpline on 01 6707470 without delay. Please have your policy number to hand. If You wish to make a claim the full details will need to be submitted in writing.
Directors & Officers policy – Excess €0 for D&O and €2,500 for Organisational Liability
Directors & Officers Insurance provides cover for Directors & Officers of clubs for defence costs and legal liability for claims & prosecutions made against them personally while acting in their role within the clubs’ activities. It also covers costs incurred during investigations by the regulators or authorities. The Organisational liability protects the club itself. Non-Executive director limit €100,000.
Permanent Injury Personal Accident Cover
Personal Accident cover provides members with a fixed benefit if you are unfortunate enough to suffer a permanent injury while engaged in one of the activities covered by our policy.
Cover provides for:
| Members Personal Accident | Outdoor rock climbing | All other activities |
| Death | €10,000 | €10,000 |
| Permanent Total Disablement | €25,000 | €75,000 |
| Permanent disabling injuries | Up to €25,000 | Up to €75,000 |
| Search and Rescue Expenses | €12,000 | €12,000 |
Search and Rescue Expenses
If an Insured Person is reported as missing outside of their Country of Domicile and it becomes necessary for the rescue or police authorities to instigate a search and rescue operation where:
a. it is known or believed that the Insured Person may have sustained Bodily Injury or suffered illness; or
b. weather or safety conditions are such that it becomes necessary to do so in order to prevent the Insured Person from sustaining Bodily Injury or suffering illness.
Please note
- Public liability insurance provides cover on a worldwide basis.
- The public liability cover protects landowners against claims arising from the negligence of our members; it does not cover the landowner’s negligence or protect the landowner against claims from walkers and climbers who are not members of Mountaineering Ireland.
- Limited Personal Accident cover provides cover on a worldwide basis.
- Personal accident cover only applies to members resident in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
- There is no longer an upper age limit on the personal accident cover.
- New members in your club are insured from the time they pay their subscription. A receipt should be issued to the new member. The Clubs' administrator can then add new members via the online management system.
- Affiliation fees should be paid online or forwarded to Mountaineering Ireland within 1 month.
- Non-members are welcome to participate on a maximum of 3 “taster” sessions / walks / climbs. Affiliated clubs are covered where guests who may be interested in joining a club attend initial taster sessions (maximum of 3 taster sessions allowed.) A register of guests must be maintained by the club. If they wish to carry on after 3 sessions they must join the club.
- Members should be reminded and recognise that our activities can be dangerous and may result in personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.
- All incidents involving injury or damage to a member or a third party must be immediately reported to Mountaineering Ireland and the insurance brokers within 30 days. It is the individual’s/Club’s responsibility to inform Mountaineering Ireland within 30 days.
- Mountaineering Ireland's Insurance is not Travel Insurance. Please see other recommendations below.
Other Recommendations
Mountaineering Ireland urges all members to take out appropriate travel and activity insurance when travelling abroad to engage in hillwalking / trekking /climbing / mountaineering. We would recommend members take out the following;
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, formerly E111) - this is free and provides you with necessary healthcare while on a temporary stay in all the countries of the European Economic Area, and in one other country, Switzerland.
- The European Economic Area includes the 28 member states of the European Union and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. To apply online for your EHIC click HERE.
- Travel and Activity Insurance
- Mountaineering Ireland members with UK addresses can benefit from access to the British Mountaineering Council's Travel and Activity Insurance Scheme. To apply online click HERE.
- All Mountaineering Ireland members can join the Austrian Alpine Club giving access to purchase their activity insurance. For more information click
HERE NOTE: Travel insurance is not included and would need to be purchased separately.
Reporting Incidents / Accidents
Any incident / accident should be reported as soon as possible but must be submitted within 30 days.
Exclusions
- Commercial activity and professional guiding.
- Personal Accident claims arising from sickness/illness (as opposed to accidental injury which is insured), HIV, drugs, etc.
- Exclusions under the Civil Liability cover include any accident involving a motor vehicle, injury to employees and the usual war and nuclear clauses.