Youth
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Why Climbing

"One of the things that separates climbing from other sports is how independent and personal it is. With most sports, you either win or lose, but climbing is about your own personal experience.”
Chris Sharma - Climbing legend!

Young children are natural climbers and getting involved in climbing as a regular activity provides many physical and mental benefits.

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How To Start?

Indoor climbing walls provide an ideal venue to give the sport a try. They provide a safe yet exciting environment to experience the thrills of climbing. Booking in with an indoor climbing wall for a taster session is an ideal way to see if this sport is for you.

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Talent Development And Competition

The Mountaineering Ireland Talent Development Pathway provides structure and opportunity for young climbers who want to develop their climbing performance levels.

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Safeguarding

Mountaineering Ireland is committed to safeguarding children. In line with our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures (2015) our staff and volunteers, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop.

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2023 Youth Climbing Camps

Mountaineering Ireland in association with Ambrose Flynn of Hike & Climb, Claire Comiskey of Rock Ready Outdoors and Damien O’Sullivan of Anabatic, are delighted to announce the 2023 Youth Climbing Camps. 

These camps are for young climbers who are keen to experience climbing outdoors on rock, and want to develop the skills to do so independently and safely. The camps will provide younger climbers with the opportunities to experience the amazing climbing that Ireland has to offer, and support them to develop the skills to enjoy it safely and to the fullness of their potential. 

Please note that Members of Mountaineering Ireland can avail of a discounted rate per camp. For more information, or to book your place, please contact the providers directly. Contact details below.


For 2023 we are running six Youth Climbing Camps. They are:

  • Camp 1 – Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin – Tuesday 13th to Thursday 15th June
  • Camp 2 – Ailladie, Co. Clare – Tuesday 20th to Friday 23rd June
  • Camp 3 – Glendalough, Co. Wicklow – Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29th June
  • Camp 4 – Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin – Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th July
  • Camp 5 – Glendalough, Co. Wicklow – Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th July
  • Camp 6 – Inis Mór, Aran Islands – Monday 24th to Friday 28th July


CAMP 1 – DALKEY

  • Location: Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin
  • Date: Tuesday 13th to Thursday 15th June
  • Drop off 10:00am
  • Collection 5:00pm
  • Lower age limit: 12
  • Instructor ratio: 1:4
  • Residential: No
  • Cost: €220
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €160

Dalkey Quarry provides an excellent location for climbers to build experience of climbing on real rock and to develop a broad range of essential climbing skills. Depending on age and ability climbers will climb, abseil, learn to build anchors, belay from the top of a cliff, lead trad climbs and self-rescue.


CAMP 2 – AILLADIE

  • Location: Ailladie, Co. Clare
  • Date: Tuesday 20th to Friday 23rd June
  • Drop off 11:00am, Tuesday
  • Collection 11:00am, Friday
  • Lower age limit: 14
  • Instructor ratio: 1:4
  • Residential: Yes – Hostel type accommodation
  • Cost: €340 – inclusive of accommodation and food
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €280 

The sea-cliffs of Ailladie and the inland crags in the vicinity provide a wide range of climbing options – from top-rope climbing to abseiling in and climbing out of sea-cliffs!


CAMP 3 – GLENDALOUGH

  • Location: Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
  • Date: Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29th June
  • Drop off 10:00am, Tuesday
  • Collection 7:00pm, Thursday
  • Lower age limit: 14
  • Instructor ratio: 1:2
  • Residential: Yes – Hostel type accommodation
  • Cost: €390 – inclusive of accommodation and food
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €330

The mountain crags of Wicklow provide climbers with a perfect place to experience climbing on larger cliffs, and to develop the skills needed for multi-pitch climbing. These camps will run at a lower ratio, just two climbers for each instructor, to provide a very high level of attention and instruction.


CAMP 4 – DALKEY

  • Location: Dalkey Quarry, Co. Dublin
  • Date: Tuesday 11th to Thursday 13th July
  • Drop off 10:00am
  • Collection 5:00pm
  • Lower age limit: 12
  • Instructor ratio: 1:4
  • Residential: No
  • Cost: €220
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €160

Dalkey Quarry provides an excellent location for climbers to build experience of climbing on real rock and to develop a broad range of essential climbing skills. Depending on age and ability climbers will climb, abseil, learn to build anchors, belay from the top of a cliff, lead trad climbs and self-rescue.


CAMP 5 – GLENDALOUGH

  • Location: Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
  • Date: Tuesday 18th to Thursday 20th July
  • Drop off 10:00am, Tuesday
  • Collection 7:00pm, Thursday
  • Lower age limit: 14
  • Instructor ratio: 1:2
  • Residential: Yes – Hostel type accommodation
  • Cost: €390 – inclusive of accommodation and food
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €330

The mountain crags of Wicklow provide climbers with a perfect place to experience climbing on larger cliffs, and to develop the skills needed for multi-pitch climbing. These camps will run at a lower ratio, just two climbers for each instructor, to provide a very high level of attention and instruction.


CAMP 6 – INIS MÓR

  • Location: Inis Mór, Aran Islands
  • Date: Monday 24th to Friday 28th July
  • Drop off: 5:00pm, Monday, Rossaveal, Co. Galway
  • Collection 1:00pm, Friday, Rossaveal, Co. Galway
  • Lower age limit: 14
  • Instructor ratio: 1:4
  • Residential: Yes – Camping
  • Cost: €350 – inclusive of accommodation, food and ferry
  • Cost for Member of Mountaineering Ireland: €290

This camp will focus on sport climbing in the incredible location of Inis Mór. The camp will cover the fundamentals of safe sport climbing as well as delving into strategies and tactics used to perform at one’s best.


For further information, or to book your place, please contact any of the providers directly.

Ambrose Flynn: ambrose@hikeandclimb.ie

Claire Comiskey: rockreadyireland@gmail.com

Damien O’Sullivan: damien@anabatic.ie


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