Located in the Mourne Mountains, County Down, Tollymore has been closed since its outdoor facilities were damaged by Storm Eowyn earlier this year. As Tollymore will remain closed until the review is completed, a process that could take up to a year, redundancy consultations have commenced with some of the centre’s staff.
Mountaineering Ireland has long-standing ties with Tollymore, related to the centre’s role in the delivery of training for mountain activities, from personal skills up to the highest level of instructor training. Mountaineering Ireland has used the centre’s facilities for meetings and events; last October we collaborated with the team at Tollymore to deliver a training weekend for leaders within university mountaineering clubs from across the island.
While the closure is regrettable, Mountaineering Ireland is engaging proactively with Sport NI, offering support and insight throughout the review process. We are advocating strongly for Tollymore to remain a National Outdoor Centre, with a fresh vision and a development plan that responds to the needs of our growing outdoor recreation community.
We are hopeful that a sustainable and positive solution will be achieved – one that recognises the value of Tollymore and secures its future for generations to come.
Photo: Some of those who participated in Mountaineering Ireland’s Student Seminar at Tollymore last October