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 MhÃl 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.
