SARDA Recent Activities

Recent Activities

A sad farewell to a remarkable person

A sad farewell to a remarkable person

President Michael D Higgins was among hundreds of mourners at St Patrick's Church in Dublin for the funeral of Coast Guard Captain Dara Fitzpatrick. The funeral cortege arrived at the church in Glencullen at 11am and was met by an honour guard from the Coast Guard and...

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Capt Dara Fitzpatrick RIP

Capt Dara Fitzpatrick RIP

We are deeply saddened to hear of Irish Coast Guard helicopter pilot Capt. Dara Fitzpatrick's tragic and untimely death today. SARDA Ireland members – human and canine – had the pleasure to train with Dara and her crew on several occasions. She was courteous, kind and...

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Search for missing man in Drumcliff, Sligo

Search for missing man in Drumcliff, Sligo

UPDATE: Kenneth McGowan has been located. RIP. SARDA handler Gerry Tobin and search dog Dexter were tasked by Gardaí to assist in a search for a man who has been missing for over three weeks in the Drumcliff area in Sligo. The dog team travelled up from Clonmel early...

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Michael Grant and Ziggy in their novice assessment in Wicklow

Michael Grant and Ziggy were successful this weekend in their novice assessment in Wicklow. The assessment took place over three days, and weather conditions were challenging throughout. Mick now rejoins the Sarda active search dog ranks and looks forward to a long...

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Training in Wicklow over the weekend

Training in Wicklow over the weekend

Some photos from training in Wicklow over the weekend. Respect to Alun, Tom, John and Colin who turned out in the rain and wind to help us train our trainee search dogs. A couple of pictures thanks to John Connell.

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Gerry tobin responds to SEMRA callout

Gerry tobin responds to SEMRA callout

SARDA handler Gerry Tobin and search dog Dexter responded to a callout in the Ballyhoura Mountains with South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association late last night. The missing mountain biker was located by a search party just as the dog team arrived at location and was...

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A second callout in three days for Pauliina Kauppila and Koiru

A second callout in three days for Pauliina Kauppila and Koiru

A second callout in three days for Pauliina and Koiru. Valentia MRSC tasked the SARDA unit to assist Castletownbere Coast Guard team in a search for a missing young male in Ardgroom, Beara Peninsula last night. The dog team spent 2.5h searching through farmland and...

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SARDA handler Pauliina Kauppila and search dog Koiru

SARDA handler Pauliina Kauppila and search dog Koiru

SARDA handler Pauliina Kauppila and search dog Koiru assisted Castletownbere Coast Guard last night in a search for a missing 20-year old man. The dog team covered a good stretch of shoreline, fields and wooded areas outside Castletownbere, Co. Cork before being stood...

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Charity Bouldering Comp: Mountain Rescue Ireland

Charity Bouldering Comp: Mountain Rescue Ireland

A really great event to support Mountain Rescue Teams in Ireland. SARDA Ireland are a Mountain Rescue Team represented by MRI (Mountain Rescue Ireland). Charity Bouldering Comp: Mountain Rescue Ireland. March 30, 2017, 6:00pm - March 30, 2017, 10:00pm. Help fund raise...

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A great result for Search Dog Tess and her handler Stewart

A great result for Search Dog Tess and her handler Stewart

A large-scale search was launched after a man, suffering an earlier head injury, became disorientated and went missing. The 62-year-old was found this morning by a Kent Search and Rescue search dog team. He was discovered on top of a high ledge in Dover at 10.30am....

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National training weekend in Wicklow.

National training weekend in Wicklow.

National training weekend in Wicklow. Saturday started dry but cold and as the day progressed we had snow and wind to contend with. Two of our handlers, Michael Grant and Louise Burgoyne, were being pre-assessed, so large hill areas were set up for them. Both...

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