What To Do Next:

• Setup a meeting to discuss the formation of a group, agree some ground rules.
• Avoid being too dependent on one person (e.g. what happens if that person moves to another area?) get as many people as possible involved in planning and leading walks, and other aspects of organising the club.
• Setting up a committee is key to ensuring that responsibility is shared, it is also helpful in decision-making.

Next Step Join Mountaineering Ireland

By joining Mountaineering Ireland as a club - all members receive insurance, a quarterly magazine, discounts in outdoor shops access to training support, plus information and advice to help with running your club. Click here for full membership benefits.

What We Need:

• A minimum of ten members is required to become an aspirant club and all members of the club should be affiliated.
• In order to become a full club member, a constitution will need to be written up by the club and submitted within six months and prior to approval by the membership at the next AGM (see template).
• Complete Club Application Form (include details on the background of your club, the type of activities you participate in, why there is a need for this club within your area.
• Decision on approval for aspirant membership make take up to two weeks.
• Please submit application for hillwalking to Ruth Whelan, Hillwalking Development Officer; [email protected] or for climbing to Michael Duffy, Climbing Officer [email protected]

Mountaineering Ireland Clubs will have access to our online portal where they can manage and communicate to their members and make payments directly to us. You will also be able to make payments by cheque, postal order or by electronic funds transfer (EFT).

All Mountaineering Ireland clubs will also be provided with our club handbook which provides a user friendly reference for all Mountaineering Ireland clubs to assist in setting up and running an organised club. The club handbook aims to support club growth and development and provide information on best practice and governance.

Other Things To Consider As A Club:

• Decide early on what activities you want to do (e.g. trail walking, hillwalking, climbing) and make it clear in any publicity what level the group is pitched at.
• Do you want to have any membership restrictions? (e.g. will the club be open to under18’s? If so do you have the relevant Safeguarding Procedures in place).
• Have some fun deciding on a name.
• Choose a central meeting point, this will allow people without transport to join in and it means that you can car-pool (this reduces the pressure for parking spaces in popular walking areas).
• Make some provision for drivers to be compensated for their petrol expenses (possibly best to have a fixed fee for passengers irrespective of distance, it’s easier to manage and it’ll balance out overtime).
• Starting off it’s probably best to walk every two weeks (you may not have sufficient numbers if you go out every week and once a month may not be frequent enough to allow fitness build up).
• Social Media (club Facebook page), local radio, local newspapers, library and supermarket noticeboards could be useful to publicise the group but be careful not to enlarge the group too fast.
• Make sure everybody knows what they’re getting into- how many hours they will be out for, what clothing to wear and what to bring with them (put together a brief information sheet or gear list).
• For safety and environmental reasons walking group size should ideally be less than 10 people and should not exceed 15. If your numbers are greater than that consider having two walks (possibly longer and shorter).
• Consider organising a training course for members of the club - contact our Training Officer for more information.
• Go away for a walking (or training) weekend, this is a really good way of bonding the group and you can have the fun of exploring a new area.