On Saturday 23 rd July, 21 volunteers from the community group ReWild Wicklow completed their
Reach the Peak challenge fundraiser by climbing to the top of Lugnaquilla. It was a very wet day
and conditions were challenging with visibility very low, but with International Mountain Leader
Niall Ennis at the helm, the group safely navigated their way to the summit and back.
“The weather was not what we hoped for,” said chairperson of ReWild Wicklow, Danny Alvey,
“but that made the challenge all the more rewarding! We had a great range of volunteers who
joined us on the day. They aged from 11 to 77 and we had one from as far away as New
Zealand. We also had a member of the group, James Timmons, who only ten months ago broke
his back, neck and two legs in a motorbike race accident. James had to use a wheelchair after
that and learn to walk again through physio, so for him to get to the point of climbing a mountain
today was very special for him.”
The fundraising event was to raise funds for their Snapshot Europe project. This is an initiative
that will see the most extensive camera trap monitoring of mammals in Ireland ever, happen
right here in Wicklow, across September and October. Snapshot Europe began last year and
just 10 camera traps were deployed as Ireland’s contribution to this Europe-wide report on
mammals. This year ReWild Wickow are partnering with the UCD Wildlife Department to raise
funds for as many camera traps as possible and their volunteers will deploy and monitor them.
“We’re delighted to have raised €3,500 of our €4,000 goal,” said Danny. “And there is still some
time left if anyone would like to show their appreciation of our wet mountain warriors and donate
at our GoFundMe page.”
A full camera trap setup costs €218 and, as a special thank you, every fundraiser who reaches
this target will get the opportunity to name it. Every image shared online and in the media will
mention the name of the camera it was captured on. Local businesses, such as Jacksmill Forest
Gardens, HUB13 in Newtownmountkennedy and Special Ops Adventures in Roundwood, have
also got involved to sponsor and have a camera named after them and the group would
welcome more businesses.
You can donate and find out more on their website at rewildwicklow.ie
