First, a few words about what the IMC is not. We are not a training organisation. We don't provide courses for the general public. We don't make profit from any training we organise for our members. If you're looking for professional training, try the Mountaineering Ireland website www.mountaineering.ie

What we do as regards training is to help our members improve and update their skills by organising occasional training activities throughout the year in response to expressions of interest among our members. The activities can be entirely in-house, provided by our more experienced members, or we can organise sessions with external professionals who have particular expertise.

New IMC members who want to be introduced to various aspects of climbing and mountaineering can take part in the annual series of introductory sessions organised by our training officer.

For further details contact the training officer Tony Barry at .

2012 New Members Programme

Every year the IMC runs introductory sessions for new members covering rock-climbing, bouldering and mountain skills. This year's programme will kick off again in April in Dalkey Quarry.

The goal of the introductory sessions is to give some basic instruction as well as help new members to get to know others and build up some contacts that should help them get out and about this summer and beyond.

There will be a presentation at 8pm on Thursday 11th April in the Teachers Club (36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1, opposite the Rotunda Hospital, see map) to let new and prospective members know what the format of the sessions will be and to give some general advice on how to get started rock-climbing. There will be social drinks in the bar afterwards.

You do not have to be a member to come to that meeting, however please note you will have to have become a member of the club to take part in any of the outdoor sessions. Click the Join the IMC link for details.

Please contact the training officer as soon as possible to put your name on the list, as we can only look after a certain number of people. It will be too late on Thursday the 11th. It costs nothing to put your name on the list, and you are sure to be part of the fun.

Here are the dates (which of course depend on the weather being reasonable):

Just a note: the IMC introductory sessions are not a replacement for formal training in mountaineering and rock-climbing and anyone looking for this should contact a commercial training provider; a list is available on the Mountaineering Ireland website.