New Toyota Land Cruiser added to Donegal Mountain Rescue fleet

Donegal Mountain Rescue has taken delivery of a new Toyota Land Cruiser, adding a capable off-road vehicle to the team's response fleet.

The vehicle will move volunteers and rescue equipment from the road network onto forestry tracks, rough access roads and remote ground, so our hill parties start closer to an incident.

It has been funded through the CLÁR Programme 2026, with 80% of the cost met by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. The remaining 20% came from the team's own funds, raised through public donations and fundraising.

The Land Cruiser lets us bring lifesaving equipment off-road and into remote areas, even in severe weather, when someone is injured and needs urgent care.

Getting closer to our casualty

Donegal Mountain Rescue covers a large area of mountain, bog and forestry, and many callouts begin well away from a surfaced road. Atlantic weather can make the approach harder still.

Time spent reaching the start of a search is time not spent with the casualty. A vehicle that can carry a team and its equipment further along a track shortens that approach.

Vehicles have their limits. The Land Cruiser can reach places a conventional car cannot, but not everywhere. On the hill itself, the final approach is still made on foot. The vehicle's job is to get the team and its kit as close as the ground allows.

Prepared for rescue work

Following a tender process, the Land Cruiser was supplied by Kellys Toyota in Letterkenny. It then went to Esmark Finch Vehicle Engineering in Dublin to be converted for mountain rescue use.

A winch lets the vehicle recover itself or another vehicle if it becomes stuck on soft or steep ground. Additional underbody protection guards against rocks and rough tracks. Emergency lighting and communications equipment have been fitted, and the vehicle carries the team's high-visibility Mountain Rescue markings so it is easy to recognise on the road and at an incident.

Funded by government and by the public

The CLÁR Programme covered most of the cost, but the team had to raise the rest.

That 20% came from the people who support us. Some are people we have helped in the past, and their families. Others are local businesses, community groups who organise events, and people who give online or drop money into a collection bucket. Their donations have gone directly into a vehicle that will be used on rescues across the county.

We would like to thank the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for its support through the CLÁR Programme, Kellys Toyota Letterkenny, Esmark Finch Vehicle Engineering, and everyone who donates to and fundraises for Donegal Mountain Rescue.