This is an invitation for tenders to carry out research and produce a comprehensive new guidebook to the Mournes. This should include summer and winter climbs and bouldering information. The final document should be submitted to MCI, ready to print, on 1st September 2008, 9 months from the commencement of the tender.

The 1998 edition Mournes Climbing Guidebook has sold out and a decision has been made to publish a comprehensive new guide to the area.

Irish climbing guidebooks have been produced by the MCI for around 30 years. Traditionally this has been done on a voluntary basis, with MCI paying publication costs. In the case of the new Mournes guide, it is felt that the task is too onerous to be undertaken by a volunteer and the MCI has therefore made available a budget in addition to the publishing costs. This is a major step towards professionalising guidebook production in Ireland, ensuring that the new guide will be produced within a set timeframe and that the end result will be of high quality. The MCI intends to appoint an author through a tender process.

In order to project manage the guide’s production a ‘Mournes Guidebook Steering Group’ will be formed. The steering group will be asked to have input from the writing of the tender document, through to the presentation of the final draft to the MCI Board. See the tender document for further information at www.mountaineering.ie.