A Naval Service officer has paid tribute to the efforts of instructors at Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) who rescued a man off Rinville pier last month.
Lieut Jason Croke from Clarenbridge, Co Galway also spoke to young sailors about pursuing a career in the Naval Service during a visit to GBSC.
Croke, a diver who also works in Naval Service operations, learned to sail at GBSC and qualified as an instructor there.
During his visit to Rinville, he extolled the training which the clubs provide, and the value of the skillsets passed on to young sailors.
He was asked many questions during the 40-minute discussion, and outlined options and career opportunities to the older members of the group of about 30 sailors.
Croke met Callie Ní Fhlannchaidha, senior instructor at GBSC, and 15-year old powerboat driver Cormac Conneely who were involved in pulling a man from a vehicle that shot off Rinville pier near Oranmore on the afternoon of July 3rd last.
Robert Donnelly and juniors after a sail at Galway Bay Sailing Club meet Lieut Jason Croke
The pair had been instructing local sea scouts on the water and had been bringing two groups of the scouts ashore when the incident occurred.
With the assistance of a local Galway hooker sailor Sean Furey, who was on the water in a currach, Ní Fhlannchaidha and Conneely towed the car ashore.
Fellow instructors onshore, including Tom Ryan, Ben Schumaker, Ella Lyons, Veronica O’Dowd and Mattie Kennedy, assisted in the rescue effort.
Instructor Olivia Croke watches on as Instructor Isabella Irwin presents a GBSC burgee to Lieutenant Jason Croke on his visit to the club where he learned to sail.
Conneely expressed his interest in joining the Naval Service on leaving school - and to volunteer for the RNLI Galway lifeboat crew when he is old enough.
On foot of this, an invitation was issued to Lieut Croke by GBSC founder member Pierce Purcell.
Purcell paid tribute to the Naval Service officer for his visit, which he said was inspiring for young members.
GBSC celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year and runs sail training courses for children from six years old up to junior cadet level.
The club’s Optimist and 420 class juniors are particularly successful, according to rear commodore Pat Irwin.
GBSC Lamb's Week 2021
GBSC hosts Lambs Week from August 19th to 25th when some 50 boats will take part in the five-day regatta. It includes a number of races for four classes from Ros-a-Mhíl, with a day’s race around the Aran islands and from there to Roundstone in Connemara.
The Lamb’s Week schedule is:
- Thu 19 Aug, Galway to Ros a'Mhíl
- Fri 20 Aug, Ros a'Mhíl to Cil Rónáin
- Sat 21 Aug, 'Round Aran
- Sun 22 Aug, Cil Rónáin to Cloch na Rón
- Mon 23 Aug, Cloch na Rón to Ros a'Mhíl/Galway
