Displaying items by tag: Lough Derg
In their second callout of the May Bank Holiday weekend, Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday evening (30 April) to a cruiser aground on the Galway shore of the lough.
The request from Valentia Coast Guard followed a report from a member of the public that a 40ft cruiser was aground inside Rabbit Island and the Split Rock navigation mark near Rossmore Quay.
At 6.13pm the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh, Eleanor Hooker and Joe O’Donoghue on board. Winds were westerly, Force 3/4 and visibility was good.
Twelve minutes later the RNLI lifeboat volunteers could see the casualty vessel inside Rabbit Island close to Rossmore Quay.
The lifeboat crew navigated through safe water to the casualty vessel and was alongside at 6.35pm.
There were six people on board, all safe and unharmed. They were requested to put on their lifejackets. A RNLI lifeboat crew member transferred across to the casualty vessel and checked under the floorboards to confirm that the vessel was not holed.
Given the location and the weather, the helm made the decision to take the vessel off the shoal and asked crew to set up for a tow. The skipper of the casualty vessel was requested to empty its water tanks to lighten the boat.
Having established that it was not possible to take the vessel off the shoal from the bow of the casualty vessel, it was decided that four of the passengers would use their tender to take them to Rossmore Quay, their intended destination, close by. A passing fishing vessel took the remaining two passengers.
Two experienced mariners offered support in their RIB and were asked to accompany the fishing vessel and the tender to shore.
With an RNLI volunteer remaining on the casualty vessel, the lifeboat took back in all lines and established the bridle and tow on the stern of the cruiser which was then freed from the shoal and towed out in to safe water.
All drives, forward and astern, and the rudder were found to be in good working order. A second RNLI volunteer boarded the casualty vessel to prepare mooring lines while it made way under its own power to Rossmore Quay. By 7.42pm the cruiser was safely tied alongside at Rossmore Quay and the lifeboat departed the scene.
Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations manager at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat owners to “plot your course and remain within the navigation channel. Always carry a means of communication so that if you find yourself in difficulty you can call 112 or 999 and ask for marine rescue.”
On Friday afternoon the inshore lifeboat at Lough Derg was called to assist a fishing vessel with two on board that ran aground at Castlelough, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
On Friday afternoon (28 April), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch following a report from a member of the public that a vessel was aground at Castlelough below Parker’s Point.
The inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched at 1.55pm with helm Eleanor Hooker, Steve Smyth, Chris Parker and Richard Nolan on board. Winds were southwestery Force 2 and visibility was good.
At 2.09pm the RNLI volunteers could see the casualty vessel at a location close to a woodland shore south of Castlelough. They navigated the lifeboat through safe water close to the casualty vessel.
Using local knowledge and onboard navigation tools, the crew identified the edge of the rocky shoal on which the lakeboat was grounded. Observing the casualty vessel, it was evident it was pivoting on a rock mid-keel.
Carrying a handheld VHF radio and a general purpose line, an RNLI volunteer waded in to the casualty vessel and quickly established that the two people on board were safe and unharmed and their boat was not holed.
The RNLI crew requested the skipper to lift their outboard engine to reduce drag whilst he eased the boat off the rock. The engine’s propellors were not damaged after the casualty vessel grounded.
The lifeboat volunteer climbed aboard the casualty vessel which then made way back out to safe water and alongside the lifeboat, which guided it to safe harbour.
Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations manager at Lough Derg RNLI urges boat users to “wear your lifejacket and carry a means of communication”.
Back-to-Back Callouts for Lough Derg Lifeboat to Boat Adrift and Kayaker in Difficulty
In two back-to-back callouts on Easter Bank Holiday Monday (10 April), Lough Derg RNLI launched to search for a possible missing person and to assist a kayaker in difficulty in the water.
At 10.28am, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to launch following a report from a resident on Illaunmore that a speedboat was at an unsafe location north of the island and appeared not to have anyone on board.
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier was launched 11 minutes later with helm Eleanor Hooker, Doireann Kennedy, Chris Parker and Richard Nolan on board. Winds were west-southwest Force 3, gusting Force 6 with frequent heavy rain showers, but good visibility.
At 10.55am the RNLI lifeboat crew could see the casualty vessel at the location reported north of Illaunmore. They navigated the lifeboat through safe water to the casualty vessel, which was close to shore.
A lifeboat crew member waded in to the vessel and found it to be at anchor astern, with a line from its bow to a tree on the shore. As the vessel had been made secure, the RNLI volunteer checked through the cabin windows and was satisfied there was no one on board.
The lifeboat crew reported their findings to Valentia Coast Guard, who then stood them down.
Less than an hour later, they were called again — this time to assist a kayaker reported to be in difficulty in the water in Dromineer Bay, close to St David’s.
At 11.54am, Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Doireann Kennedy and Chris Parker on board. Conditions were similar to those of earlier in the morning, with strong westerly winds and frequent squalls.
En route, two kayakers informed the RNLI crew that they were a party of four and that their companion was in the water to the right of St David’s. A third kayaker paddling to safety pointed towards the location of the kayaker in the water. The RNLI volunteers quickly located this individual, whose profile was low in the water.
Moments later the lifeboat was alongside the casualty, who had managed to get up on and lie lengthways on their upturned kayak. The casualty was taken onto the lifeboat along with the kayak and paddle. The kayaker was feeling cold but was not exhibiting signs of hypothermia.
While taking the casualty to safety, the lifeboat met the other three kayakers rowing a sheltered route in the lee of Goose Island. The lifeboat remained with them until they reached safe harbour.
Once delivered safely back on land, the RNLI volunteers advised all four kayakers to change immediately into dry clothing and to have a warm drink.
Aoife Kennedy, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI said the earlier callout was a “false alarm but with good intent”. She thanked the public for their vigilance, and advises all lake users to “check the weather before going afloat and to remember that the water is still cold at this time of year so do dress appropriately for your activity”.
Northern Ireland Topper Sailors Compete at Lough Derg
Ten Topper sailors from five clubs in Northern Ireland recently made the long journey to Dromineer in County Tipperary for the Topper Winter Championships at Lough Derg Yacht Club. They all competed in the 5.3 fleets.
Three Belfast Lough competitors fared very well. First overall and first Youth Male in that 53-strong fleet was Luke Simpson from County Antrim Yacht Club, who counted two first places in four races. Emily McAfee from Ballyholme was second overall, 1st Female and 1st Junior Female with a win in the second race and in 6th slot and taking 2nd Junior Male was Tom Driscoll from Royal North of Ireland YC. Another Ballyholme girl, Isabel Nixon, was 8th overall and 2nd Youth Female.
Conditions were challenging on both days, with strong North Westerlies gusting up to 24 knots on Saturday, and in contrast, Day 2 saw lighter shifty breezes.
Tom Driscoll with Declan Mulcahy, Commodore LDYC
Isabel Nixon with Declan Mulcahy, LDYC Commodore
Maurice Collins (left), ITCA RCYC organiser of the Topper Worlds.present Luke Simpson with the prize for First overall and First Youth
Emily McAfee with Maurice Collins, ITCA and RCYC Topper Worlds organiser
The other Northern Ireland competitors were Hugo Boyd, Iseult Speirs, Charlotte Cairns and Sophie Cairns from Ballyholme; Rose Kelly East Down YC and Ronan Hodge from Strangford SC.
Rear Commodore Sailing, Fergal Keating, was complimentary about the competitors; “Wonderful set of kids, when you consider the cold freshwater conditions in the rain and blustery winds. How many adults would tolerate those conditions?”
Forty people were rescued after a passenger vessel ran aground in Lough Derg on Saturday afternoon (18 March).
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was dispatched to the scene where the 40ft passenger vessel was aground on a rocky shoal off Bonaveen Point. Killaloe Coast Guard were also called out to the incident.
Using local knowledge and electronic navigation tools on board, the lifeboat navigated around two shallow shoals to make a safe approach to the stern of the casualty vessel.
It was confirmed that the passenger boat was not taking on any water but there was a significant hazard on its starboard side.
All 40 people on board were confirmed to be safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.
Given the number of casualties on board, the location and the weather conditions on the lake — with northwesterly Force 4-5 winds gusting Force 6 — the RNLI lifeboat helm decided to take the vessel off the shoal and asled Killaoe Coast Guard to come alongside and take six passengers off to lighten its load.
With the casualty vessel towed off the rocky shoal, the lifeboat crew advised it to centre its rudder and make any adjustments necessary to follow directly behind the lifeboat.
The passenger vessel had no apparent damage to its engine or props and was able to make way under its own power as it was escorted to the safety of Castle Harbour at Portumna.
Peter Kennedy, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI commended both Lough Derg RNLI and Killaloe Coast Guard “for their swift response and excellent teamwork in effecting a challenging rescue in testing conditions”.
Call for Cyclists to ‘Lap the Lake’ in Aid of Lough Derg RNLI This May
Cyclists will once again ‘Lap the Lake’ to raise funds for Lough Derg RNLI on Saturday, 6 May.
Following on from last year’s successful event, in the 2023 edition participants can choose between a full 120km circuit of Lough Derg to and from Dromineer or a shorter 65km route just beyond Killaloe.
“The scenery along the way is unparalleled and gives participants a chance to appreciate the beauty of the River Shannon,” the organisers say.
Terrain-wise there is one big climb up Portroe Hill to challenge riders “but it is short and sweet and before you know it you will be flying down the other side”.
After a break in Portumna the route becomes undulating, providing plenty of small hills to keep riders working hard right up to the last kilometre.
Upon return to the lifeboat station at Lough Derg Yacht Club in Dromineer, participants can shower, relax and enjoy some food and well-earned drinks.
Event tickets are €65 per person (€50 for the shorter route) and include a goody bag. All funds raised will go to Lough Derg RNLI.
To find out more and to book your place among the riders this year, visit the Eventbrite page HERE.
Lough Derg RNLI’s volunteers have thanked Catherine Gleeson who is retiring after five years as the station’s deputy launching authority.
Following their February monthly meeting recently, volunteers at Lough Derg held a party for Catherine, a lawyer by profession, who said that she was sad to be leaving.
She added that it had been a “great honour to volunteer at the station for the past five years”, that she was “in awe of the dedication of the crew” and has “enormous respect for your bravery out on a shout”.
Catherine said it was a “unique privilege when on duty to monitor and log the radio communications between the crew, the coastguard and casualty vessels”.
Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations manager (LOM) at Lough Derg RNLI said that both she and Catherine joined the lifeboat operations team at the same time. Christine said she valued Catherine as a friend and fellow volunteer who offered sage advice as Christine took up the role of LOM at the station.
On behalf of the crew and operations team, helm Eleanor Hooker presented Catherine with the gift of an oil painting by Tipperary artist Áine Quinlan.
Eleanor thanked Catherine for all her hard work on behalf of the volunteers, her positivity and her brilliant sense of humour. On more than one occasion Catherine had stayed on at the station with Eleanor while she wrote up her press release following a rescue.
Catherine will be missed as a valuable member of the station, Lough Derg RNLI says.
Lough Derg Lifeboat Assists Three on Speedboat Adrift Near Portumna
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat was called out on Thursday evening (19 January) to assist three people on a 16ft speedboat adrift at the most northern part of the lake near Portumna.
Valentia Coast Guard requested the launch following reports that the speedboat had suffered engine failure while towing wakeboarders.
At 6.05pm, the lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker and crew Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Oisín Higgins on board.
The lake was flat calm on a clear, dark night with a star-filled sky. The air temperature was below freezing so the lifeboat crew brought a grab-bag with three blankets.
Valentia Coast Guard provided the lifeboat with a contact for the casualties. The lifeboat requested the casualties to use their phone torches when they saw they lifeboat approaching.
At 6.25pm, as the lifeboat passed Terryglass Bay en route to Portumna, the casualties lit their phone torches revealing their location. They had drifted south of their original reported location and were close to Lough Derg navigation mark J.
Five minutes later the lifeboat was alongside the casualty vessel and the volunteers established that all three people on board were unharmed but were feeling cold.
The casualties were provided with blankets and told to wrap up and sit in a huddle at the bow of their boat. The lifeboat crew then set up an alongside tow and made way to Terryglass Harbour, where the speedboat was safely tied by 7pm.
Having ensured the casualties were safe and ashore, the lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 8.15pm.
Jeremy Freeman, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users “to dress appropriately for winter weather and water temperatures. Make sure your engines are serviced and always carry sufficient life jackets for everyone on board and ensure that they are worn.”
Lough Derg RNLI Volunteers Thank Assessor Trainer of Almost 20 Years With Surprise Party
An RNLI assessor trainer who has delivered training and assessments at Lough Derg RNLI for almost 20 years was treated to a surprise leaving party by station volunteers this week.
On Wednesday (14 December), Helena Duggan and her fellow assessor trainer Seán Ginnelly came to Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station as part of a scheduled training session, Helena to give a class and provide assessments for the deputy launching authority volunteers and Seán to assess crew on their latest theory modules.
As this was Helena’s final teaching session with Lough Derg RNLI before she leaves to become the assessor trainer for another group of RNLI stations in the Irish region, volunteers arranged a surprise leaving party in her honour.
Helena has taught and assessed volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI since 2003, a year of intensive preparation before the new station — the second only inland station in Ireland at that time — went live for service on 24 May 2004.
As the classroom session came to a close, RNLI volunteers arrived with homemade cakes and scones. Helena was presented with two specially commissioned pieces of art: a 3D woodcut of Lough Derg by artist Henri Bocxe and a ceramic sculpture by artist Annemarie Mullan.
Helena was also presented with this ceramic sculpture by artist Annemarie Mullan | RNLI/Eleanor Hooker
Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations manager at Lough Derg RNLI thanked Helena for her “years of teaching and preparing volunteers, for your wisdom and advice, your stories and laughter”.
Helm Owen Cavanagh said he was “sad to be saying goodbye” and gave his and the crew’s warmest thanks for her “years of friendship and teaching”.
The only remaining crew from the 2003 intake, volunteer helm and lifeboat press officer Eleanor Hooker shared memories of how Helena prepared her and other volunteers for their roles ahead with great patience and commitment.
“As was mentioned at the party, Helena is an inspirational character, she sets a standard to which all of us aspire, but as she said last evening, she is still around and will be there for any of us should we need to chat,” Eleanor said.
“Seán Ginnelly is the new RNLI assessor trainer for the station and it was wonderful to see the comfortable and immediate rapport with him and all at Lough Derg RNLI.”
Shannon Navigation: Jetty Works at Coosan Point and Dromineer
Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels and waterway users on the Shannon Navigation that jetty upgrade works at Coosan Point on Lough Ree are under way as of Tuesday 25 October.
Originally set to continue to next Wednesday 2 November, the works were completed ahead of schedule on Friday 28 October.
The jetty lights that were turned off to facilitate these works have now operating again, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways confirmed.
Elsewhere, re-decking of the floating jetties in Dromineer on Lough Derg will commence on Tuesday 1 November.
Security fencing will be erected around the front of the gangway to restrict access onto the floating jetties for the duration of the works, which are expected to take around six weeks to complete.
This story was updated on Friday 28 October to note the early completion of works at Coosan Point.
