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Displaying items by tag: Kinsale

The Dragon Eastern Championships witnessed a first for host club Kinsale Yacht Club on Friday (June 7th), when the club deployed robotic marks for the first time for the three-day event.

The move to the new marks follows their success at a rejuvenated Scotland Series last month, which was overseen by senior Irish Race Officer Con Murphy and robotic buoy agent Kenny Rumball.

Murphy is in charge in Kinsale this weekend, and using the high-tech marks will serve as a useful trial for when the West Cork club stages the prestigious 2024 Dragon Gold Cup on the same waters in September. Murphy will also be the Principal Race Officer then, so admits to having a vested interest in getting the best use out of the new technology that eliminates a lot of manpower in race course management.

"It’s about 40 metres deep where the Dragons will be racing off Kinsale, and having robotic marks should make course setting and changing much easier than at present!" he told Afloat. 

13 boats will contest the East Coasts, with four boats entered from Dublin Bay, gaining valuable practice time on the Gold Cup race track into the bargain.

Published in Dragon
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A tie-break decided the six-boat Dragon Class season opener at Kinsale Yacht Club's O’Leary Keelboat Regatta on May 12th.

With close racing over two days, James Matthews, David Good, and Fergal O’Hanlon on TBD took the trophy after six intense races. Ghost, sailed by Colm Dunne, Daniel McCloskey, and Keith Reardon, finished on the same 12 nett points.

In third place on 13 points was Scarlet Ribbons sailed by Tomas O'Brien Donal Small Conor Hemlock.

One boat made the trip from Glandore with the remaining crews made up from the home club.

Results are below

Published in Kinsale
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Low tide was a little too low for one Kinsale yacht which listed over the adjacent quay on Wednesday afternoon (10 April).

As CorkBeo reports, a section of Pier Road in the West Cork town was closed to traffic after the incident in the interest of safety as harbour staff and locals awaited the evening’s high tide, when it was hoped the vessel would right itself.

Whether that was the case or a tow was required, the yacht’s owner won’t be too happy about the bill for repairs or even a new lick of paint that they’re bound to face.

CorkBeo has more on the story HERE.

Published in Kinsale
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The Spirit of Kinsale, which has operated cruises in Kinsale Harbour for over 20 years, is being sold.

Owner and operator Jerome Lordan has decided to retire. A former fisherman with experience in Ireland and overseas, he left that industry in 2003 and set up Kinsale Harbour Cruises, using the steel vessel he has now decided to sell.

“I’m 66, and it’s time to retire from the operation,” he said.

Owner and operator of the 'Spirit of Kinsale', Jerome LordanOwner and operator of the 'Spirit of Kinsale', Jerome Lordan

His family has, for generations, lived at the Old Head of Kinsale, and he has two books published about that coastal area – ‘No Flowers on a Sailor’s Grave’ about the shipwrecks of Kinsale and Courtmacsherry and ‘Peninsula People,’ a visual genealogy, social history of the area.

Dominic Daly, whose Cork auctioneering firm has experience in maritime sales - he has previously worked with State Agencies, including the Admiralty Marshall of the High Court, the Department of the Marine and other institutions on the disposal of vessels and marine assets - is handling the sale of the steel vessel.

Published in Ferry
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The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club was won overall on IRC on Sunday, March 24th, by Michael Carroll's Elan 40 Chancer.

The Carroll brothers entry won on four points from Stephen Lysaght's Elan 333, Reavra Too on seven. Cian McCarthy's Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl was third. The results were repeated on ECHO handicap.

The league concluded in miserable conditions, with low visibility and wind up to 25 knots in the doubleheader day with courses set around Sanycove and the Bulman by KYC Race Officer Michele Kennelly.  

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division attracted the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO in the six-boat fleet, according to KYC's provisional results below.

Alan Mulcahy (left), skipper of Apache, was the winner of the IRC and ECHO White Sail division, scoring three wins. He is pictured with and Frank Godsell, Sponsor (right) and KInsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob BatemanAlan Mulcahy (left), skipper of Apache, was the winner of the IRC and ECHO White Sail division, scoring three wins. He is pictured with and Frank Godsell, Sponsor (right) and KInsale Yacht Club Commodore Anthony Scannell Photo: Bob Bateman

In both, White Sails IRC and ECHO, Tony O'Brien's J109 Tighey Boy from Schull Harbour Sailing Club was second, with Patrick Beckett's Tofinou 8, Miss Charlie in third.

As Afloat reported previously, this was the 42nd annual Frank Godsell League, representing the sponsor's long-time commitment. 

Frank Godsell Kinsale Yacht Club March League Prizegiving Photo Gallery By Bob Bateman

Published in Kinsale
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The Frank Godsell March League 2024 for mixed cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club got off to an exciting start on Sunday. The fleet decided to round alternative turning marks after discovering that some of the prescribed buoys on the course were missing.

Although raced under IRC and ECHO, the White Sails division is attracting the most interest, with Alan Mulcahy's Albin Express Apache finishing top in IRC and ECHO, according to KYC's provisional results below.

In the spirit of sportsmanship, a competing crew member suggested the fleet sail onto Hake as Sandy Cove was missing. It was a suggestion that met with unanimous approval. The fleet then discovered that the Centre Point mark was missing, and the J109 Tighey Boy used two Black fishing pots, which were roughly in position. Again, the fleet all agreed to go around them, which meant the race continued without the need to discard it.

As Afloat reported previously, this is the 42nd annual Frank Godsell League, representing a long-time commitment of the sponsor. The league will run for three weeks, with two more races to follow Sunday's opening.

 

Published in Kinsale
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Kinsale Yacht Club's 'At Home' Regatta, sponsored by Victoria's Antiques, was held on Sunday, 17th September, and saw a great turnout despite the damp weather.

The event was a big success, with many sailors from the sailability, dinghy, and keelboat classes coming together to celebrate the Club's active year.

The Daunt Trophy was won by Albert O'Neill, skipper of the Sallybelle, while Patrick Beckett, skipper of 'Miss Charlie', was the White Sail Winner and Perpetual "At Home Trophy" winner.

The clubhouse and covered balcony were buzzing with excitement. The covered balcony connected the outside to the bar dining room and worked wonders in bringing people together. It was particularly impressive to see the sailability members, led by hard-working member Donal Hickey, come together with the dinghy and keelboat classes to celebrate.

The Club has had a very active year, with the Sovereign's Cup and Dragon National Championships under its go-ahead Commodore Matthias Hellstern, and it looks forward to the prestigious international Dragon Gold Cup, which promises to be a highlight of the 2024 Irish sailing season next September.

Patrick Beckett, the skipper of 'Miss Charlie', the White Sail Winner and Perpetual “At Home Trophy” winner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta, is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria AntiquesPatrick Beckett, the skipper of 'Miss Charlie', the White Sail Winner and Perpetual “At Home Trophy” winner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta, is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

Mark Leonard, sailing Corrib Two, was a prizewinner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria AntiquesMark Leonard, sailing Corrib Two, was a prizewinner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

The 'At Home' Regatta Race Officer Donal Hayes was on the Charles Fort Line, while Race Officer Tim Cronin looked after Kinsale Yacht Club's Junior Fleets.

Padraig O’Donovan sailing 'Chameleon' was a prizewinner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria AntiquesPadraig O’Donovan sailing 'Chameleon' was a prizewinner at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

The All-In Cruisers division began racing at 13.55hrs, followed by All-In White Sail, Dragon, and Squib one-design keelboats. Sailability sailors sailed in the waters between the Pier and Spit buoy.

Finbarr O’Regan's Artful Dodjer was the winner of the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria AntiquesFinbarr O’Regan's Artful Dodjer was the winner of the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

Brian Carroll, sailing Chancer, was second in the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria AntiquesBrian Carroll, sailing Chancer, was second in the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

 Richard Hanley, sailing Saoirse, was third in the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Richard Hanley, sailing Saoirse, was third in the all-in Cruisers division at Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and is pictured with KYC Commodore Matthias Hellstern (left) and regatta sponsor Frances Lynch of Victoria Antiques Photo: Bob Bateman

Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed the Kinsale Yacht Club's 2023 'At Home' Regatta and prizegiving.

Kinsale Yacht Club's 'At Home' Regatta Photo Gallery by Bob Bateman

Published in Kinsale
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The J109 Artful Dodjer, skippered by Finbarr O'Regan, secured the victory in the final race of the Eden Capital Mid-Week Series for cruisers at Kinsale Yacht Club, winning by a narrow margin of 9 seconds over the Sunfast 3300 Cinnamon Girl, helmed by Cian McCarthy and Sam Hunt.

Artful Dodjer was formidable throughout the series, winning all six races. Stephen Lysaght's Reavra Too finished second overall in IRC, while Artful Dodjer and Cinnamon Girl claimed first and second place respectively in Echo.

In Class 2, Mathilde Dingemans and Gerard Campbell's Cirrus dominated in IRC, winning three races and placing second in two others. They also secured first place in Echo. Sammy Cohen's Gunsmoke 11 placed second in both IRC and Echo.

In IRC3, Apache, helmed by Alan Mulcahy, claimed first place with an impressive five race wins. Richard Hanley's Saoirse finished second overall. Meanwhile, Padraig O'Donovan's Chameleon took first place in Class 3 Echo, closely followed by Martin Hargrove's Deboah, which secured second place overall by just one point.

 

Published in Kinsale
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Tom Dolan, the Irish solo sailor who won the first leg of the 54th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, has made a solid start in the second stage of the competition. The leg, which covers over 500 miles from Kinsale in Ireland to Roscoff on the Bay of Morlaix, promises to be a light winds affair with plenty of opportunities for the fleet to expand and contract in the strong tidal currents.

Despite not having a boat-on-boat dinghy racing background, Dolan has been proving himself on the longer courses. He made a good start in the second stage, finishing tenth out of the bay in good company just behind some of his closest rivals. However, after 30 miles of racing, he had dropped into 20th place and was two miles behind the early leader Romen Richard of France.

Before leaving the dock in Kinsale, Dolan said, "The leg looks tricky. I feel good now. The start looks quite clear, we will be sailing downwind along the coast in the sea-breeze. Tonight there could be a big split. Some of the weather models are sending us offshore, others are telling us to hug the coast, there are two extremes."

The course will take the solo sailors up to a mark in the Irish Sea, most likely to be offshore of Dun Laoghaire, and Spanish sailor Pep Costa, who is weather adviser to some of the international sailors, has described it as "a very tricky leg." Costa added, "It is going to be mostly a light winds leg with thermal winds today transitioning into a very very light winds zone before coming into a light north to north east wind for later tonight. So they will be very close to the coast under spinnakers. Downwind it is very close to VMG and then tonight into a NE to E wind. They will go offshore and tack in the NE’ly maybe a few tacks to Tuskar rock. The breeze will fill in around 10-15 knots but the current is quite strong so they need to be close to the shore when the current is against them and offshore when it is with them."

Gaston Morvan of Région Bretagne CMB won the Paprec Trophy for the first around the short, departure circuit, just as he also led away from Caen a week ago.

Standings after Stage 1

  • 1 Tom Dolan, IRL, (Smurfit Kappa-KIngspan) 3d 19h 16m 46 s
  • 2 Nils Palmieri, SUI, (Teamwork) 3d 19h 23m 13s + 6 min 27 sec
  • 3 Robin Marais, FRA, (Moi Chance Moi Aussi) 3d 19h 23m 13s + 8 min 17 sec
  • 4 Benoit Tuduri, FRA, (Capso en Cavale) 3d 19h00m 25s (+30 mins penalty) +13 mins 39 sec
  • 5 Basile Bourgnon, FRA, (Edenred) 3d 19h 31m 05 s +14 min 18 secs
  • 6 Romain Le Gall, FRA, (Centre Excellence Voile Secours Populaire) 3d 19h 32m 52s + 16m 06s
  • 7 Alexis Loison, FRA, (Groupe REEL) 3d 19h 32m 55 s + 16 m 09s
  • 8 Elodie Bonafous, FRA (Queguiner La Vie en Rose) 3d 19h 33m 07s +16m 21s
  • 9 Lois Berrehar, FRA, (Skipper MACIF 2022) 3d19h 33m 16m +16m 30s
  • 10 Guillaume Pirouelle, FRA, (Region Normandie) 3d 19h 33m 32s +16m 46 sec
Published in Figaro

The Commodore of Kinsale Yacht Club, Matthias Hellestern, has congratulated the club's Under 25 team on another success. 

As Afloat reported, the Under-25 Kinsale team competed at the J Cup Ireland in the J24 division and managed to stay in the top spot, scoring a total of 10 points across the two days of competition.

In his message, the Commodore said: 'Kinsailor U25 team won the J Cup and East Coast Champions. Congratulations to the team on once again a fantastic achievement."

KYC members support the team's campaigns in their J24 'Kinsailor', which club members bought for the young sailors and arrange to transport the boat to and from championships around the country.

Published in J24
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The Irish Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard is Ireland's fourth 'Blue Light' service (along with An Garda Síochána, the Ambulance Service and the Fire Service). It provides a nationwide maritime emergency organisation as well as a variety of services to shipping and other government agencies.

The purpose of the Irish Coast Guard is to promote safety and security standards, and by doing so, prevent as far as possible, the loss of life at sea, and on inland waters, mountains and caves, and to provide effective emergency response services and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The Irish Coast Guard has responsibility for Ireland's system of marine communications, surveillance and emergency management in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and certain inland waterways.

It is responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue and counter-pollution and ship casualty operations. It also has responsibility for vessel traffic monitoring.

Operations in respect of maritime security, illegal drug trafficking, illegal migration and fisheries enforcement are co-ordinated by other bodies within the Irish Government.

On average, each year, the Irish Coast Guard is expected to:

  • handle 3,000 marine emergencies
  • assist 4,500 people and save about 200 lives
  • task Coast Guard helicopters on missions

The Coast Guard has been around in some form in Ireland since 1908.

Coast Guard helicopters

The Irish Coast Guard has contracted five medium-lift Sikorsky Search and Rescue helicopters deployed at bases in Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo.

The helicopters are designated wheels up from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours and 45 minutes at night. One aircraft is fitted and its crew trained for under slung cargo operations up to 3000kgs and is available on short notice based at Waterford.

These aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains of Ireland (32 counties).

They can also be used for assistance in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and aerial surveillance during daylight hours, lifting and passenger operations and other operations as authorised by the Coast Guard within appropriate regulations.

Irish Coastguard FAQs

The Irish Coast Guard provides nationwide maritime emergency response, while also promoting safety and security standards. It aims to prevent the loss of life at sea, on inland waters, on mountains and in caves; and to safeguard the quality of the marine environment.

The main role of the Irish Coast Guard is to rescue people from danger at sea or on land, to organise immediate medical transport and to assist boats and ships within the country's jurisdiction. It has three marine rescue centres in Dublin, Malin Head, Co Donegal, and Valentia Island, Co Kerry. The Dublin National Maritime Operations centre provides marine search and rescue responses and coordinates the response to marine casualty incidents with the Irish exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Yes, effectively, it is the fourth "blue light" service. The Marine Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) Valentia is the contact point for the coastal area between Ballycotton, Co Cork and Clifden, Co Galway. At the same time, the MRSC Malin Head covers the area between Clifden and Lough Foyle. Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Dublin covers Carlingford Lough, Co Louth to Ballycotton, Co Cork. Each MRCC/MRSC also broadcasts maritime safety information on VHF and MF radio, including navigational and gale warnings, shipping forecasts, local inshore forecasts, strong wind warnings and small craft warnings.

The Irish Coast Guard handles about 3,000 marine emergencies annually, and assists 4,500 people - saving an estimated 200 lives, according to the Department of Transport. In 2016, Irish Coast Guard helicopters completed 1,000 missions in a single year for the first time.

Yes, Irish Coast Guard helicopters evacuate medical patients from offshore islands to hospital on average about 100 times a year. In September 2017, the Department of Health announced that search and rescue pilots who work 24-hour duties would not be expected to perform any inter-hospital patient transfers. The Air Corps flies the Emergency Aeromedical Service, established in 2012 and using an AW139 twin-engine helicopter. Known by its call sign "Air Corps 112", it airlifted its 3,000th patient in autumn 2020.

The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is responsible for the Northern Irish coast.

The Irish Coast Guard is a State-funded service, with both paid management personnel and volunteers, and is under the auspices of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is allocated approximately 74 million euro annually in funding, some 85 per cent of which pays for a helicopter contract that costs 60 million euro annually. The overall funding figure is "variable", an Oireachtas committee was told in 2019. Other significant expenditure items include volunteer training exercises, equipment, maintenance, renewal, and information technology.

The Irish Coast Guard has four search and rescue helicopter bases at Dublin, Waterford, Shannon and Sligo, run on a contract worth 50 million euro annually with an additional 10 million euro in costs by CHC Ireland. It provides five medium-lift Sikorsky S-92 helicopters and trained crew. The 44 Irish Coast Guard coastal units with 1,000 volunteers are classed as onshore search units, with 23 of the 44 units having rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and 17 units having cliff rescue capability. The Irish Coast Guard has 60 buildings in total around the coast, and units have search vehicles fitted with blue lights, all-terrain vehicles or quads, first aid equipment, generators and area lighting, search equipment, marine radios, pyrotechnics and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Community Rescue Boats Ireland also provide lifeboats and crews to assist in search and rescue. The Irish Coast Guard works closely with the Garda Siochána, National Ambulance Service, Naval Service and Air Corps, Civil Defence, while fishing vessels, ships and other craft at sea offer assistance in search operations.

The helicopters are designated as airborne from initial notification in 15 minutes during daylight hours, and 45 minutes at night. The aircraft respond to emergencies at sea, on inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains and cover the 32 counties. They can also assist in flooding, major inland emergencies, intra-hospital transfers, pollution, and can transport offshore firefighters and ambulance teams. The Irish Coast Guard volunteers units are expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time of departing from the station house in ten minutes from notification during daylight and 20 minutes at night. They are also expected to achieve a 90 per cent response time to the scene of the incident in less than 60 minutes from notification by day and 75 minutes at night, subject to geographical limitations.

Units are managed by an officer-in-charge (three stripes on the uniform) and a deputy officer in charge (two stripes). Each team is trained in search skills, first aid, setting up helicopter landing sites and a range of maritime skills, while certain units are also trained in cliff rescue.

Volunteers receive an allowance for time spent on exercises and call-outs. What is the difference between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI? The RNLI is a registered charity which has been saving lives at sea since 1824, and runs a 24/7 volunteer lifeboat service around the British and Irish coasts. It is a declared asset of the British Maritime and Coast Guard Agency and the Irish Coast Guard. Community Rescue Boats Ireland is a community rescue network of volunteers under the auspices of Water Safety Ireland.

No, it does not charge for rescue and nor do the RNLI or Community Rescue Boats Ireland.

The marine rescue centres maintain 19 VHF voice and DSC radio sites around the Irish coastline and a digital paging system. There are two VHF repeater test sites, four MF radio sites and two NAVTEX transmitter sites. Does Ireland have a national search and rescue plan? The first national search and rescue plan was published in July, 2019. It establishes the national framework for the overall development, deployment and improvement of search and rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region and to meet domestic and international commitments. The purpose of the national search and rescue plan is to promote a planned and nationally coordinated search and rescue response to persons in distress at sea, in the air or on land.

Yes, the Irish Coast Guard is responsible for responding to spills of oil and other hazardous substances with the Irish pollution responsibility zone, along with providing an effective response to marine casualties and monitoring or intervening in marine salvage operations. It provides and maintains a 24-hour marine pollution notification at the three marine rescue centres. It coordinates exercises and tests of national and local pollution response plans.

The first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die on duty was Caitriona Lucas, a highly trained member of the Doolin Coast Guard unit, while assisting in a search for a missing man by the Kilkee unit in September 2016. Six months later, four Irish Coast Guard helicopter crew – Dara Fitzpatrick, Mark Duffy, Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith -died when their Sikorsky S-92 struck Blackrock island off the Mayo coast on March 14, 2017. The Dublin-based Rescue 116 crew were providing "top cover" or communications for a medical emergency off the west coast and had been approaching Blacksod to refuel. Up until the five fatalities, the Irish Coast Guard recorded that more than a million "man hours" had been spent on more than 30,000 rescue missions since 1991.

Several investigations were initiated into each incident. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board was critical of the Irish Coast Guard in its final report into the death of Caitriona Lucas, while a separate Health and Safety Authority investigation has been completed, but not published. The Air Accident Investigation Unit final report into the Rescue 116 helicopter crash has not yet been published.

The Irish Coast Guard in its present form dates back to 1991, when the Irish Marine Emergency Service was formed after a campaign initiated by Dr Joan McGinley to improve air/sea rescue services on the west Irish coast. Before Irish independence, the British Admiralty was responsible for a Coast Guard (formerly the Water Guard or Preventative Boat Service) dating back to 1809. The West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee was initiated with a public meeting in Killybegs, Co Donegal, in 1988 and the group was so effective that a Government report was commissioned, which recommended setting up a new division of the Department of the Marine to run the Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC), then based at Shannon, along with the existing coast radio service, and coast and cliff rescue. A medium-range helicopter base was established at Shannon within two years. Initially, the base was served by the Air Corps.

The first director of what was then IMES was Capt Liam Kirwan, who had spent 20 years at sea and latterly worked with the Marine Survey Office. Capt Kirwan transformed a poorly funded voluntary coast and cliff rescue service into a trained network of cliff and sea rescue units – largely voluntary, but with paid management. The MRCC was relocated from Shannon to an IMES headquarters at the then Department of the Marine (now Department of Transport) in Leeson Lane, Dublin. The coast radio stations at Valentia, Co Kerry, and Malin Head, Co Donegal, became marine rescue-sub-centres.

The current director is Chris Reynolds, who has been in place since August 2007 and was formerly with the Naval Service. He has been seconded to the head of mission with the EUCAP Somalia - which has a mandate to enhance Somalia's maritime civilian law enforcement capacity – since January 2019.

  • Achill, Co. Mayo
  • Ardmore, Co. Waterford
  • Arklow, Co. Wicklow
  • Ballybunion, Co. Kerry
  • Ballycotton, Co. Cork
  • Ballyglass, Co. Mayo
  • Bonmahon, Co. Waterford
  • Bunbeg, Co. Donegal
  • Carnsore, Co. Wexford
  • Castlefreake, Co. Cork
  • Castletownbere, Co. Cork
  • Cleggan, Co. Galway
  • Clogherhead, Co. Louth
  • Costelloe Bay, Co. Galway
  • Courtown, Co. Wexford
  • Crosshaven, Co. Cork
  • Curracloe, Co. Wexford
  • Dingle, Co. Kerry
  • Doolin, Co. Clare
  • Drogheda, Co. Louth
  • Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
  • Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
  • Fethard, Co. Wexford
  • Glandore, Co. Cork
  • Glenderry, Co. Kerry
  • Goleen, Co. Cork
  • Greencastle, Co. Donegal
  • Greenore, Co. Louth
  • Greystones, Co. Wicklow
  • Guileen, Co. Cork
  • Howth, Co. Dublin
  • Kilkee, Co. Clare
  • Killala, Co. Mayo
  • Killybegs, Co. Donegal
  • Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford
  • Knightstown, Co. Kerry
  • Mulroy, Co. Donegal
  • North Aran, Co. Galway
  • Old Head Of Kinsale, Co. Cork
  • Oysterhaven, Co. Cork
  • Rosslare, Co. Wexford
  • Seven Heads, Co. Cork
  • Skerries, Co. Dublin Summercove, Co. Cork
  • Toe Head, Co. Cork
  • Tory Island, Co. Donegal
  • Tramore, Co. Waterford
  • Waterville, Co. Kerry
  • Westport, Co. Mayo
  • Wicklow
  • Youghal, Co. Cork

Sources: Department of Transport © Afloat 2020