#rnli – Lough Derg Lifeboat assisted 3 persons aboard a 27ft cruiser who got into difficulties after they believed they glanced off rocks.

Whilst out on exercise on Thursday evening July 26th Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 3 persons on board a 27ft crusier, who believed they had glanced off rocks and were is great distress.  The cruiser was located at the northern end of the lake, in Portumna.  At 20.00hrs the lifeboat, with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Dom Sharkey and Ben Ronayne on board made way immediately to their location.  They requested the Coast Guard to issue a Pan Pan requesting any vessels in the area to go to the cruiser's assistance. Winds were West southwest, Force 4 with a moderate swell.Visibility was very good.

At 20.29hrs, Valentia Coast Guard informed the lifeboat that the vessel had turned round and was making it's way back up river to Portumna Bridge. At 20.37hrs the lifeboat met the cruiser at the river near Portumna, where they were tied safely alongside.  The three persons were unharmed but greatly distressed.  They were reassured by crew and the boat was inspected for damage.  None was found.  Lifeboat crew continued to chat to the people, who when  calm made the decision to stay put for the night.

Helm Eleanor Hooker commended crew members Ben Ronayne and Dom Sharkey for the kind and gentle manner in which the dealt with very distressed persons.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 21.45

#lifeboat – Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat was this morning (Monday 23rd July) called to assist a small 17ft yacht which had been drifting off Mullaghmore, County Sligo.

The initial call came from Malin Head Coastguard around 8.50am who had received a call from another vessel to say that they had found the yacht drifting and had tied it up at a mooring, however it needed to be made more secure. Bundoran Lifeboat was then paged to the scene and took the vessel under tow under to a new mooring closer to Mullaghmore Harbour. It was then secured.

Helming the lifeboat was RNLI Volunteer Elliot Kearns who said 'when we got there the yacht had become separated from its mooring. We then took it under tow and tied it up at a mooring in the outer harbour. Not all of our callouts are to people in trouble and on this occasion we were happy to assist this vessel'

#rnli – A family outing to Cape Clear Island became a distress call this evening. The Merry Fisher 6.5 metre motorboat experienced difficulties with her fuel line when en route from Cape Clear Island to White Hall. Taking precautionary action the skipper dropped an anchor and called for assistance. At 18:40 RNLI Helm Micheál Cottrell onboard the Atlantic 75  inshore lifeboat Bessie with crew Diarmuid Collins and Gerald O'Brien made their way to the Western tip of Sherkin Island, where the vessel had dropped anchor near Drolaun Rock. There were five people, two adults and three children, on board the boat at the time. The lifeboat took the vessel in tow returning four of the family of five to Cunnamore Pier and then bringing the boat and skipper back to her moorings at White Hall. The inshore lifeboat returned to Baltimore Harbour at 19:45.

#rnli – Volunteer lifeboat crews received a urgent request from Belfast Coastguard on Thursday to launch Bangor and Donaghadee lifeboats and give vital medical assistance to a women who had fallen on the Copeland Island.

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, crews had launched both Lifeboats and were proceeding at full speed towards the big Copeland Island which lies to the north of Donaghadee.

Upon arrival volunteer crew found a woman in her 30's with a serious head injury.

RNLI crewman Dr Iain Dobbie along with fellow crew quickly administered first aid.

Once medically stabilised the woman was placed in a basket stretcher and carried over the rocks to Bangor Lifeboat.

With fine weather conditions and Dr Dobbie onboard, the Lifeboat proceeded back to Bangor were the women was transferred into the care of waiting paramedics.

Dr Dobbie, a volunteer crewman onboard RNLI Bangor Lifeboat praised the actions of both crews. He said 'The dedication and commitment of Donaghadee and Bangor crews is evident in the professional manner in which they worked together in providing medical assistance to this injured lady ' He added 'We all wish her a full and speedy recovery'

#rnli – At lunchtime today Bangor lifeboat crew received a urgent request from Belfast Coastguard to launch the lifeboat and rescue 3 people onboard a 15ft speed boat. The dory type vessel had experience 'catastrophic' engine failure close to Black Head which is on northern shores of Belfast Lough.

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crews had launched and Bangor Lifeboat and were proceeding at full speed towards the stricken vessel.

Upon arrival volunteer crew found that the dory had beached on rocks beneath the Lighthouse and the 3 occupants had scrambled safely ashore. A very lucky escape for those onboard.

With weather conditions deteriorating lifeboat crew were able to get a tow line aboard the grounded dory and tow it to the safety of Whitehead Harbour.

When leaving Whitehead Harbour to return to Bangor, lifeboat crew noticed that another 15ft speed boat with 4 people onboard was in difficulty and needing assistance.

A tow line was quickly rigged and she was then taken under tow to the safety of Whitehead Harbour.

RNLI volunteer helmsman Ewan Scott used these rescues to highlight a RNLI safety message when he said. We always urge everyone going afloat to make sure their engine and fuel systems and are well maintained and in good working order. Engine failure close to shore and commercial shipping routes could lead to a life threatening situation'. He added 'We're happy that everyone onboard both vessels are now safely ashore'.

#rnli – Lifeboat crew at Kinsale RNLI saved a man this afternoon (Tuesday 3 July) following reports that a person was seen in difficulty in the water at Castlepark.

The lifeboat was launched at 4.30pm following a request from the Garda and the volunteer crew were on scene minutes later.  On arrival they spotted a man in the water in difficulty and recovered him onto the inshore lifeboat.

The lifeboat proceeded back to the station where the Lifeboat Medical Advisor Dr. Padraig McGillicuddy administered first aid, which was followed by the presence of a first responder.  The man was then transferred to Cork University Hospital by ambulance.

Commenting on the callout Kinsale RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John O'Gorman said, "The lifeboat crew were on scene quickly and recovered the man from the water.  Due to their training they were able to administer first aid immediately.  He was extremely lucky that he was spotted in difficulty and that help was close by.  He was cold and badly shaken by the incident. In those situations every second counts."

Lifeboat crew on the callout were helm Nicky Searls and crewmembers Richard McKinlay and Ian Fitzgerald.

#rnli – Yesterday afternoon at 17.24hrs, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested by Valentia Coast Guard to assist 15 persons on board a cruiser that had grounded off Kylenoe Point on the northeastern shore of Lough Derg. At 17.35hrs, the lifeboat launched with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Robbie Garland and Owen Cavanagh on board. Winds were westerly, Force 4, and visibility was good.

The skipper of another cruiser, Crescendo, had sight of the casualty vessel and radioed that she would remain nearby. When the lifeboat arrived, all persons were found to be safe and unharmed, but anxious. They were reassured by the lifeboat crew and requested to put on their lifejackets.  An RNLI lifeboat crew member boarded the vessel, which was standing in less than a metre of water. Once it was established that the boat was not holed, it was taken off the rocks and towed into safe water.  Forward and astern drive and steering were checked and found to be undamaged.  The skipper of the cruiser, who had misread the charts, was given further instruction before continuing his onward journey.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again 19.30hrs.

Lifeboat Operations Manager, Charles Stanley Smith would like to stress that 'Lough Derg is a wonderful tourist resort with many varied attractions for all'.  However, he advises that as the summer holidays approach, 'all lake users should take simple safety measures: wear a lifejacket, get familiar with lake charts, carry a means of calling for help, check engine and fuel, tell others where you are going and check the weather before your journey. Then, enjoy yourself on the lake'.

#RNLI – The RNLI's 44th lifeboat station in Ireland has officially been put on service and become a declared search and rescue asset on Lough Ree. The new lifeboat station is based at Coosan Point in Athlone, County Westmeath.

The RNLI will operate a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat from temporary station facilities with the cost of the set-up estimated to be around €150,000. The station's lifeboat Dorothy Mary has come from the existing RNLI relief fleet and was previously on service in Red Bay, County Antrim and Kinsale in Cork. Following a year long trial period the RNLI will then make a decision on establishing a permanent lifeboat station.

Following meetings last year a team of volunteers was selected to operate the station and crew the lifeboat.  There has been an intensive period of training for the volunteer lifeboat crew, which has included months of training on the Lough and visits to the RNLI training college in Poole.

There are currently eighteen volunteer lifeboat crew including six helms.  Their backgrounds range from a bouncer, marine engineer, a fireman, a postman to a printer.  There are also three members of the Herraghty family involved with sisters Oona and Niamh joining their brother Donie on the crew.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Damien Delaney is very proud of the new station, which he and other local people had been active in securing for the area.  He commented, "This is a great day for everyone involved in the setting up of this station. For years the people of the town of Athlone and the surrounding counties of Westmeath, Longford and Roscommon have supported the RNLI with street collections and various fundraising events.  Even though we did not have a station on Lough Ree we knew how important it was to have the lifeboat service in Ireland.

The late Sean Fitzsimmons started things rolling many years ago with myself and Vincent Rafter then taking up the challenge.  We received great support and encouragement from everyone involved with the RNLI at both Swords and Poole. To see this group of young volunteers coming together and training with the lifeboat and now going on service is a very proud day for me."

Representations were made back in 2010 to the RNLI by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland with support from various statutory bodies including the Irish CoastGuard, for a declared search and rescue asset to be present on the lake.

The Lough is approximately eighteen miles long and six miles at its widest point.  It is a popular spot for visitors including anglers, rowers, pleasure cruisers, swimmers and sailors.

Tristan Murphy RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector for Ireland added,  "On behalf of the RNLI I wish everyone involved at the new lifeboat station in Lough Ree every success.  From the initial meeting right through to the start day, the enthusiasm has been overwhelming.  I am delighted that Lough Ree now has its own lifeboat.

I would also like to thank everyone involved in getting the lifeboat station ready for service. Special thanks must also be given to Westmeath County Council who provided the site for the lifeboat station and Lough Ree Yacht Club for allowing us to use their facilities for crew training."

As previously reported on Afloat.ie the station has already had its first callout involving a barge becoming grounded on rocks. One person was assisted and brought to safety.

#RESCUE - Six people were rescued from a cruiser that ran aground in high winds on Lough Derg at the weekend.

The Irish Times reports that the group had been wakeboarding near Youghal Bay on Saturday afternoon when the 37ft boat's propeller fouled on the tow rope.

The crew attempted to free the propeller but the boat began drifting to the rocks in Force 7 gusts.

The Irish Coast Guard were quickly notified and put out a message for assistance to all vessels in the area while Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat responded to the scene, finding the cruiser on the rocks but not seriously damaged.

The boat was subsequently towed to Dromineer Bay. No injuries were reported.

Elsewhere, the Irish Coast Guard was called to assist a man who had been camping on an island bird sanctuary off Co Clare.

According to the Clare Herald, the harbourmaster at Doolin noticed the man camped on Crab Island, some 400 metres from the mainland, amid "extreme" sea conditions.

One of Ireland's worst drowning tragedies occurred in the same area in July 1983, when eight young men - including three brothers - drowned while swimming at Trá Leathan.

It's believed that the man made his way by kayak on Friday evening to the island - designated as a protected area due to the presence of a particular seabird species.

The Doolin coastguard unit made three trips to the island to retrieve the man and his belongings.

#rnli – Ballycotton lifeboat rescued a pleasure craft one mile south east of Capel Island, off the East Cork coast yesterday. The Coastguard received a call for assistance shortly after 1500 and requested the RNLI lifeboat to launch. The 25–foot vessel with five anglers aboard were experiencing mechanical difficulties and were in need of assistance.

Weather conditions in the area were poor at the time with the winds blowing force 5 / 6 and poor visibility. When the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat arrived at 1600 they established a towline and took the vessel under tow to Ballycotton, arriving at 1800. The pleasure craft was safely secured alongside the pier wall.