Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue Service in North Kerry officially launched their new Atlantic 75 rescue boat yesterday.

After three years of negotiations and build time the 7.5 metre Rigid Inflatable Boat arrived earlier this year. After several months of sucessful sea trials the boat entered full active service at the weekend, althought its first call out in anger occured last week to tow a stricken vessel that had lost engine power.

The unit depends fully on public donations and a small government grant to run the unit each year at a cost of over €40,000. 

The boat was officially named by Derek Nagle, a member of the Duggan family in Ballybunion who have long been assosiated with the unit as supporters. The vessel was named the "Tommy C" after Tommy Duggan and his Wife Clara. The previous boat, an Atlantic 21 was named the "Clara T".

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