A sea swimmer in West Cork was rescued by an RNLI lifeboat crew in thick fog this morning. 

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat "Val Adnams" was called early this morning (Saturday, September 9th) by the Valentia Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre to help a swimmer in trouble off Inchydoney Island beach in West Cork. Despite the thick fog, the Lifeboat, led by Coxswain Mark Gannon and with a crew of five, quickly assembled and headed towards the area at 5.34 am. Fortunately, the swimmer had made it to shore safely with the assistance of a friend. Once the swimmer's safety was confirmed, the Lifeboat returned to its base in Courtmacsherry.

Vincent O'Donovan, the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Launch Authority and press officer, expressed his gratitude to the 20 volunteer crew and officers who quickly responded to the call for help. He emphasised the importance of dialling 999 or 112 in emergency situations, stressing that every minute counts. He wishes everyone using the coastline a safe and enjoyable weekend.

This morning's crew on the callout included Coxswain Mark Gannon, Mechanic Stuart Russell, and crew members Ken Cashman, Donal Young, Denis Murphy, and Kieran Boyle. It is a special day at the Lifeboat Station as the Naming Ceremony for the new Lifeboat "Val Adnams" takes place in the Village at 1.45 pm, and everyone is invited to attend. 

The volunteer crew of Howth RNLI are urging anyone planning a trip to the coast, beach or inland waters over the weekend to stay safe amid the continued good spell of warm weather forecast.

This follows a busy period for the crew who launched five times last weekend to people in distress.

On Saturday (2 September), the inshore lifeboat was launched to recover three people who had been cut off by the rising tide while walking along the coastline.

On Sunday morning (3 September) the inshore lifeboat was launched to assist a powerboat with people onboard which had suffered engine failure. The crew returned the powerboat to Howth Harbour and prepared the lifeboat for its next service.

Shortly before 3pm, the crew launched the inshore lifeboat to assist a swimmer who had suffered an injury at a swimming spot in Balscadden Bay. The crew took the injured person onboard the lifeboat and provided casualty care before transferring them to an ambulance.

Later that evening, a distress call was made from a yacht with 11 people onboard which had run aground at the entrance to Malahide Harbour. Both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats were launched.

The children onboard the yacht were taken ashore and the crew attempted to free the yacht from the sand. After a number of attempts, a decision was taken to await the rising tide that night. The lifeboats returned to station and were made ready for their next service.

The volunteer crew launched the all-weather lifeboat at 11.20pm that night at high tide and proceeded to assist the yacht, which was floated and its fouled propeller freed. The yacht was then escorted into Malahide Harbour.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Howth RNLI coxswain Fred Connolly said: “Thankfully our crews were able to respond quickly to all those in distress last weekend which led to positive outcomes in all cases.

“With large numbers expected to visit Howth this weekend for the Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, and as this period of good weather looks set to continue, we’d like to encourage people to enjoy themselves but also to be mindful of their personal safety.

“Check weather and tide times before venturing out on the water and always check local signage for safety and hazards. Always carry a means of communication such as a VHF radio or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and let someone know where you are going and when you are due back.

“If you go swimming and you find yourself in a rip current, do not swim against or it or you will get exhausted. If you can, stand up and wade, or swim parallel to the shore until you are free of the rip, then head to shore.

“If you can, raise your hand and call for help — and remember to Float to Live if you can’t make it back or become too tired. To do this, tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and call for help or swim to safety if you can.

“If you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

Agencies have issued a warning to the public regarding maritime safety during the current warm weather in Ireland.

The Irish Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland, and the RNLI urge the public to pay attention to personal safety and follow safety guidelines when engaging in water and coastal activities.

Sea temperatures have reached a seasonal high, and maritime agencies are concerned that many people will be tempted to take a late summer swim.

These agencies are especially worried since nine people drown on average every month nationwide. Therefore, they advise the public to be mindful of the following advice during the current spell of warm weather:

• Never swim alone and ensure that somebody ashore is monitoring your activity.
• Only swim in areas with which you are familiar.
• Swim within your depth and stay within your depth.
• Where possible choose lifeguard protected beaches. Lifeguards will be patrolling blue flag beaches throughout the weekend. If you are swimming elsewhere, swim in areas that are known locally as safe and where there are ringbuoys present for rescues.
• Ask for local knowledge to determine local hazards and safest areas to swim. Pay attention to any safety signage.
• Always supervise children closely and never leave them alone near water.
• Never use inflatable toys in open water as a gentle breeze can quickly bring a person away from shore.
• Make sure that the water’s edge is shallow shelving so that you can safely enter and exit.
• The air temperature is warm but open water is cooler than air – avoid extended stays in the water as your muscles will cool, making swimming more difficult.
• Alcohol is a factor in one third of drownings. Do not mix it with water activities.
• To escape a rip current, swim parallel to the shore and then swim back ashore at an angle.
• If you see somebody in trouble in the water: SHOUT – REACH – THROW
• SHOUT to calm, encourage and orientate them;
• REACH with anything that prevents you from entering the water (clothing/stick);
• THROW a ringbuoy or any floating object to them.

If you experience difficulty in the water, FLOAT TO LIVE. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and try to control your breathing. Move your hands to help you stay afloat.

When boating, always wear a correctly fitting lifejacket or Personal Flotation Device and have to hand a VHF radio and a fully charged mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.

If you see somebody in Trouble in the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble, dial 112 or use VHF radio Channel 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Wicklow RNLI brought three fishermen to safety on Wednesday morning (6 September) after their vessel developed mechanical problems north-east of Wicklow Harbour.

Under the command of coxswain Alan Goucher, the all-weather lifeboat Joanna and Henry Williams slipped its mooring at 8.55am to reports of a fishing boat with engine failure.

The volunteer lifeboat crew located the casualty vessel 35 minutes after launching in a position some 12 miles northeast of Wicklow Harbour.

Conditions on scene had a mild Force 1 north-eastery wind and moderate calm seas, but visibility was incredibly poor at only 100 metres.

After an assessment of the situation was carried out by the coxswain, it was decided a tow was the best option given the casualty vessel’s engine failure.

The tow was established and a course set for Wicklow Harbour, with the casualty vessel being secured alongside at 11am.

Speaking after the call-out, Goucher said: “The visibility on scene was incredibly poor and it required extensive navigation skills to safely find the casualty and her crew.

“All the volunteer crew’s training for these types of conditions was put to very good use today.

“We would like to remind everyone to have an effective means of communication in case of an emergency. That communication helped us locate the casualty today.”

Aran Islands RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat responded to a medical evacuation request from Inis Mór on Tuesday (5 September).

The patient was transferred safely aboard the lifeboat under the supervision of the volunteer crew at the pontoon at Kilronan Harbour and the lifeboat headed straight for Rossaveal Harbour.

Conditions at the time of launching were fair with a Force 4 north-easterly wind blowing and slight seas.

The crew on Tuesday’s call-out were coxswain Aonghus Ó hIarnáin, mechanic Mairtín Eoin Coyne and crew Áine Ní Fhlaithearta, Alan O'Flynn and Caelan Cullen Quinn.

Skerries RNLI rescued two men and two women on Monday evening (4 September) after their personal watercraft broke down off Portrane beach.

Shortly before 6pm, Dublin Coast Guard tasked the volunteers at Skerries RNLI following receipt of a radio transmission that indicated there may be people in difficulty off Portrane beach.

The radio transmissions had been weak and were over-spoken by other transmissions. However, the watch officers in Dublin Coast Guard accessed their recording system and were able to isolate certain words, including the type of craft and approximate location.

Skerries RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Louis Simson was launched and the crew plotted a course for the approximate position provided.

Arriving on scene, the crew contacted the coastguard and were informed that no further information had been received. They had just begun to search the area when one of the volunteers spotted the casualty a good distance further out to sea.

As they approached the casualty, they discovered that it was a personal watercraft and an inflatable towing ring, with two men and two women on board. All four were taken on board the lifeboat and assessed.

Despite being adrift for almost an hour, they were all well, albeit beginning to feel cold.

It was confirmed that the craft had suffered a mechanical failure having sucked a foreign object into the propulsion system.

The lifeboat helm decided to tow the vessel to the nearest safe harbour at the slipway by Rush Sailing Club to prevent it becoming a hazard to navigation.

All four casualties and the personal watercraft were brought safely ashore, and the lifeboat made its way back to Skerries where it was recovered to the boathouse and made ready for the next service.

Conditions at the time had a Force 1-2 northerly wind with calm seas and good visibility.

Speaking about the call-out, Skerries RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: “This was one of those call-outs that highlights that no matter how prepared you are, things can and do go wrong at sea.

“All four were wearing good lifejackets and despite drifting quite a long way out, did the right thing in remaining calm, staying with the vessel and raising the alarm on their VHF.

“There was some really great work here by our colleagues in Dublin Coast Guard in recognising that the initial VHF call was unusual and following it up to get vital information. It was also great work by the crew on the lifeboat in finding a very small target in quite a large sea area.”

Four people had to be rescued by the Bundoran RNLI over the weekend after getting caught in rip currents off Main Beach. In two separate incidents, three teenagers and a man were plucked from the water and brought to safety by the volunteer crew. 

The RNLI were alerted to the first incident, involving the three teenagers, when members of the public raised the alarm. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 118 from Sligo, the Gardai and the National Ambulance Service were also tasked. The crew managed to guide the teenagers to nearby rocks and they were later checked over by ambulance paramedics and found to be safe and well. 

As the volunteers were returning to shore, they received a call from the Malin Head Coast Guard alerting them to a second incident. A man had got caught in a rip current off Main Beach and was struggling in the conditions. The crew immediately diverted to the scene and managed to rescue the man from the water. He was given casualty care on the lifeboat and back on the pier until the arrival of an ambulance. The casualty was then transferred to hospital for further treatment.

“This was a challenging service for our crew today responding to back-to-back calls that resulted in a life saved and the rescue of three others,” said Daimon Fergus, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager. “While we are enjoying some beautiful late summer sunshine, we are also experiencing some strong waves at sea. With the warm weather forecast for much of this week, we want to remind everyone to stay safe while visiting the coast and to be aware of the dangers. Main Beach is notorious for rip currents so we would urge people to be mindful of that.”

Fergus also offered advice on what to do if caught in a rip current, stating, “If you do find yourself in a rip current, do not swim against it or you will get exhausted. If you can, stand up and wade, or swim parallel to the shore until you are free of the rip, then head to shore. If you can, raise your hand and call for help – and remember, to Float to Live if you can’t make it back or become too tired. To do this, tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and call for help or swim to safety if you can.”

Two kayakers were rescued by the Wicklow RNLI Inshore lifeboat volunteers on Sunday afternoon, 3rd September, after they got into trouble near Wicklow Head. The Inshore lifeboat was launched shortly after 4 pm after a member of the public walking at Wicklow Head made a 999 call to the Coast Guard reporting that kayakers were struggling to get ashore.

Alan Goucher, the Wicklow RNLI Helm, said they located two men on an inflatable kayak about half a mile southeast of Wicklow Head. The kayakers were trying to paddle against the tide but realised they were fighting a losing battle as the ebb tide was pushing them further south.

Fortunately, the kayakers did not require any medical attention and were safely landed ashore at the Glen Strand. Speaking after the call out, Wicklow RNLI Press Officer, Tommy Dover, stated that the good weather over the weekend had seen a big increase in leisure craft activity along the coast. However, inflatables can pose significant risks, as they are susceptible to changing tides, offshore winds, and currents. Therefore, he urged everyone to leave the inflatables at home and not bring them into the sea.

It is critical to remember that if you see someone in trouble in the water, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

An historic West Cork lifeboat station is set to officially name a new Shannon class lifeboat 'Val Adnams' during a ceremony at 1:45 pm on Saturday, September 9. The guest of honour on the day will be Val Adnams herself, who is travelling all the way from America for the event. Val is the main donor for the new Shannon lifeboat, which will be named in her honour. The Courtmacsherry RNLI is home to the new lifeboat and is one of the oldest stations in the Institution. 

Val Adnams is a lifelong supporter of the RNLI and an avid sailor and sportsperson. She grew up in Preston and Weymouth and developed a deep respect and admiration for the RNLI as she witnessed the callouts of the local Weymouth Lifeboat, which went to the help of others in distress at sea. Val moved to Washington DC when she was 23 and worked on Capitol Hill for some years before meeting her partner Ed and settling in Idaho. 

Val will be accompanied by members of her family for this special occasion. The lifeboat was also partly funded by generous legacies from Mrs. Sylvia Anne Walker and Mrs Petrina Johnson. A plaque recording these bequests has already been mounted inside the lifeboat.

The Shannon class lifeboat is named after an Irish river in recognition of the service of the Irish lifeboat crews down through the years. This is the first RNLI lifeboat to be named after an Irish river. The arrival of the new lifeboat marks the beginning of a new chapter, as it is the eleventh lifeboat to be stationed in Courtmacsherry since the arrival of “The Plenty” in 1825. The lifeboat is jet-driven, which provides it with increased manoeuvrability.

Brian O'Dwyer, Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, expressed his excitement ahead of the lifeboat naming ceremony. He said, "We are looking forward to welcoming Val and her family to this beautiful part of the world and to the start of a lifelong friendship. We would also like to acknowledge the generous legacies of Mrs. Sylvia Anne Walker and Mrs. Petrina Johnson, who contributed to the funding of our new lifeboat. We, and the lifeboat volunteers who follow, will be the proud custodians of this Shannon class lifeboat. This lifeboat will save many lives in the years ahead and bring our crews safely home."

A boat with one person on board fishing off Ballycotton Island got into difficulty on Saturday (26 August) when the vessel suffered engine failure and was in danger of running aground on the rocks.

At approximately 2.20pm the skipper of the seven-metre pleasure boat raised the alarm. He had dropped anchor and was trying to fix the engine issue himself. However, due to strong currents the boat was at risk of being pushing onto rocks on the island’s shore.

Ballycotton RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched promptly amid good visibility but choppy seas and a north-westerly Force 3-4 wind.

Once on scene, the lifeboat coxswain decided that the safest option was to tow the boat back to the nearest safe and suitable port.

With the towline secured, the crew of the lifeboat were able to return the boat safely to Ballycotton Pier by 3.10pm.

Commenting on the call-out, coxswain Eolan Walsh said: “Thanks to the speedy response of the volunteers, we were able to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. The person was wearing a lifejacket and had called for help as soon as they encountered difficulties.

“We would advise people to take the correct water safety advice for the activity they are taking part in and to always make sure they have a means of raising the alarm if things go wrong.”

Saturday’s call came four days after the Ballycotton lifeboat rescued five people from a rudderless yacht in challenging conditions off the East Cork coast.