At 10.30pm last night, volunteer lifeboat crew received a request from Belfast Coastguard to launch the lifeboat to rescue a young girl who had become stranded on a rock ledge close to Groomsport.

Belfast Coastguard received the initial call from a concerned member of public who had observed a young girl standing on an outcrop of rocks and in distress.

Immediately on receiving this call, Belfast Coastguard requested RNLI Bangor Lifeboat to launch and proceed with utmost haste to Cove Bay which is on the southern shores of Belfast Lough.

Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew had assembled and launched the lifeboat.

Upon arrival at Cove Bay, lifeboat crew quickly evaluated the situation. With waves breaking around the knees of the frightened child it was paramount that she be brought ashore as quickly as possible.

The lifeboat was manoeuvred close to the rock ledge and the child was plucked to safety.

The young girl was brought ashore at Groomsport Harbour and was given into the care of waiting paramedics

Dr Iain Dobie a, RNLI volunteer crewman involved in this rescue said 'Large swells created by passing fast ferries and large boats could have swept this young girl from the rocks. When exploring rock pools and the foreshore please take a minute and think about rising tides and large swells'. He added 'We're very happy that the young girl is now safely ashore'

The Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival starts this evening, now in its 42nd year, the four-day festival is surrounded by the culinary delights of locally caught fresh seafood, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In addition festival-goers can take part in the varied programme which caters for all age-groups. At 7.30pm tonight is the opening Grand Festival Parade featuring a 'Visitors From the Deep' float and Wexford's Community Samba Band 'Bloco de Fud Este'.

The festival will include a Seafood Platter Prize Competition, a children's creative art-workshop making 'Fish Kite-Windsocks', a Friday Fish Market with reduced prices and chefs cooking culinary dishes for sample-tastings and a Beach Band Barbecue.

On both the Saturday and Sunday there is the Tuskar Marine Modellors with their model boats and ships exhibition held in the Stella Maris Centre
and the Quay Times exhibition. Also throughout the weekend the Festival Arts Exhibition will be open in the RNLI Lifeboat House, noting Kilmore Quay is the first Irish lifeboat station to have the new Tamar-class lifeboat, the RNLB Killarney which can be viewed at its moorings.

On Saturday starting at 2.30pm is the "The Celtic Link Challenge" - Yacht Race when boats leave the marina at 3pm and return two hours later. The winners trophy will be presented in the Bird Rock Cafe at 6pm. If adverse weather conditions prevail the race will be re-scheduled for 2.30pm on the Sunday - weather permitting! For more information contact 086 2576862 and www.kilmorequayboatclub.com

To view the complete list of the festival programme, noting certain events and activities require an admission charge click HERE

On Saturday evening, July 2, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat, Toshiba Wave Warrior, went to the assistance of two persons, when their vessel suffered engine failure and was drifting in the Urra Channel just outside Dromineer Bay.

On Saturday July 2, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched, following a request by Valentia Coast Guard, to assist two persons on board a 22ft motor cruiser, that had suffered engine failure and was drifting close to rocks on the Urra shore. The Lifeboat with helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Dom Sharkey on board, launched at 19.30hrs. Winds were southwesterly, Force 2. The lifeboat arrived on scene 19.35hrs. The two persons were safe and unharmed and both wearing life-jackets. The vessel was taken under tow, and tied safety alongside at the public harbour at Dromineer at 19.55hrs. The skipper of the vessel thanked the lifeboat crew and said that when he 'saw smoke coming from the engine, he had no option but to cut the power and call for help". He was reassured by the crew that he had done the right thing. The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 20.20hrs.

At 17.23hrs on Friday July 1, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, to assist two persons in difficulty in the water, after their jet ski failed close by the Scilly Islands, at the south-western end of Lough Derg. The Lifeboat with helm Peter Clarke, Eleanor Hooker and Ger Egan on board, launched at 17.35hrs. Soon after launching, the lifeboat was informed that a lakeboat was also going to the assistance of the persons in the water. The lifeboat arrived on scene 17.55hrs. The crew spoke to fishermen in the only lakeboat in the vicinity. The fishermen had no English but conveyed to the crew that they had taken the jet ski and the persons to a landing place on the Tipperary shore. Lifeboat crew searched the Tipperary shoreline indicated by the fishermen, including private harbours, but were unable to locate the jet-skiers or their jet-ski. The Coast Guard were unable to make contact with the person who had called in the request for help. The lifeoboat was stood down at 18.10hrs. The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 18.40hrs

A major search is underway for a missing person, believed to have fallen overboard from his boat off Rathlin Island.

Belfast Coastguard received a call at 4:45pm from a ferry passing the area reporting they had seen a RIB with no one on board between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island.

Coastguard Rescue Officers from Ballycastle and Portrush have been sent to the area. Belfast Coastguard have requested the launch of the Portrush RNLI all weather and Redbay RNLI inshore lifeboats and scrambled Rescue Helicopter 177 from RAF Prestwick to the scene.

Rob Steventon, Watch Manager, Belfast Coastguard, said:

"A major search is currently underway, with many other vessels in the area assisting.  We believe the occupant of the boat may well have fallen overboard as there is rope caught around the propeller."

Guided tours of Dun Laoghaire Harbour's 'Seafront Memorials' that includes the anchor of RMS Leinster, the Crimean War Cannon and the 1895 Lifeboat Disaster start this Saturday, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The tour which is free starts at the meeting point of the Queen Victoria Fountain which too forms part of the tour alongside the George VI memorial
and the Christ the King monument.

The outdoor event is part of the 'Summer of Heritage' which is organised by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The initiative is now in its fourth year and this year's highlight of the programme are tours of the newly renovated Seapoint Martello tower.

The coastal structure has been restored and is a fine example of these 19th century defensive forts, built along the coast to defend during the Napoleonic wars.

This summer also sees Carrickbrennan graveyard feature for the first time, the resting place of many sailors lost in maritime disasters since the 17th century.

Sightseeing along 'The Metals', a historic pathway that linked the quarry in Dalkey to the harbour in Dún Laoghaire also returns in the programme due to its popularity last year.

To read more about the the Summer of Heritage other free events in the arts, literature, sports, music and for the family, go to www.dunlaoghaire.ie/summer-of-heritage/ and www.dlrevents.ie/heritage11.html

This morning Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat assisted a person who had been stranded overnight when his vessel had run aground on rocks at the mouth of the river Shannon, at the most northerly part of the lake..

At 09.20hrs on Thursday morning, June 30, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat, Toshiba Wave Warrior, went to the assistance of a person, who had been stranded since the previous afternoon, when his vessel had grounded on rocks at the mouth of the river Shannon in Terryglass Bay, at the most northerly part of the lake. The skipper of the vessel is a diabetic.

At 09.05hrs, Thursday June 30, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat was requested to launch by Valentia Coast Guard, to assist a person whose vessel was on rocks close the mouth of the river Shannon, in Terryglass Bay. The lifeboat with helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clarke and Robbie Garland on board, launched at 09.20hrs. Winds were south-westerly, Force 2-3, visibility was very good. The lifeboat was alongside the casualty vessel, a 23ft cruiser, at 09.45hrs. There was one person and his faithful dog on board.

The vessel had been grounded since the previous afternoon, and the skipper and his dog had remained stranded overnight. The skipper, a senior individual, told crew that he had got into the water and made two attempts to get the boat off the rocks himself, but without success. The alarm was raised by a local who heard his calls for help.

When the lifeboat arrived on scene, the person was quiet but alert and able to give a full history of events, he had kept warm overnight. He was assessed by Lifeboat crew and didn't give any medical history.

With a lifeboat volunteer on board, the vessel was taken off the rocks and to a landing point at Portumna Bridge closeby, 10.10hrs. Lifeboat Operations Manager Charles Stanley-Smith had called ahead and asked Deputy Launching Authority Fergal Kerney, who was in the area, to meet the lifeboat with food and a warm drink for the casualty.

Two friends of the person, who had been looking for him after it was noticed that his vessel was not at its mooring, also met the lifeboat at Portumna Bridge. They informed crew that the person suffered from diabetes.

The person, alert and able, was given food and drink and immediately taken for a medical assessment. A Garda from Portumna Garda Station was also on scene and Valentia Coast Guard had an ambulance on standby should it have been required. The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 11.15hrs

Two fishermen were rescued from their trawler off the Cumbrian coast on Monday morning when it began to take on water.

The News & Star reports that RNLI Workington responded to the fishermen's mayday call along with Maryport's coastguard and inshore rescue team.

Engline failure is being blamed for the incident, which occurred before 9.30am on Monday morning. The trawler has since been towed to Ireland for repairs.

Within the past seven days volunteer crew from RNLI Bangor Lifeboat have launched twice to assist crews aboard two stricken vessels.

On Wednesday 22nd June at 8.20pm Belfast Coastguard received information that an 18ft speedboat with 2 persons aboard had struck rocks close to Groomsport. Volunteer crew quickly assembled and launched RNLI Bangor Lifeboat which proceeded at full speed to the stricken vessel. Thankfully the two people onboard the stranded vessel were able to scramble safely ashore before the Lifeboat arrived on scene. Crew aboard the Lifeboat rigged a tow line and towed the speedboat to the safety of Groomsport Harbour.

On Saturday 25th June at 1.15pm volunteer RNLI crew were alerted by rescue pager that a 35ft yacht with 3 people onboard had lost all steering and required assistance. Belfast Coastguard gave the vessels location as 2½ nautical miles north east of Bangor Harbour. Bangor Lifeboat was launched and escorted the sailing vessel close to entrance of Bangor Harbour were a tow line was rigged. The yacht was then towed to the safety of Bangor Marina.

Kyle Marshall, senior RNLI volunteer helmsman at Bangor Lifeboat Station took this opportunity to stress five very important sea safety tips for anyone going afloat. He said. 'Always wear a lifejacket, secondly check your engine and fuel, thirdly tell others where you are going, fourthly carry some means of calling for help and final always check the weather and tides' He added 'We're happy that the crews aboard both vessels are now safely ashore'.

The accident that left four divers stranded off the Wexford coast last weekend was caused by damage to their boat's hull.

Divernet reports that the accident occurred when a section of tubing at the RIB's bow broke away from the hull.

The search operation, which included four RNLI lifeboats, an Irish Coast Guard helicopter and shore unit, was launched last Friday night when the group of divers failed to return to shore.

The divers were rescued at 6am on Saturday morning near the Saltee Islands, where they were found clinging to their upturned RIB.

Dramatic video of the divers' rescue was posted earlier this week on Afloat.ie.

A Mayday alert prompted the immediate launch of both RNLI lifeboats based in Baltimore to avert a life threatening situation at sea when a 21 ft  potting boat with two persons on board was disabled and drifting down on a lee shore in the open waters of Roaring Water Bay in West Cork.

Valentia Coast guard first raised the alert at 08:48 this morning requesting the launch of the all weather lifeboat Hilda Jarrett, 3 minutes later the inshore life boat Bessie was tasked too and with it's superior engine power was first on scene. They found the potting boat within 50 metres of the rocks at the North West point of the Western Calf Island. The fishermen had set an anchor in an attempt to keep the boat off the rocks, but the anchor had dragged and they were  left holding into their pot lines for safety. A difficult task in Force 5 westerly winds with a 2 metre swell running.

Helm John Kearney manoevred the lifeboat into position and his crew threw a line to the fishermen. The lifeboat then towed the boat upwind and with the assistance of Schull inshore rescue removed the fishing boat from immediate danger.

The allweather lifeboat arrived on scene and stood by until it was clear that there was no further danger. The inshore  lifeboat then towed the pot boat to the safety of Schull harbour. The fishermen were unharmed. Helm John Kearney commented ' it was fortunate we arrived when we did another  5 minutes and we would have been pulling the men out of the water'.

Inshore lifeboat Crew : Helm John Kearney, crew Ronan Callanan & Tadhg Collins

Allweather Lifeboat : Coxswain Kieran Cotter, crew Aidan Bushe, Jerry Smith, Cathal Cottrell, Anthony Sheehy, Sean Mc Carthy, Colin Whooley. Slip crew Rianne Smith, Simon Duggan, Gerard Sheehy