#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Tramore RNLI were called out this weekend when a member of the public raised the alarm after seeing three men out at sea on a homemade raft without lifejackets. On arriving at the scene with the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, the lifeboat crew managed to convince the three men to return to shore on the lifeboat for their safety.

The call for assistance came at 6.40pm on Friday evening with the initial location of the men incorrect. Using local knowledge the lifeboat crew located the men at Kilfaraissey beach and were then joined on scene by Rescue 117. The men who were 600 metres offshore insisted that they were not in need of help and the lifeboat stood by.

Following a discussion with Rescue 115 a decision was made that due to the unsafe structure of the raft and with no lifejackets being worn that the men would have to return to shore with the lifeboat crew. The three men agreed to return onboard the lifeboat and they were taken onboard and brought back to the beach. They were met on their return by members of An Garda Siochana.

Commenting on the callout Tramore RNLI crewmember Paul Tuohy said, "This could have so easily ended in tragedy. The men were a good distance out from the shore and between two islands where there is a racing tide that changes rapidly. The raft was very poorly constructed and the men were unprepared for any change in their circumstances. The raft could have broken up or they could have been thrown from it and with no lifejackets they would have found themselves in trouble very quickly. With the recent drownings we would appeal to everyone to take care in the water and to wear and use the proper equipment including a lifejacket.

#rnli – Baltimore RNLI lifeboat was called today at 6:36pm Friday 26 July to assist a yacht in difficulty west of the Stags Rocks near Baltimore Harbour in West Cork. The 30ft yacht had 2 people on board, a man and a woman, when their engine failed and they were unable to sail into Baltimore against a strong tide. The Tamar class all weather lifeboat Alan Massey, located the vessel and took her in tow to the safety of Baltimore Harbour.

Baltimore RNLI Coxswain Kieran Cotter commented that 'while the yacht was in no immediate danger, it was prudent to seek assistance during daylight hours before the situation could escalate'.

Volunteer RNLI crew on board were Coxswain Kieran Cotter, Mechanic Brian McSweeney, Micheal Cottrell, Cathal Cottrell, Brendan Cottrell, Don O'Donovan and Diarmuid Collins.

#TallShips - Four RNLI lifeboats were involved in the rescue of 30 crew from the tall ship Astrid, which sank off the Cork coast earlier today (Wednesday 24 July).

The 42m Dutch training vessel reportedly hit rocks inside the Sovereign Islands at Ballymacus Point, near Kinsale.

All on board were brought to safety when the Kinsale lifeboat transferred the casualties from the sinking ship onto the Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboat and a local vessel. They were then taken to Kinsale.

Both Kinsale and Courtmacsherry RNLI lifeboats were called out at 12 noon today to go to the immediate aid of the sail training vessel that had got into difficulties on the western entrance to Kinsale Harbour in Cork.

Ballycotton and Crosshaven RNLI were also launched, though the Kinsale RNLI lifeboat was first on scene. There was a 2m swell and winds were force five to six.

The training vessel had lost power and was apparently driven on to rocks by a strong southerly wind at the western entrance to Kinsale Harbour. The grounded vessel was taking on water and a crewmember from Kinsale RNLI was put onboard.

Eighteen of the casualties were taken off the Astrid by Kinsale RNLI lifeboat and transferred to Courtmacsherry lifeboa, before being brought to safety. The remaining 12 were put onto a liferaft deployed by the Astrid’s crew, which was towed to safety by the Kinsale lifeboat and picked up by a local vessel.

The people on board the liferaft were then taken to Kinsale harbour and assessed by medical teams.

Irish Coast Guard helicopters from Waterford and Shannon were also on scene along with ambulances and medical crews from Cork.

Speaking about the call-out, Courtmacsherry RNLI coxswain Sean O’Farrell said: “Everyone was very fortunate. I want to praise the quick thinking of the skipper and the crew from the Astrid. They kept calm and did everything we asked them to do. We were able to get them to safety quickly and a major tragedy was averted. To be able to recover 30 people safely was a great day for everyone involved.”

Meanwhile, the Irish Sailing Association has issued the following media statement on behalf of the tall ship Astrid:

Tall Ship Astrid was on a voyage from Southampton to Cherbourg calling in to Kinsale. On board were 23 trainees from France, Ireland, the Netherlands, UK and Spain. The crew were from Belgium and the captain, Pieter de Kam was from the Netherlands.

As the Astrid was leaving Oysterhaven, as part of The Gathering Cruise parade of sail to Kinsale, the vessel experienced engine failure. They notified a nearby RIB which was being helmed by Irish Sailing Association (ISA) CEO Harry Hermon.

The RIB attempted to take a line from Astrid. However, due to the onshore winds and swell this was not possible. Captain de Kam issued a May Day.

The ISA RIB and the yachts in The Gathering Cruise flotilla stood by until the RNLI arrived. There was a safe rescue of all 30 crew who were brought to Kinsale on board the yacht Spirit of Oysterhaven and the lifeboat. All crew were brought to Kinsale Yacht Club where they were provided with showers, food and dry clothing. They were all medically checked and are in good health.

Sail Training Ireland and Kinsale Yacht Club are working together to make arrangements for accommodation and for returning the crew to their homes.

Commenting on the rescue, Captain Pieter de Kam of the Tall Ship Astrid stated: “I would like to thank the lifeboat and the coastguard for the safe rescue of all my crew. We very much appreciate their outstanding work.”

Harry Hermon, CEO of the Irish Sailing Association, commented: “It is thanks to the rescue services that all crew were rescued quickly and safely without injury. I would also like to thank all the sailors from the Gathering Cruise who stood by Astrid providing support to the crew.

"Kinsale Yacht Club has also been fantastic providing food and clothing and helping Sail Training Ireland find accommodation for all the crew”.

#rnli – Howth RNLI have had four call outs over the course of Sunday and Monday this week. Three of the calls were to incidents at Malahide with the fourth being local to Balscadden Bay in Howth.

At 0820 on Sunday morning Howth RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat were tasked along with Rescue 116 when three males in there late 20s were attempting to swim from the Donabate side of Malahide harbour back to the marina. One male got into difficulty and his friend managed to get him to a nearby dinghy, they were brought to safety by two men heading out fishing. They raised the alarm and Howth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat picked up the third male from the beach while rescue 116 brought the male swimmer who had suffered an epileptic fit hospital.

At 1343 on Sunday afternoon Howth RNLI's Inshore Lifeboat were tasked to Malahide again with reports of a rowing boat with six persons onboard in the channel were struggling to make way in the strong current. Once on scene it appeared that the rowing boat had their own rescue boat with them and were safely back in their berth.

Later that afternoon at 1654 Howth RNLI's All Weather Lifeboat were tasked to two yachts aground in the channel at Malahide. Howth Coast Guards water unit were on scene when the All Weather Lifeboat arrived, they had already tried to free the casualties but to no avail. The XP Boat was deployed from the Trent class lifeboat, which is able to access shallower water, with two crew members on board. This managed to push one of the yachts off which then made its way up to Malahide marina. The second yacht was then towed off and out to sea by XP boat and continued on its way unassisted.

On Monday afternoon at 1346 Howth Inshore Lifeboat were tasked to Balscadden beach in Howth when a member of the public spotted a 19ft day sailor in difficulty with an onshore breeze. On arriving on scene a tow was established and the vessel with two persons on board were brought back to the safety of Howth harbour and returned to its mooring.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Rupert Jeffares said 'We would ask that all people taking to sea in any sort of vessel to please check tide times and weather conditions as well as being prepared with the suitable clothing and life jackets.'

#RNLI - The Castletownbere RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew have aided in the recovery of the body of a man from the sea some 2.4km off Travarra on the Beara Peninsula in West Cork.



The lifeboat launched at 1.35pm yesterday afternoon (Monday 22 July) and was joined by Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115, Derrynane inshore rescue and the Castletownbere coastguard.

A man believed to be in his earl 20s was sighted in the water at Travarra at around 2.30pm and recovered by a local vessel before being transferred onto the RNLI lifeboat and returned to Castletownbere. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor.



Commenting on the call-out, Castletownbere RNLI deputy coxswain Paul Stevens said: “This is a terrible tragedy and we extend our sympathies to the young man’s family and friends.” 

Bundoran RNLI fundraiser and volunteer tractor driver Cormac McGurren got a surprise on his wedding day last Friday (19th July) when, during the best man speech, he was presented with the RNLI Bronze Badge by Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Tony McGowan.

Cormac had been due to collect his award at a special ceremony in early June held at Trinity College but due to other commitments was unable to make it to pick up the badge which was awarded to him to recognise his role in raising funds and awareness for the life-saving charity and for supporting the volunteer lifeboat crews in their work.

Cormac who has been a volunteer with the charity for almost twenty years organises the annual dinner dance every January which this year attracted a crowd of around 1200. He also is one of the organising committee for the newly established soapbox race which happens on the June bank holiday weekend in Bundoran. He married Joanne in her home town of Castlerea, County Roscommon on Friday.

As he didn't make it to Dublin, Cormac's best man and fellow Bundoran RNLI volunteer Brian Gillespie arranged that he get it so it could be presented to him on his wedding day as part of his best man duties.

Paying tribute to Cormac as he presented him with his award, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Bundoran RNLI Tony McGowan said 'Cormac is not only a volunteer for the RNLI, he's a volunteer for the community of Bundoran – you know if you need any kind of work done you just call Cormac and it's done. I want to congratulate him on his recognition from the RNLI and wish him many more years success with the organisation and of course many years of happiness with his new bride Joanne'.

#WaterSafety - Rosslare RNLI has given credit to the quick-thinking member of the public who raised the alarm over what they believed to be a swimmer in difficulty - even though the call-out turned out to be a false alarm.

Lifeboats from Rosslare Harbour and Wexford RNLI were involved in the sea search on Friday evening (19 July) after a swimmer was reported to be in difficulty off Curracloe beach in Co Wexford.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 and two local fishing vessels were also involved in the search, which was stood down after an hour and 45 minutes upon coastguard request as no one was reported missing.

Speaking after the call-out, Rosslare RNLI deputy launching authority Dave Maloney said: "The member of the public who raised the alarm this evening deserves credit for doing so."

He added: "We would always encourage the public to alert the emergency services if they see anyone they believe to be in trouble or any signs of danger."

The message is particularly important in a fortnight that has seen a shocking 10 drownings around the island of Ireland - resulting in a big rise in emergency call-outs over the 2012 mid-summer period.

Elsewhere on the same day, the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was requested to help search the water off Ballinamona Strand in Ballycotton Bay, Co Cork, for a missing five-year-old girl.

The little girl was playing on the strand when her family lost sight of her.  Emergency services were alerted and a search of the area commenced, but thankfully a short while later the little girl was located safe and well.

In other water safety news, the Irish Coast Guard has issued a public appeal for help locating a training mannequin that was lost in Galway Bay during an exercise off Blackhead in North Clare last week.

The Connacht Tribune reports that five coastguard mannequins were placed in the water to acts as people who jumped overboard from a ship fire - but only four were recovered afterwards.

#RNLI – Crosshaven's volunteer Crew were Paged at 6pm yesterday evening to a 26' yacht taking on water off Fort Camden.

The lone skipper issued a Pan Pan alert after he noticed his bilges filling up with water and his engine overheating.

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat with Vince Fleming, Gary Heslin and Ian Venner headed out to the yacht with an emergency salvage pump.

After the crew boarded the yacht it was found not to be necessary to use the pump as the engine was off and it is believed an engine raw water pipe had fractured.

The vessel was towed back and safely berthed at Crosshaven Boatyard.

The ILB was rehoused and ready for service at 7.10pm.

#lifeboat – Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat launched this afternoon, Sunday, 21 July, at 17:10 to assist an injured person on board a 42 ft yacht 6 miles south west of Ballycotton.

On arrival at the casualty the injured person was transferred to the RNLI lifeboat and taken to Ballycotton.

An ambulance was requested to meet the RNLI lifeboat on Ballycotton pier. The lifeboat with the casualty on board arrived at Ballycotton at 17:55 where he was assessed by medical personnel and taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment.

Having escorted the casualty ashore the Ballycotton lifeboat rejoined the 42 foot yacht with two persons still on board and escorted it safely to harbour.

#RNLI - A steady stream of people were welcomed by Wicklow RNLI at the lifeboat station's annual open day on Sunday 14 July.

Doors opened at 11am and the volunteer lifeboat crew was on hand to give tours of the station and its two lifeboats.

Activities included face painting and a joint display by Wicklow Fire and Ambulance Services. Garda, Customs and Civil Defence also put on displays throughout the afternoon, while the Irish Coast Guard helicopter flew over with the winch crew waving to the crowd below.


The final display was a simulated call-out of the inshore lifeboat. The three crew members onboard demonstrated how fast they could get into their lifeboat gear and launch.

The planned exercise involved a rescue to an injured sailor from a boat which was located in front of the crowd. The crew handed him over to a waiting ambulance.

Folk group Sheringham Shantymen travelled from Norfolk for the open day to see the station's inshore boat, which the group funded and which was named in their honour at a ceremony in 2007. 

The Shantymen entertained the crowd with music and concluded the open day with a rendition of the lifeboat anthem, Home From The Sea.


Speaking after the event,  Wicklow RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Tommy Dover said: "We have had a fantastic weekend with the Sheringham Shantymen. One of the highlights was the concert on Saturday night where the crew was invited to join the group on stage to sing Home From the Sea.

"The crew has a long association with the Shantymen and the lifeboat they funded has rescued 32 people to date at Wicklow."

Meanwhile, a successful sea safety roadshow was held at Sligo Bay RNLI during the weekend's Sea Shanty Festival.

Numerous lifejackets were checked with many having various faults such as corded cylinder, loose cylinder or out of date firing heads. Many people also sought advice about flares, anchors and VHF radios.


RNLI Sea Safety Roadshow adviser Joe Morr said: "It was a very successful weekend in Rosses Point and I hope to bring the roadshow back again next year."