#Rescue - Howth’s coastguard and lifeboat teams launched to the rescue of a lone kayaker off the North Dublin headland yesterday morning (Wednesday 28 September).

After a concerned onlooker called 999 when spotting that the kayaker was on the water with no life jacket, Howth Coast Guard and Howth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat were both tasked to the scene near Ireland’s Eye.

In the meantime the kayaker had proceeded around the back of the island and out of visibility from the caller on land. While the kayaker didn’t appear in difficulty, there were concerns for their safety.

A coastguard mobile unit proceeded to the end of the pier while the lifeboat launched on service to the far side of Ireland’s Eye, where the crew located a female on an open-deck kayak struggling in the water. She was brought back ashore by the lifeboat without incident.

“If she fell in the water, she had no means of staying afloat as she had no life jacket and only had a phone to call for help, there can be very limited if any phone signal once you go on the water,” according to an Irish Coast Guard spokesperson.

“The kayaker hadn’t checked the weather, which was unsuitable for the craft she was in. The lessons learnt are you need to have an emergency plan if going on the water – VHF radio, flares, whistle, weather information.

“Equally if not more important, you need a life jacket, no excuse.”

The rescue came just hours after Larne RNLI launched to assist two kayakers in difficulty off the Co Antrim coast, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

#Kilkee - BreakingNews.ie reports that a body was recovered yesterday (Saturday 24 September) off Kilkee in the search for missing teacher David McMahon.

Hundreds had been involved in the search for the school teacher, who was last seen on 9 September, according to Independent.ie.

The discovery yesterday afternoon came 12 days after the death of Irish Coast Guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas in the same area.

That tragedy occurred when the RIB she and two other coastguard volunteers were on board was flipped over in a heavy swell, three days into the search operation for McMahon off the Co Clare coast.

#Coastguard - Wicklow TD Stephen Donnelly has called for an update on promised upgrades to Greystones coastguard station, as the Wicklow Times reports.

The former Social Democrats co-leader said the Co Wicklow town's Irish Coast Guard base is the only facility at the new marina that has seen no redevelopment work.

"Construction on a new building for the unit was set to begin in 2015, but to date there has been no action," said Donnelly last month.

"I have requested that the OPW provide an update or progress so far."

The new Greystones Sailing Club premises was officially opened this summer just months after new leases were signed for the harbour's angling, rowing, diving and Sea Scouts tenants.

It was with extreme sadness that I learned of the tragedy which occurred this afternoon in the waters off Kilkee, Co Clare.

Caitriona was a member of that extraordinary group of men and women who dedicate their skills, time and passion so that others may be safe on our coastlines. This is an appalling tragedy; the loss of a brave and valiant woman engaged in the most heroic of and unselfish of duties.

Such remarkable courage and heroism in the service of others is rarely equalled and never surpassed. On behalf of myself and my Department I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Caitriona – a woman who made the ultimate sacrifice in her service to others.

I would like to wish those two volunteers, who are recovering from this appalling trauma in hospital this evening, speedy and fulsome recoveries.

And I would like to commend all the volunteers, particularly those of Kilkee and Doolin CGUs, who responded today in such a valiant and courageous manner in the most horrendous and difficult of circumstances.

I can only applaud their bravery and empathise with their sorrow on this very, very tragic day.

Coast Guard crew member dies on search operation in Kilkee, Co Clare- @TeresaMannion reports https://t.co/OKirZd13MQ

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 12, 2016

Statement by the Irish Coast Guard

The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) regrets to announce that a volunteer member of the Doolin Coast Guard unit lost her life today when participating in a search off Kilkee for a missing person which was being conducted by the local KIlkee and Doolin volunteer Coast Guard units.

The deceased person was named as Caitriona Lucas. Her husband Bernard is also a member of the Doolin unit. A RIB from Kilkee Coast Guard Unit, is believed to have capsized and the 3 occupants (2 female and 1 male) entered the water. Valentia Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre immediately launched a major Search and Rescue operation.

The 2 females were located and recovered from the water, one by Rescue Helicopter based in Shannon (R115), and the 2nd by Delta RIB. Both were taken to hospital where Ms Lucas was pronounced dead. The 3rd casualty, a male, was recovered from a nearby cave area, at around 5.30pm by a Coast Guard helicopter following an extensive and complex operation.

The Coast Guard extends sincere condolences to Lucas family and all the volunteer members of the Doolin and Kilkee units. The Coast Guard also wishes to thank all the other organisations that participated in today’s search.

#Coastguard - RTÉ News is reporting that a member of the Irish Coast Guard has died after a rescue boat overturned during a search for a man missing of Kilkee this afternoon (Monday 12 September).

Two other coastguard crew were recovered from the water and taken to hospital after the RIB all three were onboard flipped over in a heavy swell.

More on this story as it develops.

It was a busy afternoon for Dun Laoghaire All-Weather RNLI lifeboat, Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard and Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 116 woh responded to a calls with good intent as southerly winds are gusting over 50 knots on Dublin Bay today. The rescue services responsded to reports that three people were stranded at the Muglins Rock lighthouse at the southern tip of Dublin Bay, off Dalkey.

#Rescue - Coastguard teams from Ballycastle and Coleraine were joined by Portrush RNLI in the rescue of a father and son who were cut off by the tide while fishing on the North Antrim coast at the weekend.

As the Belfast Telegraph reports, the two found themselves surrounded by the incoming tide while fishing on rocks at Portbraddon on Saturday evening (20 August).

"The tide can rise six or seven feet at Portbraddon, so if you don't know the area it is possible to get caught out quickly without realising it," said Belfast Coastguard officer Dawn Petrie, who added that rescuers used a specialised kayak to retrieve the father and son from the rocks.

The happy ending in this incident came amid a weekend of tragedy around the UK coast, as three men, two women and a child died in separate incidents in severe weather conditions. The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.

#Coastguard - Five people were rescued as their boat sank under them between Ailsa Craig and Girvan in the Firth of Clyde last night (Saturday 6 August).

Belfast Coastguard received 999 calls just after 6.40pm from the men on the small boat, reporting they were sinking but only an approximate location on the coast.

The coastguard rescue helicopter from Prestwick and Girvan Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to search, while Girvan and Campbeltown RNLI lifeboats were requested.

Coastguard co-ordinators at Belfast also received help from the Irish Coast Guard, who tracked a precise location for the position of the casualty’s mobile phone.

The coastguard helicopter arrived on scene and prioritised winching two people from the vessel who weren’t wearing life jackets.

At this point the vessel sank in rough water, and the three others were rescued from the water and winched into the helicopter.

The five men were landed nearby and met by Girvan Coastguard Rescue Team, who found them to be safe and uninjured.

#Coastguard - Irish Coast Guard director Chris Reynolds has been seconded to Somalia as part of an EU maritime security mission in the Horn of Africa.

Reynolds was granted special leave to take the position with EUCAP Nestor based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi from on 19 July – the first time that the Irish Coast Guard has been involved in an overseas mission.

The role involves assisting local authorities with setting up their own coastguard service in a region that's been beleaguered by maritime piracy in recent years.

Ireland's coastguard chief is responsible for all operations and field offices of the EUCAP Nestor mission between Mogadishu, Puntland and Somaliland, as well as a training base in Djibouti.

Reynolds will return to his Irish Coast Guard post after his secondment, which the Department of Transport says will last around two years "subject to how the mission evolves".

Speaking of his appointment, Reynolds said: "I believe this is a recognition, on an international level, that we in the IrCG, both volunteer and professional, do a good job and that we have gained the respect and trust of all the communities we serve and all the partners we work with.”

#RobertsCove - Less than half a million is the asking price for the old coastguard station at Roberts Cove in Co Cork, as the Irish Examiner reports.

Situated on the scenic stretch between Cork Harbour and Kinsale, the Roberts Cove house has a history stretching back almost 200 years to the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

Part of the first phase of coastguard stations installed around the Irish coast by the British Empire, Roberts Cove is one of the finest examples of its era, coming with its own private slipway and even a small beach.

Though long since decommissioned, the waterfront property retains its boathouse and access to the Celtic Sea along with the many interior renovations made by its current owner to make it a comfortable seaside residence – and comes with potential for further expansion and improvement.

The Irish Examiner has much more on the story HERE.