#RNLI - Renowned Galway singer Sean Keane is set to make a welcome return to Clifden this February for a special evening of song and entertainment dedicated to the lifesaving work of the RNLI.

In the intimate setting of the Church of Ireland in Clifden at 8pm on Saturday 10 February, Sean and friends will launch a new song ‘Heroes of the Waters’ in tribute to those who volunteer to provide lifeboat services at sea.

A limited-edition CD with three tracks will also be on sale on the night for €5 with proceeds going to Clifden RNLI, which saw the naming of its latest lifeboat Celia Mary last October.

Tony Hiney, RNLI community fundraising manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted that a singer of Sean’s stature and popularity has decided to make such a wonderful musical tribute to our lifeboat volunteers.

“We wish to thank him and his team for their support and we look forward to a wonderful evening celebrating our mutual appreciation and support.”

Tickets for Sean Keane’s ‘Heroes of the Waters’ special concert are available from The Station House Hotel and The Celtic Shop, Main St, Clifden.

#RNLI - Helvick Head RNLI had its first callout for 2018 in the early hours of Saturday morning (20 January) when the crew of a fishing vessel reported engine difficulty.

Pagers sounded at 1.50am and volunteer crew Brian O’Rourke, Joe Foley, Shane Walsh and Cathal Reilly launched the inshore lifeboat Robert Armstrong within minutes.

The lifeboat travelled the eight miles to the vessel and a tow was quickly set up. Sea conditions were described as moderate at the time.

The vessel was then towed back to Helvick Harbour, docking safely at just after 5am.

Commenting on the rescue, Helvick Head RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Condon said: “It was great to see the excellent reaction to the call by all the members of the crew.

“Given the time at which the pagers went off, it was fantastic to see the response by all – not only those who went to sea but also by the others who assisted on the shore.”

#RNLI - In the East Cork lifeboat station’s first callout of 2018, Youghal  RNLI was requested to launch at 1.02pm on Wednesday 10 January to reports of a fishing vessel that was taking on water.

The lifeboat proceeded to the location of the fishing boat, with one onboard, near Whiting Bay. Conditions saw a choppy sea state at the time, with a moderate southeasterly breeze.

Helmed by Erik Brooks and with crew members Liam Keogh, Mick Brooks and Eddie Hennessy onboard, the lifeboat reached the vessel and quickly assessed the situation to find a good deal of water onboard.

Two of the crew boarded the boat with a salvage pump and started to pump the water overboard.

Waterford’s Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 arrived on scene to give air assistance and stayed in the area until the vessel was returned safely to Buttimer’s Quay and Youghal Coast Guard.

Speaking following the callout, Youghal RNLI helm Erik Brooks said: “The skipper did the right thing by calling for help quickly today and we were delighted to bring the fisherman and boat to safety.

“We would remind anyone planning a trip to sea to always respect the water. Always carry a means of communication with you when you are on the water and remember to let someone ashore know when you leave and when you are due back.”

In other Irish lifeboat news, Clifden RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Fisherman’s Friend was requested to launch at 8.50am on Tuesday morning (9 January) to investigate reports of a white light west off Eeshal Island in Co Galway.

At 9.10am, the all-weather lifeboat was underway to investigate with six volunteer crew on board and in difficult weather conditions of 3-4 metre seas and a south easterly Force 7-8 wind.

The boat proceeded to Eeshal Island and conducted a thorough search around Omey Island, Aughris Point and Cruagh Island.

When nothing was found after some time, Malin Head Coast Guard was satisfied that the light seen was most likely from a 25m fishing vessel that had passed by the area that morning and did not indicate a vessel in difficulty.

Clifden RNLI coxswain James Mullen said later: “This call was reported with good intent and we would like to thank the member of the public for their vigilance.

“Given the prevailing weather conditions this morning, the all-weather boat was an excellent asset and well done to all the crew for assembling and launching so quickly.”

#RNLI - Dunmore East RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Tuesday January 9) to assist a 23m trawler with four crew on board.

The fishing vessel had suffered engine trouble and was drifting onto rocks one mile northeast of Dunmore East Harbour, close to the shoreline.

Minutes after launch at 1.58pm, the all-weather Trent Class Dunmore East lifeboat Windsor Runner arrived on scene to find the trawler drifting close to the rocks.

In difficult sea conditions and high winds, the Dunmore East RNLI crew managed to get a line to the stricken vessel and established a tow.

The vessel was then towed to the safety of Dunmore East Harbour at 2.40pm. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 and Dunmore East Coast Guard were also launched.

Dunmore East RNLI operations manager Ciaran O’Mullain said after the callout: “A quick response from our volunteer crew today ensured we got to the vessel before it drifted onto the rocks.

“Sea conditions made the rescue difficult today but thankfully our highly trained crew were able to bring the trawler and its crew to the safety of Dunmore East Harbour.”

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Sunday 7 January) to provide a medical evacuation from Sherkin Island.

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 3.50pm to provide medical assistance and evacuation for an elderly man on the West Cork island.

Once on scene, the volunteer lifeboat crew administered casualty care before transferring the patient back to the all-weather lifeboat, which returned to Baltimore lifeboat station at 4.20pm to transfer the patient to the care of the waiting HSE ambulance crew.

There was a north-easterly Force 4-5 wind at the time but sea conditions within the harbour were calm.

Speaking following the callout, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Kate Callanan said: “The RNLI and other rescue/emergency agencies provide a vital service to those living or staying on islands around the coast of Ireland. If you are in difficulty on or near the coastline call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

There were eight volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat: coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Brendan Cottrell, Jerry Smith, Don O’Donovan, Kieran Collins, Micheal Cottrell and Eoin Ryan. In attendance at the lifeboat station was Kate Callanan.

Last weekend, Baltimore RNLI launched twice in the same day for a medevac from Heir Island and to assist bodyboarders reported in difficulty at Barleycove, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

#RNLI - Baltimore RNLI launched twice in the space of a few hours yesterday (Friday 29 December) — firstly to provide a medevac from Heir Island, and later to assist bodyboarders in difficulty at Barleycove.

The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat Alan Massey following a request from the Irish Coast Guard at 11.16am to provide medical assistance and evacuation to a woman who fell on Heir Island off the coast of West Cork.

Once on scene, the crew administered casualty care before transferring the patient to the all-weather lifeboat and returning to Baltimore to meet a waiting HSE ambulance crew.

Conditions at sea during the shout had a north-westerly Force 6-7 wind and a one-metre sea swell, heralding Storm Dylan’s approach this weekend.

The crew launched a second time, at 4.18pm, after a member of the public alerted that three bodyboarders were in difficulty off Barleycove, near Mizen Head in West Cork.

The wind had eased considerably since the first callout, with a south-westerly Force 3-4, but there was a rough sea state with a swell of 3-4m.

At 4.45pm, with the lifeboat four miles west of West Calf Island, the crew were asked to stand down by the Irish Coast Guard after the three bodyboarders had made it safely ashore.

Speaking following the callouts, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Kate Callanan said: “With strong winds forecast over the coming days, the Irish Coast Guard strongly advises to exercise caution in coastal areas and reminds people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High and Stay Dry’.

“If you see someone in difficulty in the sea of along the shore call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”

The volunteer crew on the first callout were coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Jerry Smith and crew members Aidan Bushe, Don O’Donovan, Simon Duggan and Kieran Collins. Ay the lifeboat station were Kate Callanan and John O’Brien. Crew on the second callout were Cotter, Smith, Bushe, O’Donovan, Eoin Ryan and David Ryan.

#RNLI - Carrybridge RNLI’s new B-Class Atlantic 85  lifeboat Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards launched on its first callout yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 27 December 2017) along with the station’s rescue water craft.

The volunteer lifeboat crew based on Upper Lough Erne were requested to launch at 2.31pm following a report from Belfast  Coastguard of two people in the water near the old boat house at Crom Estate after their Canadian canoes capsized.

Helmed by Thomas Graham with crew members David Reid and Kyle Boyd, the new lifeboat made its way to the scene along with the rescue water craft helmed by Chris Cathcart and crewed by Adrian Quigley.

Weather conditions at the time were overcast with Force 4-5 winds and fair visibility. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was also in attendance.

As the RNLI volunteers arrived on scene at Crom, a member of the public informed them that the man and woman who came off the canoes had managed to swim ashore with the assistance of two members of the public who had entered the water to assist them. The canoeists were suffering from signs of hypothermia and were being warmed in vehicles.

The RNLI crew secured their vessels and made their way to the casualties as members of the ambulance service arrived on scene. The two casualties were transferred to the ambulance with the assistance of the RNLI crew where they received casualty care treatment.

Speaking following the callout, Carrybridge RNLI helm Thomas Graham said: “The water is very cold at this time of year and the casualties had been in the lough for about five minutes after coming out of their canoes and making their way back to the shore. Thankfully they made it safety ashore and received treatment.

“We would recommend if going afloat in this time of year in any canoe, that lifejackets and drysuits are worn to help protect against the cold waters, and that people also carry a means of communication such as a VHF radio or mobile phone to raise the alert should they get into any difficulties.”

The Douglas, Euan & Kay Richards went on service early last month, replacing Duckhams 2001 which has been used to rescue people on Lough Erne in County Fermanagh since 2015.

#RNLI - A man who slipped into the water alongside Wexford Quay was rescued by Wexford RNLI after clinging to the quay wall for several hours.

The man, in his late 30s, was spotted by gardaí before 4am on Friday (22 December) and the lifeboat was quickly launched to their report.

Lifeboat volunteer crew member Frank O’Brien entered the water to lift the casualty into the lifeboat, as he was wedged between a trawler and the quay wall.

When on board, the crew administered casualty care and brought the man back to Wexford lifeboat station, where an ambulance then took him to hospital for further treatment.

The man was said to be “extremely grateful” to the gardaí and lifeboat crew, and said it felt like he had been in the water for several hours.

Wexford RNLI urges people to respect the water and be vigilant when walking near the water's edge. If you see someone in difficulty, ring 999/112 and ask for the coastguard.

#RNLI - The volunteer crew at Dun Laoghaire RNLI will hold their traditional Christmas Eve ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 at noon this Sunday.

The crew will remember all those who lost their lives around the coast and inland, and this year will be paying a special tribute to their Irish Coast Guard colleagues, the crew of Rescue 116, who died tragically last March.

Taking place at the lighthouse end of Dun Laoghaire’s East Pier, the short ceremony will include music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.

Both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire will launch and the crew will lay wreaths at sea close to the pier.

The ceremony is a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition that remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co Dublin.

All lives lost around the Irish coast and on inland waterways in 2017 will be remembered during the ceremony.

#RNLI - Larne RNLI launched to the aid of two people on Monday morning (18 December) after their 33ft motorboat had engine difficulties en route from Carrickfergus to Greencastle.

The all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran was requested to assist the casualty vessel west of the Maidens and launched at 8.44am under coxswain Frank Healy and with five crew members.

Weather conditions at the time were described as dry with little swell.

Once on scene, volunteer crew member Michael Kane went aboard the casualty vessel and worked with the two sailors to establish a towline so that it could be brought into the shelter of Larne Harbour.

As the lifeboat was approaching the harbour, the inshore lifeboat Terry also launched to assist in bringing the vessel alongside Wymers Pier at East Antrim Boat Club.

Speaking following the callout, Healy said: “Both of the men onboard were fine and we were pleased to see they were both wearing their lifejackets.

“We would remind anyone using a motorboat to always have a means for calling for help, to always check the weather and tide times and to make sure someone ashore knows where you are going and who to call if you don’t return on time.”