#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 2.45pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 October) as three divers and their support boat sought help as their vessel got into difficulties near Black Head off Kinsale.

The lifeboat was quickly away with a crew of seven and was on scene at 3.15pm to join Kinsale RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard boat from Oysterhaven.

As the divers and their boat were being brought back to shore, another call came from Valentia Radio of an injured crew person on board a sailing vessel off Kinsale Harbour.

Both the Kinsale and Courtmacsherry lifeboats assisted in the transfer of the female casualty to Kinsale Pier, where an ambulance was awaiting to take her to Cork University Hospital.

Conditions at sea today deteriorated from early afternoon with a Force 5 to 6 wind and a strong sea swell.

The cew on the Courtmacsherry lifeboat yesterday were coxswain Sean O'Farrell, mechanic Stewart Russell, Ciaran Hurley, Mark Gannon, Dara Gannon, Dean Hennessey and Evan O'Sullivan.

Lifeboat crew, station management, fundraisers and supporters of Howth RNLI were joined by members of the public yesterday (Sunday 2 October) to officially name the North Dublin lifeboat station’s newest lifeboat Aideen Cresswell, in memory of the incredible woman who funded it. The ceremony took place in the sunshine in Howth Harbour where the public saw up-close Howth RNLI’s newest lifeboat as it was officially named by Mrs Cresswell’s nephew Seymour, in the maritime tradition by pouring champagne over its bow.

As Afloat.ie previously reported, Mrs Aideen Cresswell (nee Stokes) whose generous bequest funded the €71,000 lifeboat was born in London in 1921 and later came to live in The Baily, Howth. At a young age she met her husband John Cresswell at an RNLI ball and they spent their honeymoon on board a yacht sailing from Dublin to Dunmore East. Mrs Cresswell’s nephew Seymour remembered his aunt during his speech, whom he described as ‘a rebel; feisty and a free spirit’. He spoke of her lifelong support of the RNLI and her affinity for the sea. She passed away in 2011after a short illness in her ninety-first year and was married to John for sixty-seven years.

RNLI Vice-President and member of the Irish Council Mr. Peter Killen accepted the lifeboat into the care of the RNLI before passing it on to Howth lifeboat station. The ceremony was opened by Howth RNLI Chairman Russell Rafter and the Vote of Thanks was given by Mrs Rose Michael in her role as Chairperson of the Fundraising branch. Rose also presented Mrs Cresswell’s two nephews with framed photographs of the new lifeboat which were signed by the crew.

On accepting the lifeboat into the care of Howth RNLI, Colm Newport, the station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘I accept with great pride this lifeboat Aideen Cresswell to Howth Lifeboat Station. Aideen’s legacy provides the lifeboat that will be of service to all who earn their living or derive pleasure from the sea and coastline in our area. Since we received our new lifeboat this summer she has been called out on service nine times.’

Following the ceremony the new lifeboat was launched into Howth Harbour to the accompaniment of a lone piper. Howth lifeboat station was established before 1825 and taken over by the RNLI in 1862. During its tenure Howth’ s volunteer lifeboat crew have been awarded eleven medals for Gallantry: seven silver and four bronze. The station also operates an all-weather Trent class lifeboat.

The inshore lifeboat remains the workhorse of the RNLI as it has for nearly 50 years. The inflatable rescue craft is highly manoeuvrable and specifically suited to surf, shallow water and confined locations – often working close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves.

The equipment on board the new lifeboat includes a VHF radio, night-vision technology, and first-aid kit including oxygen. It has a maximum speed of 25 knots and can carry three crew members and five survivors.

The Aideen Cresswell’s predecessor was on service at the station from 2006 to 2016. During its time at the station it was launched 260 times, rescued 288 people, saving 19 lives. It spent 167 hours on service.

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat in Cork Harbour was requested to launch yesterday evening at 8.49pm after a report of a 9m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with two people on board hit a navigation Buoy near Tivoli in Cork City.

Reports also were given that one person was injured.

The volunteer crew made best safe speed on the 20 minute journey to the City. New information received en route stated the damaged RIB had managed to journey under its own power to Cork City marina, but was still requesting first aid help.

On arrival at the City Marina, the RNLI crew assessed the casualty who was complaining of chest injuries and administered first aid until the emergency ambulance arrived and conveyed the casualty to hospital.

The lifeboat then escorted the damaged RIB on its return journey to Crosshaven and assisted in putting the vessel alongside

The lifeboat arrived back at the station in Crosshaven at 10.50pm, where it was refueled, washed down and declared ready for service once more at 11.30pm

#RNLI - Celebrated chef, food writer and television personality Clodagh McKenna recently visited Howth Lifeboat Station, where she treated the volunteer crew to a delicious seafood supper.

McKenna’s visit marks the countdown to the RNLI’s upcoming foodie fundraiser Fish Supper, for which the charity is encouraging people across Ireland to host a fish-themed dinner between 14–16 October to raise funds to help save lives at sea.

The Clodagh’s Irish Kitchen author served a three-course meal for the lifeboat crew, starting with fresh Dingle crab cakes with Irish heirloom tomatoes and fennel aioli.

The main dish was pan-fried sea bass with hazelnut butter with dill potato dumplings and autumn vegetable salad. For dessert, the crew were treated to McKenna’s signature chocolate Guinness cake.

“It was an absolute pleasure to cook for the Howth volunteer lifeboat crew,” said McKenna. “My grandpop and uncle were both fishermen, so the work of the RNLI is very close to my heart.

“When I was filming my series Fresh From the Sea for RTÉ, I was lucky enough to get to see the work of the RNLI first hand. Please sign up to make a Fish Supper and help the courageous crews save more lives at sea.”

Last year, RNLI volunteer crew members across Ireland and the UK missed nearly 7,000 evening meals with their loved ones to brave cold, angry and often dangerous waters to save lives.

Fish Supper aims to highlight the disrupted dinners RNLI crew experience day-in-day-out, and the commitment shown not only by them but their families, who often have an empty place at the dinner table.

RNLI volunteers give up their time, comfort and often home cooked meals to respond immediately when the pagers go off.

“Our lifeboat crew here in Howth and indeed across Ireland are prepared to drop everything and respond to a call out at a moment’s notice,” said Howth RNLI mechanic Ian Sheridan.

“Our lifesaving work is essential and often challenging and dangerous. As volunteers, we are extremely grateful to people who donate so generously and host fundraising events such as Fish Supper to enable us to do what we do.”

To request your free fundraising pack and receive more information, visit RNLI.org/FishSupper where you’ll also find recipes, party game ideas and place name cards to help the evening go well.

Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews across 45 stations in Ireland had 1,098 lifeboat launches, bringing 1,244 people to safety. Of all recorded launches, 416 were carried out in the hours of darkness.

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to assist a man whose pleasure craft broke down off the Wexford coast.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.07pm following a report that a 21ft pleasure boat, with one onboard, had sustained engine failure in an area known locally as the Horseshoe.

Helmed by Eoin Bird and with crew members Patrick Byrne and Damian Murphy onboard, the lifeboat made its way to the scene 1.5 nautical miles from Fethard Harbour. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a Force 5 westerly but sheltered wind blowing.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that the boat had washed up on the sand due to the tide.

The crew beached their D-class lifeboat before working to set up a towline with the casualty vessel. Once this was set up, the lifeboat proceeded to tow the pleasure boat back to Fethard Harbour, where it arrived at 5.10pm.

Speaking following the callout, Fethard RNLI deputy launching authority Hugh Burke said: “The area in which the man got into difficulty today is one where our lifeboat crew has to train regularly due to the sandbanks and sandbars which change regularly with each gale of wind.

“We would always encourage anyone planning a boat trip to always respect the water – make sure you wear a life jacket and carry a means of communication should you get into trouble and need to make contact.”

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI launched around 1pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to aid a dolphin stranded in shallow water on Silver Strand beach near the East Cork village.

A member of the public who was on scene had tried to assist the dolphin back to sea, but when they were unable to do so they alerted the Ballycotton lifeboat.

Ballycotton’s inshore lifeboat and its volunteer crew were quickly on scene, with the all-weather lifeboat on standby due to the offshore breeze and calm weather conditions.

Upon arrival, coxswain Eolan Walsh entered the water, guided the marine mammal into deeper water and shepherded it back out to sea.

Speaking after the callout, Walsh said: “Similar to a previous launch last summer, this dolphin appeared to be quite young and may have been separated from its pod.

“We would like to commend the member of the public who assisted the dolphin initially. We were happy to help and bring the dolphin into deeper waters.”

#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.

Larne RNLI has rescued two kayakers who got into difficulty off the County Antrim coast yesterday evening (Tuesday 27 September).

The volunteer lifeboat crew responded to a launch request from Belfast Coastguard at approximately 6.30pm following reports of two kayakers in difficulty at Ballygally Head.

The initial alarm was raised by a member of the public reporting two kayakers in trouble with one kayaker in the water.

Weather conditions were described as blowing a Force 3-4 wind with a slight swell and reduced visibility due to darkness falling.

Both Larne RNLI’s all-weather and inshore lifeboats launched at 6.42pm and the crews were quickly on scene. The casualties were located and recovered into the inshore lifeboat and were medically assessed by the crew.

Larne’s inshore lifeboat crew transferred the kayakers safely back to shore at Ballygally and into the care of the Coastguard while the all-weather lifeboat returned the kayaks to shore.

Speaking following the call out, Larne RNLI Coxswain Frank Healy said: 'The kayakers were located quickly this evening and returned safely to shore and we like to wish them both well following their ordeal.
‘Our volunteer crew train all year round to ensure when the pager sounds they are competent to complete any rescue and this training quickly swung into action this evening. We would like to commend the member of the public who contacted the Coastguard and we would urge anyone who sees someone in distress around the coastline to never hesitate in dialling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.’

#RNLI - An island medical evacuation was carried out yesterday (Monday 26 September) by the volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI on the Mersey class all-weather lifeboat Fisherman's Friend.

In calm seagoing conditions, the lifeboat was launched at 1.15pm to attend to a man who had experienced a fall at the north end of Inishturk off the Mayo coast.

On arrival at the pier in Inishturk, the casualty was taken aboard the lifeboat and transferred to Cleggan pier, where he was moved to a waiting ambulance with the assistance of the Cleggan Coast Guard Unit.

Speaking following the callout, Clifden RNLI coxswain Alan Pryce said: “We were glad to be able to transfer this man safely to shore and we wish him a speedy recovery.

“The capability of the all-weather lifeboat in carrying out long-range shouts such as this one is reassuring, both for us as volunteers and all those who live on and visit our offshore islands.”

The Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat has arrived in Union Hall with the stricken 60–ft fishing boat that had got into difficulties some seven hours earlier. The crew reported via a Mayday call at 5.46 pm last evening that they were sinking some 20 miles off the Seven Heads in West Cork. In a difficult tow, in very poor conditions, the lifeboat moored the casuality at the pierhead and will soon proceed back on the two hour trip to base in Courtmacsherry where they will refuel and get ready for whenever the next callout will happen.

The Navy vessel LE Niamh stood by as the powerful Trent Class Lifeboat towed the trawler, while the Lifeboat crew at the same time used its mobile pump to keep the water ingress under control.

"We are all pleased that this evenings rescue was carried out efficiently by Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and his voluntary crew of five including local farmer Colin Bateman who manned the mobile pump as he boarded the Fishing Vessel" said Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Voluntary Operations Manager Brian O'Dwyer who also praised the fast response of the crew this evening, when every minute gained was precious.

The crew on this evenings callout were Coxswain Sean O'Farrell and voluntary crew members Pat Lawton (Mechanic), Colin Bateman, Ciaran Hurley, Dara Gannon and Conor Dullea.