#rnli – Volunteer crew of Kinsale RNLI were called out on four separate occasions over a three-day period last week. On Thursday 28 August at 12.44pm, Miss Sally Ann (Baggy) went to the aid of pleasure craft, The Spirit of Kinsale, which had become propped by ropes and lost power near Charles Fort. Assisted by Kinsale harbour master Cpt Phil Devitt and local divers Ocean Addicts, the crews from Kinsale and Courtmacsherry lifeboats were able to tow the vessel with 41 passengers and 2 crews on board to the safety of the marina.

Kinsale RNLI Helm Nick Searls said: 'The master on board the pleasure craft deserves credit for his calm handling of the situation, ensuring all passengers were equipped with lifejackets and made aware of emergency procedures. This reinforces the point that any vessel going to sea should have proper safety equipment and know how to react if they get into trouble.'

At 7.40pm that evening, the lifeboat launched for a second time to recover a yacht that had broken its moorings near the bridge. The unmanned vessel was carried down river and across the harbour, coming to rest on rocks by Scilly. RNLI volunteers towed to the yacht to the safety of the marina to ensure it would not present a danger to other shipping in the area. As rougher weather approaches, owners are advised to reinforce their moorings to avoid damage to their own and to neighbouring vessels.

On Friday 29 August at 6pm, a member of the public reported a young lad in a punt in the harbour who was in need of assistance. The lifeboat crew was quickly able to reach him on the shoreline near Castlepark and deliver him safely home.

On Saturday 30 August at 5.30pm, volunteer crew on a routine training exercise were summoned to assist a motorboat that had lost power in Holeopen Bay East. When efforts to restart the engine failed, the vessel was taken under tow and returned safely to its marina berth.

#rnli – The RNLI has today announced that Lough Swilly lifeboat station in Buncrana, County Donegal is to be the first in Ireland to receive the new Shannon class lifeboat. The €2.4M lifeboat is the first class of lifeboat to be named after an Irish river, recognition by the charity of the role of Irish lifeboat crews and volunteers throughout the 190 year history of the RNLI.

The new lifeboat is currently under construction in Lymington, England and is expected to arrive on station in Donegal next April. Lifeboat crew and station management from the Buncrana lifeboat station will next month travel to Lymington to see how their new lifeboat is progressing. It will replace the station's current all-weather Tyne class lifeboat Robert & Violet and will be the first all weather lifeboat that has been specially commissioned for the lifeboat station, the previous two have come from the RNLI's relief fleet.

The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet and the first to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making it the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet. Waterjets allow the vessel to operate in shallow waters and be intentionally beached. It is 13 metres in length and weighs 18 tonnes.

Its unique hull is designed to minimise slamming of the boat in heavy seas and the shock-absorbing seats further protect the crew from impact when powering through the waves. An improved Systems and Information Management System (SIMS) allows the crew to operate and monitor many of the lifeboat's functions from the safety of their seats. As with all RNLI all-weather lifeboats, the Shannon is designed to be inherently self-righting, returning to an upright position in the event of capsize.

It will replace the Mersey and Tyne class lifeboats, which are now nearing the end of their operational lives. Once rolled out, the entire all-weather lifeboat fleet will be capable of 25 knots, making the lifesaving service more efficient and effective than ever before.

Lough Swilly's lifeboats have launched 710 times and saved 47 lives, as well as bringing 517 others safely home, since its establishment in 1988. Of this total 380 of the launches have been to leisure craft, 262 during the hours of darkness and 70 of them in winds of force 8 or above.

The Shannon lifeboat also has a further Irish connection. Peter Eyre, an RNLI Naval Architect from Derry was instrumental in the development of the new lifeboat, designing the hull form at the age of 24 in his spare time. Peter studied at Foyle and Londonderry College before studying Ship Science at the University of Southampton and undertaking a work placement with the RNLI.

Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John McCarter added, 'This is an historic day for Lough Swilly lifeboat station. We were established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1988 and in 2000 received our first all weather lifeboat. In those years Lough Swilly lifeboats have launched 710 times, sometimes in very challenging conditions, to help those in trouble at sea. The station acknowledges the great financial support it has received from the community and fundraising volunteers of North East Donegal. In addition Donegal County Council and Buncrana Town Council have provided invaluable infrastructural support throughout that time. This new lifeboat, which has been designed with the lifeboat crew in mind and which will make our response times even faster, will be a major advancement in lifesaving on the North West coast.'

RNLI Regional Operations Manager Martyn Smith said, 'The announcement of the first Shannon class lifeboat in Ireland is a day I have been looking forward to for some time. This lifeboat marks a significant advancement in search and rescue technology and we will be starting a comprehensive training programme for the lifeboat crew from next January before the Shannon's arrival. The safety and welfare of our volunteer lifeboat crews was a key priority in the development of the new lifeboat class and this particular lifeboat will provide lifesaving cover off the North West coast for decades to come.'

Before the arrival of the lifeboat next April there will be a huge commitment on the part of the lifeboat crew to ensure they are fully trained to operate this lifesaving vessel. I know every lifeboat crew in Ireland wishes the volunteers in Lough Swilly the very best for their new lifeboat.'

#cablecar – Lehanmore Community Co-Op at Garnish on the Beara Peninsula are planning a re-enactment of what they describe as "the first-ever cable car journey to an island in Ireland." writes Tom MacSweeney.

It will be held at Crow Head on Saturday, September 6 and will involve Kerry Mountain Rescue Team, Castletownbere Coast Guard and Castletownbere RNLI according to Paul O'Shea, the Co-op Chairman,

"The first cable car crossing was by a cable rigged up by a prominent farmer Tadgh Roger O'Sullivan from Scrivogue, Garnish, between the mainland and one of the islands to transport his sheep," Lynette Dewhurst, one of those organising the event, said.

"Tadhg's idea gave the impetus and led to the Dursey cable car, unique in Ireland and which is very well-known today. The re-enactment which we are planning will also be a joint training session between the rescue services. The actual setting-up of the re-enactment will be extremely interesting as ropes will be fired hundreds of feet above the Atlantic to then be moored between the mainland and an island. Members of the rescue service will then travel via the cable."

Shuttle buses will transport spectators from Lehanmore Centre to the demonstration site. As the viewing area is in close proximity to the sea, stewards will guide everybody.

"We are asking spectators to be prepared for all weathers as it is an exposed area and donation buckets will raise funds for Kerry Mountain Rescue. A series of talks will be held at Lehanmore Community Centre hosted by the rescue services, where there will be food and refreshments available throughout the day and the evening, with live music from 7pm till late."

#coastguard – Coastguards are this afternoon searching for a 12-year-old boy who is believed to have been swept out to sea at Aberffraw.

Holyhead Coastguard received a 999 call at around 12.30 this lunchtime reporting that three people were stuck on rocks in the estuary. Further information then suggested that two men had managed to make it back to shore, plus a young boy; however another youngster was caught in the large waves and swept out to sea.

The Rhosneigr, Holyhead, Bangor and Moelfre Coastguard Rescue Teams along with two Coastguard Sector Managers are currently involved in the search, alongside the RNLI lifeboats from Porthdinllaen, Holyhead, and Trearddur Bay, the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Valley and North Wales Police.

#RNLI - For a free, fun, family day out, look no further than Howth this Sunday 31 August for the annual Open Day at Howth RNLI.

Between 2pm and 5pm the public can meet the volunteer crew, see the lifeboats and try some of the local food, drink and activities that prove Howth Is Magic.

Last year's event was hailed as a great success and all at the lifeboat station are expecting the same for this year. For more see the Howth Lifeboat Open Day event page on Facebook HERE.

#RNLI - A lifeboat crewmember from Clogherhead RNLI has been praised for his swift actions in rescuing two men from a fishing vessel that sank at the weekend.

Sean Flanagan and his son were fishing approximately two miles away from Port Oriel in Co Louth on Saturday 23 August when they noticed a Razor fishing boat sink a mile in the distance shortly before 5.30pm.

Flanagan, a highly trained volunteer crewmember, raised the alarm and made a Mayday call. He quickly hauled his gear and made best speed to the scene where he found two men in the water alongside their sunken boat.

Together with his son, Flanagan successfully pulled the men out of the water and into the safety of his vessel.

Meanwhile, Clogherhead RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Tomas Whelan and with four crewmembers on board had launched and made its way to the scene. The Dublin-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 was also tasked.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with clear visibility and a calm sea state.

The casualties were transferred to the lifeboat on arrival where they were medically assessed by lifeboat crew. They were then airlifted by helicopter to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

Speaking following the callout, Whelan said: "We have to commend the swift actions of our lifeboat crew member Sean Flanagan who not only made the Mayday call for the emergency services but then rapidly went to the scene and rescued the two men from the sea."

#RNLI - Howth RNLI had a busy start to the weekend, towing two motorboats to safety in separate incidents between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Pagers sounded at 7.15pm on Friday evening (22 August) with a launch request for the inshore lifeboat to locate and assist a motorboat drifting without power in the vicinity of Howth Sound. The motorboat with two people aboard was quickly located and towed to Howth Harbour.

The following morning (Saturday 23 August) pagers alerted again at 11.05am for the inshore lifeboat to locate a motorboat adrift off the nose of Howth. The motorboat with two crewmembers aboard was taken in tow to Howth Harbour.

"On both occasions the crewmembers were able to make radio contact with the shore, supply an accurate description of the vessels and their location which allow us to locate and offer assistance in the quickest possible time," said Howth RNLI helm David Howard.

"We were pleased to see that all crew members on both occasions were wearing lifejackets."

Howth's volunteer crews have one of their busiest seasons yet, with 50 callouts so far.

#corkharbour – A major rescue operation swung into action early yesterday after reports of a speedboat crashing into a channel marker buoy en route from Cork city to Crosshaven.

Crosshaven lifeboat were paged at 45 minutes past midnight yesterday morning (23 August) to the incident in the lower part of Lough Mahon after the report of a boat with one person on board, and missing, after colliding with a navigation buoy. Along with the Crosshaven Coast Guard Boat, the Pilot launch Failte, Helicopter 117 and with Coast Guard shore teams, the area was extensively searched. The casualty boat along with its slightly injured owner were eventually located at a marina in Crosshaven.

All teams were stood down shortly before 3.30 am this morning.

Crosshaven lifeboat was recovered, refueled and ready for service at 4am. Crew on this service were Helm Ian Venner along with Vince Fleming and Kieran Coniry

#RNLI - Galway RNLI came to the rescue of two men and a child whose boat got into difficulty off Barna Pier in Galway Bay yesterday afternoon (Friday 22 August).

The 18ft bayliner was about half a mile off Barna when its engine failed. The boat drifted for some 30 minutes before the men on board called 999, at about 2.20pm.

The Irish Coast Guard sought the assistance of the Galway lifeboat, which launched from the city docks 10 minutes later.

The lifeboat crew of helm Kieran Tolan, David Badger, Olivia Bryne and Dara Oliver quickly arrived on scene and took the vessel in tow back to Barna. None of the people on board required medical attention.

Speaking after the callout, Tolan said: "Conditions were calm, with an offshore breeze, and although at the time they were in no immediate danger, they did the right thing in calling the lifeboat as situations on the water can change very quickly into more serious incidents."

#RNLI - Rosslare RNLI was called out twice yesterday afternoon (Friday 22 August) to help two separate boats with ropes wrapped around their propellers.

In the space of two hours, both boats – a RIB with two people on board off Carna Pier and a motor cruiser with two on board near Waterford Harbour – were freed by the volunteer lifeboat crew.

The double callout also came on the last day for retiring lifeboat operations manager Michael Doyle.

"Two callouts in one afternoon is a fitting way to say goodbye," said Rosslare RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Jamie Ryan.

"Thankfully both call outs were to vessels that had their propellers fouled and no lives were in danger. The lifeboat is there to help anyone in trouble at sea and we were happy to provide assistance in these two cases."

Elsewhere on the east coast, Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched at 4am yesterday morning to the aid a yacht in difficulty eight miles north of Wicklow Harbour.

The yacht was on passage to Greystones when the propeller became fouled in ropes and was unable to make any headway.

"We located the yacht with four people one mile south-east of Greystones Harbour," said coxswain Nick Keogh. "Two lifeboat crew were transferred onto the yacht to assess the situation and they managed to clear the rope obstructing the propeller.

"With the propeller free the yacht was able to make her way into Greystones under its own power."