#rnli – Fans of master artist Kenneth Webb will have the opportunity to get their hands on a new painting he will start during Clifden Arts week and auction to raise funds for Clifden RNLI.

Work on the 20'x 24' oil painting which will depict a local scene from the 'Regatta at Roundstone' will commence during Kenneth's first 'One Man Show' at The Gallery in the Alcock and Brown Hotel in Clifden from 2pm on Saturday 20 September. Entry fee is €10.

Kenneth will start the oil painting during a live painting demonstration before taking it away and finishing it to master standard after the auction.

Dr Niall Dolan of Dolan's Art Auction House will preside over the auction at 4pm. For those who can't attend on the day there will be options for bidding via telephone or online by contacting the hotel.

Speaking ahead of the event, Anthony Hiney, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager said the charity was delighted the master artist was donating a new Connemara painting: 'This is a great opportunity for Kenneth Webb's fans and locals alike to see him at work, hear his stories and ask questions. His generosity to charity is well known and we are thankful that the proceeds from this new piece of work will help our volunteers at Clifden RNLI to save lives at sea.'

Now in his 88th year, and 60 years after first coming to Connemara, Kenneth will also have paintings from his last two London exhibitions and the first showing of his work for his next London show on exhibit.

London born, Kenneth and his wife Joan first came to Clifden in 1950 after escaping college and spending a summer holiday in the west. Between 1960 and 1980 he returned to run summer schools and created The Irish School of Landscape Painting.

During this time, in 1972, Joan and he purchased their cottage in Ballinaboy. It was there, starting in 1990 and continuing to this day, that he developed The Art Centre. Over his years in the area, Kenneth has exhibited local paintings but this will be his first 'One Man Show'.

#RNLI - Bundoran RNLI has urged anyone planning on setting off fireworks or anything similar that could be mistaken for a distress flare to inform the coastguard in advance after a false alarm on Saturday night (6 September).

At 10.40pm the Bundoran volunteer lifeboat crew were asked to launch by Malin Head Coast Guard to reports of a red flare being sighted somewhere in Donegal Bay.

A red flare is universally known as a distress signal, and when an emergency call was made by a member of the public from Ballyshannon, the watch officers at Malin Head immediately requested the launch of Bundoran RNLI, as well as tasking the Killybegs coastguard boat.

As the caller was unsure of the precise location of the flare, sighting it somewhere between Ballyshannon and St John’s Point, both boats commenced searches of the area. looking for a vessel that may have signalled an emergency.

As the searches were underway, information was received that fireworks had been set off on the coastline in the bay around the time of the emergency call to 999.

Even though it was determined that this was the most likely cause of the red flare sighting, both boats continued to search the area until the coastguard was satisfied that no vessel was in trouble. Both units were then stood down after one hour.

Speaking on their return to the lifeboat station around midnight, Karol McNern, who helmed the Bundoran lifeboat, said: "Thankfully this was just a false alarm and we are, as always, happy to launch to something that people may be unsure of rather than not be launched at all.

"We would however urge anybody who is planning on setting off fireworks, Chinese lanterns or anything that could be mistaken for a distress flare, near the coast, to please inform the coastguard in advance of the approximate time and location so that search and rescue assets need not be unnecessarily launched."

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI towed a motorboat with four people on board to safety on yesterday morning (Sunday 7 September) after they developed electrical problems and were unable to start their engine.

Shortly after 11am, Dublin Coast Guard requested the Skerries RNLI volunteer crew to launch their Atlantic 85 lifeboat Louis Simson after receiving a report from another vessel of a motorboat in difficulty on the eastern side of Lambay Island.

The lifeboat, with Eoin Duff at the helm and crewed by Conor Walsh, Peter Kennedy and Rob Morgan, proceeded directly to the last known position of the craft to begin a search. At the time of the launch there was a Force 3 northeasterly wind with calm seas.

The motorboat was quickly located at anchor close to the island. A tow was established and the boat, with four people on board was brought safely to Rush Harbour. 



Speaking after the callout, volunteer lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: "Sometimes, no matter how well prepared you are, things can go wrong at sea.

"Thankfully another boat spotted the danger and called the coastguard."

#rnli – Lough Swilly RNLI has rescued six men from a sinking fishing vessel off the Donegal coast in the early hours of this morning (Monday 8 September).

The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch both their inshore and all-weather lifeboats at 3.15am at the request of Malin Head Coast Guard.

It followed a report that a fishing vessel with six men on board was taking on water two miles north of Dunree Head. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 from Sligo was also requested. A local fishing boat which was in the area was also ready to offer assistance.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a flat calm sea.

Both lifeboats proceeded in the darkness to the scene where upon arrival they spotted a fishing vessel which was lifting badly and rapidly taking on water.

All six crew on the stricken vessel were wearing lifejackets and survival suits and they had prepared their life raft for deployment.

Three RNLI crew from the all-weather lifeboat were transferred to the vessel. Using a salvage pump they started to pump water from the boat and continued for over an hour.

Once the boat was stabilised, the lifeboat escorted the vessel safely back to shore at Rathmullun where it arrived at seven o'clock this morning.

Following the four hour operation, Mark Barnett, Lough Swilly RNLI Coxswain said: 'The six fishermen deserve to be commended for their quick actions in the early hours of this morning. They called for help once they got into difficultly and had their life raft ready if needed in an emergency. The boat had taken on a considerable amount of water but thankfully our crew was able to assist and avoid the vessel from sinking and assist the men safely back to shore.'

rnli – Two men had a very narrow escape yesterday evening ( Saturday 6 Sept ) when their Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) collided with a navigation buoy near the Spit lighthouse and threw them from the boat into the water.

Crosshaven Lifeboat was paged at 10.40pm along with Rescue helicopter 117, Gyleen & Crosshaven Coast Guard, the Cork harbour Pilot launch and the ambulance service after a report of a RIB aground with the engine running near the Titanic Bar in Cobh and with no occupants onboard.

Crosshaven lifeboat under Helm Alan Venner with James Fagan and Harry O'Rourke commenced a creeping search from Spike Island. Further information then revealed the Gardai had located the two occupants ashore, shocked and suffering the effects of mild hypothermia. The two persons were handed into the care of the ambulance service

Crosshaven lifeboat along with the Crosshaven Coast Guard boat recovered the damaged Rib and towed it back to the lifeboat station.

Commenting on the incident, Patsy Fagen, Deputy Launch Authority at Crosshaven said "Thankfully, this service ended with a good result, but could quite easily have resulted in fatalities. We urge all leisure boat users to get trained and always use a kill cord when driving powered vessels".

#rnli – As the busy Summer season draws to an end, the RNLI volunteers at Dun Laoghaire will be holding their annual Open Day on Sunday 14th September where visitors can inspect boats, equipment, safety gear and much more.

Starting at 2pm, the main lifeboat station beside the Carlisle Pier will be open for tours of "Anna Livia" the All-Weather lifeboat, displays of personal protective equipment, free safety information and life-jacket clinic from the RNLI Sea Safety team and much more.

At the East Pier, the Inshore lifeboat 'Realt Na Mara' will be on display at the old boathouse beside Rogan's Slipway and visitors see this small but highly flexible rescue craft up close including the latest equipment that makes it the busiest class of lifeboat in the RNLI fleet.

Special guests will be visiting the RNLI station during the afternoon to demonstrate inter-agency co-operation and capabilities. The Irish Coast Guard Rescue helicopter from Dublin Airport will be on hand at 2pm while the Dublin & Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team will also have a display at the lifeboat station. Members of the Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard Unit will also be in attendance.

The RNLI lifeboat station Open Day is a family-oriented event suitable for most age-groups and souvenirs in support of the charitable work of the RNLI will be on sale in the station shop throughout the afternoon and is also open year-round.

The RNLI lifeboat station in Dun Laoghaire is one of 45 such operations in Ireland that are the primary boat responders for emergency incidents around the coast and form part of the resources available to the Irish Coast Guard service, the statutory organisation that co-ordinates Search & Rescue and pollution incidents in Irish waters.

There are 35 operational volunteers with the RNLI station in Dun Laoghaire that respond to emergency call-outs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year including Christmas Day and other holidays. Both lifeboats typically launch within 10 minutes of call-out and the station is regularly the busiest in Ireland.

#rnli – The RNLI will be recognised this weekend during a frontline emergency and security services spectacular in Dublin.

Volunteers from the charity which saves lives at sea will take part in a unique parade aimed at raising awareness of Ireland's frontline services.

The parade from Civic Offices, Wood Quay to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham will commence at 12 noon this Saturday (6 September). It will bring together members of the RNLI, Dublin City Council Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, The Irish U.N. Veterans, O.N.E. The Navy Veterans, An Garda Siochána, National Ambulance Service, the Irish Coast Guard, The Irish Prison Service, Saint John's Ambulance and the Order of Malta.

The parade will coincide with an open day in Royal Hospital Kilmainham from 12-5pm.

In what promises to be a spectacular display in Dublin city centre, spectators will see a number of marching bands, colour parties and vehicles. The parade will be welcomed by a guard of honour of veterans on arrival at Kilmainham where participants will present for family, friends, members of the public and dignitaries. Members will display their specialist skills and expertise, performing drills and demonstrating the tactical equipment used by emergency services personnel in the performance of their duties. Some live displays will also take place on the day.

The Frontline Emergency and Security Services Eire Forum (FESSEF), was formed to promote communication, co-operation and friendship among national security and emergency services personnel.

Speaking ahead of the event, Owen Medland, RNLI Divisional Operations Manager said: 'The RNLI is delighted to be part of this spectacular event. Our volunteer crew members are highly trained and skilled to save lives at sea and regularly work alongside our colleagues in the emergency service in search and rescue. This event is not only an opportunity to recognise the role of our frontline services but also a way to say thank-you to the public who give so generously.'

FESSES chairman Seamus O'Neill said: 'The event will give members of the public an opportunity to meet with personnel from frontline services in an off duty setting, experience their specialist skill sets at first hand and get up close and personal with their tactical vehicles and equipment. It also gives the services an opportunity to acknowledge and show their appreciation for the ongoing support they receive from the members of the public and especially from their family members.'

Christy Burke, Lord Mayor of Dublin added: 'Dublin City Council is proud to be supporting this event. The work of the men and women of the frontline and emergency services organisations, including our own Fire Brigade and Civil Defence, is invaluable to this City and State and their fearless dedication to our citizens is incomparable. On behalf of Dublin City Council, I wish them well with this event and their future endeavours.'

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI rescued a male swimmer who got into difficulty yesterday afternoon (Thursday 4 September).

The rescue followed a request from the Irish Coast Guard for the volunteer lifeboat crew to search for a missing swimmer at Silver Strand beach.

The alarm was raised by the swimmer’s wife who was concerned for his safety and by members of the public who heard his call for help.

The all-weather lifeboat had already launched at 2.30pm and was on her way to meet and escort a former visiting lifeboat into the harbour when it was requested.

The lifeboat diverted immediately and proceeded south towards Wicklow Head to begin a search. The inshore lifeboat also launched to assist. Weather conditions and visibility in the area were good at the time.

During the search, a person was spotted in the water about one mile offshore near Brides head.

The all-weather lifeboat, under the command of second coxswain Ciaran Doyle, was quickly alongside the casualty. Crewmember Matt Doyle took him from the water using a scramble net.

First aid was administered to the exhausted man by Carol Flahive as the lifeboat made its way back to Wicklow Harbour.

The lifeboat was met on arrival at the East Pier by a waiting ambulance, where the swimmer was treated by paramedics. He did not need to be hospitalised.

It was quickly established that the man had been swimming off Silver Strand when he was carried quite a distance north with the tide and strong currents, which prevented him getting ashore.

At Wicklow Head, he was swept further out to sea. That's when members of the public on the cliff contacted the coastguard after hearing his call for help.

Speaking after the callout, Wicklow RNLI lifeboat operations manager Des Davitt said: "The swimmer was extremely lucky today to be spotted so quickly by the crew and thankfully a tragic outcome was avoided."

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist two people on board a 40ft cruiser, adrift by Crow Island, south of the Scilly Islands on Lough Derg yesterday.

On Wednesday afternoon, September 3, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist two people adrift on their boat by Crow Island. They had damaged the drive shaft on their boat after glancing off a rock.

The lifeboat launched at 3.50pm with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Peter Clarke and Jason Freeman on board. Winds were south westerly, Force 2, visibility was good.

The lifeboat came alongside at 4.15pm and found two fishing boats assisting. Fishermen in one lakeboat had taken the bow line of the casualty vessel to hold them off the rocks. The second fishing boat had remained on standby in case they were required. The lifeboat crew thanked the fishermen for their assistance. The two people were safe and well and wearing their lifejackets. A lifeboat crew member was transferred to the boat, where, after full checking the boat for any further damage, he set up a tow. The lifeboat towed the boat, with her two crew and an RNLI volunteer on board, to Killaloe, where it was safely tied up alongside at 5.15pm

RNLI Lifeboat Helm Eleanor Hooker advises all boat users to remember the importance of 'remaining within the safe channels marked on their lake charts'.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 6.30pm.

#rnli – The RNLI's 45th lifeboat station in Ireland has officially been put on service at Union Hall for a trial period of two years. The station boat is now a declared search and rescue asset based at Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall, County Cork.

The RNLI will operate a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat from temporary station facilities and launching from a slipway adjacent to the pier. The station's lifeboat Maritime Nation has come from the existing RNLI relief fleet and was previously on service in Galway City, Red Bay in County Antrim and Crosshaven in County Cork. Following a two year trial period the RNLI will then make a decision on whether to establish a permanent lifeboat station.

Representations were made to the RNLI in February 2013 for a declared search and rescue asset to be established at Union Hall. Following meetings last year a team of volunteers was selected to operate the station and crew the lifeboat. There has since been an intensive period of training for the volunteer lifeboat crew, which has included months of training at Union Hall and visits to the RNLI training college in Poole.

There are currently 16 volunteer lifeboat crew including six helms at Union Hall. Their backgrounds range from a civil engineer, Guard, electrician, carpenter, fisherman, fishmonger and fireman. There are also two members of the one family involved with Castlehaven GAA club. Footballers and brothers Shane and Stephen Hurley are members of the crew. The station also has one female crew member in Carla Nugent.

Lifeboat Operations Manager John Kelleher is proud of the new station, which he and other local people had been active in securing for the area. He said: 'This is a great day for everyone involved in the setting up of this station. For years the community in Union Hall and the surrounding areas of West Cork have supported the RNLI with street collections and various fundraising events. Even though we did not have a station in Union Hall we knew how important it was to have the lifeboat service in Ireland.

'The late Joe Regan, a former mechanic at Baltimore RNLI and former chairman of the Union Hall Fundraising Committee started things rolling many years ago before others in the community took up the challenge. We received great support and encouragement from everyone involved with the RNLI at both Swords and Poole. To see this group of volunteers coming together and training with the lifeboat and now going on service is a proud day for me.'

The station will operate approximately eight miles to the west and 14 miles to the east of the greater Glandore Bay area. It is a popular spot for fishermen and visitors including anglers, rowers, swimmers and sailors. The station is flanked by Courtmacsherry RNLI to the east and Baltimore RNLI to the west.

Ronan Boyle RNLI Divisional Operations Manager said: 'On behalf of the RNLI I wish everyone involved at the new trial lifeboat station in Union Hall every success. From the initial meeting right through to the start day, the enthusiasm shown by the crew and station management has been overwhelming. I am delighted that Union Hall now the opportunity to demonstrate the utility of a lifeboat in this location for the trial period of two years.'