#RNLI – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat rescued two people on board a sinking 40ft vessel holed after it hit rocks yesterday.

At 16.44hrs the lifeboat launched following a request by Valentia Coast Guard. The lifeboat with helm Eleanor Hooker, Lian Knight and Ben Ronayne on board located the vessel inside Bonaveen Point in Cloondavaun Bay, at the northern end of the lake on the Galway shore. Winds were West South West, Force 2-3 with good visibility.

The Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter was scrambled from Shannon to go to the scene.  Fergal Kearney, the Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority was close by and arranged to carry two large bore marine pumps to the vessel.  Marine Engineer Eammon Egan and Kevin Hynes launched from Portumna to assist, as did Mr. Sullivan from Sullivan Marina.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 17.02hrs.  The two persons on board were unharmed but had readied their RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) in case they had to abandon ship.

Once it was established that the two pumps were effectively emptying the vessel of water, the S&R Helicopter circling overhead was stood down by Valentia Coast Guard.  As the crusier was being emptied of water it began to drift into dangerous water.

At 17.25hrs, with the pumps running, an RNLI crew member, two engineers and the two persons onboard, the lifeboat took the cruiser under tow to the Sullivan's Marina close by, where the vessel was lifted out of the water.

The lifeboat returned to Station and was ready for service at again 1t 18.30hrs

#RNLI – Within the past seven days crew from RNLI Bangor Lifeboat have launched twice to assist crews aboard two stricken vessels.

On Thursday 3rd May at 10.40pm Belfast Coastguard received information from a concerned member of the public that a red flare had been observed north of Groomsport. Volunteer crew quickly assembled and launched RNLI Bangor Lifeboat which proceeded at full speed to the Groomsport area. A search pattern was quickly established, thankfully nothing was found. It was reported that a number of unused sky lanterns had been found and it's believed that one of these lanterns could have raised the alarm. While completing the search crew onboard Bangor Lifeboat received a radio call from Belfast Coastguard. A 35ft commercial fishing vessel with 2 people onboard had experienced engine failure 1½ mile south of Blackhead Lighthouse. Relatively calm sea conditions allowed Bangor Lifeboat to proceed at full speed to the stricken vessel. Volunteer lifeboat crew rigged a tow line and towed the fishing boat to the safety of Bangor Harbour.

On Monday 7th May at 11.30am volunteer RNLI crew were alerted by rescue pager that a 29ft yacht with 1 person onboard had difficulty in 'making way' and required assistance. Belfast Coastguard gave the vessels location as 1 nautical miles north of Helens Bay. Bangor Lifeboat was launched and proceeded at full speed to the stricken vessel. Volunteer lifeboat crew rigged a tow line and towed the yacht to the safety of Bangor Marina

Peter Scott, RNLI volunteer helmsman at Bangor Lifeboat Station took this opportunity to stress five very important sea safety tips for anyone going afloat. He said. 'Always wear a lifejacket, secondly check your engine and fuel, thirdly tell others where you are going, fourthly carry some means of calling for help and finally always check the weather and tides' He added 'We're happy that the crews aboard both vessels are now safely ashore'.

#RNLI – Lifeboat crew with Larne RNLI launched their all weather lifeboat yesterday (Wednesday 2 May 2012) following reports that a nine metre yacht was in difficulty east of Garron Point, off County Antrim.  One of the crew was reported incapacitated due to severe sea sickness and the skipper was unable to manage the vessel single handed.

The lifeboat was launched at 1.30pm along with the inshore lifeboat from Red Bay RNLI.  They were on scene an hour later and immediately recovered the ill woman onboard the lifeboat.  The lifeboat crew administered first aid and rehydrated the casualty before returning to Glenarm where the woman was then transferred to a waiting ambulance to receive further medical attention.

Red Bay RNLI then took the vessel under tow with the remaining crewmember onboard and proceeded to Glenarm marina.

Commenting on the rescue operation Larne RNLI mechanic Rab Rice said, "Unfortunately this woman was suffering from a very severe form of seasickness and as such was incapacitated onboard the yacht.  Her condition was pretty severe and she was in need of medical attention.  Our priority was to recover her off the yacht, make her comfortable and bring her back to shore.  Our colleagues in Red Bay were then able to take the vessel under tow and bring the skipper home."

#RESCUE - The Galway Independent reports that two men were rescued by the Galway RNLI lifeboat on Sunday when their boat got into difficulties in Galway Bay.

The yacht was crossing from Barna to Spiddal when it suffered and engine failure and began to drift in the stormy weather conditions that have battered the west coast in recent days.

Lifeboat volunteers were notified by the Irish Coast Guard and located the 22-ft yacht two miles from Barna. Both crew and boat were returned to their home port, and no injuries were reported.

#RESCUE – Howth RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat and Inshore Lifeboat launched yesterday to assist a person in the water who had got into difficulty on Portmarnock Beach in north Dublin.

The Lifeboat Crews launched and the inshore lifeboat was on scene in eight minutes where Rescue helicopter 116 with standing by. The casualty was recovered from the water and taken onto the lifeboat with the assistance of the lifeboat crew. The lifeboat was met at Portmarnock beach by Dublin Fire Brigade Ambulance and Gardai.

#LIFEBOAT – Volunteer lifeboat crew took to Dublin's Grafton Street to launch the RNLI's MAYDAY campaign in Ireland, which is proudly supported by John West. The charity is asking the public to get behind its lifeboat crews in Ireland by donating on 1 May or by holding their own fundraising event.

Funds raised on MAYDAY will go towards the training of volunteer lifeboat crews and the operation of RNLI lifeboats across Ireland.

Lifeboat crew and their D-class inshore lifeboat, received a warm reception from the public on Grafton Street. Crewmembers Sharon Pollock from Newcastle, County Down, Joss Walsh, Luke Malcolm and Ian Martin from Howth all volunteer for the RNLI. Being a lifeboat volunteer means they must wear a pager full time to alert them when there is a Mayday emergency call, night or day. It means dropping everything, leaving the workplace, their families or the comfort of their beds to launch the lifeboat and assist those in trouble at sea, whatever the conditions.

Sharon Pollock (31) has been a volunteer lifeboat crewmember for the past eleven years. 'I wanted to join the lifeboat crew since I was a little girl. Every Mayday call is different. Saving a life at sea is hugely rewarding, as it's often carried out in challenging conditions. Sadly we are faced with tragedies too and returning a loved one to their family is important part of the work the RNLI do.'

Commenting on the Mayday campaign RNLI Corporate Partnerships Manager Michelle Noone said, 'We are delighted to have the support of John West for the RNLI's first MAYDAY in 2012. John West know firsthand the reality of the power of the sea, and fully support and appreciate the work the RNLI do in saving lives every day throughout Ireland. We would like to thank them for their wonderful support.'

John West MD Brendan Murphy said: 'We have worked closely with the RNLI fundraising team to come up with the MAYDAY initiative. We are hoping that 1 May will become synonymous with Irish people playing their part in saving lives at sea. We appreciate any donations that are made to the RNLI, no matter how small.'

The collection will take place on Tuesday 1 May. RNLI collectors will be out in force raising funds. Every cent the RNLI receive will help train and equip the lifeboat volunteers.

For details and information on how to donate go to www.mayday.rnli.org. or call 01 895 1837

#RESCUE – Lifeboat crew with Red Bay RNLI in County Antrim were involved in a dramatic cliff rescue last night (Saturday 14 April 2012) when a man out walking on Fair Head in Antrim lost his footing, falling thirty feet and sustaining multiple injuries.

The lifeboat launched at 5.15pm on Saturday evening to a report of a walker injured on the cliffs.  Conditions in the area hampered the lifeboat going in too close to the rocks with a heavy sea swell present.  The lifeboat crew called for assistance and the Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Sligo was called to the scene.

Two volunteer lifeboat crew swam from the lifeboat to the rocks and made their way up to the casualty.  He was suffering from a number of injuries and in considerable pain.  The lifeboat crew administered oxygen and first aid and made the man as comfortable as possible while waiting for the Coast Guard helicopter.

The Red Bay lifeboat crew attend the casualty

The lifeboat volunteers stayed with the casualty for two hours and assisted the Coast Guard team who secured him onto a stretcher and winched him up to the helicopter for transfer to Coleraine Hospital.

Commenting on the callout Red Bay RNLI Paddy McLaughlin said, "Under the circumstances the man was extremely lucky he managed to raise the alarm for help.  No one knew where he was and the area has very poor mobile coverage.  First aid is an important part of lifeboat crew training and it played a vital role in this callout.  "

#TITANIC - The Irish Times has highlighted "one of the less well-known tales of the disaster" of the Titanic, regarding two tennis champions who went on to enter that sport's hall of fame.

The story of Richard Williams and Lark Behr was told at an exhibition of sporting memorabilia in Yorkshire last month by collector Robert Fuller.

Williams, who was 21 at the time, was headed to the US Championships when the Titanic went down. He was among those rescued by the Carpathia after hours in frozen water, and fought with that ship's doctor who wanted to amputate his legs.

His persistence paid off, as just months later he was in the quarter finals of the US Open, a context he would win in 1914 and 1916, not to mention the Wimbledon doubles title in 1920 and Olympic gold in the mixed doubles in 1924.

Behr - who reportedly proposed to his fiancée on a lifeboat - also had a glittering career after the tragedy, reaching the doubles final at Wimbledon and number three in the US rankings.

Meanwhile, BBC News has posted an infographic that follows in detail the critical moments leading up to and after the Titanic struck the iceberg that sealed its doom at 11.40pm on Sunday 14 April 1912.

Volunteer crew and fundraisers with Kilmore Quay RNLI turned out in force recently to bid farewell to second mechanic Pat Power on his retirement from the lifeboat crew.  Pat took to sea for his final exercise which involved the Aer Corps and looked back on many years of dedicated service to the charity that saves lives at sea.

Since joining the lifeboat crew in the 1970's Pat has served on four different classes of lifeboat.  He began his service with Kilmore Quay's Oakley class lifeboat, Lady Murphy, which could do eight knots.  He then moved on to the Mersey class lifeboat Mary Margaret.  After that was the Famous Grouse Tyne class lifeboat and lastly he was crew on the station's new Tamar Class lifeboat, Killarney, which can do 25 knots at full speed.

Pat's wife Aileen and children Niamh and Mark also turned up for his last exercise with the lifeboat. Looking back over his years on the crew Pat has many memories, "I loved every minute of it and working with all the different volunteer lifeboat crew.  I remember the callout to the tug Golden Cross back in 2000.  Conditions were awful and both ourselves and Rosslare RNLI were out.  We had to take the tug under tow and didn't return home for six hours.  The Coxswain received a letter from the Institution for that callout.

As second mechanic for the last 17 years I've have noticed a great change with each lifeboat.  The technology was always developing.  Every time we got a new lifeboat it was like going on holiday to the moon.  It was incredible.  I will miss being with the crew but I am still going to be involved on the shore."

Pat's retirement is not the end of the Power family on the Kilmore Quay lifeboat.  His son Mark is also a volunteer lifeboat crewmember and is proudly carrying on the family tradition of life-saving.

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat assisted 3 persons in difficulties off Garrykennedy, winds NW F 6, April 3 2012

At lunch time yesterday Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist three persons in difficulty in their 14ft sailing dinghy off Garrykennedy.

The lifeboat launched at 13.10 with helm Peter Clarke, Lian Knight and Ben Ronayne on board. Winds were north north-west, F6 gusting 7 with frequent hail showers. At 13.20hrs the lifeboat located the dinghy aground and swamped west of Garrykennedy. The lifeboat crew recovered the three teenagers and their belongings to the lifeboat and took them to public harbour at Garrykennedy. The sailors had been unable to sail their vessel in the wind conditions and had been driven onto rocks. The three were cold and were permitted to use the showers in the harbour to warm up.

RNLI Crew member Eleanor Hooker was requested to travel by road with additional blankets and to give shelter in her car until they were collected by family.

The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for sevice again at 14.30hrs. The young sailors were collected by family at 15.08hrs