#RNLI - It’s shaping up to be the start of a busy season for the volunteer lifeboat crew at Union Hall RNLI with two callouts in less than two weeks.

On Saturday 8 April, the inshore lifeboat launched at 12.14pm to Rabbit Island with reports of two sheep spotted on a low-lying cliff at the side of the island.

The crew went to the island to access the situation, and to eliminate the risk of members of the public trying to assist the sheep.

The volunteers went ashore and helped the sheep back onto the island, left them grazing and returned to Union Hall pier.

More recently, on Monday 17 April, Union Hall RNLI was requested by Valentia Coast Guard at 9.26pm to reports of two red flares spotted near Adam Island at the mouth of Glandore Harbour.

Launching five minutes later, the lifeboat crew proceeded to the scene and were joined by the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 from Waterford and Toe Head/Glandore Coast Guard Unit, who also had their shore crew assist.

A thorough search was conducted of the inner harbour and islands at the mouth of Glandore Harbour. Nothing was found and Union Hall RNLI was stood down at 10.53pm.

Speaking following the callouts, Pamela Deasy, Union Hall RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer said: “As we approach the summer season we would remind everyone to respect the water and remember if you see anything suspicious or someone in trouble over the coming months, call 112/999 and ask for the coastguard.”

#RNLI - A group of kayakers were brought to safety on Thursday night (18 August) by Union Hall RNLI after they got into difficulty during a night-time kayaking expedition off Castlehaven in West Cork.

The alarm was raised by one of the kayakers after two of the party became separated and the group requested assistance to make their way back to shore.

Union Hall RNLI's inshore lifeboat was launched at 10.45pm and proceeded to the scene, where they learned that the two kayakers originally thought missing had made it to safety on shore and the rest of the group requested assistance to get back to land.

It was decided to take the group off their kayaks and bring them onto the lifeboat before bringing them the short distance to Reen Pier.

The 15 people were helped onboard the Atlantic 85 lifeboat while their kayaks were towed back to shore.

"This was a large group for our inshore lifeboat to assist and our volunteer crew did well in ensuring that everyone was taken onboard quickly and safely," said Union Hall RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Kelleher.

"The weather conditions were challenging for the lifeboat crew to get from their base in Union Hall over to Castlehaven but thankfully conditions on scene were much calmer.

"With the call for help coming in quite early and the lifeboat crew on scene quickly, we were able to get the situation under control in a short time with everyone accounted for and safely brought ashore."

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI was tasked by Valentia Coast Guard at 6.14pm on Monday (20 June 2016) to reports of a yacht in difficulty with a broken tiller three-and-a-half miles south of Glandore Harbour.

The volunteer lifeboat crew launched at 6.20pm and on arrival at the scene they escorted the yacht to Eve Island before establishing a tow and continuing on Union Hall pier, where the yacht was tied up at 7.17pm.

Union Hall RNLI deputy launching authority Jim Moloney said: "There was no immediate danger to the yacht or the crew but they were right to request assistance as soon as their tiller broke."

A UK Agricultural Engineering lecturer is to travel to Union Hall, Cork this July to undertake a challenge to rebuild a Massey Ferguson tractor in 24-hours, with a little help from colleagues and friends. The tractor will then be raffled off to raise funds for Union Hall RNLI.

Michael O’Sullivan is a lecturer in Wiltshire College, England and has a home in Union Hall, where his father was born. Michael approached Union Hall RNLI some months ago with his unique fundraising idea and asked them if they could source a dilapidated tractor for the 24-hour challenge. They could and they did and plans are now in place for the 24-hour rebuild on Wednesday 13 July 2016 on Keelbeg Pier in Union Hall.

Commenting on the novel fundraiser Pamela Deasy, Union Hall RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said, ‘This wonderful project, to be carried out with the help of the local community, will raise much needed funds for Union Hall RNLI. We are passionate about three things in this part of the world; the sea, our sport and the land and this project encompasses two out of three of them.

‘Some years ago we saw a need for a lifeboat service here and we approached the RNLI to consider our proposal. Even before there was a lifeboat in Union Hall the community raised funds for the charity. The awful tragedy with the Tit Bonhomme in 2012 brought home to us how unpredictable the sea can be and how many families have lost loved ones to it. In 2014 the RNLI established a lifeboat station in Union Hall with an Atlantic class inshore lifeboat on a two year trial. Since that time the volunteer lifeboat crew has responded to 17 callouts and brought 21 people to safety.’

The parts for the tractor are being donated to the project by AGCO and it is hoped to be able stream the 24-hour challenge live online.

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI was paged at 6.31am this morning (Thursday 15 October) to reports of a flashing strobe light south of Rabbit Island at the entrance to Glandore Harbour.

Union Hall’s inshore lifeboat Maritime Nation launched at 06.39 am to investigate after two reported sightings of a flashing light in the water, one from a member of the public and another from a member of Glandore/Toe Head Coast Guard.

On inspecting the scene, the flashing light was spotted, and turned out to be an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).

The volunteer crew then commenced a search of the water surrounding the area. They found nothing else and returned to the lifeboat station with the EPIRB.

"You can never be too careful even at this time of year," said Jim Moloney, Union Hall RNLI deputy launch authority. "The member of the public was correct to report this sighting and no time was wasted in getting a search of the area."

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI rescued five men after their yacht was in danger of hitting rocks off the coast of West Cork on Friday evening (26 June).

The volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted shortly after 5pm following a report from the Irish Coast Guard that a 54ft French yacht, with five men onboard, was dragging an anchor on a lee shore in the inner harbour in Glandore village.

The inshore lifeboat, helmed by Stephen Hurley and with crew members Johnny McKenna and Sean McCarthy, launched at 5.15pm and was on scene minutes later. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a Force 4-5 westerly wind blowing.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that the vessel was in danger of hitting rocks after its propeller had got tangled in a rope. The yacht’s crew had put out an anchor but it then started to drag on a lee shore.

Having assessed the situation, one lifeboat crew member went aboard the yacht before a towline was quickly established to divert the vessel from hitting the rocks.

The lifeboat crew then proceeded to bring the vessel and the five men onboard safely back to Union Hall.

Speaking following the callout, Union Hall RNLI deputy launching authority Jim Moloney said: "The quick response of the lifeboat crew prevented a more serious situation developing this evening and I would like to commend our volunteers for using their skills and training to bring the yacht out of danger."

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Union Hall RNLI had their third callout in a week when launched on Saturday afternoon (13 June 2015) to bring a 44–ft yacht with two crew onboard to safety after it reported engine problems off Galley Head.

The crew onboard the yacht raised the alarm with Valentia Coast Guard after they realised they were expiring severe engine trouble and they feared they would not be able to bring the vessel to safety. The Union Hall lifeboat was launched at 4.44pm and was on scene in thirty minutes.

Conditions were overcast with an easterly wind when the lifeboat took the yacht under tow into Glandore Harbour and ensured the two men were safely ashore.

Commenting on the callout Union Hall RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Peter Deasy said, 'It's been a busy week for the volunteer lifeboat crew with three callouts. Thankfully everyone was safe. Engine problems can happen to anyone and it is always advisable to call for assistance. The crew of the yacht were concerned that they would have difficulty making it safety to shore alone. The weather was not ideal in this case and they made the right call.

Yesterday's callout follows on from two incidents earlier in the week when the Union Hall RNLI crew launched following reports that a paddle boarder had disappeared from view and before that when an 18ft pleasure boat got into difficulty off the coast of West Cork.

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Union Hall RNLI had their second callout in 24 hours this morning when a member of the public became concerned for the safety of a paddle boarder who had disappeared from view.

The lifeboat was launched at 9.10am following a call from Valentia Coast Guard after a member of the public reported that they had lost sight of a paddle boarder between Rabbit Island and Myross Island.

In calm conditions with a north easterly force four wind the lifeboat searched the area for the missing paddle boarder but was stood down a short time later as it is believed the person made it safely ashore unaided.

Commenting on the callout John Kelleher Union Hall RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said, 'It has been a busy 24 hours for our volunteer lifeboat crew. Even though this turned out to be a false alarm with good intent I would commend the member of the public for contacting the emergency services. You never know when that call could save a life and that is what we are here to do.'

The callout follows on from yesterday when Union Hall RNLI rescued two men after their 18ft pleasure boat got into difficulty off the coast of West Cork. The volunteer crew was alerted shortly after 1.30pm following a report that a pleasure boat was experiencing engine problems south of Castletownshend Harbour.

#RNLI - Union Hall RNLI rescued two men this afternoon (Monday 8 June) after their 18-foot pleasure boat got into difficulty off the coast of West Cork.

The volunteer crew was alerted shortly after 1.30pm by the Irish Coast Guard following a report that a pleasure boat was experiencing engine problems south of Castletownshend Harbour.

Within five minutes the inshore lifeboat, helmed by Chris Collins and with Anthony Walsh and Stephen Hurley onboard, was launched and made its way to the scene.

Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a Force 2-3 wind blowing and a moderate sea.

The lifeboat crew located the vessel a short time later at 1.56pm and observed that the two crew members onboard were in no immediate danger.

Union Hall RNLI proceeded to establish a tow line and bring the two men and their boat safely to Union Hall.

Speaking following the callout, John Kelleher, lifeboat operations manager at the station that's been operational since last September, said: "The crew onboard the pleasure boat did the right thing this afternoon by alerting the emergency services once they found themselves in difficulty.

"Our volunteers, who responded quickly, were delighted to be able to assist and we are pleased that everyone has now been returned safe and well to Union Hall."

#RNLI - Last Thursday 13 November, Union Hall RNLI in West Cork responded to its first callout since becoming operational.

The volunteer lifeboat crew Anthony Walsh, Lee Miles and Tim Forde launched their B Class Atlantic 75 lifeboat, Maritime Nation, at 12.03pm to aid two small leisure craft drifting aground at Mill Cove in Rosscarbery.

No persons were found on board and the crew returned to the RNLI station shortly before lunchtime. Weather conditions were poor, with Force 4-5 winds and a south-easterly swell.

The callout marked the voluntary crew’s first emergency response since the lifeboat station became operational in Union Hall two months ago.

“I’m very happy with the response time and performance of the lifeboat crew and the shore crew," said lifeboat operations manager John Kelleher. "They have been training consistently every week, it’s a big commitment and we are glad to see that has paid off on our first call out."

Meanwhile, fundraising for the lifeboat continues with a weekly series of three Friday night table quizzes taking place in Union Hall, with the first tomorrow 21 November. A painting of the lifeboat by local artist Avril McDermott will be raffled at Dinty's Bar on the final quiz night on 5 December.

The fundraising branch has stocked local shops with RNLI Christmas cards and extend their thanks to Myross Rowing Club for a recent donation of €2,500, raised by members who competed in two charity rowing events.