Role of Garda and Navy Divers in Betelgeuse Search and Recovery Focus of New Book and Talk

17th June 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Martin Buckley discusses his book "A Sense of Duty, Bantry 1979" about the Navy and Garda divers' heroic efforts after the Betelgeuse explosion, at NMCI, Ringaskiddy.

The role of the Navy and Garda divers in the search and recovery operation after the Betelgeuse explosion at Whiddy Island in 1979 is the theme of a new book written by Martin Buckley.

Buckley will speak about the book, entitled A Sense of Duty, Bantry 1979, this Friday, June 20th, in the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI), Ringaskiddy.

“What they did was outstanding,” Buckley says of the diving teams who, he believed, deserve official recognition for their distinguished service to the State.

The talk in NMCI at 11am on Friday is free, but registration is advised. To register, email [email protected]

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