#RNLI - Ballycotton is in the news again, this time in a feature on RTÉ One's Nationwide next Wednesday 6 August exploring the East Cork town's efforts to bring home their former lifeboat Mary Stanford.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the famous lifeboat was saved from being scuttled earlier this year and returned to her spiritual home in Ballycotton in late April.

The Mary Stanford served at Ballycotton for 29 years from 1930 to 1959 and took part in 41 rescues in that time, saving a total of 122 lives.

She was also involved in of the most famous rescues in RNLI history, which took place in February 1936 when she responded to a distress signal from the Daunt Rock Lightship which broke its mooring in a storm.

After a 63-hour mission, the Mary Stanford rescued all eight crew of the lightship and returned to Ballycotton safely. The crew all received RNLI Gold medals.

Unfortunately the Mary Stanford lay rotting in the water at Grand Canal Dock in Dublin after a failed attempt to maintain the boat.

But earlier this year, after local fundraising in Ballycotton, brothers Brendan and Colm Sliney and Colm's son Aidan made the trip to Dublin to bring the vessel back home.

They hired a crane to take the boat from the water and place her on a truck which made the journey to Ballycotton in two stages.

"We just had a few inches to spare going through the Dublin Port tunnel but we got through," recalls Colm Sliney after a heart-in-mouth journey down the motorway to Cork.

In April the team re-grouped to place the Mary Stanford onto a specially built plinth on the cliff walk above Ballycotton, and there were some heart-stopping moments during this mission, too.

The community in Ballycotton now plans to restore the exterior of the lifeboat to her former glory.

The Mary Stanford item will feature on Nationwide on RTÉ One next Wednesday 6 August at 7pm and afterwards on the RTÉ Player.

#RNLI - Bangor RNLI launched on Wednesday evening (30 July) to rescue five children who were being swept out to sea on an inflatable raft.

Belfast Coastguard requested the Bangor lifeboat to proceed at utmost speed to the shore at Whiteabbey, on the northern coastline of Belfast Lough.

Initial reports indicate that five children were aboard an inflatable raft and were being swept out to sea by the offshore winds.

At 7pm, within minutes of receiving the rescue alert, the volunteer crew had launched the lifeboat and were proceeding at full speed towards Whiteabbey.

The raft was quickly found with three children on board. Two others were found clinging to windsurfing boards alongside. 

All five cold and exhausted children were rescued by the crew of RNLI Bangor lifeboat and were brought ashore at Carrickfergus Harbour into the safe care of waiting coastguards.

John Bell, volunteer RNLI helmsman who was involved in this rescue, said: "Inflatable boats and toys are great fun in the swimming pool but we do not recommend that people use them at the seaside because, as we've seen today, they can easily be blown out to sea.

"If you do find yourself in the situation where you or your child is being swept out to sea, stay in the boat shout for help and wave your arms. Do not attempt to swim for shore and if you're on the shore don't try and rescue them yourself – call 999 and ask for the coastguard."

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI has rescued four teenagers who got into difficulty yesterday evening (Thursday 31 July) when out on a canoeing venture.

The volunteer crew was alerted shortly after 8pm and requested to go to the aid of four canoeists who were sheltering from a southerly wind at Ballycotton Lighthouse.

The all-weather lifeboat under coxswain Eolan Walsh launched at 8.15pm and made its way to the scene approximately a mile from shore.

Conditions at the time were challenging: well as a Force Four wind, which was at times reaching Force Five, there was also a one to two metre sea swell.

On arrival, the Ballycotton crew proceeded to take three canoeists on board the lifeboat. A fourth teenager escorted by the lifeboat managed to make their way safely to shore at Ballycotton Harbour.

Speaking following the callout, Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Tatton said: "The group made the wise decision this evening to call the lifeboat for help once they got into difficulty.

"The four, all of whom were wearing lifejackets had been out canoeing for a number of hours and got caught out by the weather as it deteriorated. We were delighted to assist and glad that all have been returned safe and well to Ballycotton tonight."

#lifeboat – Cork Harbour lifeboat volunteers were paged at 5.35pm yesterday afternoon to reports of a disabled boat with two persons on board between Fennels bay and Weavers point. The casualty vessel had deployed an anchor, but were dragging towards the shoreline.

Crosshaven Lifeboat helm Vincent Fleming, with crew Harry O'Rourke and Paddy Quinlan were soon in the area , but could not locate the casualty boat. Valentia Coast Guard Radio managed to establish Mobile contact with the boat, which had restarted its engine and sailed back to Ringaskiddy without informing anyone!

On returning towards Crosshaven, the crew came across another small vessel with two people on board which had broken down. The crew established a tow to the Point slipway before returning to station.

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched to assist two people and their dog on board a 32ft cruiser, aground on Sandy Bottom in Dromineer Bay last night.

At 8.05pm on Thursday evening, July 31, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist two people and their dog on board a cruiser aground at Sandy Bottom, close to the lifeboat station, in Dromineer Bay.

The lifeboat launched at 8.12pm with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Keith Brennan on board. Winds were south westerly, Force 4, visibility was good.

The lifeboat came alongside at 8.13pm and transferred an RNLI crew member to the boat. The two people and their dog were safe and unharmed. The boat was checked for damage and found not to be taking water. The engine was in good working order. An attempt to take the boat off the sandy bank by running its engines astern was unsuccessful. The Lifeboat took the cruiser under tow and out to open water, where further checks found that the steering was not working. The cruiser was towed to Dromineer Harbour and tied safely alongside at 8.45pm.

Lifeboat Helm Eleanor Hooker advises all boat users to 'study your charts and plan your passage before setting out from port, and to know the navigation buoys on the lake.'

#rnli – Lifeboat crew with Castletownbere RNLI launched yesterday (30 July 2014) to help a couple who had become injured when the 40 ft yacht they were sailing on, at Lawrence Cove, got into difficultly. On arriving at the scene, the lifeboat crew had to board the vessel and treat the injured woman before bringing the couple to safety at Castletownbere harbour in Cork.

The call for help was raised at 1.28pm, with the lifeboat arriving on scene fifteen minutes later. A local passenger vessel had been passing when the couple got into trouble and was able to offer assistance.

When the lifeboat came alongside the yacht, three of the volunteer lifeboat crew boarded the vessel and administered first aid to the couple. They did not wish to move the woman as she had received injuries to her back, so the lifeboat crew stayed onboard the yacht and returned with it to the shore. On arrival they were transferred to Cork University Hospital.

Commenting on the callout Castletownbere RNLI crewmember Paul Stevens said, 'Thankfully conditions were calm and we were able to reach the couple quickly. It was also fortunate to have the assistance of the local ferry when the lifeboat crew arrived and we are very grateful to them. The couple had sustained injuries when their yacht had got into difficulty and our priority was to get them back to shore as quickly and comfortably as possible. We wish them both a speedy recovery.'

#RNLI - This Sunday 3 August, members of the Kerrigan family, their friends and neighbours, the emergency services and the general public will gather at 10pm for a special function in Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel in Ballyshannon.



Following the annual blessing of the boats ceremony at the Mall Quay at 7pm, the Indians will perform at Dorrian's marking 40 years since Danny Kerrigan’s tragic drowning and subsequently the establishment of a marine rescue service in the area which became Bundoran RNLI.

The band is kindly sponsored by the Kerrigan family of Ballyshannon, whose brother Danny, a signals NCO at Finner Camp, drowned in 1974 at Roguey Cliffs.

Despite Danny's great efforts to stay afloat in heavy seas, there was no emergency boat available in the area and no other boat could get to the scene in time to save him.

As a result of his tragic death, a meeting brought together members of the Defence Forces, Gardaí, Fire Brigade and water safety interests in the area, the result of which was the formation of the Bundoran Rescue Committee.

Completely new to the area of water safety, they sought the advice of water safety interests from Tramore in Co Waterford. Following consultation and an assessment of the local area, it was decided to launch the new service from the West End pier.

Funds were raised in the locality and a second hand 'D' class inflatable boat was purchased from the RNLI. The boat was initially stored in sheds in Bundoran up until the committee, with the support of many local people, built the first rescue boathouse on the pier.

Subsequently the service has saved many lives in Donegal Bay, including the Mountbatten incident off Mullaghmore in 1979. The RNLI took over the running of the service in 1994.

The lifeboat crew today are as they were 40 years ago – volunteers – and rely on the generosity of members of the public and their constant donations in order to keep this lifesaving service operational in Donegal Bay.

Lifeboat operations manager for Bundoran RNLI, Tony McGowan, said: "We are indebted to the Kerrigan family for organising the function and generously donating the proceeds to the lifeboat and we take the opportunity on the night to remember Danny and all of those who have been lost at sea in the area."

The Kerrigan family added: "While it was devastating to lose Danny, it was good to see a lifeboat service formed as a result and our thanks go to the present lifeboat crew for all their great work.”


Tickets for the night are available on the door at €15 or in advance from the Kerrigan family, McNern Barbers in Ballyshannon or BMG Hardware in Bundoran.
 


A history in words and pictures of Bundoran Lifeboat Station is available on the station’s Facebook page.

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched yesterday to assist two people on board a 24ft cruiser, broken down and drifting across the lake near Portumna.

The lifeboat launched at 4.45pm with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Jason Freeman and Keith Brennan on board. Winds were westerly, Force 4, visibility was fair to good with frequent rain squalls.

The cruiser was pushed up river towards Portumna Bridge by the wind. When the lifeboat arrived on scene, it found the two people to be safe and unharmed, and wearing their lifejackets. Another vessel had attempted to assist, but their tow had broken and the lifeboat was called.

An RNLI volunteer checked the boat for damage and when he was satisfied it was not holed, set up a tow. The Lifeboat took the cruiser under tow to the safety of Terryglass harbour, where it was tied alongside at 5.55pm.

Lifeboat Helm Eleanor Hooker thanked boat users in Terryglass Harbour, who took lines when the lifeboat brought the cruiser alongside. She advises skippers to 'ensure their boat has fresh fuel and is well serviced before going afloat'.

#rnli – The lifeboat crew with Larne RNLI have not had much time to relax over the summer, as their lifeboats have been launched seven times since the end of June. The call outs were to a variety of incidents, including a man in trouble in the water, drifting vessels and false alarms with good intent. Thankfully in all seven call outs there was no serious injury or loss of life and the swift action of the lifeboat crew brought several people to safety.

Commenting on the busy season Larne RNLI volunteer lifeboat crewmember Pamela Dorman said, 'It has been a very busy time for the lifeboat crew in Larne and each call out has been different. We never know what will meet us when we launch at all hours of the day and night but we are prepared for everything.

Even with call outs that have proven to be false alarms with good intent, we would prefer to be called out than to have a serious incident missed that could have been prevented. It may even mean a life saved.'

A look back at the last few weeks with Larne RNLI have shown a variety of call outs:

On Friday 25 July Larne inshore lifeboat was launched at 6.11pm to reports of a 27ft Bayliner broken down in Ballygally Bay with two people onboard. The lifeboat crew established a tow, but due to the weight of the boat and the distance to be travelled, they also called on the all-weather lifeboat to assist. Between the two lifeboats the vessel was towed to Glenarm Marina. Larne Coastguard assisted the lifeboat crew by securing boat in the marina.

On Tuesday 22 July Larne's inshore lifeboat was launched on service at 12.40am to a man reported to be in the water. Once on scene the lifeboat crew safely recovered the casualty onboard and asked for an ambulance to meet them at the shore as he had been in the water for 45 minutes. The lifeboat brought the casualty ashore where he was handed into the care of Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Police Service of Northern Ireland. Larne Coastguard was also in attendance.

On Sunday 20 July Larne All-Weather lifeboat was returning from exercise when they were diverted to a broken down 32ft sailing boat with two people on board in Ballygally bay at 11.12am. There was no wind so the sailing boat was beginning to drift and unable to make its way safely. Larne All-Weather lifeboat took the sailing vessel under tow and brought it to East Antrim Boat Club where it was placed on a mooring.

On Tuesday 15 July the inshore lifeboat was launched to Browns Bay at 5.11pm to what was thought to be two people in the water after a small boat had sank. The inshore lifeboat along with Portmuck coastguard searched the bay and made contact with other boat users who may have seen a small boat sinking in the area. With the area well searched and no one seeing any other boats in the area it was decided that the first informant mistook two lobster buoys for two persons and was a false alarm with good intent.

On Monday 14 July the inshore lifeboat at 1135am to a kayaker struggling to make way off skernoghan point at Islandmagee. When on scene the casualty was found to be very tired from paddling against the tide and a strong wind. He was brought ashore by the lifeboat crew.

On Saturday 12 July Larne RNLI's inshore lifeboat launched at 8.02am to reports of a small grey tender drifting south from Muck Island. The lifeboat crew searched from Portmuck to blackhead lighthouse with Portmuck coastguard searching from the Gobbins cliffs. Bangor RNLI was also tasked to help with the search and they searched north from Bangor to blackhead. Portmuck Coastguard then spotted the tender over two miles north from the shore and directed the lifeboats towards it. When on scene it was established that there was no-one on the tender and it was confirmed it had broken free from a yacht the night before. Larne inshore lifeboat crew took the tender in tow and Bangor lifeboat returned home. Larne RNLI reunited the tender to the owner and returned to station.

On Saturday 28 June Larne's inshore lifeboat launched at 2.20pm to help administer first aid to a man taken ill on browns bay beach. An ambulance was also called. The lifeboat crew was on scene at 2.27pm along with Portmuck Coastguard. However on arrival the casualty could not be located and the RNLI and Coastguard teams searched the beach and surrounding area. When nothing was found all units were stood down and it is believed the man had recovered and made his way home.

#rnli – Dónal Gallagher, brother of the late blues guitarist Rory Gallagher has presented Ballycotton RNLI with a generous donation of €11,000 to help them continue their work of saving lives at sea.

This phenomenal donation was raised through the sale of items from the well- known and much loved guitarist, Rory Gallagher, at the Rock Memorabilia auction held recently at Whytes Auction House, which raised €7,500 for Ballycotton lifeboat station. A further donation of €3,500 was given from an anonymous unsuccessful bidder who wished to support the work of the life-saving charity.

'Rory was very fond of Ballycotton, he loved walking the cliffs and found inspiration for his song writing there - songs such as 'A Million Miles Away' and 'Lost at Sea', said the musician's brother, Donal Gallagher.

The Gallagher Estate gifted the Rory instruments to the RNLI at the Ballycotton RNLI's annual fundraising Gala dinner at Ballymaloe House, last January and auctioneer Ian Whyte offered his services (commission free), to fundraise for this great cause.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea and operates all over Ireland and the UK. Volunteer lifeboat crews provide lifesaving cover around the coast 365 days a year. On average it takes €1,502 to train a crew member annually and €1,343 for their lifesaving kit.

Ballycotton RNLI will be holding their annual Family Fun day during this Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday 3 August. This is one of their main fundraising activities for the year but also a great day out for everyone. Like their Facebook page 'Ballycotton Lifeboat Fundraising Events' for more details and watch the 'Lost at Sea'