Displaying items by tag: Lifeboats
#RNLI - The Clifden RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew scrambled into their kit for a special callout recently when they provided a guard of honour for their two fellow lifeboat crew Alan Pryce and Sinéad O’Sullivan, who tied the knot in St Joseph’s Church recently.
The couple met through their life saving work volunteering as crew with Clifden RNLI.
And lifeboats played a big part in their day, from the RNLI guard of honour, to the special stop at the station for a photograph with their beloved lifeboat, to a wedding cake which featured the couple dressed in their full RNLI kit.
O’Sullivan joined Clifden RNLI eight years ago and is the station’s only female crewmember. A trained lifeguard, she is currently training to be a helm on the station’s D-class inshore lifeboat and a navigator on the all weather lifeboat.
For her day job, O’Sullivan is an estate agent and auctioneer and is well known all over Connemara for her enthusiasm and energy and getting involved in many good causes.
Her groom is a fellow Clifden native who signed up as volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew at just 17 years of age, through his interest in fishing and sailing.
Since then Pryce has become helm on the D-class and Atlantic-class inshore lifeboats and is one of the station’s four coxswains on the all-weather lifeboat, which is currently on a two-year trial at the station.
"Being in the RNLI is a huge part of both of our lives so we were really delighted that we were able to incorporate it into our wedding celebrations," said Pryce.
"We both love the sea and share a passion for all water based activities, so it was definitely one of our shared interests that resulted in us getting together."
O’Sullivan added: "We were really thrilled that we could share our wedding with two of our favourite things - the Clifden lifeboat and our beloved dog Pippa."
After the wedding, the couple enjoyed a quick mini-moon to Wicklow where they even stopped in briefly to Arklow RNLI to admire their Trent all-weather lifeboat.
And now that the dust has settled and all the party clothes are put away, the newlyweds are back on service and ready to answer the call of the RNLI pagers.
Women Wanted For Northern Ireland Lifeboat Crews
#Lifeboats - Donaghadee's lifeboat station is putting out a new call for volunteers - and women are particularly welcome, as UTV News reports.
The Ards Peninsula town, just outside of Belfast Lough, hosts one of Northern Ireland's nine RNLI lifeboat stations, which combined accounted for 281 people rescued in 2014.
But only 10% of the North's lifeboat volunteers are women, prompting a renewed appeal by Donaghadee coxswain John Ashwood - who hastens to add that the RNLI is an equal opportunities recruiter.
“At the end of the day, here in Donaghadee, the whole ethos is getting the right person to do the job whether male of female," he says.
UTV News has more on the story HERE.
Bangor Lifeboat Launched To Search For Missing Vessel
#RNLI - RNLI Bangor's lifeboat launched at 7.55pm last night (Saturday 14 March) to search for a missing 12ft RIB with two persons on board after the alarm was raised by Belfast Coastguard.
Within minutes of the rescue pagers being activated, volunteer crew had launched the lifeboat and located the missing boat close to the slipway at Ballyholme Bay.
The vessel had experienced engine failure and had been rowed closer to the shore by the owner.
Calm on-scene sea and weather conditions allowed for a tow line to be quickly rigged and passed to the stricken vessel. The boat was then towed to the safety of Bangor Harbour.
"Engine failure even close to shore could lead to a life threatening situation," said RNLI volunteer helmsman John Bell, who was involved in this rescue.
"We’re glad that the two people on board this boat are now safely ashore."
Bell went on to emphasise the RNLI’s five sea safety tips for anyone going afloat this summer.
"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 final always check the weather and tides."
Charity Cycle For Lough Ree Lifeboat
#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI held a press launch on Saturday (7 March) to announce their upcoming Lap of Lough Ree charity cycle, which will take place on Sunday 29 March.
The cycle will start and finish at The Bounty, Buccaneers Rugby Club in Athlone, and will travel north through Ballymahon, cross the Shannon at Lanesboro Bridge and complete the 85km lap of Lough Ree, travelling south on the Roscommon side, via Kilteevan, to cross again at Athlone Bridge.
Lough Ree RNLI relies on public donations to fund its operation, and the Lap of Lough Ree is an important fundraising event for the charity organisation.
Lough Ree's lifeboat station was the busiest in Ireland in 2014, so maintaining a high standard of service in the area is vital.
Brendan Finnegan, Lough Ree RNLI fundraising committee chairman, said: "We run a variety of events throughout the year to raise funds and we are privileged to have a huge level of support in the community.
:The cycle was very popular when we first organised it last year and it is a pleasure to run events that participants can get actively involved in. We are hoping for a big turnout again this year."
Registration for the event will take place at 9am on Sunday 29 March at The Bounty, with the cycle starting at 10am.
Snack packs will be provided to all entrants, and refreshments will be provided midway at Lanesboro and also at The Bounty afterwards on return. Subject to numbers interested, an extended route may be arranged for cyclists who enjoy a more challenging ride.
The entry fee is €25, and entry forms available at Facebook.com/LoughReeRNLILifeboat
In other fundraising news, Paddy McCrossan and Seamus Fuery of the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen (ONE) in Athlone presented a cheque for €500 to Lough Ree RNLI on 3 March last.
The ONE are stalwart supporters of Lough Ree RNLI, volunteering each year to help with collections on RNLI’s national Flag Day and maintaining RNLI collection boxes in their mess.
Lifeboat operations manager Damien Delaney said: "It’s good supporters like ONE that enable the lifeboat crews to respond to calls when they are needed, and we are grateful for their continual support since the Lough Ree lifeboat station opened."
Arklow Lifeboat's Sunday Afternoon Launch To Fishing Vessel
#RNLI - Arklow's RNLI lifeboat Ger Tigchleaar was launched within minutes in response to a call for help from a local fishing vessel yesterday afternoon (Sunday 8 March).
The vessel had suffered engine failure and was without navigation ability approximately 15 miles south of Arklow.
The volunteer crew consisting of coxswain Eamonn Kavanagh, station mechanic Michael Fitzgerald, Jimmy Myler, Craig O’Reilly, David Lee, James Russell and Cead Muller dropped their normal Sunday afternoon family activities and rushed to the lifeboat station.
After launching the lifeboat and locating the casualty vessel, they established a tow line and proceeded with the long slow tow back to Arklow.
All three crew members on the casualty vessel remained aboard during the tow home and all hands came ashore safely at Arklow Harbour.
No Time To Lose As Clogherhead Trawler Sunk Without Trace
#RNLI - RNLI Magazine revisits the fateful day last summer off Co Louth when a fishing trawler went under in a matter of minutes.
Despite the clear day and calm seas, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, the razor clam boat with two fishermen on board sank without warning off Port Oriel on Clogherhead after 5pm on 23 August last.
But in a fortunate turn of events, the sinking vessel was seen from a nearby fishing boat skippered by Sean Flanagan – who also happens to be one of the local RNLI's highly trained volunteer crew.
Flanagan got on the phone to deputy coxswain Tomas Whelahan to spark the lifeboat launch before calling in a Mayday and going to the aid of the sinking boat along with his son Donal.
From the deck of their Naomh Óisín, they could spot smoke rising from the engine of the stricken vessel, and getting closer they could see it was listing badly.
So there was no time to lose: once Sean had radioed details to the Dublin Coast Guard, he and Donal hauled their gear and made haste to the sinking boat and its two-man crew now vulnerable in the water.
RNLI Magazine has much more on the story HERE.
Clifden Lifeboat Tows Fishing Vessel To Safety Off Connemara
#RNLI - Clifden RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was launched on Friday last (20 February) to go to the aid of a fishing boat in difficulty off the Connemara coast.
The alarm was raised around 11.30am when the 35ft fishing vessel reported engine failure.
The boat was located between Inishbofin island and Cleggan Head, having departed Derryinver that morning with two crew on board.
Weather conditions were worsening at the time of departure, with a westerly Force 6 blowing as the Mersey class Pride and Spirit all-weather lifeboat was launched.
The boat and its crew were towed back to Derryinver pier where they expressed their thanks for the assistance provided.
Speaking following the callout, Clifden RNLI coxswain James Mullen said: "Considering that this is only the third launch for the Pride and Spirit since she has been on service in Clifden, the crew did extremely well to carry off a smooth and efficient launch, rescue and recovery.
"And of course we are always glad to be able to help any boat in difficulty in our area of operation."
Wicklow Lifeboat In Lunchtime Callout To Fishing Vessel
#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Annie Blaker launched just before 1pm yesterday (Sunday 15 February) to assist a fishing vessel with mechanical problems north of the harbour.
The skipper of the fishing vessel, which was approaching Wicklow, made contact with the Irish Coast Guard by VHF radio to say a rope had fouled the propeller and they required assistance.
The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh, located the drifting fishing vessel a short distance from the harbour entrance.
A towline was established and the fishing boat with two crew was brought safely into the harbour. The volunteer crew on the callout with Keogh were mechanic Tommy Murphy, Paul Sillery, Graham Fitzgerald, John Vize, Alan Goucher and Matt Doyle.
Portrush Lifeboat Crew Hold 'SOS Day' Swim For 2015
#RNLI - Portrush RNLI's volunteer lifeboat crew held their annual SOS Day swim on Saturday 31 January.
SOS Day is the annual RNLI crew fundraising day and stations all over the country host innovative and novel ways of fundraising incorporating the SOS initials.
Supporters of Portrush RNLI jumped into the sea at Portrush Harbour and swam round the all-weather lifeboat William Gordon Burr.
It was a bitterly cold day, but many supporters tuned up either to jump, cheer or provide warm blankets for the swimmers when they emerged from the sea.
"This is a fun event that involves our crew, fundraisers, and a great local crowd who turn out irrespective of the weather to support the volunteer lifeboat crew," said coxswain Des Austin.
"The crew themselves take part and their colleagues are on standby to give them a friendly push and also to haul them in at the end of the swim."
The crew also took time to thank Portrush Yacht Club for providing showers for the event and the venue for the après swim, as well as the RNLI lifeguards and local coastguard team who provided safety cover for the day.
After the event, presided over by James Heaney, chair of the lifeboat management group, everyone was treated to homemade soup and sandwiches in Portrush Yacht Club – plus some special SOS cupcakes.
Ireland's RNLI Lifeboats Rescued More Than 1,400 People In 2014
#RNLI - Ireland's RNLI lifeboat crews launched 1,089 times in 2014, bringing 1,414 people to safety.
And the lifesaving charity is calling for the public to think ahead and never underestimate the strength and power of the sea and inland waters as it today releases its 2014 lifeboat launch and rescue statistics, based on detailed returns of service, from each of its 45 lifeboat stations in Ireland.
The figures show more people are getting into difficulty on leisure craft, and the RNLI advises that proper safety advice and maintenance is vital to ensure people stay safe on the water.
The busiest lifeboat station on the island of Ireland last year was Lough Ree RNLI in Athlone. The charity’s lifeboat crew there launched 69 times and brought 142 people to safety.
This was followed by Howth RNLI, which had 62 launches and brought 107 people to safety, making it their busiest year ever.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI in south Dublin launched 56 times and brought 55 people to safety, while lifeboat crews on the Aran Islands off Galway and Arranmore Island off Donegal launched 78 times, helping 80 people.
Enniskillen RNLI on Lough Erne, which operates two separate lifeboat stations on the upper and lower lough, also had a busy year with 59 calls for assistance and 57 people brought ashore.
Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, Bangor RNLI in Co Down was the busiest single site station, launching 49 times and helping 51 people. Portrush RNLI on the Antrim coast launched their lifeboats 31 times and brought 28 people to safety.
In all, RNLI lifeboats in Northern Ireland launched 261 times in 2014, bringing 281 people to safety, while the charity’s lifeguards helped 284 people on 10 beaches during the season.
Compared to the previous year, when they launched 255 times, NI lifeboat launches show a slight increase. A total of 36 more people were brought to safety by RNLI lifeboats in 2014.
While lifeboat launch figures throughout the island of Ireland remain largely the same as last year, there has been a 10% increase in the amount of people brought to safety by lifeboats.
The types of callouts that the RNLI responded to last year included aid to leisure craft users (536), assistance to fishing vessels (140), help to people who got into difficulty along the shoreline (119) and to people in the water (185).
"These figures are based on every lifeboat station in the RNLI returning a detailed service report and are a valuable insight into what our volunteer lifeboat crews are facing when they launch and what conditions they face," said RNLI operations manager Owen Medland.
"Overall 35% of our lifeboat callouts were carried out in the hours of darkness. Almost half of the callouts last year were to leisure vessels and of these callouts many were to groundings and engine problems.
"Breaking down at sea or on a lough can be a frightening experience. Weather and darkness can turn a bad situation very serious in a matter of minutes. Nobody who sets out thinks anything bad will happen but calling for help early is always the right choice."
Medland continued: "Our volunteer lifeboat and shore crews have shown the commitment and courage we have come to rely on them for, but we must also thank our supporters and fundraisers, who work tirelessly to ensure the charity, which is dependent on donations from the public continues.
"There are also hundreds of employers around the country who let our lifeboat crews drop what they are doing and respond to a callout. We would not be able to run this service without them and we are extremely grateful to them for that."
Last year also saw the introduction of the RNLI’s 45th lifeboat station in Ireland, when Union Hall RNLI in south west Cork went on trial for a 24-month period in November.
And in the coming months, Lough Swilly RNLI in Buncrana, Co Donegal will become the first station in Ireland to receive the new Shannon-class lifeboat.
The €2.4 million lifeboat, which is due to arrive later this year, is the first class of lifeboat to be named after an Irish river, recognition by the charity of the role of Irish lifeboat crews and volunteers throughout the history of the RNLI.
In 2014 the charity marked 190 years of lifesaving and the RNLI is aiming to reduce coastal drowning significantly by 2024.
To do this, it will be expanding its preventative work and will launch Respect the Water, engaging with water users on how to stay safe and maintain their equipment. Water safety advice is available on rnli.org/safety.