#RNLI - RNLI lifeboats from Wicklow and Courtmacsherry have responded to two separate calls from fishing boats in difficulty around the Irish coast in recent days.

A trawler with three fishermen onboard was towed to safety by Wicklow RNLI yesterday morning (Thursday 10 November) after it lost all power 10 miles offshore.

The all-weather lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Nick Keogh and a volunteer crew, launched shortly after 10am and were alongside the stricken fishing vessel 40 minutes later.

The skipper had dropped an anchor, but it had dragged and the vessel had drifted a short distance south with the tide. Conditions in the area had a slight sea state, with northwesterly winds of Force 2-3 and good visibility.

The Naval Service patrol vessel LÉ Orla and the work vessel Wildcat 2 also stood by the trawler as the lifeboat crew established a towline.

The trawler, with three crew on board, was then towed back to Wicklow and brought safely alongside the South Quay at 12.15pm.

The previous evening (Wednesday 9 November), Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 10.15pm to aid a 65ft fishing vessel in difficulty 25 miles south of the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.

The lifeboat, under coxswain Sean O'Farrell and a crew of six, launched immediately and located the casualty at 11.25pm. Conditions at sea were reasonable, with winds in the area blowing 26 knots.

The fishing boat, with three people on board had encountered trouble with its power while trawling in the area and required assistance.

On scene, the lifeboat quickly assessed the difficulties and for the next two hours, the lifeboat and stricken vessel proceeded back at low speed to Kinsale, where the boat was safely berthed at 1.45am.

The crew on board Wednesday night’s callout with O'Farrell were mechanic Stewart Russell, Ken Cashman, Donal Young, Ciaran Hurley, Denis Murphy and Conor Tyndall.

#RNLI - The RNLI’s festive Reindeer Runs are back in three locations in Cork and Dublin.

And the charity that saves lives at sea is encouraging families to come out, get involved and get moving for a great cause.

Renowned athlete and author Derval O’Rourke is the Reindeer Run ambassador and put her support behind the event as she joined lifeboat crew and their families at Fota Park House and Gardens in Cork for the official launch recently.

Speaking at the event, she said: “It is a real privilege to be back as the ambassador for the Reindeer Run which is a fantastic fundraising event for the RNLI.

“The RNLI is a charity close to my heart, as my husband [and fellow Olympian Peter O'Leary] is heavily involved in sailing and I find it incredibly reassuring that the RNLI provides such a great service.

“This event combines our families’ two big passions running and the water. With all of our lives becoming increasing sedentary an event such as the Reindeer Run is a fantastic opportunity to get out and get moving in three stunning venues around Ireland.

“I am really excited to be there on the day, and to be able to give out my ‘fit foodie’ goodie bags to the deserving winners.”

Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat helm Vince Fleming was joined by his two daughters Saoirse and Zarah at the launch and spoke about why the Reindeer Runs are so important.

“As a charity we rely on the goodwill of the public and it is great to be able to hold events like these that are family focused, great fun and give people a an enjoyable day out for a good cause,” he said.

“The funds we raise through the Reindeer Runs support the RNLI in Ireland, providing vital training, equipment and kit for the volunteer lifeboat crew.

“The RNLI is not just about the lifeboat volunteers and the wider team behind the launches and fundraising. There are also the countless families behind every callout for every person brought home.”

The RNLI Reindeer Runs are being held on Sunday 20 November at Liss Ard Estate, Skibbereen; Sunday 27 November at Fota Park House and Gardens, Cork; and Sunday 4 December in Marlay Park, Dublin.

The event consists of a 5km and 10km run or walk and a 1km Santa Saunter for children. Entry fees for the longer distances are €20/€22 with the Santa Saunter €12.50 with accompanying adults free. All participants get a festive RNLI Reindeer Run t-shirt and a pair of novelty antlers to wear.

For more information and to register for the event, visit www.rnli.org/reindeerrun

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI responded yesterday afternoon (31 October) to reports of swimmers in difficulty to the south of Colt Island off the north Co Dublin town.

Shortly after 12 noon, a member of the local fishing fleet alerted Dublin Coast Guard that several swimmers appeared to be having difficulty returning to shore.

Skerries RNLI volunteers launched the lifeboat, with Peter Kennedy at the helm and crewed by Gerry Canning and Steven Johnston, all of whom were already in the station attending a casualty care course when the pager sounded.

Arriving on scene, the crew quickly located a male and a female swimmer, with a fishing vessel standing by them.

The male swimmer had been dragged further out to sea than intended and, with the effects of the cold water starting to set in, was struggling to swim against a strong current.

The female swimmer was in no difficulty and had gone to assist him. She was also able to tell the crew that two other swimmers who had been in the area had made it ashore themselves.

Both swimmers were taken on board the lifeboat, and the woman was dropped ashore to retrieve her belongings. However, the man was very cold and the crew decided he should be brought back to the station for further assessment.

He was brought into the warmth of the station by members of crew on the shore who began to treat him for mild hypothermia. As a precaution, he was then checked over by Skerries RNLI’s honorary medical officer, Dr Seamus Mulholland.

After a short time, the man was well enough to be on his way and the Skerries lifeboat volunteers returned to their casualty care training.

Speaking after the callout, Skerries RNLI lifeboat press officer Gerry Canning said: “The speed of response is crucial in cases like this as the effects of cold water can cause a casualty’s condition to worsen quite quickly.

“You won’t get a much quicker launch than when there is already a full crew in the station training when the pagers sound.”

#RNLI - Youghal RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked yesterday morning (Saturday 15 October) in choppy waters to reports of a man taken ill on board a chartered angling vessel.

At 11.30am the lifeboat launched to the location around a mile and a half off Capel Island, where the casualty had been unconscious for a period and was pale in appearance.

The lifeboat crew proceeded to administer casualty care when they recovered the casualty on board.

An ambulance was also requested and was awaiting the lifeboat on its return to station, where the paramedics checked the casualty over before giving him the all clear.

Commenting on the callout, Youghal RNLI lifeboat Helm John Griffin said: “[The charter vessel operators] did the right thing in contacting us when the man became unwell.

“It’s always better to get an ill person medically checked out if there are any concerns.”

#RNLI - Buncrana man Francy Burns wed his sweetheart, Carndonagh woman Helen McFarland, last Saturday 8 October in a wedding attended by their family, friends and the volunteers with Lough Swilly RNLI.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing, as after the vows were exchanged and Francy took the microphone to make his wedding speech, the lifeboat pagers went off and the volunteer lifeboat crew jumped to their feet and raced out of the room to the callout.

The incident was a reminder to Helen of what she can expect married to a lifeboat volunteer.

However, as Francy was preparing to follow his lifeboat colleagues and head out the door to the callout, the coxswain assured him they had enough crew and he could stay where he was and enjoy the day.

The callout was to a vessel with one person on board which had lost engine power and had been drifting for three hours.

Lough Swilly RNLI launched their new Shannon-class lifeboat and brought the vessel to safety, with the lifeboat crew returning to the wedding reception some hours later.

As the wedding reception was held in the Gateway Hotel, Francy had the perfect view out the window down on the berth from where the lifeboat is launched.

“It was certainly a day of mixed emotions,” said Francy. “I married the most beautiful and amazing woman but when I saw the crew stand up to head out for the lifeboat shout during my speech my first thoughts were to follow them.

“You never know what you are launching to but thankfully it was fairly straightforward. Helen understands how I feel about the lifeboat and she is fully supportive. You never know, I might even persuade her to sign up too.”

Lough Swilly lifeboat volunteer crew member and press officer Joe Joyce added: “The launch sort of added to the whole day. You couldn’t have planned it better.

“Everyone with Lough Swilly RNLI wish Francy and Helen every happiness on their marriage and we will see Francy down at the station for our next shout.”

#RNLI - Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat was called out at 2.45pm yesterday afternoon (Sunday 2 October) as three divers and their support boat sought help as their vessel got into difficulties near Black Head off Kinsale.

The lifeboat was quickly away with a crew of seven and was on scene at 3.15pm to join Kinsale RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard boat from Oysterhaven.

As the divers and their boat were being brought back to shore, another call came from Valentia Radio of an injured crew person on board a sailing vessel off Kinsale Harbour.

Both the Kinsale and Courtmacsherry lifeboats assisted in the transfer of the female casualty to Kinsale Pier, where an ambulance was awaiting to take her to Cork University Hospital.

Conditions at sea today deteriorated from early afternoon with a Force 5 to 6 wind and a strong sea swell.

The cew on the Courtmacsherry lifeboat yesterday were coxswain Sean O'Farrell, mechanic Stewart Russell, Ciaran Hurley, Mark Gannon, Dara Gannon, Dean Hennessey and Evan O'Sullivan.

#RNLI - Celebrated chef, food writer and television personality Clodagh McKenna recently visited Howth Lifeboat Station, where she treated the volunteer crew to a delicious seafood supper.

McKenna’s visit marks the countdown to the RNLI’s upcoming foodie fundraiser Fish Supper, for which the charity is encouraging people across Ireland to host a fish-themed dinner between 14–16 October to raise funds to help save lives at sea.

The Clodagh’s Irish Kitchen author served a three-course meal for the lifeboat crew, starting with fresh Dingle crab cakes with Irish heirloom tomatoes and fennel aioli.

The main dish was pan-fried sea bass with hazelnut butter with dill potato dumplings and autumn vegetable salad. For dessert, the crew were treated to McKenna’s signature chocolate Guinness cake.

“It was an absolute pleasure to cook for the Howth volunteer lifeboat crew,” said McKenna. “My grandpop and uncle were both fishermen, so the work of the RNLI is very close to my heart.

“When I was filming my series Fresh From the Sea for RTÉ, I was lucky enough to get to see the work of the RNLI first hand. Please sign up to make a Fish Supper and help the courageous crews save more lives at sea.”

Last year, RNLI volunteer crew members across Ireland and the UK missed nearly 7,000 evening meals with their loved ones to brave cold, angry and often dangerous waters to save lives.

Fish Supper aims to highlight the disrupted dinners RNLI crew experience day-in-day-out, and the commitment shown not only by them but their families, who often have an empty place at the dinner table.

RNLI volunteers give up their time, comfort and often home cooked meals to respond immediately when the pagers go off.

“Our lifeboat crew here in Howth and indeed across Ireland are prepared to drop everything and respond to a call out at a moment’s notice,” said Howth RNLI mechanic Ian Sheridan.

“Our lifesaving work is essential and often challenging and dangerous. As volunteers, we are extremely grateful to people who donate so generously and host fundraising events such as Fish Supper to enable us to do what we do.”

To request your free fundraising pack and receive more information, visit RNLI.org/FishSupper where you’ll also find recipes, party game ideas and place name cards to help the evening go well.

Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews across 45 stations in Ireland had 1,098 lifeboat launches, bringing 1,244 people to safety. Of all recorded launches, 416 were carried out in the hours of darkness.

#RNLI - Fethard RNLI launched yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to assist a man whose pleasure craft broke down off the Wexford coast.

The volunteer lifeboat crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat at 4.07pm following a report that a 21ft pleasure boat, with one onboard, had sustained engine failure in an area known locally as the Horseshoe.

Helmed by Eoin Bird and with crew members Patrick Byrne and Damian Murphy onboard, the lifeboat made its way to the scene 1.5 nautical miles from Fethard Harbour. Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a Force 5 westerly but sheltered wind blowing.

Once on scene, the lifeboat crew observed that the boat had washed up on the sand due to the tide.

The crew beached their D-class lifeboat before working to set up a towline with the casualty vessel. Once this was set up, the lifeboat proceeded to tow the pleasure boat back to Fethard Harbour, where it arrived at 5.10pm.

Speaking following the callout, Fethard RNLI deputy launching authority Hugh Burke said: “The area in which the man got into difficulty today is one where our lifeboat crew has to train regularly due to the sandbanks and sandbars which change regularly with each gale of wind.

“We would always encourage anyone planning a boat trip to always respect the water – make sure you wear a life jacket and carry a means of communication should you get into trouble and need to make contact.”

#RNLI - Ballycotton RNLI launched around 1pm yesterday afternoon (Thursday 29 September) to aid a dolphin stranded in shallow water on Silver Strand beach near the East Cork village.

A member of the public who was on scene had tried to assist the dolphin back to sea, but when they were unable to do so they alerted the Ballycotton lifeboat.

Ballycotton’s inshore lifeboat and its volunteer crew were quickly on scene, with the all-weather lifeboat on standby due to the offshore breeze and calm weather conditions.

Upon arrival, coxswain Eolan Walsh entered the water, guided the marine mammal into deeper water and shepherded it back out to sea.

Speaking after the callout, Walsh said: “Similar to a previous launch last summer, this dolphin appeared to be quite young and may have been separated from its pod.

“We would like to commend the member of the public who assisted the dolphin initially. We were happy to help and bring the dolphin into deeper waters.”

#Rescue - Howth’s coastguard and lifeboat teams launched to the rescue of a lone kayaker off the North Dublin headland yesterday morning (Wednesday 28 September).

After a concerned onlooker called 999 when spotting that the kayaker was on the water with no life jacket, Howth Coast Guard and Howth RNLI’s inshore lifeboat were both tasked to the scene near Ireland’s Eye.

In the meantime the kayaker had proceeded around the back of the island and out of visibility from the caller on land. While the kayaker didn’t appear in difficulty, there were concerns for their safety.

A coastguard mobile unit proceeded to the end of the pier while the lifeboat launched on service to the far side of Ireland’s Eye, where the crew located a female on an open-deck kayak struggling in the water. She was brought back ashore by the lifeboat without incident.

“If she fell in the water, she had no means of staying afloat as she had no life jacket and only had a phone to call for help, there can be very limited if any phone signal once you go on the water,” according to an Irish Coast Guard spokesperson.

“The kayaker hadn’t checked the weather, which was unsuitable for the craft she was in. The lessons learnt are you need to have an emergency plan if going on the water – VHF radio, flares, whistle, weather information.

“Equally if not more important, you need a life jacket, no excuse.”

The rescue came just hours after Larne RNLI launched to assist two kayakers in difficulty off the Co Antrim coast, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.