A LONG-SERVING former Doolin Coast Guard member has claimed a lot of people in North Clare have been emotionally upset by the fallout from the sacking of 12 volunteers. After joining the Doolin Unit in 2002, Bernard Lucas became a Coast Guard climbing instructor in 2007 and equipment inspector in 2009. Over the last ten years, Mr Lucas has travelled all over the world for Work at Height with another former member Conor McGrath who put safety procedures and carry out rescues if necessary for film productions. When the unit was stood down, he recalled this was blamed on irreconcilable differences between members. But when six members were taken back, he claimed this created the perception the 12 others were the ones causing the problem, that wrongly created a “them and us” situation. “Some of the group of ten were very quiet but were not asked to go back. There was no support put in place for these people. One …

A KILLALOE company has scored on the double by winning a Lean Leadership Award that brought extra cash of up to €150,000 into the company over an 18-month period. Thinking Toys was recently presented with an Award of Achievement in recognition of lean leadership at the 2022 Lean Business Ireland Awards. Implementing transformation change with stock management through a new Lean Management Programme to deal with an overstocking issue helped the company reduce their suppliers to 130 and product lines to 4,000, which cut the value of stock it held by 35%. Thinking Toys had grown from employing two people with ten suppliers and 200 products in 2004 to nine employees with 160 suppliers in 2020 across the world and 5,500 product lines. The family business was set up by Michael and Áine Conacur, inspired by their eldest child Ailis, who has Sturge Weber Syndrome and who had major brain surgery when she was two. The frustration and difficulties the …

IT took Minister of State with special responsibility for the Irish Coast Guard Hildegarde Naughton almost 11 months to meet some volunteers in the Doolin Coast Guard Unit (DCGU) following a public commitment. Minister Naughton visited Doolin Coast Guard Unit in County Clare on October 27 this year to meet with the local volunteer interim team and hear first-hand about their life saving work. However, her visit, attended by only one public representative, Councillor Joe Garrihy, has angered former volunteers after she failed to make any contact with the members who were controversially sacked after the unit was stood down from operations and training activities on November 2, 2021. There were 12 volunteers in DCGU when the unit was disbanded. Former volunteer Robert McCavery said members feel let down by politicians. “Minister Hildegarde Naughton said on Clare FM last year she would visit the unit but she has never met us.” In a statement issued by the Department of Transport …

A FORMER Doolin Coast Guard volunteer has asked how he was “suddenly viewed as a danger to himself and others in the unit after 28 years of service”. Myles Duffy would like an apology for a statement made by Coast Guard director, Eugene Clonan at the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications on Thursday, November 18, 2021. Mr Clonan stated, “Doolin Unit has been having problems for years. Six members resigned and there are 12 members left. Based on what I have been told, my belief is the interaction between the team is not safe. “The 12 members are not safe to go out because of the issues that have arisen as a result of the internal conflict. I will not have people going out to sea or climbing cliffs if I do not have confidence in them doing so safely. “I am protecting myself and I am protecting them, but mainly them. We had the loss of Caitriona Lucas. …

A FORMER Doolin Coast Guard member has revealed he resigned twice in the space of about four months after assurances to address management issues were not addressed. Des Egan, who jointed the Doolin Unit in 2015, resigned at the end of October amid frustration about the way volunteers were being treated by the Coast Guard at national level. After receiving a request to return, Mr Egan said he decided to join the interim team in late December without knowing who was or wasn’t rejoining following an assurance the main findings of the Mulvey Report would be addressed within a three-month period. The former volunteer confirmed he stayed for about three months and left again because management issues were not addressed to his satisfaction. “It wasn’t an easy decision. Management in head office didn’t step up and deliver what I consider they are paid for. What has happened the unit is sad. People don’t give up their time and energy to …

ROBERT McCavery was the youngest member when he joined the Doolin Coast Guard Unit (DCGU) in 2008. Fourteen years later, the Lahinch native was left wondering what he did wrong when he was sacked on his 40th birthday. “When the six people left, we thought when they are gone they are gone. But we got more suspicious as time went on. “We knew there was something happening because there was very few turning up for training and the same people were missing for weeks. “Over the last few years before we were sacked, I felt I was looking over my shoulder because someone was going to report me over something very minor.” Commenting on interpersonal difficulties, he said five or six years ago people who had issues with each other should have been instructed and facilitated by Coast Guard management to come together to fully resolve them and, if this couldn’t be done, they should have been told to stay …

THE alleged failure of Irish Coast Guard management to resolve practical issues hampering the work of Doolin volunteers prompted the first resignation of one of its longest serving members. Conor McGrath has spoken publicly for the first time about the reasons why he was forced to quit the service after 31 years through sheer frustration over inaction to resolve five key issues. In an exclusive interview with the Clare Champion, Mr McGrath recalled how he resigned shortly after writing his resignation letter on October 28, and this was followed by the departure of another five members within a few days. While local management was supportive, the Doolin resident, who is regarded as one of the best rock and sea cave climbers in the country, alleged national management was “disruptive”. “One of our team members Caitríona Lucas was killed in Kilkee and there was the helicopter crash. There was a lot of oversight and criticism of management. “I think they had …

SPIRALLING energy prices are providing an electric shock to Clare County Council after costs almost trebled from €2.5 million to about €6 million over the past year. Outlining his Draft Budget 2023, Chief Executive, Pat Dowling has revealed there has been a 250% increase in electricity, fuel and gas up to a level of almost €6 million compared to €2.5 million in 2021. This dramatic increase will only be partially covered by the government who will provide €1.9 million, leaving the council with a considerable shortfall. Mr Dowling also confirmed a further provision of €0.45 million for a combination of energy savings, stabilisation of the market and or additional government supports has been budgeted for. However, this is not confirmed and if the actual energy pricing materialises as forecast, without these additional supports, this will result in a deficit in the income budget for 2023. The chief executive admitted it has been necessary to reduce expenditure in some areas with …