Lucky escape for revellers on Lough Derg

TWELVE revellers had a lucky escape in Lough Derg when their boat started to take on water late on Friday night.
Killaloe Coast Guard Unit spokesman, Michael Quigley has confirmed that a major tragedy was averted thanks to the quick response of the unit.
“Twelve lives were saved on Friday night. Things could have gone horribly wrong only for the intervention of emergency services. The occupants of the boat were very lucky,” he said.
Ten people had to be rescued from a speed boat about three and a half miles south of Killaloe bridge after two others had tried to swim ashore.
The drama unfolded when the local Coast Guard Unit got an emergency call at about 11.40pm on Friday night to come to the assistance of a boat that had got into difficulty.
It is understood that the 22-foot long speed boat, which was only licensed to carry 10 people or 820kgs hit something, which caused it to take in water.
One rescue boat was immediately dispatched to the scene and a second boat was quickly launched to provide additional assistance, the Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter at Shannon was placed on standby and the local gardaí were notified.
All the passengers were taken to safety and the injured craft towed to safe water.
Those who were rescued were reported to be shocked but were fortunate to escape uninjured.
Mr Quigley advised members of the public not to attempt to conduct boat trips at night. “The River Shannon is not meant to be navigated at night. There is no navigation lights or other lights to assist anyone trying to steer a boat.
“Drink driving should also be observed on the River Shannon as well as the roads,” he said.
Meanwhile, a search and rescue operation was launched in Liscannor Bay on Monday afternoon after two kite surfers encountered problems with their equipment and were left drifting in rough seas.
Doolin Coast Guard were tasked by MRSC Valentia to assist in the search and rescue of the two men, a Polish national and a Limerick man in his early 20s, after an onlooker called the emergency services after noticing the kite surfers in distress.
They were surfing near the Bár Trá area when they had difficulty with their rigs in high winds and rough seas. With conditions quickly deteriorating, the kite-surfers had several failed attempts to fly their kites and with the prevailing weather, were quickly taken further out to sea and across Liscannor Bay to the Inagh estuary area.
The Doolin Coast Guard Delta boat was transported by road for launch at Liscannor Harbour and the Shannon-based rescue helicopter also joined the search. The Aran Islands lifeboat was also tasked by MRSC Valentia to assist.
In a period of some 30 to 40 minuets, with strong south-westerly winds and an ebb tide, the pair of kite surfers had drifted across the bay for 2.5 kilometres when they eventually managed to make it onto the beach near the estuary.
Although fatigued after their endeavours, no medical intervention was required and all units were stood down.