The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
SPIRALLING insurance costs were one of the main factors that eventually sunk a voluntary rescue service in Lahinch, according to cone of its co-founders. In 1974, Tomsie O’Sullivan was one of the people who helped set up the Lahinch Inshore Rescue Service (LIRS). Insurance premiums soared from €2,500 at the start up to €6,000 over an 18-year period. All the organisation’s stock had to be insured while separate insurance was required for the use of a vessel and equipment at sea. In 2017, Tomsie recalled the organisation needed about €4,000 to upgrade equipment to meet national water safety standards, which they didn’t have in their coffers at the time. Grant aid was not available because the group were operating out of a steel container and would have to build a new small boathouse costing an estimated €20,000 to secure any further financial assistance. Once the organisation ceased to exist, all the group’s stock, steel container, boat, jet ski and quad …
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