Tag Archives: Lough Derg RNLI

EMERGENCY services were called to Lough Derg on Sunday night after three people and their dog were reported missing. Fortunately they were located safe and well by volunteers with the Lough Derg RNLI. Valentia Coast Guard requested the RNLI lifeboat to launch at 11.45pm on Sunday night having received a report of the missing people and their dog, who had gone out on the water in a white speed boat.  At midnight Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Doireann Kennedy, Keith Brennan and Owen Cavanagh on board. Given the serious nature of the callout, the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team, Rescue 115, was tasked from their base at Shannon Airport. Galway-based Gardaí also responded to the emergency and were at Portumna Harbour, having been informed that this was the intended destination for the missing people. As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard requested it go directly to Portumna Castle Harbour at the very …

BOAT users are being urged to ensure their vessel is serviced and in safe working order as Lough Derg RNLI helped two vessels in difficulty in back-to-back shouts at the weekend. On Sunday afternoon July 3, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist three people on a 25ft motor cruiser adrift with steering failure near Williamstown on the country Clare shoreline. At 2.30pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh, Joe O’Donoghue, Chris Parker and Ciara Moylan on board. At 2.35pm the lifeboat arrived on scene. The lifeboat transferred a volunteer across to the casualty vessel who established that all on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. The cruiser had power but its steering had failed. The skipper had dropped anchor to prevent drift across the navigation channel. Given the location and weather, the RNLI lifeboat helm made the decision to take the vessel under tow, and as …

A LOUGH Derg RNLI volunteer jumped into the lake from the lifeboat and swam out to help bring a yacht to safe water over the weekend. The Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday to help two people ran aground in a yacht on the lake. Fortunately the stricken vessel was spotted at Ryan’s Point shortly after the RNLI volunteers set out and those on board were found to be unharmed. At 4.47pm on Sunday Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNL lifeboat to launch to assist two people on a 25ft yacht aground at Ryan’s Point on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. At 5.06pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Keith Brennan, Steve Smyth, Joe O’Donoghue and Richard Nolan on board. At 5.14pm the lifeboat had the casualty vessel in sight at Ryan’s Point, broadside to weather. Taking a tow line with him, an RNLI volunteer swam back to the casualty vessel whilst the lifeboat stood …

THE dedicated service of a Lough Derg RNLI volunteer over more than a decade has been recognised on his retirement. Dom Sharkey, a helm at Lough Derg RNLI has retired after twelve years service to the charity. Dom, a carpenter and master craftsman who works in building and renovation has been acknowledged as a valued member of the RNLI team at Lough Derg.   Following his final exercise on Sunday, February 27, volunteers arranged a surprise leaving party for Dom, held at Lough Derg Yacht Club on whose grounds Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat is currently stationed. Dom was presented with a woodcut of Lough Derg made by artist Henri Bocxe. As a mark of appreciation on behalf of the local community, Noreen Cavanagh, Manager at the Thatched Cottage Restaurant in Ballycommon, generously provided sandwiches for the party while members of the station also baked cakes and scones. Dom was moved by everyone’s efforts on his behalf. He reflected on how much …

THE Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Branch are making a ‘wheel’ effort to raise funds with the announcement of the first ever RNLI Lough Derg Charity Cycle this summer. The 130km Lap the Lake cycle which will see participants circuit beautiful Lough Derg will be held on May 8. The fundraising cycle is being “widely supported all around the country” says Niamh McCutcheon, Chairperson of the Lough Derg RNLI Fundraising Branch. The cycle will start and finish at the RNLI Lifeboat Station in Dromineer. The 130km route around Lough Derg will give participants an opportunity to delight in the outstanding beauty of the lake and River Shannon through counties Tipperary, Clare and Galway. As part of the safety measures there will be first aid, out riders, marshals and bike maintenance provided throughout the course. There will be a comfort stop at Le Bateau, Emerald Star Line in Portumna, where tea, coffee and a lunch pack will be provided for participants. Lough Derg Yacht Club …

Two people were rescued from Lough Derg yesterday afternoon following a suspected engine fire on board their cruiser. Lough Derg RNLI, based in Dromineer, went to the incident shortly after 2pm following reports that a fire had broken out as the cruiser was travelling from Ballina up the lake. The lifeboat located the 31ft cruiser at anchor off Hare Island, off the County Clare shore. The passengers were safe and unharmed. The skipper had cut his engine and dropped anchor when he noticed black smoke billowing from the engine. When the lifeboat arrived on scene, the engine was no longer issuing smoke and the situation had settled. With an RNLI crew member on board, the cruiser was taken under tow to the public harbour at Dromineer. Meanwhile, Lough Derg RNLI rescued five Indian tourists from a cruiser that ran aground on rocks near Illaunmore, off Whitegate,on Sunday last. The lifeboat located the vessel at 12.47pm and found all passengers to …

Low water levels on Lough Derg led to a 34ft cruiser with four people on board running aground yesterday afternoon by the Scilly Islands, off the Ogonnelloe shore. At 1.39pm, the Lough derg RNLI lifeboat launched with helm Ger Egan, Lian Knight and Delia Ho on board.  The lifeboat located the vessel at the junction of Scariff Bay and Parker’s Point at 1.54pm. The four people on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. Once the lifeboat crew were satisfied the vessel was not holed, it was taken off the rocks and into safe water. The cruiser continued its onward journey once drives and rudder were found to be undamaged and in good working order. Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat, has advised boat users to “to bring charts with you and know the areas close to shore and islands marked as un-navigatable, particularly as water levels are low in the lake at the …

The Lough Derg RNLI came to the assistance of a fisherman who got into difficulty on the lake on Sunday evening. The lifeboat was launched just before 6pm when the man’s boat became wedged on a rocky shoal in Youghal Bay. The fisherman, uninjured and wearing a lifejacket,  was taken on board the lifeboat while his boat was then taken off the shoal and towed to Youghal Bay. Lough Derg RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Peter Kennedy said boat users should bring charts with them and know the areas close to shore marked as un-navigable.