Tag Archives: Lough Derg

KILLALOE Coast Guard has appealed to members of the public not to block the narrow access road to Pier Head by parking in places where it is impossible for volunteers to pass with their vehicles. Over the past week on a number of occasions access to the Coast Guard station at Pier Head Killaloe has been blocked by cars leaving this cul-de-sac completely inaccessible for its crews responding to emergency calls. No parking signs, which were only erected a few months ago were also illegally removed from the walls on this cul-de-sac route. A Killaloe Coast Guard spokesman appealed to all people using the fantastic facilities at Pier Head to keep the access to the Coast Guard station clear and keep in mind volunteers need to respond to some incidents by towing a rescue boat. The spokesman acknowledged that Killaloe Gardai erected Garda no parking bollards at the start of the laneway, where it is extremely narrow only allowing room …

TWO people were found asleep on a boat on Lough Derg by RNLI volunteers who had been called to the scene following reports that the vessel was adrift. On Friday morning August 12, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to investigate a report from a member of the public of a 25ft vessel adrift in Youghal Bay.  At 8.23am Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Steve Smyth, Joe O’Donoghue and Chris Parker on board. The lake was calm with excellent visibility.   At 8.32am the lifeboat arrived on scene having located the vessel midway between Garrykennedy Harbour and Ryan’s Point at Youghal Bay. Two people on board were sleeping and unaware that their anchor had dragged their boat from its original location. The skipper weighed anchor and made way for harbour.  The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at Station at 8.45am and at 9am the lifeboat was washed down and refuelled.  Aoife …

LOUGH Derg is to be the location for the release of another clutch of White-tailed Eagle chicks over the coming weeks.  As part of an ongoing project to boost the species at a number of Munster locations, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), have been collaborating closely, since 2020, with partner organisations in Norway, as well as local experts. Last week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin joined the NPWS for the release of a number of chicks at Tarbert, County Kerry, as part of the long-term wildlife reintroduction project.  The 2022 phase of the landmark effort to restore a once-extinct bird to Irish skies, will see the release of a total of 16 young eagles across sites on Lough Derg in County Clare, the lower Shannon estuary and Killarney National Park.  As in previous years, the young eagles were collected, under licence, in Norway by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and co-workers. All the birds have been fitted with …

FINALISTS will be unveiled on Friday July 22 in a national competition, in which The Burren and Lough Derg are in the running, for the title of Best Place to Holiday in Ireland. The two Clare locations – both of which enjoy international renown for their natural beauty and tourist attractions – were unveiled, earlier this month, on The Irish Times list of ‘20 Best Places to Holiday in Ireland 2022’. The locations were nominated by close to 1,200 people from across the 32 counties. The Burren which was one of seven regions to be selected, received six nominations, while Lough Derg, received three. Clare will, of course, have to share Lough Derg’s success with counties Galway and Tipperary, both of which border the lake. The competition is being run in association with Fáilte Ireland, and last took place in 2012. On that occasion, Loop Head Peninsula emerged as the eventual winner. This year, each of the nominated locations was …

SEVEN people were rescued from a sinking boat on Lough Derg near Mountshannon this week. Lough Derg RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team Rescue 115 and the Killaloe Coast Guard rescue boat were called to the scene after the alarm was raised in the afternoon. Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist seven people on a 60ft vessel which was taking on water and sinking. Valentia Coast Guard gave lifeboat volunteers coordinates for the vessel, which was at a location south of Mountshannon Harbour on the County Clare shore.   At 2.42pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Owen Cavanagh, Joe O’Donoghue and Ciara Lynch on board. The lifeboat was also carrying its salvage pump. The Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team, Rescue 115, had taken off from their base at Shannon Airport and the Killaloe Coast Guard Rescue Boat was also launched.   On their way to …

REPORTS of jet skis doing ‘doughnuts’ on Lough Derg and speeding near Killaloe Bridge has prompted gardaí to warn operators that they have the power to seize a vessel. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks outlines, “There have been a number of incidents in Killaloe of jet skis being operated at excessive speeds – up to 60kph near Killaloe Bridge where the speed limit is about 5kph, and also reports of jet ski operators doing ‘doughnuts’. “Under the Maritime Safety Act Gardaí have the power to seize a vessel if it is deemed appropriate action. “Gardaí can require a person operating a craft or remove it from waters in certain circumstances, to stop, board and inspect craft and also have powers of arrest and forfeiture. We would ask people using the lake to be respectful of others and obey the relevant speed limits, be safe and never take risks on the water.”

RTÉ’S outdoor recreation series, Tracks and Trails, will focus on Lough Derg next Thursday, June 30.  The hugely popular show returns to the national broadcaster for its tenth series, with a total of four programmes that will cover every corner of the country. This season, viewers are taken along trails that showcase Ireland at its most beautiful with a chance to explore some of the many walking and Blueway trails on offer for the outdoor visitor. There is also an easy urban trail by bike from Titanic Quarter in Belfast along the River Lagan and then for something totally different to a mountain trail for a hike steeped lyrical mysticism on Slieve Gullion outside Newry,; to the winding, mystical forest and pilgrim trails of County Wicklow; to heart stopping views of the Blasket Islands and the soaring majesty of the mountains on the lakes in Killarney. In this series producers promise  something for every level of hiker or visitor. In …

THE Lough Derg RNLI were called on to help two people whose cruiser had run aground recently. Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist two people on a 36ft cruiser aground outside the Garrykennedy old harbour wall. At 7.15pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Ciara Lynch on board. As the lifeboat was launching, Valentia Coast Guard informed the volunteers that a person on shore had reported that local boats had taken the cruiser off the rocks, but requested the lifeboat proceed as they were not given an update on the two people on board or the current whereabouts of the cruiser.   The lifeboat arrived at Garrykennedy within seven minutes and RNLI crew identified the casualty vessel tied alongside an outside jetty in the new Garrykennedy Harbour. After RNLI volunteers established that both people were safe, a crew member went aboard the casualty vessel to check under …