Two call-outs for Kilrush RNLI lifeboat

A massive search mounted along the Shannon Estuary on Tuesday afternoon was eventually stood down, with RNLI personnel believing that what eyewitness described as a “red flare” or “fireball” was in all likelihood a meteorite.
The incident was one of two with  the first launch at 12.15pm and the second at 9.27pm. Both crews quickly assembled and set off to the locations along the river outlined by the Valentia Coast Guard.
On the first call, they kept their search from Querrin Point to Cappa village.
The information that was relayed was that people on the coast saw what looked like a small aircraft, which, when approaching turned into what seemed to be a ball of flame.
At that time the same sightings were reported in the Shannon region. Shannon helicopter crews from the Kilkee and Mallow Coastguard who, at that time were involved with another incident in Ballybunion, crossed the waters and joined in the search.
After two-and-a-half hours, the first search was stood down as the Aviation Department stated there were no aircraft in the region and the conclusion was that it was perhaps a meteorite landing. The lifeboat returned to the station.
At 9.27pm, Kilrush RNLI were paged again by Valentia Coastguard. Members of the public had reportedly seen flares in the Kilrush area. 
“We launched and after an hour we were stood down as there was no evidence along the shore from the Cappa to the Moneypoint area. The unit of the Kilkee Coastguard also carried out an intense shore search,” Kilrush lifeboat helm Pauline Dunleavy explained.
Elsewhere, a woman was hospitalised on Tuesday after a fall near Ballyreen in North Clare. Doolin Coast Guard were called to assist the HSE Ambulance Service with the woman, who had fallen on rocks at Pol Sallagh and injured her side and leg. Coast Guard members assisted the ambulance crew to place the casualty on the stretcher.
Ambulance service personnel administered oxygen and further care. She was then stretchered about 200m over large boulders and rocks to the road, where she was taken to hospital by ambulance.
Doolin and Kilkee Coast Guard units were also tasked to assist Ennistymon gardaí in the search for a person believed to be in the Spanish Point area on Monday. The person was located, safe and well, a short time later by gardaí.