Lough Ree RNLI called to assist 23 people this past week
Emily Sheehan
The August Bank Holiday resulted in the busiest week of the year for Lough Ree RNLI with the volunteer crew tasked to 6 callouts with 23 people and a dog on board boats in difficulty on the water.
The week began on Sunday, August 4, with a call to assist a private boat with four people on board. The boat had suffered engine failure north of Hare Island.
Under volunteer helm Liam Sheringham he vessel was moved under two to Quigley's Marine, on the Leinster shore.
Wednesday August 6 saw the lifeboat crew called out to the water for over five hours in two separate callouts.
At midday, there was a call to assist a boat with one person on board, which had run aground near the RNLI lifeboat station and off Killinure Point.
Volunteer helm Shane McCormack led the crew who were quickly at the scene of the 36ft cruiser aground at Gowlane Rock.
Despite an operation lasting over an hour, the lifeboat was unable to free the boat from the rock and a nearby barge was required to assist.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Irish Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI to assist a vessel in difficulty on the north of the lake.
The lifeboat crew, under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan, reached the incident on the Longford shore at 4pm.
On inspection the crew found a 40’ steel barge with 4 people on board stranded on rocks near Marker 502.
The barge was taken under tow to Ballyleague, Co. Roscommon.
Similarly, Saturday August 10 saw two incidents requiring the Lough Ree RNLI.
That morning, the Lough Ree RNLI were called to assist a cruiser with four people on board which had run aground.
The lifeboat crew, under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan, arrived at the scene at Bantry Bay.
Following an inspection by the crew the boat was towed off the rocks to safe water/
Just before 9pm the lifeboat was tasked by the Irish Coast Guard to a private boat with 8 people on board north of Hare Island.
Under volunteer helm Tom Bradbury, the lifeboat crew arrived at the scene at 9.25pm to find an 18ft boat which had suffered engine failure.
The 5 children and 3 adults on board, who were all wearing life jackets, were all safe and well.
Six of the rescued passengers were taken to the lifeboat station at Coosan Point and two to Portaneena on board the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall.’
On Sunday, August 11, a callout was received at 4.20pm to a small tender adrift near Marker No. 5.
On arrival at the scene the Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew under helm found 2 people and a family pet on board.
The boat was towed to Portrunny on the Roscommon shore for safety while the father, daughter and their dog were transferred by the lifeboat to Quigley’s Marina.
Commenting on the busy week Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Kevin Ganly said: “It was great to note that all 23 people assisted this week were wearing life jackets when located by our volunteer lifeboat crews, it is so important the everyone on the water take adequate safety precautions.”
“I also want to thank all of the Lough Ree RNLI volunteers, both on the water and on the shore who responded to the callouts over the period.”