The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was on the water twice last weekend. The charity has been called to assist 23 people in six different incidents during the month of May.
At 4.30 pm on Sunday, the 28th of May, the Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew to assist three people in a fishing boat that was drifting off the western shore. The charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ with a volunteer crew of Stuart McMicken (helm), Kieran Scullion and Denis Begley was launched in sunny, calm conditions.
On reaching the scene, off Carna Military Range, at 5.15 pm, the crew found a 4.5m lake boat drifting without power. It appeared that the boat had struck rocks and suffered lower engine damage. The three casualties were unharmed and the RNLI lifeboat towed the stricken vessel to the safety of the jetty at Hodson Bay.
Earlier in the weekend, on Saturday, the 27th of May, just after 7.30 pm Lough Ree RNLI responded to a call for assistance from a boat which had run aground with six people on board. Launched at 7.45 pm, the RNLI lifeboat under volunteer helm Kieran Sloyan and with a volunteer crew of Billy Henshaw Jnr, alongside newly-graduated crew Paul Kelly and Ray Cregg, reached the stricken vessel in ten minutes. On arrival at the scene, east of Carberry Island, the crew found six people on board a 40 ft. cruiser, which had run aground. Following an inspection, the boat was towed off the rocks by the RNLI’s ‘Tara Scougall’, and continued under its own power.
This brought to twelve the number of call-outs Lough Ree RNLI has responded to in 2023.
Ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend, Lough Ree RNLI volunteer Operations Manager Kevin Ganly has asked all those in charge of boats on the lake to be fully familiar with their navigation charts and pay particular attention to signage and guidance provided.
The public are reminded that in case of danger on the water it is important to call for emergency services at the earliest opportunity.
