RIB run to lay wreaths at trawler tragedy sites

WREATHS will be laid at sea next month on the sites of a double trawler tragedy as part of a massive cross-channel fundraiser.

Up to 100 people are expected to take part in the fourth Kinsale to Wales RIB (rigid inflatable boats) Run from Kinsale harbour to Aberystwyth on April 26.

The 400-mile round trip is one of the RNLI’s biggest fundraising events.

But organisers have decided this year to also raise funds for the South Coast Trawler Tragedies Fund.

It was set up in January after the sinking of the Pere Charles and the Honeydew II.

Both vessels sank within hours of each other off the South East coast on January 10.

Kinsale-based Honeydew II skipper Ger Bohan, and his crewman Tomasz Jagla, and Pere Charles crewmen Tom Hennessy, his uncle Pat Hennessy, Andriy Dyrin, Billy O’Connor, and Pat Coady, who were based at Dunmore East, have been lost at sea since that day.

It is hoped that up to €75,000 will be raised by this year’s event.

RIB run organisers are planing a poignant tribute to the lost seamen during the event.

The fleet of vessels, ranging in size from six metres to nine metres, will leave Kinsale at 8am on April 26 and will set a course to the points where both vessels were lost.

There they will lay two wreaths at the sinking sites in memory of the lost crewmen before proceeding to sail across the channel to Wales.

The main sponsor of the rib run is Property Partners. It is being supported by Excalibur RIBs of Carrigaline and the Kinsale and District Lions Club.

Lions club spokesman, Tony Boland, urged people to give generously.

Sponsorship cards will be available across the city and county soon and donations can be made by emailing [e-mail].

Vintage car owners rallied at the weekend and raised over €12,000 for the families of the lost trawler men.

A huge convoy of almost 300 vehicles — 150 vintage cars and 150 classic motorbikes — took part in the 166-kilometre run from Kinsale to Dunmore East.

The rally was organised by the Kinsale Vintage and Motor Club to boost the Kinsale Trawler Tragedy Fund which was set up to provide financial support to the families of Honeydew II crewmen.