Rescue service to dig deep after wave damage
Doors were swept off the hinges and equipment and supplies were damaged. Repair costs have been estimated to be between €5,000 and €10,000.
However, group spokesman Omar Fitzelle yesterday said they were heartened by the amount of goodwill, support and contributions they were getting from the public.
The group, which receives only €3,000 in state grants, must raise €30,000 to stay afloat each year.
On top of that, next year it will have to collect a further €30,000 for a new boat as well as finding money to repair damage to the boathouse.
“We’re a totally voluntary group and are fundraising from January to December. As well as that, our members take part in weekly training and are available 365 days per year,” said Mr Fitzelle.
“However, the public have been very generous to us and we’ve had lots of phone calls from people with donations and offering to help in other ways.”
The 35-member group provides a search and rescue service in the area from Ballybunion to Loop Head and up the Shannon Estuary as far as Limerick.
The volunteers, who answer up to 30 calls for help each year, also assist in inshore searches of rivers and lakes.
Two boats are used by the group — a D class inshore rescue craft and an inflatable rib for going further out to sea.
The group, in its 21st year of functioning, has been involved in hundreds of rescue operations.
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