State-of-the-art rescue boats to be named

TWO new search-and-rescue craft will be formally blessed and named in Clare today and tomorrow.

They will be among a fleet of 15 rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) operated by the Irish Coast Guard and will be placed in Doolin and Killaloe.

Today, the Doolin ICG unit will see its new €150,000 state-of-the-art rescue RIB blessed and formally named “Lír”, after the mythical Irish sea God.

The Doolin team has responded to over 40 incidents already this year.

Unit leader, Mattie Shannon, said: “The boat is a great assistance to us. It is more efficient in every sense as it is of the highest spec and standard. It is better able to handle the Atlantic conditions we would often operate in and gives us a greater endurance and capability.

“Our aim from here is to push for the construction of our new rescue centre near the pier, so that all our equipment can be stored in one place. As it is, given the size of the existing building, we have to store equipment in several locations and we are always looking for something,” Mr Shannon said.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly, will officially launch Killaloe ICG’s new rescue craft.

Killaloe is base to Ireland’s only inland Coast Guard unit with 20 volunteer members on call all year round, and responding to 27 call-outs so far this year.

ICG area officer, Michael Quigley, said: “The new rescue boat will greatly enhance the safety of the volunteers and those needing our assistance. The large investment by the Irish Coast Guard in replacing the existing rescue boat shows a commitment to the local communities of both Killaloe and Ballina.

“Our new boat will be named “Dalton” in memory of Thomas Dalton who lost his life on Lough Derg on July 10, 2006, and the generosity of his friends and family who assisted in the initial set-up of Killaloe Coast Guard Unit.”