Goleen coast guard volunteers to get keys to US city

Irish Coast Guard volunteers are set to get the keys to a US city after marching in its St Patrick’s Day Parade this weekend.

Ten members of the Goleen unit in West Cork — whose members normally march in the local parades in Schull or Ballydehob — jetted out from Cork Airport with Norwegian yesterday to take part in the Portland, Maine parade tomorrow.

They will march alongside a US Coast Guard colour guard down Portland’s Commercial Street before the mayor of Portland, Ethan Strimling, presents them with the keys to the city on the viewing stand.