The first Irish Red Cross rescue vessel has taken to the water to improve safety on the great western lakes.
The six-metre rigid inflatable boat, which was launched yesterday by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, at Cornamona, Co Galway, will be able to rescue up to 10 people at a time on Lough Corrib.
The €49,000 vessel will be available on a 24-hour basis, with a voluntary crew of three, trained by the Irish Coast Guard. The vessel and equipment was financed by the Irish Red Cross and the EU's Leader programme, along with local fundraising.
The boat is equipped with satellite navigation, searchlight equipment and VHF radio.
Mr Tim Clesham, area director of Irish Red Cross units for Connemara, said that all of the crew have been trained to first responder level, which includes use of defibrillator equipment in the case of cardiac arrest. "We have about 30 volunteers, some of whom work with the Western Regional Fisheries Board, some of whom are local anglers," he said. "The boat comes with its own trailer and so is mobile in terms of launching."
However, the plan is to buy a second boat for Lough Mask, and fundraising efforts for this are well under way.
Mr Clesham said that it represented a new departure for the Irish Red Cross - at a time when the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is becoming involved in inland water safety, most recently on Lough Derg. The Irish Coast Guard also has overall responsibility for both offshore and inland waters.
Mr Clesham pointed out that the Irish Red Cross had been involved in water safety in the 1960s, before this was taken over by the national lifeguard training body, Irish Water Safety.
Last year, an angler lost his life on Lough Mask in poor weather conditions, and there are several "near misses" almost every season on the lakes, Mr Clesham said. Several years ago, a number of German canoeists were rescued on the Corrib by the owner of a houseboat.
The Red Cross boat was blessed at an ecumenical ceremony yesterday by the local parish priest of Clonbur, Father Billy Reilly, and the Church of Ireland rector of Cong, Rev Alistair Grimason.
The chairman of the Irish Red Cross, Mr David Andrews, who is a former marine minister, sent a congratulatory message to the volunteers, noting it was critical to develop water safety to prevent further tragedies.
Irish Water Safety's chief executive, Mr John Leech, also praised the initiative.
