LOCALS ON Inisheer, the smallest of the three Aran Islands, have come together to re-establish the old Coast Guard unit there.
The local unit ceased operations over five years ago and responsibility for search and rescue on the island was handed over to the nearest unit in Doolin, Co Clare.
The Doolin team, established in 1988, is based 9km away across an often treacherous stretch of sea but will continue to govern the Inisheer unit.
Over the past number of weeks it has been helping establish the new local group.
For the past 18 months, and following a number of tragedies in the area, residents on the island have been endeavouring to restart their own locally based unit.
Members of Doolin Coast Guard have visited the island on several occasions in that time and it has now been confirmed that seven people have volunteered to establish a unit.
The volunteers will be trained in basic search capabilities and first aid, and will be formally commissioned in the new year.
New equipment including radios, pagers, throw lines and safety gear, has been ordered while it is also planned to refurbish the old Coast Guard shed on the island.