A model boat launched by a north American primary school has been washed up on Donegal’s Arranmore island almost six months after it was launched.
The Red Storm, which is just over a metre, or 4ft long, was found by Irish language students at Teach Ailín Coláiste Árainn Mhóir.
Dublin-based teacher Noel Gaughran, who instructs at the Arranmore college during the summer, said a GPS on board had tracked the movements of the model boat across the Atlantic.
The craft carried a USB key with video and pictures provided by the Scarborough Maine school students who launched it.
The “i-boat” or drift boat was in good condition, but had lost its sail.
It made landfall close to the location of the Arranmore disaster, where 19 islanders lost their lives in 1935, Mr Gaughran said.
The Red Storm was launched off the George's Bank by lobstermen on the Gladys Elaine fishing vessel on February 6th, 2015.
“We will present it to the Athport primary school on Arranmore, which is marking its centenary next weekend, and the students will repair and relaunch it, so it can continue on its way,” Mr Gaughran said.
Cyclists
Also on Arranmore, seven cyclists who rode 385km (240 miles) on bikes from Glasgow,
Scotland
to raise awareness for the
Katie Rose Foundation
, landed on the island at the weekend.
The seven, who took three ferries during their trip, raised €15,000 for the foundation.
It was initiated in memory of islander Katie Rose Rodgers who was diagnosed with a mitochondrial condition called Leigh syndrome and died last December.
The foundation supports families who have children with a similar condition and raises funds for research. See thekatierosefoundation.com
