Ireland’s RNLI crews launched 1,089 times last year from 45 stations, bringing 1,414 people to safety, according to the organisation’s annual report. The figures show more people getting into difficulty on leisure craft, and the charity recommends that proper safety advice and maintenance is vital to ensure safety on the water.
The busiest station was Lough Ree in Athlone, Co Westmeath, where the crew launched 69 times and brought 142 people to safety. This was followed by Howth in Dublin, which had its busiest year ever with 62 launches. The Enniskillen lifeboat on Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, which operates two stations on the upper and lower lough, brought 57 people ashore.
Figures show a 10 per cent increase in the amount of people brought to safety. Examples of callouts included aid to leisure craft users (536), assistance to fishing vessels (140), help to people who got into difficulty along the shoreline (119) and to people in the water (185).
Last year also saw the introduction of the 45th lifeboat station at Union Hall in west Cork, which went on trial for a 24-month period. This year Lough Swilly in Buncrana, Co Donegal will become the first station to receive the new €2.4 million Shannon-class lifeboat – and the first to be named after an Irish river.
“Almost half of the callouts were to leisure vessels, and of these many were to boats run aground and engine problems,” said RNLI operation manager Owen Medland.
“Breaking down at sea or on a lough can be a frightening experience. Weather and darkness can turn a bad situation very serious in a matter of minutes, but calling for help early is always the right choice.”
n The Irish Specimen Fish Committee report has been distributed to all anglers who submitted claims in 2014. Copies of the 84-page colour report are available free of charge from Inland Fisheries Ireland offices nationally. See fisheriesireland.ie.
n All successful anglers are invited to attend the annual Awards Day on February 21st in Bewley’s Airport Hotel at 2.30pm. RSPV to bridie. fleming@fisheries ireland.ie.
n Ronan Gormley took time out last Monday to fish from the pier in Dunmore East, Co Waterford. To his amazement he caught four mackerel spinning. They were quite small; nevertheless, it is the first time he has caught mackerel earlier than May – and “I have been pier fishing for mackerel since 1952.”
Ronan is a professor in UCD Institute of Food and Health. He writes with SeaHealth-ucd on health and related properties of fish in The Skipper and Dairy and Food Industries magazines.
n There are a spaces left to join angling guides John Quinlan and Henry Gilbey for four days of fishing in Kerry. The trip includes five nights accommodation and meals, expert guiding across a variety of fisheries and species, and your experience documented by one of the world's best fishing photographers. For more info, email john@kerrybassfishing.com. n The second series of talks on The Asgard continues on February 18th at 8pm in the Howth Yacht Club. Pat Murphy's talk covers this famous yacht in Irish history from its launch in Norway in 1905 to its conservation in the National Museum in Collins Barracks.
n Organisers of the 2nd International Sea Trout Symposium, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk, Co Louth, from October 20th to 22nd, are inviting expressions of interest in submitting oral and poster papers to be considered for inclusion in the formal programme.
The papers should be limited to 300 words and include a general outline of proposed scope to future management. It is intended that papers will appear in a suitable peer- reviewed publication.
Contributions should be sent to info@seatroutsymposium. org or Sandra Doyle, Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Co Dublin.
n Don’t forget to visit Rory’s Fishing Tackle sale in Temple Bar, Dublin this Thursday to Sunday. Late opening Thursday and Friday until 7.30pm. See rorys.ie. angling@irishtimes.com
