Fleet tied up due to Inclement Weather

Boats tied up at Castletownbere Pier.

The full Castletownbere Fishing Fleet have been tied up since last week-end due to inclement weather.  They have also been joined by numerous vessels from Spain, France and England.  Not only is the Beara Peninsula experiencing these storms, the whole west coast of Ireland is being ravaged by the stormy seas brought up by high winds.  Thankfully, there have been no serious accidents in Beara but the same cannot be said up the West Coast.  

On Sunday Morning, the 34 Metre Steel Hulled French Trawler, MFV 'Anorient', sank off the Clare Coast with 11 people on board.  The Captain and two crewmen managed to cling onto a liferaft before being winched aboard a Rescue Helicopter.  Unfortunately, the very experienced Irish Crewman, Thomas Kelly, from Fenit, Co. Kerry, a married man in his late 40's and father of four, perished on board.  Ongoing searches have still failed to pick up any of the crew who drowned.  He was well known and respected in Beara from where he fished for many years, back in the 80's. Deepest sympathy is extended to his wife and family.

Forty eight hours later, off the Galway Coast, the 36 Metre, Stell Hulled, Spanish Trawler, MFV 'Arosa' went aground on rocks at Dunn Cuddle on its way to seek shelter in Rossaveal with a crew of 13 on board.  Two crewmen were winched on board a Sikorsky Helicopter, but one of them was dead on arrival at Galway University Hospital.  The only survivor was ironically not wearing floatation gear.  He managed to pull himself onto the rocks and clung on until the helicopter arrived on the scene.  Marine Minister, Frank Fahy, have led the many tributes to the Irish Coast Guard emergency services, in particular its helicopter crews, confronted with harrowing scenes in two maritime disasters this week.

Both of these vessels were visitors to the port of Castletownbere over the years.  While we may have differences regarding fishing rights with the Spanish and French fishing in Irish waters, all communities are united in grief when tragedy like this happens.  Lets hope that the rest of the year 2000 is tragedy free on our coastal waters.

More boats also sheltering - Top: East end of CTBere Pier and Above: Dinish Pier.