RNLI FUNDRAISING AND LATEST RESCUE

Fundraising for Castletownbere Lifeboat reached a high point during the annual Festival of the Sea as a number of groups undertook fundraising events in aid of their lifeboat service.

The Beara Clay Pigeon Club raised £520 through a competition that was held on Dinish Island on Sunday last. Seven teams of seven competitors travelled from far and wide to participate and first place went to a team from Killarney, second to Beara and third to Tuosist in Co. Kerry. The Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority, Mr. Joe Turner, expressed his gratitude to Mr. Pat O’Neill when he presented a cheque to the RNLI after the event. Despite the broken weather, all enjoyed the afternoon and Mr Turner complimented the organisers on a well-run event the competitors on their sharp shooting!!

The annual netmending, splicing and line-throwing competitions were organised by Phil Kelleher, Johnny Twomey and former lifeboat Coxswain Tony O’Sullivan. The netmending event was sponsored by Gundrys, the splicing by O’Sheas Bar, the line-throwing by Twomey’s Ivy Bar and the junior netmending event was sponsored by Dudleys. The events raised in excess of £100 for the lifeboat and it is hoped to increase participation next year by each fishing boat putting forward a team of competitors.

21 competitors, mainly people connected with the local fishing community, gathered in the Ford Ri Hotel to take part in a Poker Classic in aid of the Castletown Lifeboat. The night yielded £180 and along with previous weekly Classics a total of £1330 has been raised. The organiser, Mrs. Mary Martin-Sullivan will be presenting a cheque for that amount in the near future.

The annual family Day of Tralahan Beach promised to be a great day with many visitors taking place. However, weather conditions deteriorated and there wasn’t as big a crowd for the Bar B-Q as anticipated. The RNLI greatly appreciated the hard work of the Tralahan development Committee in organising the event and funds raised will be donated to the lifeboat.

As the lifeboat left her mooring for the afternoon and accompanied the boat races at the regatta, the annual Flag Day took place on the pier. Mr. Joe Turner, Fundraising Secretary Mrs. Sheila O’Driscoll, and Lifeboat Chaplain, Fr. Sean O’Shea collected for the afternoon and again that evening and raised a staggering £2,400. Mrs Sheila O’Driscoll commented that “This is the best Flag Day ever and we are delighted with the wonderful support of the people of Beara.”

All monies raised are spent on the lifeboat service in Ireland which will cost £4 million to run for the current year. Castletownbere lifeboat is grateful to all who undertake events and raised money on its behalf.


Pictured left is the Lifeboat Crew passing the tow-line to the stricken vessel MFV 'Northern Star' and on rght the vessel under tow on it's way back to Castletownbere.

On Sunday afternoon last the Castletownbere based 80 foot trawler, 'Northern Star', send out a request for help as she had her propeller fouled by a fishing net. The trawler, with five crew onboard was in difficulty thirteen miles west of the Bull Rock. The Castletownbere Lifeboat was tasked at 4.20 pm by the Coastguard and was launched and underway by 4.30 pm. The lifeboat, under Coxswain, Brian O'Driscoll, and with crew B. Gonnolly, M. Martin-Sullivan, M. O'Donoghue, J. Murphy, and P. Stevens, proceeded to the position given. The 'Northern Star' was located at 6.15 pm by the lifeboat and taken under tow immediately. Both vessels headed for Castletownbere in worsening weather conditions and deteriorating visibility. After towing the disabled vessel for about an hour, the 'Northern Star' reported that the net had come off the propeller and that she could possibly make way under her own steam. The lifeboat crew released the tow while the crew of the 'Northern Star' checked that all was in order. Having established that the trawler had sustained no damage, the lifeboat stood by and escorted the Northern Star until it was verified that its assistance was no longer required. Castletownbere Lifeboat returned to port and was refuelled and ready for service by 9.30 pm. The 'Northern Star' arrived safely to Castletown shortly afterwards.

It is almost 12 months since the CTBere Lifeboat went to the assistance of the same trawler.
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