Rescued lawyer helps raise money for new lifeboat

A CONNEMARA lawyer who was rescued from Clifden Bay with five others just over a year ago has expressed her gratitude by raising part of the cost a new inshore lifeboat.

Solicitor Emer Joyce was invited to name the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) new rescue craft, Gráinne Uaile, at a ceremony in Clifden at the weekend.

Ms Joyce and five friends were taken from the water by Clifden RNLI off Inishturk South in late December 2006, when the six-metre currach in which they were travelling from Eyrephort beach got into difficulties.

Two of the group were flown by rescue helicopter to hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Ms Joyce and colleagues subsequently decided to repay the debt by raising some €30,000 in a currach "marathon" last year.

The proceeds, including €20 in confirmation money proferred by the nephew of one of the participants, were divided between the RNLI and the Carna and islands community lifeboat fund.

Clifden's community became involved in substantial fundraising for the €40,000 inshore vessel, which will complement the existing Atlantic 75 lifeboat also stationed at the north Connemara base.

Clifden's RNLI marks its 20th anniversary this year. Last year, its inshore lifeboats launched 24 times and rescued 20 people.

The new D class lifeboat is very manoeuvrable, can be righted manually by the crew if it capsizes, and "has been the workhorse of the RNLI for 40 years", say the rescue organisation. Clifden RNLI Lifeboat operations manager Peter Bailey paid tribute at the ceremony to the RNLI's many supporters and volunteers.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times