The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI responded to two emergency call-outs in quick succession on Saturday, helping bring seven people to safety during a busy morning on the Connemara coast.
The first alert came shortly after 10am when the Irish Coast Guard requested the lifeboat station’s assistance following reports of swimmers in difficulty near Mannin Bay.
Both of Clifden RNLI’s lifeboats were launched immediately. James Mullen was coxswain aboard the all-weather lifeboat St Christopher, with David O’Reilly, Brian Ward, Darragh Wallace and Chris Nee making up the crew. The station’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat was helmed by Dave Barry, accompanied by Shane Conneely, Ronan Mullen and Sean Pryce.
The lifeboat crews quickly reached the scene near Ballyconneely, where they located the swimmers. Fortunately, those involved were safe and were able to make their way back to shore without further assistance.
No sooner had the crews returned to base than their pagers sounded again. This time, a family aboard a small pleasure craft had run into difficulty near Turbot Island in Clifden Bay.
The volunteer crews reassembled immediately. John Mullen took command of the all-weather lifeboat with David O’Reilly, Alan Pryce, Caroline Barry and Darragh Wallace on board, while James Mullen helmed the Atlantic 85 alongside his son Ronan Mullen, Brian Ward and Shane Conneely.
The second launch marked a special milestone for the station, as it was the first emergency call-out shared by father and son James and Ronan Mullen since 19-year-old Ronan joined Clifden RNLI earlier this year.
On arrival near Turbot Island, the crews found the family’s boat drifting dangerously towards the rocky shoreline. Seven people, including two parents and their five children, were on board.
By the time the lifeboats reached the casualty vessel, the wind had pushed it clear of the rocks, allowing the family to restart the engine. RNLI volunteers carried out safety checks for any structural damage or water ingress before escorting the boat safely back to its mooring in Clifden Bay.
The five children were transferred to the Atlantic 85 and brought ashore, while their parents followed in the vessel’s tender under the escort of the all-weather lifeboat.
Clifden RNLI Coxswain James Mullen praised the volunteers’ response to both incidents.
“Thankfully we had very good outcomes and I’d like to thank our brilliant crew who worked really well together to bring that family of seven to safety,” he said.
“Clifden RNLI is ready to respond 24/7 to anyone who is in distress in or around the water. Please don’t delay in looking for help – you could save a life by calling 999 or 112 at the first sign of trouble. Please stay safe and enjoy our beautiful Connemara coast.”
