Lough Derg RNLI wish Tipperary 'All the Best' in the All-Ireland Final

The RNLI and the GAA have a joint-partnership to raise awareness of the risks of drowning and encourage people to enjoy the water safely through the charity’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign.

The RNLI’s work with the GAA to prevent drowning involves RNLI volunteer ambassadors visiting GAA clubs around Ireland to give water safety advice to young people and to raise awareness of the risks of drowning.

The key message of the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign is to Float To Live if you find yourself in trouble in cold water. This involves: Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about – this can lead to breathing in water and drowning

• Instead, relax and FLOAT on your back, until you have regained control of your breathing.
• The recommended floating position is to lean back in the water and keep your nose and mouth clear and extend your arms and legs.

*If you find it difficult to float then make gentle motions such as sculling with your hands and feet and concentrate on bringing your breathing under control.

Lizzie Cavanagh, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The RNLI and GAA are working together to share important key respect the water messages like ‘Float to Live’ in the aim to reduce the number of lives lost through drowning in Ireland. The exciting collaboration which is focussed on community activity has brought key lifesaving messages to thousands of people through local GAA clubs across the country.

‘Lough Derg RNLI is the only Tipperary based RNLI station, so we will be giving it extra welly in support of our Tipperary hurlers come Sunday.’

For more advice on how to float and other water safety advice visit RespectTheWater.com

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.