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Lough Derg RNLI assist 2 people on a 32ft cruiser with engine failure

Lifeboats News Release

Earlier today, Sunday 3 May, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist two people on 32ft motor cruiser with gear box failure, and at anchor at Rossmore on the County Clare shore.

At 1:40pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with volunteers Steve Smyth, Chris Parker and Joe O’Donoghue on board. The wind was northeast, Force 2/3. Visibility was fair to good with frequent heavy rain squalls.

At 2pm the lifeboat arrived on scene. An RNLI volunteer was transferred across to the casualty vessel, where he found all board to be safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. The RNLI crew checked that there was no ingress of water, or an oil leak from the damaged engine.

Given the isolated location, the poor weather conditions and the likelihood of initiating another rescue should the vessel be left where it was, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under an astern tow to the safest close harbour, Kilgarvin Harbour.

The crew set up for a tow, after which, under the instruction of the helm, the RNLI volunteer on board the casualty vessel brought in its anchor.

At 2:25pm the casualty vessel was safely tied alongside at Kilgarvin, where a marine engineer was coming to repair the engine.

The lifeboat departed the scene at 2:36pm and was back at station at 3:05pm.
Commenting on the callout, Greg Whelan, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI said: ‘Thankfully both people on board were wearing their lifejackets, and had dropped anchor as soon as they found themselves in difficulty.

As this is the beginning of the boating season, we would remind boat users to ensure your vessel and engine are in good condition before setting out. If you get into difficulty or see somebody else in trouble on the water, dial 999 or 112 or use VHF radio Channel 16 and ask for the Coast Guard.’


Ends
Notes to editors
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.
View from seat 3 over the right shoulder of the helm, with the casualty vessel just visible in the distance over the bow

RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat Jean Spier 3 May 2026
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RNLI Media Contacts

Eleanor Hooker (Lifeboat Press Officer, Lough Derg RNLI) [email protected] 00 353 877535207

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.

About the author

Eleanor Hooker
Lifeboat Press Officer, Lough Derg Lifeboat Station

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