Water Safety Kidadangan NS

View slide Show

Killaloe Coast Guard unit carried out its first Water Safety presentation of 2012 with Puckane NS 4th, 5th and 6th Classes. the boy,s and girls were given a power point presentation on water safety and what to do if they see some one in trouble etc. after the presentation the students were shown some of the equipment used by the Coast guard in saving lives. 

24/04/2012 10:00 12:00

Weather Good

Portroe Dive Centre Event

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit attended an event at Portroe held by the Portroe Dive Centre.

A large crowd was in attendance. The Irish Coast Guard Helicopter from Shannon performed a fly over.

22/04/2012 10:00

Weather was goog

Joint Search & Rescue Games 2011

Valentia B Team win The Captain Kirwan Cub for the fourth year in a row and Valentia A team win the the JSAR Shield

Valentia Team Captain Jim Enright from the Ballybunnion Unit.

B Team Owen Davy Rossaveel Unit Christy Carey, Chris O'Gorman and Geoff Carey Killaloe Unit

A Team Seamus O'Flaherty Eddie O'Loughlin Costelloe Bay Unit, Eoin Keane Doolin Unit and Jason Carey Killaloe Unit.  

All Coast Guard Volunteers from all over Ireland have converged this past 5 years for a training exercise


with a difference! Lough Erne Coast Guard Station, based on the shores of Lough Erne at The Share Holiday Village,Smith’s Strand Newbridge Road Lisnaskea Co Fermanagh was the base for the 2011 Joint Search and Rescue (JSAR) games which involve members of HM Coastguard and the Irish Coast Guard.

Now in its sixth year, the event aims to increase the professionalism of all participants and to enhance co-operation between both Services' through friendly competition. Twelve team members from each division (Malin, Valentia, Dublin and Northern Ireland) compete in the events.

Each of the four-person teams are either competing on behalf of their division, or are part of an inter-divisional (North-South) team, trying to secure one of the four awards up for grabs at this year's games. There will be two teams per Division (e.g. Valentia A and Valentia B, made up of four people from that Division) and 4 mixed team with one person from each Division making up the teams.

During the competitions the 48 competitors, will be faced with a range of emergency situations which they may encounter throughout their service and some with a more light hearted twist on team work and communications. These competitions will test the skills they use in their emergency service roles. These will include leadership; search planning; chart work; communications; compass work, first aid, helicopter landing procedures and rope work.

The Captain Kirwan Cup will be awarded to the best overall team; the JSAR Shield will be presented to the best divisional team; the Canadian Award will be presented to the best inter-divisional team and the fourth award, a silver cup, will be awarded to the competitor who has exhibited the best leadership skills.

Water Safety at Killaloe Boy's NS

http://www.flickr.com/photos/killaloecoastguard/sets/72157626476562976/show/

Killaloe Coast Gaurd Unit visited Killaloe Boy's National School to-day to give a water safety talk and show the students some of the equipment used in rescue operations.

The volunteers of Killaloe undertake to educate schools on the importance of Safety especially near water or on Farms. Any schools wishing to avail of this service please contact Killaloe Coast Guard Unit at killaloecoastguard@eircom.net

11/04/2011

Ballina Killaloe Community Achievement Award

LR  Jason Carey, Christy Carey, Owen Little ( General Manager of the Lakeside Hotel), Garry Cotter (The Guardian’s Editor), Michael Quigley OiC, Geoffrey Carey, John Hogg, Ger Fahy, Bobby Lynch, (Secretary of the Ballina Killaloe   Community Achievement Awards)

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit was awarded the overall Ballina Killaloe Community Achievement Award. This Achievement Award was a monthly award scheme to highlight and celebrate the best in local sporting, cultural, voluntary and community achievements by an individual, club society or organisation.   The awards started last January and presented monthly with the overall winner being selected from one of the 12 monthly winners in 2010. The first award was announced and presented in mid-February 2010 to Killaloe Coast Guard Unit. Nominations were received by the last day of each month. Judges then meet to adjudicate and announced each monthly winner. The awards were sponsored by the Guardian newspaper in association with The Lakeside Hotel.

17/02/2011 11:00am

New Rescue Boat for Killaloe Coast Guard

A new Red Bay Stormforce 8 Rescue Rib fitted with twin Suzuki DF115's, Garmin 4010 chartplotter, 2 x Garmin 200i VHF's, Garmin radar on a folding A-frame arch, Self-righting bag, Golight spotlight with remote joystick, and 4 x Scot suspension jockey seats arrived in Killaloe this week. Extensive trials will be carried out over the Christmas period and will be on show at the local  Christmas Day Swim at Twomilegate at 12:30.

All going well an official launch will take place some time in the New Year.

16/12/2010
Very Cold, Snow, poor visability..

Shannon Swim

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit with koyakers from UL Activity Centre assisted nine local swimmers who swam from Twomile Gate to Ballina Moorings just below Killaloe Bridge. The first swimmers completed the swim in just under one hour. Well done to all that took part.

25th September 2010

World Underwater Clean Up Day

As part of Project AWARE Foundation's world clean up day, Killaloe coast Guard Unit Launched a D Class as a safety boat for the Portroe Dive Centre. A large number of divers turned up to clean the bottom of this beautiful diving pool set in the slate quarry above Portroe. The unit  carried out some excercises and afterwards  there was a BBQ for all the participants courtesy of OLDFARM.

25th September 2010

Ballina NS 2010

Killaloe Coast Guard as part of their commitment to educating school children water safety before they start their summer holidays, visited 2nd class students of Ballina NS in Co Tipperary. An interactive slide show was given covering inland water safety, seaside safety, lifejackets and the need to always wear one. After the presentation the students were taken outside to view the rescue equipment and talk to the volunteers. Despite the rain the students and teachers enjoyed the morning.

28/06/2010

Mick Mulryan Memorial Challange

Killaloe Coast Guard wishes to congratulate all those that took part in this memorial challenge to raise funds for Milford Hospice. Over 70 cyclists started at 08am from Maam Cross 40 Miles to Croagh Patrick where they joined many more who joined them on a walk to the summit after their decent they then returned to Maam Cross completing this grueling Challenge for a very worthy Cause. The Killaloe Coast Guard travelled to the base of Croagh Patrick with their Communication trailer which provided a very needy base for refreshments and shelter from the harsh wind and rain.






27th of June 2010

Pink Ribbon Day Killaloe

Killaloe Coast Guard wish to congratulate all those that took part in yesterdays Pink Ribbon 10K walk in Killaloe. The event was a great success and a tribute to the hard work of the committee and all those that assisted on the day. Well Done

19/06/10

Winners JSAR Games 2010

The Valentia Coast Guard Radio Reigion have won the overall Jim Kirwin Cup for a third time in a row at the Joint Search & Rescue Games which took place in Mullroy Co Donegall over the week end. These games have been run over the past 5 years and brings together volunteers from the four coast guard regions Valentis, Malin, HM Coast Guard Belfast and Dublin to test their skills in all the required areas. 12 teams consisting of 4 volunteers representing two teams from each region selected by draw.

The winning team consisted of one member from Killaloe, two members from Doolin and one from Ballybunion. Killaloe have been on the winning team over the past three years, Doolin on two of these occasions. This is indeed a great achievment for the the Irish Coast Guard Region and all the volunteers who give of their valuable time.

8th May 2010

JSAR Games 2010

Four members of the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit Damian Quigley, Christy Carey, Geoffrey Carey, Christopher O Gorman will be part of the Valentia Team in this years SAR games which will be held in Mullroy Co Donegal. Killaloe members have been part of the Valentia overall winning team in the past,  D Quigley in 2008 and 2009, G Carey in 2009. Mr Michael Quigley Officer in Charge will also travel as a  judge for the event.

Each year a different theme for the Games is selected. The theme of the event, this year is “From Ship Yard to Ship Wreck” was chosen as our Station is based in the local Boat Yard where numerous ships have been built down through the years and there have also been high numbers of wreckages in the area; one of which can be seen from the Station.

General JSAR information

Coast Guard Volunteers from the four corners of Ireland have converged this last 4 years for a training exercise with a difference! Mulroy Coast Guard Unit, based in Downings, Co. Donegal, is the base for the 2010 Joint Search and Rescue (JSAR) games which involve members of the Northern Ireland Coastguard and the Irish Coast Guard. Now in its fifth year, the event aims to increase the professionalism of all participants and to enhance co-operation between both Services' through friendly competition. The dates for the weekend are the 7th – 9th of May 2010.
Twelve team members from each division (Malin, Valentia, Dublin and Northern Ireland) compete in the events. Each of the four-person teams are either competing on behalf of their division, or are part of an inter-divisional (North-South) team, trying to secure one of the four awards up for grabs at this year's games. There will be two teams per Division (e.g. Valentia A and Valentia B, made up of four people each from that Division) and 4 mixed team with one person from each Division making up the teams.
During the competitions the 48 competitors, will be faced with a range of emergency situations which they may encounter throughout their service and some with a more light hearted twist on team work and communications. These competitions will test the skills they use in their emergency service roles. These will include leadership, search planning, chart work, communications, compass work, first aid, helicopter landing procedures and rope work.

The Captain Kirwan Cup will be awarded to the best overall team; the JSAR Shield will be presented to the best divisional team; the Canadian Award will be presented to the best inter-divisional team and the fourth award, a silver cup, will be awarded to the competitor who has exhibited the best leadership skills.

Irish Duo Complete Atlantic Ocean Row

Mick Jones LHS 2nd row with Killaloe Coast Guard Unit.

Friday, 26 March 2010 15:10 IAN Staff

Mike Jones and Peter Williams, both from Cork, reached Port St. Charles, Barbados late on Wednesday March 10th having completed a 5000km row across the Atlantic Ocean.

The duo, as part of an international crew of 6, set out from Agadir, Morocco on 12th January. The row took 57 days, 20 hours. The voyage, which started from the Port de Plaisance Marina in Agadir was an attempt to row the Atlantic from East to West on the traditional trade wind route. The voyage was the first to use Agadir as a start port for an ocean row and was only the second ever ocean rowing voyage to start from a Moroccan port.

The international crew consisted of 5 men and 1 woman and was skippered by Matt Craughwell (UK) and also included Mylène Paquette (Canada), Pedro Cunha (Sweden) and James Kenworthy (England). The crew’s boat ‘Sara G’ was a specially designed ocean rowing boat that has already been rowed from New Zealand to Australia in 2007. The boat has three rowing positions on the deck thus catering for a crew of 6 - 3 rowing while 3 rest. The shift pattern was set at a gruelling 2 hours on/2 hours off regime meaning each crew member rowed for 12 hours a day. The boat contained a complete inventory of modern safety, communication and navigation equipment. Peter Williams describes the boat as “a fast, slick ocean rowing boat with all the equipment of a modern yacht. The only difference between our boat and a yacht is that we didn't have a sail or engine to help us along – just our strength and determination to reach Barbados”.
The Irish duo became the 7th and 8th Irishmen to achieve the feat and they are the first from Cork to row across any ocean.Cobh native Mike Jones a keen outdoor enthusiast and adventurer applied for the crew even though he had never rowed before. “I'd had the idea in mind for a few years but I figured I'd have a year or two to learn how to row, however the last September the opportunity came up and it seemed like the right time” Mike who works as operations manager for the University of Limerick Activity Centre and is an experienced sailor and member of the Irish Coast Guard said “I was very fortunate in my line of work to have the backing from my employers the University of Limerick Sport Department and to have access to the renowned sporting facilities of the University including the new boat house which hosts Irelands only indoor rowing tank.
Peter Williams 2nd in command on the boat said “Mike was selected on the basis of his seamanship skills and his determination to complete the crossing”. Jones who’s chosen charities are Milford Care Centre in Limerick and Marymount Hospice in Cork updated his website http://www.atlantic5000.com/ with stories and podcasts from the Ocean regularly from the boat.
Upon arrival, Peter summed up his feelings "I have been working towards this goal for 2 years and I am over the moon at our successful crossing". Mike Jones added " I am delighted to have completed this challenge and I have to say I enjoyed almost every moment of it, there were so many highs and of course some lows but it was an amazing experience and something I am delighted to have achieved"
In the coming weeks the President of The University of Limerick, Professor Don Barry is hosting a reception in the University White House to honour Mike for this great achievement.

Association of Ambulance Personnel Conference Athlone

Volunteers from the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit attended an Incident Scenario which was part of the Association of Ambulance Personnel Conference held in Athlone over the weekend. Members from all the emergency angencies were involved Garda, Fire Service, HSE doctor, ambulance and the Irish Coast Guard.

Ballina Killaloe Community Achievement Awards

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit is the first recipient of the Ballina Killaloe Community Achievement Awards, a new monthly award scheme to highlight and celebrate the best in local sporting, cultural, voluntary and community achievements by an individual, club society or organization.


The awards are sponsored by the Guardian newspaper in association with The Lakeside Hotel.

Killaloe is the first Inland Coast Guard Unit and is just one of 55 Coast Guard Units in the Republic of Ireland crewed by a total of 1,000 male and female volunteers. All Units are operated totally by local crews who give freely of their valuable time and effort to the Coast Guard, local community and ‘those in peril on inland waterways or on the sea’, cliffs and coasts of Ireland. Training is provided for the volunteers, and these are available on-call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Killaloe Coast Guard Unit has 26 volunteers who are fully qualified in Water Rescue, Land Search & Rescue, First Aid Response and Mountain Rescue.

5000 mile Row across the Atlantic

Killaloe Coast Guard wish one of their own the best of luck, Mike Jones, 29, from Cobh, Co. Cork in Ireland, works as the Operations Manager for the University of Limerick Activity Centre. Mike grew up in the historic port town of Cobh and with a fisherman as a father it was inevitable that he would at some stage take to the ocean. Throughout his youth he was a very active member of the local sea scouts where he learned invaluable seamanship skills while at the same time developing a hunger for adventure. Over the past 18 years Mike has been feeding that hunger with, sailing, kayaking and mountaineering adventures all over the world. Mike also participates in triathlons and adventure races and is an active member of the Irish Coast Guard (in the renowned Killaloe unit) - qualified as both a ‘D’ Class and RIB Coxswain.With 5 other crew mates will row 5000 miles east to west across the Atlantic in January 2010. see www.worldoceanrowing.com/ for more information.

Killaloe Boy's National School Visit

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit as part of their water safety programme visited the students of Killaloe Boy's National School. A safety on the water presentation plus a brief description of the different equipment used was given. Due to fog the Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter from Shannon did a fly over however due to low fog they had to return to Shannon.


14th September 09:30
Weather good

Currach Racing in Quilty

Killaloe Coast Guard Unit gave cover to Quilty Currach Racing Committee.

Sat 29th August 12:00 to 16:00hrs

Weather Good

Sea Calm

Bian Boru Challange Triathlon Killaloe

The first Brian Boru sprint Triathlon organized by Ennis Triathlon Club in aid of Share A Dream Foundation, was held at Twomile Gate Killaloe, over four hundred competitors took part in three stages, 750mtr Swim, 22km Cycle, and a 5km run. The course is one of the most grueling in Ireland.
Killaloe Coast Guard Unit with two boats and land crews were responsible for the safety on the water and were assisted by six local kayakers, three jet skies from the local jet ski club, boat and divers from Killaloe Ballina Search and Recovery. On the shore the Ennis Civil Defense had two ambulances and back up vehicles and traffic was controlled by local garda.
From the water event there were three persons brought to shore by safety boats of which one was taken by Civil defense Ambulance to Killaloe Shandoc for further check up and later released.
Other miner incidents arose from the cycle section with minor cuts and grazes.
It was a great event with the winning time of 1hr 17minutes 58secs
8th 0f August 2009
Weather rain for the swim which became dry and sunny for the remainder of the triathlon.