The Courtmacsherry All Weather RNLI Lifeboat “Frederick Storey Cockburn” was called out at 1.30 pm on Friday “St Patricks Day”, to aid a large 70 ft fishing vessel that sought assistance 50 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale in West Cork.
The Lifeboat under Coxswain Mark Gannon and a crew of five proceeded to the area in rough conditions at sea.
The Lifeboat reached the causality at 4.30 pm and helped the stricken vessel. Thankfully a short time later, the Fishing vessel and crew were able to get underway again, and the Lifeboat crew stood by for some time until the causality gave the all clear, and the Lifeboat was able to return to base in Courtmacsherry, arriving back to the village pontoon at 8 pm.
The callout happened today as the Station was preparing for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in the Village, where the Lifeboat always heads up the sea and land parade.
As the Trent Class Lifeboat went on callout today, in its last three weeks of active service in Courtmacsherry, our new Shannon Class Lifeboat, “Val Adnams,” led the parade under Coxswain Peter Noonan and crew. After 27 years of excellent service in Courtmacsherry, the “Frederick Story Cockburn” was refuelled this evening. It is back on its mooring tonight, ready for further assistance in its final weeks in the village.
Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat crew and station personnel who took part in the St Patricks Day parades in Courtmacsherry and Clonakilty
The Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat voluntary Lifeboat Operations Manager Brian O Dwyer said, “ It was great to be of assistance today on our special National Holiday to go to the aid of the fishing vessel in distress and thanked all the crew who gave up their festive time today to help others who were in danger on the high seas”.
The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Crew involved in today’s seven-hour callout were Coxswain Mark Gannon, Mechanic Stuart Russell and crewmembers Ken Cashman, Kevin Young, Dean Hennessy and Austin McKenna
