Displaying items by tag: Sea Cave

18th September 2022

Rescuers Await Low Tide to Retrieve Man Trapped in Mayo Sea Cave

A man has been rescued from a sea cave on the Co Mayo coast in which he has been trapped for close to 24 hours.

A multi-agency rescue operation had been awaiting low tide this afternoon (Sunday 18 September) to retrieve a man trapped in a sea cave at Downpatrick Head since the previous evening.

According to The Irish Times, the man in his 40s had been exploring the cave with a woman on Saturday (17 September) when they became trapped by the rising tide and were swept off a ledge by a wave surge.

The woman was taken from the water by kayakers who responded to the emergency and then to safety while the man climbed onto a ledge where he remained overnight.

Local gardaí say the man maintained contact with rescuers from the Irish Coast Guard and RNLI who were hopeful of gaining access to the sea cave with this afternoon’s forecast low tide.

RTÉ News reports that rescuers this afternoon brought the man to the mouth of the cave, where he was fitted with a buoyancy suit before being airlifted to hospital by the Sligo-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118.

This story was updated at 5pm with additional information.

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Irish Sailing

The Irish Sailing Association, also known as Irish Sailing, is the national governing body for sailing, powerboating and windsurfing in Ireland.

Founded in 1945 as the Irish Dinghy Racing Association, it became the Irish Yachting Association in 1964 and the Irish Sailing Association in 1992.

Irish Sailing is a Member National Authority (MNA) of World Sailing and a member of the Olympic Federation of Ireland.

The Association is governed by a volunteer board, elected by the member clubs. Policy Groups provide the link with members and stakeholders while advising the Board on specialist areas. There is a professional administration and performance staff, based at the headquarters in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.

Core functions include the regulation of sailing education, administering racing and selection of Irish sailors for international competition. It is the body recognised by the Olympic Federation of Ireland for nominating Irish qualified sailors to be considered for selection to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games. Irish sailors have medalled twice at the Olympics – David Wilkins and Jamie Wikinson at the 1980 games, and Annalise Murphy at the 2016 games.

The Association, through its network of clubs and centres, offers curriculum-based training in the various sailing, windsurfing and powerboating disciplines. Irish Sailing qualifications are recognised by Irish and European Authorities. Most prominent of these are the Yachtmaster and the International Certificate of Competency.

It runs the annual All-Ireland Championships (formerly the Helmsman’s Championship) for senior and junior sailors.

The Association has been led by leading lights in the sailing and business communities. These include Douglas Heard, Clayton Love Junior, John Burke and Robert Dix.

Close to 100 sailors have represented Ireland at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Membership of Irish Sailing is either by direct application or through membership of an affiliated organisation. The annual membership fee ranges from €75 for families, down to €20 for Seniors and Juniors.