Search
08 Sept 2025
Search
08 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
At 1.35pm on Monday, July 1, Valentia Coast Guard requested the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist a person on a 27ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure. The vessel was reported to be at anchor at Curraghmore Point, a location north-east of Illaunmore.
At 1.50pm, Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Joe O’Donoghue, Chris Parker, and James Corballis on board. The wind was north-westerly, Force 3 to 4. Visibility was good.
At 2pm, the lifeboat had the casualty vessel in sight. It was at anchor close to shore at the given location. Using local knowledge and onboard navigation tools, the lifeboat steered a safe course to the cruiser.
Once alongside, an RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel. The person on board was safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejacket. The vessel’s anchor was holding firm.
Given the isolated location, the fact that the skipper was alone and the diagnosis of engine failure, the helm made the decision to take the vessel under an astern tow to the nearest safe haven at Dromineer Harbour.
At 2.10pm, with an RNLI volunteer remaining on board with the skipper, the lifeboat had the vessel under an astern tow. As the lifeboat approached the Urra Channel the helm asked crew to make radio contact with the sailing coaches at Lough Derg Yacht Club to make them aware that the lifeboat had a vessel under tow and to request the junior sailing fleets keep a clear passage through Dromineer Bay.
Once through the Urra Channel and in Dromineer Bay, the helm requested the crew to change the tow to an alongside tow to maintain maximum control in the crowded bay.
The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromineer Harbour at 3.24pm. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 3.30pm.
Peter Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to "make sure your engine is serviced before you set out and that you carry a reliable means of communication."
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
