The Irish Coast Guard has confirmed that Coast Guard stations at Doolin, Co. Clare and Drogheda, Co. Louth were seriously damaged following yesterdays storms. Crews attached to Drogheda station have cleaned out their buildings and repairs are continuing, while it appears the Coast Guard base at Doolin has been hit the worst.
Despite considerable damage to the stations, damage caused by the storms has failed to dampen the rescue efforts of the Irish Coast Guard staff and volunteers. While temporary relocation efforts are being considered today, the construction of a brand new Coast Guard station is currently underway close to the current stations location.
In January 2013, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar gave approval for the construction of a new Coast Guard Station in Doolin, Co Clare. The €1.8 million project is being overseen by the Office of Public Works.
Doolin Coast Guard unit is one of the busiest units in the country and operates a cliff rescue team, a boat unit and shoreline search team. There are over 20 members and are supported by seven additional volunteers located on nearby Inisheer.
The new station will provide a garage area for the storage of boats, cliff rescue, personal equipment and transport as well as changing facilities and an operations room.
“In both 2012 and 2011 the Doolin unit responded to over 40 call outs each year. This is a long term investment in the Doolin area and acknowledges the efforts and service that the volunteers continue to provide.”
Meanwhile, Coast Guard Units in many locations continued to assist local authorities with
the big clean up. In Sligo, lifeboat and Coast Guard heli Rescue 118
launched to missing woman last seen at Rosses Point. Nothing found. RTB.
In Dunmore East they assisted with their salvage pumps and
sandbags.
In Drogheda after cleaning out the station the team used their boat
to take photographs for the town engineer of local damage to the area including
the bridges.
In Cleggan the team assisted with flooding on the pier with some
cars washed into the sea. Five sunk and one still floating away.
In Cork Castlefreke CG Unit took navigation buoy into custody after it broke adrift. On
Inishmor the local CG team assisted in the transport of equipment for the fire
service.
The Irish Coast Guard has confirmed that all units on standby for next series of high water and high winds.
Source: Irish Coast Guard and Dept. Transport
Pic: Irish Coast Guard
