Search

07 Sept 2025

Three people rescued close to popular swimming spot with Limerick public

Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat deployed to assist three people after 18ft sailboat got mounted on a sandbank

Three people rescued close to popular swimming spot with Limerick public

Reporter:

Faye Dorgan

30 Dec 2024 3:00 PM

THREE people had to be rescued having got an 18ft sailboat mounted on a sandbank a mile northeast of one popular swimming spot with the Limerick public.
  
On the afternoon of Sunday, December 29, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist three people on an 18ft sailboat aground on a sandbank a mile northeast of Dromineer, near Nenagh.
 
At approximately 4:30pm, the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, crew Joe O’Donoghue, James Corballis and Paraic Slattery on board.
The wind was moderate and south-westerly, with fair visibility and mist and cloud. It was approaching dusk when the lifeboat came alongside the casualty vessel.
All three people on board were safe and unharmed. The casualty vessel was resting on a sandbank.
 
Given the boat’s location, progressive nightfall and the possibility of initiating another emergency response should the vessel be left where it was, the helm made the decision to take the vessel off the sandbank and under an astern tow to safe water.
Once in safe water, the skipper checked that the casualty vessel's outboard engine was working and then made way under their own power to the nearest safe haven at Dromineer Harbour.
The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of this decision and stayed with the casualty vessel. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 4:56pm.
 
Jeremy Freeman, launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users "that water levels in the lake are particularly low at the moment and to follow charted routes into harbour".
He also said to "carry sufficient lifejackets for everyone on board and ensure everyone is wearing theirs correctly".
 

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!

Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.

Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Most Popular

Sponsored Content

Multimedia

We've got Donegal Covered...

Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie

Buy a paper

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.

Buy Now
Get the news

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.

Register Here
Iconic Media is Ireland's largest independently owned regional newspaper and media group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. We have 19 regional newspapers and 21 digital sites.

Iconic Digital Titles

  • Carlow Live
  • Clare Live
  • Derry Now
  • Donegal Live
  • Éire Bheo
  • Inish Live
  • Ireland Live
  • Kildare Live
  • Kildare Now
  • Kilkenny Live
  • Laois Live
  • Leitrim Live
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Live
  • Longford Live
  • Louth Live
  • Mayo Live
  • Nenagh Live
  • Offaly Live
  • Tipperary Live
  • Waterford Live

    • Iconic Print Titles

  • Clonmel Nationalist
  • County Derry Post
  • Derry News
  • Donegal Democrat
  • Donegal Post
  • Dundalk Democrat
  • Homes in Donegal
  • Inish Times
  • Kilkenny People
  • Leinster Express
  • Leinster Leader
  • Leitrim Observer
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Leader
  • Longford Leader
  • Mayo News
  • Midland Tribune
  • Tipperary Star
  • Tullamore Tribune

    • 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.

    © 2025 Iconic Media