The Irish Coast Guard unit at Howth had the pleasure of having RTE's Mary Kingston from The Mooney Show with us recording for this Monday's show. She joined the Coast Guard boat Grainne as it completed it Compliance Monitoring Patrol of Dublin Bay and spoke to the crew and water users they met.

She also joined a shore patrol in Clontarf where they dropped in to meet and talk to a very brave couple. While out walking with their children Rowan and Tara saw a man face down in the water off Clontarf seafront. Tara contacted the Coast Guard immediately on 999, meanwhile her husband who is a very strong swimmer grabbed a ringbuoy and went in the water after the man. He successfully got the man to shore where Gardai and Coast Guard members had just arrived. The gentleman concerned was taken to hospital alive and breathing and no doubt owes his life to the actions Rowan took.

Entering the water is not something we recommend as it can easily lead to more casualties but Rowan is a very strong swimmer and was comfortable with the rescue and his bravery has to be commended.

The rescue brought home two important messages, one is the quick action of the couple to contact the Coast Guard on 999/112, secondly the importance of Ringbuoys on seafronts not being interfered with. They are there to help save lives and on that day that is what they did. Radio piece is on RTE Radio One at 3pm on Monday 29th July.

While on routine compliance patrol today the Howth Coast Guard boat, Grainne, and her crew came across a partially swamped rowing boat with 5 on board competing in a race around Ireland's Eye. Grainne stood by until the boat was bailed out and able to continue the race. A safety watch was keep on the vessels competing until the boats finished their race in Malahide. No further assistance required.

Incident 47/13

Howth Coast Guard was tasked early this morning by the Coast Guard NMOC at 00.30 to assist Gardai in the search for a despondent person on the cliff path in Howth. As the team were assembling the Gardai located the person but further assistance was required to transport the casualty to a waiting ambulance. The team transported the casualty by stretcher from the cliff path to the upper cliff road. On scene also were the Garda helicopter and the Dublin Fire Brigade. The team were stood down at 01.40

Incident 46/13

Yesterday at 11.30 NMOC Dublin received numerous 112 calls of a dog stranded by the tide in the Baldoyle estuary. A volunteer who was near to the scene went to investigate. A nearby kayaker paddled to the dog and recovered him to the shore. The dog was in good spirits and no assistance required.

Incident 45/13

Incident 41/13 19th July 22.00. A trawler fire on Howth's west pier was attended to by Dublin Fire Brigade and Gardaí. Howth Coast Guard unit was requested to attend to ensure there was no pollution impact.

Incident 42/13 & 43/13 20th July 17:00. The Coast Guard patrol boat "Grainne" was requested to launch to Jet Skis operating dangerously around swimmers at Seapoint.

While responding the boat was retasked to a male with back injuries on a boat near Ireland's eye. The male was treated for spinal injuries and moved to the Howth RNLI slip where along with members of the RNLI Lifeboat they moved the casualty off the boat to a waiting ambulance.

The boat then continued to Seapoint and spoke with the Jet Skis concerned.

Incident 36/13 Sun 14th. 16:00hrs Report of jet skis operating close to bathers at Seapoint. Patrol Boat responded and spoke to jet skiers.

Incident 37/13 Sun 14th 19:00hrs Report of persons in a raft with no lifejackets crossing a lagoon at back of Dollymount Beach. Shore team responded and spoke with parties concerned. 4 persons no lifejackets.

Incident 38/13 Wed 17th 18.30hrs Two person reported in the water at Dollymount beach and seeking assistance. Shore Team and Patrol Boat which was just launching on patrol were tasked. Persons had recovered to the shore safely upon arrival of team.

Incident 39/13 Wed 17th 20:00hrs An inflatable boat and a fishing boat with insufficient life jackets for all crew were escorted back to shore. Details taken and passed to MRCC.


Incident 40/13 Thurs 18th 09:00hrs Report of a boat adrift in Malahide estuary. Shore team attended.

The Irish Coast Guard Unit at Howth Harbour was tasked to a sunken yacht in the harbour today. There was initial concern from the Gardai that there was a person onboard below deck at the time of sinking. The unit's boat was launched to assist a diver but information was received that the person was located safely ashore.

The National Maritime Operations Centre requested the unit perform a pollution check in the area and provide a visual report and photographs. The underwater side-scan sonar unit was used to capture images of the boat on the bottom, as seen on the Starboard plot below. On the port plot you can see a mooring rope coming to surface.

Romeo Charlie Golf assisted with aerial images to observe for any fuel leakage but none was reported.

Incident 35/13

The Irish Coast Guard Cliff Rescue Unit based at Howth Harbour were tasked to a 999/112 call for at 2140hrs Friday evening. Having tried to climb up from the beach, the person had become stranded, unable to move up or down, mid-cliff at Whitewater Brook. 15 members of the cliff unit were on-scene within 10 minutes of the call, and a 50m mid-cliff rescue completed quickly. The casualty was recovered to the cliff-top and had no injuries, no further assistance required. RTB.

We would like to remind the public to call 112 or 999 and ask for Coast Guard when they even think somebody may be in danger on the cliffs, coast, beaches, or at sea.


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The Howth Coast Guard Sonar response unit was tasked today at 11.30 to assist Drogheda Coast Guard unit in the search for a missing person. Three members went to the scene with the sonar equipment and commenced a scan of the river in the Drogheda D Class boat. While searching the river the sonar team was stood down as a body was recovered from the river by another unit.

On Monday of this week the Howth unit was tasked to investigate a report from a member of the public of two kayakers who may be in trouble off Dollymount beach. They were found ashore at Sutton and did not require any assistance. Call with good intent.

Incident 32/13 & 33/13

While on patrol yesterday the Howth Coast Guard boat 'Grainne' was tasked to a small speed boat with three persons onboard which needed assistance in returning to the harbour safely. The weather conditions on scene had worsened from earlier in the day and the boat had been caught out in rough conditions so Grainne and her crew stood by and escorted the boat back to Howth harbour. All on board were well and wore suitable PFDs.

Those going to sea are reminded to get a full sea area weather forecast for your area and plan accordingly.

Sea Area Forecast

Incident 31/12