Rescue craft gets first blessing, aged 10

The determination of a small group of west coast campaigners seeking to improve safety at sea was recalled at an ecumenical service yesterday when the west coast medium-range search-and-rescue helicopter was officially blessed.

Tributes were paid to the helicopter crews who have carried out over 1,200 missions from the base in the past decade, saving or assisting 700 people at sea, up mountains and in isolated areas.

The Shannon helicopter base was established by Ms Joan McGinley, a Donegal fisherman's wife, in 1988.

The major contribution of the Air Corps, particularly of the four members who died in the Dauphin crash in Co Waterford last July, was also marked at the ceremony, which was hosted by the Irish Marine Emergency Service (IMES) Sikorsky helicopter crew at Shannon.

Prayers were led by the Most Rev Willie Walsh, Bishop of Killaloe, and the Right Rev Edward Darling, Lord Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe.

Although it has now been 10 years in service, it was the first time that the Sikorsky S-61 had been blessed. The Shannon base was set up with an Air Corps Dauphin, which was then replaced by the medium-range Sikorsky.

The IMES service was recognised with valour awards by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, in Dublin Castle last February. On March 18th it completed its 1,000th mission.

On July 17th, 1998, an IMES winchman, Mr Allan Clapp, completed his 500th helicopter mission.

However, volunteers such as Dr Marion Broderick, medical officer on the Galway Bay lifeboat, have probably accrued more flying hours than some of the crew, Capt Dave Courtney said at yesterday's event. He thanked all those unpaid people involved in marine search and rescue.

Dr Broderick was one of four members of the West Coast Search and Rescue Action Committee in attendance, along with Mrs Eileen Mulkern of the Aran Islands. Also present were three former committee members, Capt Eamonn Doyle, Mr Fergus O'Connor and Mr Bryan Casburn. of the Galway and Aran Fishermen's Coop.

The RNLI, coast and cliff rescue units, Kerry Mountain Rescue and the Civil Defence were represented, and the director of IMES, Capt Liam Kirwan, received a special welcome.

The State owed the crews a tremendous debt of gratitude for "their unstinting service to fishermen, seafarers and the people who use our coastal and marine amenities for work, in the line of duty or simply for pleasure", Dr Woods said in a special message.