GAA personalities join forces to back RNLI campaign ‘Respect the Water'

The ‘Respect the Water’ campaign is part of a joint-partnership between the RNLI and the GAA.

The RNLI’s work with the GAA to prevent drowning involves RNLI volunteer ambassadors visiting GAA clubs around the country to give water safety advice to young people and to raise awareness of the risks of drowning. Thirty-seven RNLI volunteers have delivered over a hundred talks as part of the partnership with more due to take place during the summer months.

To promote this year’s campaign, GAA personalities Marty Morrissey and Anthony Daly joined young players from Killimer GAA, Kilrush Shamrocks, Kilrush Ladies Football Club, Kilkee Football Club, Kilkee Bealaha GAA, West Clare Gaels and O’Currys GAA. Both men had very personal reasons for backing the partnership and becoming Ambassadors for it.

Marty Morrissey’s home place is in the picturesque fishing village of Quilty in West Clare on the Wild Atlantic Way where the Sea has always been part of everybody’s life. As a result Marty loves the water but is also aware of its dangers and although he attempted to learn how to swim as a child, he never quite got over his fear. This was re-enforced in recent months when he was filming a survival sequence in the recent TV hit ‘Marty and Bernard’s Big Adventure’ when they had to enter a lake and that old fear returned. He has promised himself to learn how to swim when this season’s GAA Championship is over.

Speaking at the launch he said, ‘When I was young boy growing up in Quilty, my bedroom literally looked out onto the Atlantic Ocean. I remember that every 13 seconds the light from the lighthouse on the Aran Islands shone in my window. I would paddle in the water and some of my friends would jump into the water back at the pier in Seafield, but I wouldn’t, I had the fear. I want to get over that and I’ve set myself the challenge to learn properly.’ It is so important because after all , we all live on the island of Ireland and water plays such an important part of our lives. I am from a Fishing village so well aware of the dangers of the Sea.’

Speaking on the importance of the partnership, Marty continued, ‘I think the RNLI and the GAA are interlinked in many ways. They are both about community. I love the water and I respect it. If we can get more people enjoying it safely and raising awareness so that no family have to go through the pain of losing a loved one, then I see that as a win. We’ve had too many tragedies in this country. I’m looking forward to the day that I can go for swim and enjoy the water.’

Anthony Daly has a very personal reason for wanting to promote the partnership. He lost a good friend, Michael Scanlan (affectionately known by all as ‘Fondi’), to drowning many years ago. Fondi was a long-standing kit man at his beloved Clarecastle GAA club and drowned while out fishing. Speaking about the tragedy Anthony said, ‘Everyone knew and loved Fondi. He was from a big family where I grew up. He was a great GAA man and came from a strong fishing background. When word came to the village that Fondi was lost, there was a rush to the quay to help. We spent the week walking the banks and we wouldn’t go to training while the search was ongoing. He was found the following Sunday at the River Fergus and while it was a blessing for the family, his loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew him.’

Anthony swims in the sea every week and has made sure his daughters can swim. Commenting on the campaign he said, ‘The RNLI is a great organisation for the GAA to be involved with in local communities. I think there is an awareness of water safety, but we can never stop banging the drum. I love the water and I want my daughters to love the water too and not fear it. Anything we can do to raise awareness of the risks of drowning and to share water safety advice, can only be a good thing.’

The key message of the RNLI’s ‘Respect the Water’ campaign is to Float To Live if you find yourself in trouble in cold water. This involves: Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about – this can lead to breathing in water and drowning

• Instead, relax and FLOAT on your back, until you have regained control of your breathing.

• The recommended floating position is to lean back in the water and keep your nose and mouth clear and extend your arms and legs.

*If you find it difficult to float then make gentle motions such as sculling with your hands and feet and concentrate on bringing your breathing under control.

For more advice on how to float and other water safety advice visit RespectTheWater.com

The RNLI will be present at Croke Park on Sunday 28 July to promote the Respect the Water campaign during the All-Ireland hurling semi-final and to share water safety advice with the thousands of fans travelling to see the match. Volunteers from RNLI lifeboat stations around Ireland will be on the pitch at half time to share the Float To Live message. The campaign is running throughout the summer with advertising across cinema, outdoor posters, radio, online, and catch-up TV channels.

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Ireland Media Manager on 087 1254 124 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Ireland Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Phoebe Igoe RNLI Media Placement Tel: 087 397 9970 email: [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is a proud partner of the GAA in Ireland. The two organisations are working together to improve the health and well-being of local communities with the aim to reduce drowning and to share life-saving advice. To learn more about this work click here

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,200 lives.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.