Kinsale RNLI welcomes €5,000 donation from Sandycove Swimmers
Volunteers at Kinsale RNLI were delighted to receive a generous donation of €5,044 from the local Sandycove Island Swim Club, after club members vowed to match public donations with funding from their own resources.
The club boasts an impressive 20 English Channel solo swimmers among its membership, along with a hardy band of ‘just dipping’ newcomers introduced to the joys of open water swimming during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Kinsale RNLI lifeboat crew member Colum O’Sullivan, himself a Sandycove Swimmer, said: ‘The public response was superb and reflects the importance of the RNLI in every coastal community around Ireland. As we head into the Bank Holiday weekend, we urge everyone to follow the Sandycove Swimmers and adhere to the safety guidelines issued by the RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard:
· Check the weather and tide and familiarise yourself with local currents before you participate in any open water or coastal activity.
· Always carry a reliable means of raising the alarm with you.
· Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.
· Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid on or near the water.
· Never ever swim alone and always ensure that somebody ashore is monitoring your progress.
‘We would also like to thank Cork County Council for maintaining great public amenities like Sandycove, and while do follow all safety advice, it’s reassuring to know that our volunteers in the RNLI and other emergency services are on call 24/7 over what will be a busy Bank Holiday weekend.’
Ends
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Tricia McLernon, Kinsale RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 083 152 9282 email: [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 00353 87 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Media Manager on 00353 87 1254 124 or [email protected]
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.