Busy Weekend for Courtmacsherry RNLI with Rescue and Crew Assessment Success
- Pat Nolan
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Monday 27 July 2026
Courtmacsherry RNLI volunteers had another busy weekend as the station continues to respond to incidents during the peak holiday season.
The all-weather lifeboat Val Adnams launched on Friday evening (25 July) at 4.08pm after being tasked by the Coast Guard to assist a 17ft pleasure boat that had developed engine failure close to the shoreline off Garrettstown, near the Old Head of Kinsale.
Under the command of Coxswain Ken Cashman, the volunteer crew assembled quickly and, with updated information from the Coast Guard, made best speed to the casualty. The lifeboat arrived on scene at 4.30pm and found that while the vessel had lost all power, the three people on board had successfully deployed their anchor, preventing the boat from drifting onto the rocky coastline.
With a fresh south-westerly wind pushing the vessel towards the shore, the lifeboat crew immediately established a tow and safely brought the casualty away from danger before towing it back to Courtmacsherry Harbour.
The lifeboat arrived alongside the pier pontoon at 5.30pm, where the three people on board were relieved to be safely ashore.
Later that evening, the volunteer crew returned to sea for their scheduled weekly training exercise, during which crew member Thomas Kelly successfully completed his Tier 1 Crew assessment.
Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager Barry Scannell praised both the RNLI volunteers and the casualty for their actions.
"It was great to have so many crew respond so quickly to the callout," he said. "Credit must also go to the pleasure boat crew for seeking help promptly when they realised they were in danger."
Congratulating Thomas Kelly on his assessment, Barry added: "It was also fantastic to see Thomas pass his vital Tier 1 assessment. As we approach the busy Bank Holiday weekend, we would urge everyone planning to enjoy the coast to take care on or near the water. If you see anyone in trouble, or think they are in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 immediately and ask for the Coast Guard."
The volunteer crew involved in the callout, training exercise and assessment were Ken Cashman, Stuart Russell, Kevin Young, Dave Philips, Denis Murphy, Thomas Kelly, Tadgh McCarthy, Colin Bateman, Dean Hennessy, Gearóid O'Donovan, Niamh Hurley and Taylor Murphy.
