Ever wonder how far it is from Cork to Swansea?  Staff at the 4 star Garryvoe Hotel, on the shore of Ballycotton Bay in East Cork, decided to run a fundraising event that would cover the distance to raise funds for their local RNLI lifeboat station across the bay in Ballycotton.

Proposals were put forward and the idea of Swimming to Swansea was born.  It is approx. 314 kms from Cork to Swansea and the organisers wondered if they could cover the distance in 24 hours.  Those taking part quickly realised that if this mammoth task was to succeed they would need some help.  Posters were put up in the hotel leisure centre looking for volunteers.  Leisure centre members interested in taking part were encouraged to take sponsorship cards.

On Saturday, 23 July 2011, at 8am, a team of 25 swimmers started a relay swim in the Garryvoe hotel leisure centre swimming pool.  Their aim was to swim 80 kms in 12 hours.  When the swimmers were finished their part of the swim they were presented with a bag with fruit and bottled water, sponsored by the Village Greengrocer in Castlemartyr.

The second part of the fundraising event was to row the balance of the distance, i.e. 234 kms. Approaches were made to the Fastnet Line, who kindly agreed to sponsor the return trip for the fundraising team and provided a cabin to rest in between rowing.  At 6pm on the 23rd a team of 9 rowers took a bus from the Garryvoe Hotel to Ringaskiddy to catch the Fastnet Line ferry to Swansea.  They brought three rowing machines with them. Two came from the Garryvoe Hotel leisure centre and a third was provided by T&T Fitness.

The 9 rowers formed three teams of 3 and commenced rowing on deck in relays.  They rowed from Cork to Swansea.  While one team was rowing the others rested in the cabin provided by the Fastnet Line.  To ensure the fundraisers got the best support possible, and raised as much money for Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat as they could, regular announcements were made throughout the ship encouraging travellers to visit the rowers and offer their support.  RNLI lifeboat collection buckets were placed close to the rowing machines and passengers dropped money into them to help with the sponsorship effort.

The weary but delighted team of swimmers and rowers completed their 314 kms task.  In January 2012, when all funds were counted, Stephen Belton, General Manager, and staff at Garryvoe Hotel presented a cheque for €3,500 to members of the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat fundraising committee.  Mr. Belton related that the staff at Garryvoe Hotel were delighted to support this local charity.  Committee Chairman, Fiona Flynn, said the funds raised by the Garryvoe Hotel and Leisure Centre staff and members would go towards on-going training of lifeboat crew.  Ms Flynn thanked them for their efforts and explained how much it is appreciated by all involved at Ballycotton RNL lifeboat station.

We queued up at Garryvoe in East Cork on Christmas morning to park our car.  I wondered had I hibernated for six months and awoken in a different season.  When it was our turn to go we had to park the car three quarters way down the promenade and walk back to the hub of the activity.  This was not a normal day; the swimmers were all going to swim for charity.

We got out of the car wrapped in our winter woollies and fleece lined jackets.  A strong wind was blowing, bringing with it the rain and the cold.  We were greeted by people wrapped in towels.  Many had Santa hats on and towels wrapped around them.  I felt the odd one out with my jacket keeping me warm and dry.

There was no hanging around.  They were on a mission and that was to do what they were paid to do, get wet.  The Irish lifeboat service was one of several charities represented at Garryvoe this Christmas morning.  The banter was good humoured but their reason for being there was serious.

In 2010, when many were sitting down to their Christmas dinner the crew of the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat launched to assist three persons who had become stranded on the island off Ballycotton pier by the incoming tide.  Ralph Gunn is one of many who happily give up an hour on Christmas Day for this well needed charity.  Who knows when you or a friend or even a member of your family will need to call on this service?  The Irish lifeboat service depends on donations and fundraising events to operate this free service.  Ballycotton in East Cork is one of over forty RNLI lifeboat stations throughout Ireland who are on standby 24 / 7 and they are very thankful for all the support they have received in 2011.

They swam in the snow in 2010 on Christmas morning for Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.  Would you look forward to your Christmas Day swim this year?  Ralph Gunn’s hardy men and women are.

They are gearing up to take their annual Christmas morning swim at Garryvoe Beach in East Cork at 12 noon in aid of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.  The swimmers are currently looking for sponsorship for their efforts but are always interested in swelling their numbers.  If there is anyone interested in fundraising by taking a dip at Garryvoe Beach for Ballycotton lifeboat they could contact 087 4151475.

The swim at Garryvoe has become a Christmas Day tradition for many in East Cork.  If they are not going into the water many travel to the beach to support the swimmers and wish all a Happy Christmas.

Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station are thankful for the support given to them throughout the year.  Weather permitting, crew members will be seen in their lifeboat boarding boat at Garryvoe in support of those taking a dip for them this Christmas morning.

Many supporters of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat look forward to their annual fundraising event at Ballymaloe House early in the New Year.  Around this time of year their thoughts go to booking their tickets and supporting this worthy cause.

Phil Coulter has been a great supporter of the RNLI lifeboat service in Ireland for many years.  What many people don’t know is that he was in Ballycotton when, going down the hill to the pier, past the lifeboat house and onto the steps leading up to the storm wall that runs along the length of the pier, the final verse of Home from the Sea came to him.

The Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat fundraising committee are organising their annual event in the impressive Grain Store at Ballymaloe House on Wednesday, 8 February 2012, and Phil Coulter has kindly agreed to act as host.  Tickets are €65 and are available from the organising committee.  Enquiries can be made by ringing 087 4151475 or via email to ballycottonrnli14@eircom.net.  These tickets  would make a wonderful Christmas present, with something to look forward to in the New Year and supporting the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat at the same time.

The organisers are thrilled that Phil Coulter will be hosting the event and are thankful for the continued support of management and staff at Ballymaloe House.  They hope the event will be well supported and will be a good start to their fundraising efforts in 2012 for the vital RNLI lifeboat service at Ballycotton.

 

Related Video:

Santa Claus is in a bit of a pickle this year.  He didn’t take up the scrappage scheme and now realises his sleigh has seen better days.  It is going to need considerable work done in order to pass its NCT in January.  At this late stage in the year he can’t bring it into the workshop or it won’t be ready for Christmas and he can’t disappoint the children.  He will have to draw up a contingency plan.

As Ireland is surrounded by water there is the possibility that Santa’s sleigh could run into difficulties at sea.  His sleigh can land anywhere but how would he get ashore if he had to ditch it at sea.  He knows the RNLI lifeboats are on call 24 / 7 and has been talking to members of the crew at Ballycotton in East Cork.

Santa usually takes the reindeers for a run a week before Christmas to get them ready for Christmas Eve.  He has arranged to do an exercise with Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat on Saturday, 17 December, at 12 noon.  The lifeboat crew will rescue him and bring him ashore at Ballycotton pier so he knows what to expect in case of such an event occurring.

Santa Claus is inviting children to come down to meet him at noon on Saturday, 17 December on Ballycotton pier.   He would like to hear what they want for Christmas and in return is looking for some ideas on what he should do in case his sleigh breaks down and he needs help.  His time will be short in Ballycotton as his sleigh will only stay afloat for a couple of hours.

The volunteers at Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station have told Santa they will be ready to answer his call (or anyone else’s for that matter) if the need arises.  Santa hopes he will meet plenty of children before he has to return to his sleigh so, children, don’t disappoint him.

9:03 PM 30th Nov. 2011
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was launched this evening, Wednesday, 30 November, at 2040 hours to an Irish registered fishing vessel taking water approx. 20 miles south east of Ballycotton.  The Waterford based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, was also launched and is en route to the fishing vessel.  Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat is expected to be with the casualty at approx. 2130 hours.  Weather conditions are rough with winds blowing Force 8 in the area.  When on scene attempts will be made to place a salvage pump aboard the fishing vessel to help manage the water intake and the fishing vessel will be taken under tow. More to follow later….

Wed, Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:17 PM - Latest : The alarm was raised this evening, 30 November, by an Irish registered fishing vessel taking in water approx. 20 miles south east of Ballycotton.  Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat and the Waterford based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, were requested to launch to lend assistance.

With winds blowing up to Force 8 in Ballycotton the RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, with its volunteer crew, slipped her moorings at 2045 hours and headed towards the fishing vessel’s reported position.  The four man crew of the fishing vessel were keeping the water intake under control with buckets and steamed their fishing boat towards the oncoming lifeboat.  Conditions in the area were poor, with high winds, rough seas and squally showers.  At 2140 hours the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat arrived on scene with Rescue 117 arriving shortly thereafter.

The emergency services stood by the fishing vessel while it headed towards Ballycotton harbour under its own power.  Rescue 117 returned to base having updated themselves on the situation and the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat escorted the fishing vessel for the remainder of the journey.  The fishing vessel arrived in Ballycotton at 2300 hours and an RNLI salvage pump was placed aboard to extract the excess water.  The four man crew offered their thanks to the emergency services for the assistance given.

Plan A on Friday evening last was to swim from the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat slip, out around Ballycotton lighthouse and back to the lifeboat slip.  The August weather had other ideas.  The event organisers arrived in Ballycotton at 3:30pm, reviewed the conditions in Ballycotton Bay and put Plan B into action.  Three buoys were placed in the Bay and the 45 swimmers had to swim around these to complete the 3.5 km swim. Photos: Courtesy of Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat

The swim was organised by the Munster Open Water Swimming Organisation and they travelled from as far as Limerick in the west to Waterford in the east and places in between.  The swimmers ranged in age from 13 to 65 years.  They were started in five different groups, at five minute intervals, the slower starting first and the fastest in the last group.  By doing this the field would have tightened up towards the end of the swim.  Each group was accompanied by kayakers for the entire swim.  The organisers had two ribs in the area also.  The Ballycotton RNLI all weather lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, kept careful watch over the swimmers in the middle of Ballycotton  Bay and their boarding boat, with two lifeboat crewmembers aboard, moved throughout the entire route.
There was a sprint for the finish between two swimmers, who completed the course in 50 minutes.  The camaraderie among the group was infectious and the many onlookers felt involved.  Having swum the 3.5 km course they then waited on the Ballycotton lifeboat slip for the other contestants to finish.

One of the organisers, Carol Cashell, explained that all entrants had to have swum a 3 km open water competition previously to qualify.  She related that the swimmers enjoy the freedom of swimming long distances in the open water.  Carol confirmed 32 did this swim last year, when they successfully swam around Ballycotton lighthouse, 6 have swum the English Channel, 6 have done the Straits of Gibraltar and 2 have swum around Manhattan Island in the US.  When asked about the weather conditions and how they affected the swimmers she explained that they don’t particularly like the sunny days as this blinds them.  They would have been happy enough with the misty evening they were faced with.  However, by the end of the swim the sun shone on this harty group.

This event was a fundraising effort for Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.  Initially an email was sent to 150 swimmers listed on the Sandycove mailing list.  By the morning of the event, Friday 19 August, 45 swimmers, 14 kayakers and 2 ribs had volunteered their time and energy to help raise funds for our lifeboat service.  Carol explained that the swimmers have done swims such as this for other lifeboat stations in Co. Cork, e.g. Courtmacsherry, Kinsale, Crosshaven.  As a charity the RNLI appreciates efforts such as this in support of their lifeboats which offers a free service to those in trouble at sea. When the swim was finished and all swimmers had safely completed the course they left with the promise that they would be back again next year.

Click here to visit the Ballycotton RNLI Lifeboat website

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 8:11 PM

Having spent the day searching Cork Harbour for a missing fisherman Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat crew took a break when the light faded to get something to eat.  They were sitting down to eat at 19:15 when their assistance was called upon again to a 30 foot fishing boat reported to be sinking off Roches Point, at the mouth of Cork Harbour.

The Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat and Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat responded to the shout.  A salvage pump from the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was placed on board the fishing vessel with two Ballycotton lifeboat crewmembers.  The fishing vessel was stabalised and taken under tow to Cobh.  They are expected to arrive there at 20:30.

RNLI crewmembers will get something to eat and will launch again at 22:30 to resume their search for the missing fisherman off Ringabella Bay.  If their efforts are not successful they will launch again tomorrow morning, Friday, 21 January, at 9:30am to resume the search.

Bláthnaid Lane Walsh
Press officer
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station

A Christmas day swim at Garryvoe Beach in East Cork has become a tradition for many hardy men and women to raise funds for charity.  Ralph Gunn and his friends run into the waves across the bay from the small village of Ballycotton to help raise funds for Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.  The event has become very popular for many people who turn out to cheer them on and 2010 was no different.

The sun shone warmly on the keen fundraisers, who took time to pose for photographs before noon.  The tide was receding when the clock struck 12 and the swimmers started their trek towards the waiting waves.  They were cheered on by supporters lining the seafront and watched from the sea by three RNLI lifeboat crewmembers in the Ballycotton lifeboat boarding boat.  When all the fundraising swimmers were safely ashore the lifeboat boarding boat returned to Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station and lifeboat crewmembers, fundraising swimmers and supporters turned to celebrating Christmas with their families.

The weather this Christmas day was so pleasant some people took a stroll to make the most of the sunny day.  Four foreign nationals, visiting Ballycotton for the day, decided to explore the small island between Ballycotton pier and the lighthouse off shore.  However, not realising how quick the tide turns they quickly became stranded and had to wait until they caught someone’s attention on the shore.  At 16:00 the alarm was raised and the RNLI lifeboat pagers were activated.  Dinners and families were abandoned as lifeboat crewmembers gathered at the lifeboat station.  The boarding boat was again launched and with three lifeboat crewmembers aboard proceeded to safely recover the four unfortunate adventurers.

Satisfied the casualties were not suffering any ill effects of their adventure RNLI lifeboat crewmembers returned home to resume where they had left off a short while earlier.

Bláthnaid Lane Walsh
Press Officer
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station

At 8am on Christmas morning John will hoist the lifeboat flag at Garryvoe Beach, across the bay from Ballycotton lifeboat station in East Cork.  John is forewarning people that Ralph and his friends, John included, will dive into the icy waters at 12 noon in aid of Ballycotton lifeboat.  The snow last year didn’t stop this hardy bunch of fundraisers and this year won’t be any different.

People gather from 11:30 am on Christmas morning in support of their loved ones who are taking a dip for charity.  The car park is as busy as a fine summer’s day and the atmosphere is like no other time.  The supporters are well wrapped up against the elements and have towels and warm clothes ready as the swimmers emerge from the cold Atlantic waters.

All associated with Ballycotton lifeboat appreciate what these swimmers go through on their behalf and thank them for their brave efforts.  It is hoped as many supporters as possible make the journey to Garryvoe to cheer them on.

The fundraisers for Ballycotton lifeboat would also like to thank anyone who helped and supported them in any way during 2010.  A happy Christmas to all.

A huge thank you for all the support you have given us at Ballycotton lifeboat throughout the year.  May you have a happy and peaceful Christmas.

Bláthnaid Lane Walsh
Press Officer
Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station

087 4151475