Water Safety & Rescue Services Acknowledged in Cork

Acknowledgement of working in partnership to promote water safety in Cork.

By Caroline Casey, Water Safety Development Officer, Cork County Council

Cllr. McGrath addressing the gathering.

Last Monday evening Aug. 21st an Awards Ceremony took place at the Crosshaven RNLI Station in Co. Cork.

Cllr. Seamus McGrath deputising for the Mayor of Co. Cork acknowledged the partnership approach taken in Co. Cork in the promotion of water safety. He thanked Caroline Casey, Cork Co. Council Water Safety Development Officer, The Beachguard Teams, Cork Water Safety Area Committee, Colum from Inchydoney Surf School, The Irish Coast Guard & The Rnli Teams that have worked with our Beachguard Teams over the past few years. He acknowledged the ongoing education drives around water safety being promoted by Cork Co. Council throughout the year and encouraged schools to get in contact with the Water Safety Development officer to join in our Free Safety Events. He thanked the beachguards for their commitment & professionalism on our beaches.
He referred to the statistics for the month of July 2017 for Co. Cork Beaches which are outlined below in the table for your information. He highlighted the number of accidents prevented in July and thanked the beachguard teams & all involved with their development.

Rescue	Rescue Craft	1st Aid	Lost child	Advice Given	Accident Prevented	other
7	3	193	5	7521	3775	139

Caroline Casey endorsed this message and went on to say that without this approach the

Beachguard Cup Winners 2017 Front Strand & Claycastle

standards on our beaches would not continue to develop year on year.

Congratulations to Front Strand & Claycastle Beachguard Teams who were joint winners of the Beachguard Team Cup for 2017.

Awards were presented to Diarmuid O' Donnabhain, John O' Hara, Siobhan Bradley, Sean O' Keeffe, John Williams & Ann Curtin all of the Cork Water Safety Area Committee. The RNLI Crew in Youghal & The Coast Guard Team from Castlefreak both got Awards. Colum of Inchydoney Surf School also got an award. These awards were presented in acknowledgement of the assistance with CPD for the Beachguards in County Cork.

Thanks to the speakers on the night - Cllr. Seamus McGrath Deputising for Cork County Mayor,
Mr. John O' Hara, Chairman of the Cork Water Safety Area Committee & Ms. Fiona Murphy, RNLI Area Manager for Cork.

Many thanks to Patsy & all at the RNLI Station for the use of their fabulous facility and for giving us a tour of the facility. A great evening was had by all.