Missing fishermen

LeoB

Just heard on R.T.E news 3 life boats and helicopter involved in search off Skerries for missing fishermen.

Our thoughts are with them and their families on this night..

fergal.b

I know the guy's well, please God they will be found safe and sound.

LeoB

For this type of situation is there a coastal search by the public organised?

I remember about 15 years ago being asked by Gardái would I be interested in helping on land with coastal search. Never heard any more.

Please god they will be found safe

Stheno

Here's hoping they are found safe and well.

Thoughts to their friends and families, they must be worried sick

iamjenko

fergal.b wrote: »

I know the guy's well, please God they will be found safe and sound.

Me too. Whats the weather / sea conditions out that way tonight?

fergal.b

Strong winds today but the sea was not that big.

LeoB

There was some strong gusts this evening when I was out. The sea looked a little choppy but not as much as yesterday.

http://www.met.ie/forecasts/sea-area.asp

iamjenko

Man, i hope we hear something good soon

fergal.b

If anyone hears of a search in the morning will they please post or let me know who to contact.

Rashers72

I was out all evening and just returned now. A few cars and taxi's parked up at the car park around Lady's Steps and guys with large flash lights looking down onto the beach. Garda helicopter also hovering for last 20 mins around Skerries harbour/Mourne View direction, along the beach. Using their large floodlights in the search. Like everyone else's thoughts here, hopefully they will be found safe + well.

Sparkles78

fergal.b wrote: »

If anyone hears of a search in the morning will they please post or let me know who to contact.

Hi, not sure if there is any organised search but i know there are a lot of people getting up early in the morning to start looking again. My other half is on his way home now he's been walking along the beach from skerries to balbriggan.

Thoughts & prayers are with the 2 lads families, hope to God they're found safe......

The Hill Billy

fergal.b wrote: »

If anyone hears of a search in the morning will they please post or let me know who to contact.

Fergal - Just head to the harbour. I'm sure that there will be a coordinator around the lifeboat station.

The Hill Billy

Just to add that my thoughts and prayers are with the lads and their families (one of them I've been friends with for many years).

I'm stuck in Switz this weekend feeling pretty useless, so if you are reading this and have the time - head down and see if there is anything you can do to help.

Thanks,

HB

Khannie

Someone said on the skerries facebook page that they'd been found, but the SAR helicopter is still out so I don't know if that's true.

http://www.facebook.com/Skerries

The Hill Billy

I don't think so unfortunately.

Khannie

Thought it weird that someone would say that if it weren't true.

weldoninhio

The girl who said it looks about 12, maybe she overheard her parents or someone talking and misheard or picked up the information wrong.

The Hill Billy

Latest news is that the boat has been found upturned near Clogherhead. Divers are on their way to the area. 28 civilian boats also assisting in the search.

iamjenko

http://irishsar.blogspot.com/

Search & Rescue website. Divers at Clogherhead now

LeoB

fergal.b wrote: »

I know the guy's well, please God they will be found safe and sound.

Didnt realise I knew of the lads fairly well and the other chap just to see.

Hill Billy wrote: »

Fergal - Just head to the harbour. I'm sure that there will be a coordinator around the lifeboat station.

There were people out all along the coast from Loughshinny with binoculars this morning and a lot of people gathered along Red Island and out the Balbriggan Rd.

Daisy!

Oh how awful Don't hear of this in Dublin as much as other parts. Thoughts are with them and their families

dan_d

Out around the pier in Skerries last night (by coincidence). Couldn't believe the number of people out there, helping and just being there until late in the night in the wind and cold. Think there's even more today.

Rescue services are fantastic - I hope they find them soon.

The Hill Billy

The missing fishermen have been confirmed as Ronan Browne (25) & David Gilsenan (41). Both well known & liked locals.

Ronan is the son of friends of mine & I went to school with David. My thoughts are with them & their families.

fergal.b

Long day searching today with about half of skerries, huge effort from the RNLI and the COAST GUARD they are truly indispensable.
Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends.

tatli_lokma

it is very easy for us to forget we are an island nation, especially land lovers like me. but the support and help of the RNLI is an invaluable service to Ireland, and all crew are voluntary and unpaid. These guys and girls provide an amazing service, with no government assistance, totally funded by donations. The RNLI is a charity often forgotten about, but one that is totally invaluable to the island of Ireland.

I really hope the two lads are found soon, and that all crew members come home safe and sound also.

Dizzyblonde

God help them, here's hoping they're safe and just haven't been found yet. Their poor families must be sick with worry.

The Hill Billy

@Little Ted - Great post.

@All - Pop a few bob into the next RNLI charity box you see. They are a selfless and brave crew of volunteer guys and girls, and from what I'm hearing from back home today they're really giving it their all and deserve our support.

tatli_lokma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjQtkiyxW2o

timmythesheep

I am actually crying reading this thread - a mix of sadness for those lost and utmost admiration for those out looking.

My heart goes out to the families, I can only guess what they are going through.

cathy01

Not to give up hope.Some years ago, my brother and a neighbour went missing at sea.It was a long night while everyone searched for them.After hours they when found, alive, cold and hungrey.The engine on the boat failed, they had no life jackets or flare guns and it was way before the days of mobile phones.We all lernt a lesson that day.Dont give up hoping.
Cathy

The Hill Billy

Lots of people working hard again today searching for Ronan & David. SAR chopper from Wexford joined today.

Fair play to Skerries RNLI & Coast Guard crews, the Gardai & everyone else involved in the search.

Stay positive.

caprilicious

My thoughts are with their families at this devastating time. I can't begin to imagine how difficult it must be for them.

The local volunteers have been amazing, I know some of the guys that fished with them have been out day and night searching constantly. They were out in jet skis first thing this morning searching areas the boats couldn't access.
Also the RNLI/Coastguard/Gardai working so hard.

They're giving a westerly wind tonight/tomorrow, I hope it doesn't hamper the search efforts.

I have family that work on the trawlers, your heart always stops when you hear of a boat in trouble in case it might be them. Their families are going through hell at the moment, I pray that they're found soon.

Morpheus

Any updates?

My father and myself spent yesterday working up and back from balbriggan to gormanston but to no avail...

this is tragic but im back in work and cant help out....

The Hill Billy

Fair dues to you & your father.

There's no news I'm afraid. The Navy are due to join the search today according to the Irish Times.

This is also taking place on Wednesday if anyone is interested.

Morpheus

Thanks,

My cousin was supposed to be out with them but he got delayed and never made it... he's lucky in that he's still with us but unlucky as he's lost two good friends... Hes been out in a boat looking for them ever since. families are devastated.

A.Partridge

Did my eyes deceive me or did I see a RAF Nimrod aircraft join the search too?

It was on a news bulletin yesterday around lunchtime.


Really hope that the lads are found soon as the families need closure.

martinn123

Crossing The Bar (sailor, seaman fisherman)


Poems for a seaman, sailor, fisherman,
Poems : The sandbar (a ridge of sand built up by currents along a shore) is used as a metaphor to describe the barrier between life and death.

Poems : Crossing The Bar

Sunset and evening star
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.


Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

iamjenko

A.Partridge wrote: »

Did my eyes deceive me or did I see a RAF Nimrod aircraft join the search too?

It was on a news bulletin yesterday around lunchtime.


Really hope that the lads are found soon as the families need closure.

Air Corps Marine Surveillance aircraft.

The account details for the fund for fuel for the volunteers is Bank of Ireland Skerries, the name is Lady Linda, the sort code is 90 08 93, the number is 818 38 744

Corsendonk

A.Partridge wrote: »

Did my eyes deceive me or did I see a RAF Nimrod aircraft join the search too?

It was on a news bulletin yesterday around lunchtime.

If you were watching the RTE TV at lunchtime then that was the Irish Air Corps CASA/IPTN CN-235 that they use for maritime survelliance.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/4828421309_78f08d4336.jpg

The UK only have two Nimrods left in service and one is in Cyprus in support of the Libyan no fly zone. They scrapped the half built new replacements.

tatli_lokma

iamjenko wrote: »

The account details for the fund for fuel for the volunteers is Bank of Ireland Skerries, the name is Lady Linda, the sort code is 90 08 93, the number is 818 38 744

just to point out folks, that this is a fund specifically for volunteers who are using their own boats.
It is not the RNLI Skerries at all (just some confusion on this from what I have heard people saying). The RNLI are not running out of fuel, so no need to worry on that score, but the fund is to help those who are voluntarily going out in their own vessels.

If you want to donate to the RNLI you can do so by visiting their website www.rnli.ie, donating via Mycharity.ie, or if you want your money to go specifically to the Skerries lifeboat, then you can contact the RNLI main office by phone.

I am sure there will also be some collection made for the families also, so plenty of options to help out and all of them will be gratefully received and put to good use.

yknaa

Navy divers are now being called in to help the search.

Sparkles78

Little Ted wrote: »

just to point out folks, that this is a fund specifically for volunteers who are using their own boats.
It is not the RNLI Skerries at all (just some confusion on this from what I have heard people saying). The RNLI are not running out of fuel, so no need to worry on that score, but the fund is to help those who are voluntarily going out in their own vessels.

If you want to donate to the RNLI you can do so by visiting their website www.rnli.ie, donating via Mycharity.ie, or if you want your money to go specifically to the Skerries lifeboat, then you can contact the RNLI main office by phone.

I am sure there will also be some collection made for the families also, so plenty of options to help out and all of them will be gratefully received and put to good use.

yes some people seem to be getting confused from what Ive seen on facebook.

Also don't forget as mentioned by HillBilly in a previous post there is a walk taking place on Wednesday, this is for the RNLI.

Taken from the Skerries facebook page:

SKERRIES ... LET'S COME TOGETHER FOR THE RNLI. "A Walk of Solidarity" will start at the Bandstand, Red Island this Wednesday 6th at 7pm, to walk a 5km lap of Skerries. Funds are badly needed at this time. Bring €10 or whatever you can afford. Spread the word on your own FB pages too if you can please.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Skerries

LeoB

Great idea for the walk. Perhaps it can be also spread through group texts we migh use and added to any emails we send.

Very important if we can also support the fishermen who are running up big fuel costs. It must be awful for them at this time.

It was heartwarming driving back from Balbriggan this morning around 7.15-30 to see the amount of people out walking the rocks and combing the shoreline. And later to see people out between Loughshinny and Rush around the Drummanagh.

fergal.b

There is a coffee Day in OLLIES PLACE tomorrow from 12 to fund-raise for the trawlers and other boats that are helping out. Any donation is welcome for a cup of coffee.
I will be heading out from skerries lifeboat house at 8am if anyone wants to come along, wear good hiking boots as the rocks are not kind to ankles. Here is a photo from today "rainbow of hope"

The Hill Billy

Am flying back on Thursday night now. I'm really hoping that the searches will be done by then. If not & you want to join me Friday morning drop me a PM.

The Hill Billy

Post deleted. Corsendonk - do not post in this thread again.

HB

Hawk-eye46

Born and Bred in Loughshinny, grew up with Ronán, I pray to god that both him and David are found. I too also have family that fish the trawlers, your heart is always in your mouth when you hear of fishermen in trouble. I think the Skerries RNLI, Coast guard,The RNLI, Sea Area Rescue, the local communities of Loughshinny, Skerries, Rush, Balbriggan and surrounding areas are absolutely incredible. No where else in the world would you see the support that the world has seen from the Communites that are looking for David and Ronán. Keep up the good work and I pray the boys will be found for their family and friends sake. The next time you see an little RNLI lifeboat collection box, slip a few quid in for the teams who risk life and limb to keep the fishermen and pleasure craft safe on the water, who are on call 24/7 - 365 days a year and they are all volunteers. Will keep praying for Ronán and David to come home.

Sparkles78

Hawk-eye46 wrote: »

I think the Skerries RNLI, Coast guard,The RNLI, Sea Area Rescue, the local communities of Loughshinny, Skerries, Rush, Balbriggan and surrounding areas are absolutely incredible. No where else in the world would you see the support that the world has seen from the Communites that are looking for David and Ronán. Keep up the good work and I pray the boys will be found for their family and friends sake.

Also to thank the oil companies donating oil to the local fishermen, Butterly's, Rush, McLoughlins, Balbriggan and Campus Oil, Dunleer. Hope its ok to mention them? If not please feel free to delete mods.

I seen the Navy ship out this morning too, I pray to God these boys are found.

Eoineo

The Irish Naval Service vessel the LE Emer has been appointed on-scene co-ordinator in the search - information from @defenceforces on Twitter.

Kintarō Hattori

You always hear about missing people at sea and the search for them but it's always just a passing thought. This morning while waiting for the train in Balbriggan the SAR helicoper came up the coast slowly from Skerries heading up towards Drogheda, clearly searching the shoreline for bodies. The reality of the situation hit home to me then seeing the chopper pass by.

It must feel like a hopeless task trying to find a needle in a haystack. The rescuers involved do an amazing job. I can only hope that they are found safe and well.

tatli_lokma

just to state again, the RNLI, Coastguard and other rescue services are all well equiped and have plenty of fuel to conduct the search. there is no suggestion that any of these are running out of fuel.
The fuel fund is purely for the private individuals who are giving their time on their personal boats to assist the search.
I know they will welcome any help, but if you want to give money to the RNLI in general you should contact them directly or take part in the walk of solidarity which is in aid of the RNLI.

sorry to state it again, but there is still a lot of confusion, and I heard myself this morning a lady saying how terrible it is that the RNLI and Coastguard are running out of fuel - this is not the case. The search will continue, and the rescue services will give it their all to find these two men.