Ballyglass History
1989 The lifeboat station was established 17 October. The Arun class lifeboat City of Bradford IV arrived at the station and was kept at moorings in the inlet.
1993 A new boathouse and slipway were completed in January. The boathouse includes housing for the boarding boat, a souvenir sales outlet, workshop, assembly area, toilets and shower, a crew room, observation room and a galley.
1995 The boathouse and slipway were officially opened on 28 May.
1998 The new Severn class lifeboat Bryan and Gordon arrived at the station in August. The funding for the lifeboat was provided by legacies from Bryan Clifford Griffiths and Gordon William Griffiths, who were brothers.
On 25 October the lifeboat launched at 1820 to search for four people reported overdue in their 5m curragh. A local fishing vessel reported voices in a cave west of Horse Island, 18 miles from Ballyglass. On arrival at the scene the Y boat was launched from the Severn class lifeboat with Assistant Mechanic John Gaughan and Crew Member Cathal Reilly on board. They went 215m into the cave where voices were heard and the casualties were spotted on a ledge, 6m above sea level, but unreachable because of the heavy breaking swell.
Local divers, Michael Heffernan and Joseph Barratt, volunteered to assist the lifeboat crew and entered the cave in an IMES rescue boat. They entered the water with a line and appeared to clear the breakers before being caught and dragged by the backwash. The recall sign was felt on the line and it was quickly retrieved. Joseph Barratt was recovered and landed to the IMES rescue boat, but Michael Heffernan was not.
The lifeboat and three other fishing vessels were at the cliff face illuminating the cave, assisted by local firemen with halogen lamps. At this point it was decided to wait for daybreak to continue the rescue. After an unsuccessful attempt by the IMES boat, Ciaran Doyle volunteered and swam 300m through vicious seas carrying 300m of rope. A line was secured to the IMES rescue boat and, although the boat nearly capsized three times, the casualties were towed to safety.
A Bronze Medal was awarded to Ciaran Doyle of the Garda Underwater Unit, Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum were awarded to Joseph Barratt and Michael Heffernan (posthumously) from Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, and Framed Letters of Thanks were awarded to Assistant Mechanic John Gaughan and Crew Member Cathal Reilly.
2002 A relief inshore lifeboat (ILB), a D class Lawnflight, was placed on station for evaluation in May. The ILB boathouse is at Belmullet.
2003 The D class was placed on permanent service in April.
2004 The D class, D-570 Joan and Ted Wiseman 50, arrived at the station.
2006 A Framed Letter of Thanks was presented to Coxswain Patrick Walker for the service to the yacht Rondo in February 2005. A young man was saved from the yacht in the dark, in rough seas and gusting gale force winds.
Station honours
At Ballyglass lifeboat station the following awards have been made:
Framed Letter of Thanks 3
Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 2
Bronze Medal 1
