Banna Rescue

No shortage of activity for volunteers over the past few days. Crews have delivered two school talks, met hundreds of people at Emergency Service Day, supported a community swim event, conducted countless hours of equipment maintenance, completed some external training and responded to an emergency tasking.

Every hour given by volunteers helps keep the community safer, whether that's through education, prevention, preparation, or emergency response.

📸 A few shots from the Personal Survival Techniques and Capsize course at the National Maritime College of Ireland.

On 31 May 1997, Liscahane, Ardfert, set a national May temperature record when temperatures reached 28.4 Celsius. While the recent spell of lovely weather has been warmly welcomed, beachgoers are reminded to take care near the water, particularly as sea temperatures remain quite cold despite the sunshine. Swimmers are advised to stay within their depth, supervise children closely and always check for Rip currents before entering the water.

As National Water Safety Awareness Week comes to a close, Banna volunteers were delighted to visit the pupils of Kilmoyley National School to share important water safety messages and talk about the work of the lifeboat crew. By going into schools, rescue teams help children learn:

✅ Water safety skills.
✅ How to spot danger near the coast and rivers.
✅ What to do in an emergency.
✅ The importance of looking out for each other.


A simple lesson today could save a life tomorrow.

Land, sea and air rescue teams working together 🫡

Volunteers from Banna Rescue, Glenderry Coast Guard and Ballybunion Coast Guard teamed up with rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, for some training exercises earlier this week; plenty of learning and teamwork.

These sessions are all about staying ready for the real thing.

During training the team concentrated on restricted manoeuvring operations. Close quarters, tight turns, controlled thrust and clear communication … every turn, every throttle adjustment and every command matters.


Train hard. Stay sharp. 🫡

Water safety education should start young, because awareness saves lives. Last week both Banna Rescue and Glenderry Coast Guard visited Glenderry National School, Scoil Naomh Erc, as part of the school’s Green-Schools Action Day.

When children learn how to respect water, recognise risks, and understand basic safety rules, they gain confidence while reducing the risk of accidents and drowning. Early education helps build smart habits that stay with them for life; whether at the pool, beach, river, or even at home.

It may be a bank holiday weekend but it’s still a busy weekend, one of our youngest fundraisers (and her brother) are hard at work making St. Brigid’s crosses. Carefully weaving each one to help raise funds for their local lifeboat Banna Rescue and Critical - Emergency Medical Response. She’s putting in the hours… and so are we, it’s a full SAR family production line this weekend 😄

If you’d like to support her efforts, be sure to pick one up !

A wee bit chilly over the last few weeks, but the perfect excuse for the “newbies” to kick off their volunteer crew training. Cold hands, good spirits, and plenty of smiles as they get stuck in - welcome aboard !”

Most Sunday walks are to enjoy a coffee ☕️, for our volunteers, Training ! … In Ireland, a significant majority of accidental drownings (around 60 – 65 %) happen during land-based activities like walking or hiking. If venturing out please remember to …

✅ Check weather and tides.
✅ Inform someone of your plans.
✅ Take a phone.
✅ Keep dogs on leads.
✅ Be wary of all edges.

New Year, New Gear ! … Banna Rescue gratefully acknowledges €126,000 in financial assistance/support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and Kerry County Council under the Community Recognition Fund. This funding advances a number of lifeboat/ fleet/ Safety Equipment/Upgrades.

Bliain Nua, Fearas Nua ! … Buíochas ó Banna Rescue as an tacaíocht airgeadais €126,000 ón An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta agus gComhairle Contae Chiarraí faoin gCiste Aitheantais Pobail. Cuireann an maoiniú seo roinnt Báid Sabháilthe/ Cabhlach/ Sábháilteacht Treallaimh/ Uasghráid chun cinn.