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Ed Carty / TwitterHundreds turnout, including huge numbers of Coast Guard staff, for funeral of Caitriona Lucas in Liscannor, Clare pic.twitter.com/6aYW6JQtCk
— Ed Carty (@EdCartyPA) September 15, 2016
Updated 6.21pm
THE IRISH COAST Guard volunteer who died during a rescue operation off the coast of Clare will be laid to rest today.
Caitríona Lucas was remembered as a inspirational mother and dedicated worker.
She was remembered by her husband Bernard, 20-year-old son Ben and daughter Emma, 18, at St. Brigid Church in Liscannor this morning.
Bernard and Caitríona were childhood sweethearts. Today, he read a poem for her which began:
Caitriona, the call was made
and you set out in wind and wave and rain,
your quest to search and search to ease a family’s pain.
And then his final words:
Your sacrifice will never be lost on us your loyal crew,
anchors away you beauty queen,
you’re in our hearts,
from your friends and lonesome crew, it’s slán go foill.
Ben described his mother as an exceptional person in every way in a short address, reports RTÉ.
“She loved the sea and the coastguard… her work in the library, especially the projects with the children. My mother had lots of great qualities. She was caring, honest, kind and, above all, dedicated.”
Her friend Pat Flynn told Ray D’arcy this afternoon that he also described her as his hero.
Flags are flying at half mast across the country for the first ever Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die during a rescue.
Lucas and two other crew members were thrown from their boat when it capsized during a search operation for a missing person.
Jenny Carway, another rescuer who was injured in the incident but survived, yesterday placed a wreath on the cliffs at Kilkee where her colleague died.
President Michael D Higgins has also written to express his condolences to the woman’s family with Taoiseach Enda Kenny also passing on similar sentiments.
Enda Kenny / TwitterNational flag flies@ half mast to honour memory&selfless dedication of Caitríona Lucas, Kilkee Coastguard. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire uirthi
— Enda Kenny (@EndaKennyTD) September 15, 2016
Karl Gardner / TwitterOur flag at half mast to honour Irish coast guard volunteer Caitriona Lucas who died in the line of duty on Monday pic.twitter.com/JcB4yYMH4u
— Karl Gardner (@karlgardnerirl) September 15, 2016
With reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll
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This lady was dedicated to saving lives and lost her own while doing it. RIP.
I would have thought someone from the government and president should have attended the funeral. She died serving her country and deserves the same honours as any garda or soldier who dies in the line of duty
May she be at peace RIP
Our condolences to Mattie Shannon on the great loss of Caitriona……Bernard and John Kenealy Dublin.
I lived in Doolin for a few years a long time ago and met a few of the lads and lassies (mostly lads back then) that routinely venture into caves kilometres long and deep with underground lakes, absail down the Cliffs of Moher, and brave the wild Atlantic in the most insane conditions on rescue missions in search of those in peril or in attempts to recover a body. They trained a lot. They were always practising something with RIBs in the water or with helicopters. They were farmers, fishermen, restrauteurs, musicians, and every other sort. Fundraising was regular and well supported locally but mostly what I remember is how much respect and gratitude locals had and still have for the service. Rest easy Volunteer Lucas.
When you go into dangerous conditions at sea you don’t just put your life at risk but the lives of volunteers and the emergency services. This lady is sadly a prime example of that. If she wasn’t out searching for someone else who was missing at sea she would be home with her family. Rest in peace. Such a sad a dog tragic story.
Sad “and” tragic story
Cheryl. What you say is true. But after reading about this brave and beautiful woman, I think she wouldn’t know how to live her life if she wasn’t helping others. Broke my heart to hear her sons eulogy and see her husband and daughters heartbroken face. A true Saint in my eyes.. Rip
So sad, RIP
High levels of mamdatory swimming certification should be req’d for this activity. Not saying it would have prevented this but still. I completed 2 years of intensive swimming training in NL and they have best system in the Eu incl. Diving and specific life saving certn. Would be fantastic if we could replicate their system. Very sorry for lady and family involved, a true tragedy doing something she believed in. She was a true hero trying to help others.
@gregory: Swimming as a life saving method is very overratted in such seas, even wearing a life jacket the constant sea spray is enough to drown you. High quality immersion suits and life jackets with rebreather lungs would be far more effective tools.
R IP True Hero
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