A decade ago, the Coast Guard unit of Doolin was operating at its height, counted among the busiest and best equipped in the nation, and with a well-trained, large volunteer base. They were a few weeks away from relocating to a €2 million rescue centre, which the local community had lobbied for over twenty years.
In present times, the Co Clare unit is but a mere echo of its previous stature. The unfortunate death of Caitríona Lucas in 2016, coupled with internal strife, has resulted in significant loss of volunteers. Indeed, over a century’s worth of life-saving experience has evaporated in the recent past.
Caitríona Lucas, a 41 year old librarian and a mother of two, tragically lost her life in a Coast Guard search mission near Kilkee on the twelfth of September, 2016. A sudden massive wave disrupted their rescue boat, flinging the three-person crew into the sea, resulting in her drowning. A head injury also contributed to her death. Her loss marked the first of a Coast Guard volunteer on active duty.
In its current state, the unit lacks the seasoned personnel necessary for a climbing team – a crucial component for the rescue and recovery operations at the Cliffs of Moher. This shortfall was thrust into the spotlight recently when a team of divers had to travel 550kms in a round-trip from Monaghan to Clare, to retrieve the body of 17-year-old Lochlann Murray, an Armagh student, from the bottom of the cliffs.
During the mission, assistance was given by Bernard Lucas, Caitríona’s spouse and one of the many ex-members who have retired from the service in recent periods. With more than two decades experience with the Coast Guard, Mr Lucas is presently planning to set up a fresh, autonomous rescue service in Doolin.
“Upon my integration, it was a supremely outstanding team to be affiliated with. Undoubtedly, we ranked among the drawcards nationwide in terms of competence and workload,” he recollects. “The anticipation for a Tuesday training session was ecstatic. However, a steady downward trend commenced around a decade ago. The degeneration was slow, but persistent and damaging.”
After his beloved wife departed, Bernard found a refreshed sense of purpose and solace in the Doolin crew, akin to a second family — a strong bond that he and his wife, Caitríona, had nurtured. However, a year into this, the escalating internal conflicts began to affect him, leading to his two-year hiatus from service.
His departure in 2017 left a void in his position as an expert coxswain, a coveted rank within the Irish Coast Guard. His comeback in 2019, however, relegated him to the status of a trainee crew member, a lowly step within the Doolin unit’s hierarchy.
He shares, “Directly following Caitríona’s departure, it was crucial for me to return. We cherised our collective time with the unit — it may sound peculiar, but I needed to return immediately post the unfortunate incident.”
He continues, “However, the 2019 comeback was taxing — I was downgraded. I went from an advanced coxswain to starting from scratch as a trainee crew again — the equivalent of a novice entering the unit, unfamiliar with ship’s stern.”
Between 2019 and 2022, a total of six volunteers bid adieu to the Doolin crew. In 2022, the Irish Coast Guard opted to overhaul the unit, beckoning volunteers to reapply individually to re-integrate. However, when Mr. Lucas and nine of his colleagues collectively applied their application was dismissed.
Recalling their attempt, Lucas explains, “The ten of us convened and decided to apply as a unified force, rather than as separate entities, as a signal of protest against mistreatment. Unsurprisingly, our application was snubbed — they preferred to cherry-pick the roster.”
Tom Doherty, a former caver with 34 years tenure with the Doolin unit is among the 10 members who reapplied as a group. According to him, trust within the team is key in a demanding role like theirs. He recalls feeling out of place and being sidelined within the unit.
Deirdre Linnane, a former volunteer at the Coast Guard and a good friend of the late Caitríona Lucas, shared that the hostile environment at the unit made her resign. Being in the Coast Guard used to be an escape from the rigours of everyday life, but over time it became a source of constant stress, leading her to leave. The toll that her work took on her young son was another factor that influenced her decision to leave.
A statement released by the Department of Transport’s spokesperson acknowledged the presence of persistent conflict within the Doolin unit. However, they reaffirmed their full commitment and confidence in the abilities of the current team.
The spokesperson further pointed out that a highly experienced independent mediator had been brought in to try and resolve the interpersonal issues which were creating a tense work atmosphere before 2022. It was advised that the team be reformed, and only those members who could work amicably and collaboratively be brought back. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) carried out these suggestions, and since then, the Doolin unit has improved on all counts. Now, with advanced operational capabilities, they are expanding their team through recruitment and are efficiently working in coordination with the neighbouring Coast Guard units.
The morale within the squad is upbeat, which not only supports efficient service provision but is also reflected in the fact that they have dealt with about 140 cases since the unit was reintroduced. Despite disbanding, several ex-members from the Doolin unit have been privately contributing to rescues over the past two years when called upon.
Lucas, however, indicates the present unit lacks a mountain climbing team, explaining that sufficient personnel for it do not exist. Nor do they have a fully-manned boat unit unless circumstances permit complete participation. Lucas along with Doherty and some others have been quietly retrieving bodies in recent years. Anger is building in the community, particularly over young Lochlann Murray’s case, which required a recovery team to be dispatched from Monaghan.
Lucas and some former Coast Guard colleagues have now resolved to establish a new independent rescue service in Doolin. Their immediate goal is to secure insurance and form a climbing team, something Lucas believes will significantly improve rescues at the Cliffs of Moher.
“Securing insurance presently has been challenging. It was manageable when two or three of us were operating independently, but now as we expand and invite more people, insurance necessity has grown,” he declares.
Currently, there are 10 individuals keen on participating in this new group. If the number increases in future, it would be admirable. Lucas acknowledges, however, that securing funding and insurance is a massive responsibility. They are beginning from scratch; though they may have the team, they need everything else. Presently, their main assets are their collective work experience and physical proficiency.