5 MINUTES WITH - EDDIE

Eddie runs his company, Lough Swilly Sea Safari, from the pier at Buncrana. When I approached him for an interview, I got invited to join him on the boat for a trip around the Swilly with a group of visiting tourists. The sun was shining, so I wasted no time and jumped straight on board for what turned out to be an exhilarating and entertaining round trip of the coastline.

Eddie has been running the business for four years now and has had a lifelong interest in all things aquatic, owning his first boat in 1990. His new purpose built Rib boat is called “Dancing Wave” and seats 14 people in comfort. We visited, Fanad Head, Port Salon and Rathmullan where the visitors hit pubs and funfairs and I was able to have a wee interview with Eddie. The evening was great fun, he really is a fantastic host and his enthusiasm and party spirit are infectious. Eddie runs this exciting venture most evenings and weekends (subject to weather conditions) from April to the end of September so there is still plenty of time to get out onto the water and have some fun. If you would like more information there is a web site http://www.loughswillyseasafari.com/ or you can contact him directly on 087 2747553

What music do you like?
I enjoy listening to traditional Irish and chart music. Anything that is going really. When I am out on the boat I gear the music to the passengers. Anything from the Dubliners to Sharon Shannon, Riverdance to Club Anthems

What would you never throw away?
Rope. You never know when it will come on handy. I also hang on to photographs of the family.

What book are you reading?
Troubled waters by Dublin man Patrick Ferguson. He recounts the days before sea-faring technology along the Irish coastline. It is a great book and it is very interesting to read about when ruthless ship owners sacrificed their men in the pursuit of profit

What was your favourite childhood game?
Going out onto the Swilly on one of my fathers tractor tubes. I also made a raft near Ned’s Point and would sail out on that too.

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
Perfect Storm starring George Clooney. It was based on a true story, and dedicated to the ten thousand Gloucester fishermen men lost at sea since 1623.

What is your idea of a good night out?
Everyone in the group being happy, with no fall outs during the evening.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?
It was a long time ago but I managed to fall over a hedge and chat up the wrong girl in a bar (I was a bit drunk and she looked like my date). You don’t like to be reminded of these things…

Have you a favourite TV programme?
There are a few good programmes on Sky. I particularly enjoyed the one about crabbing in Alaska.

How do you relax?
I relax as soon as I get on the Dancing Wave.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I have always been interested in fishing and when I was young I wanted to be a fisherman.

Where would you like to go for your holidays?
Inishtrahull or Tory Island are perfect destinations for a peaceful holiday.

Your idea of heaven?
The sun shining and lying in anchor near Port Ban, next to Dunree. I would be sat at the back of the boat with an icebox.

Your idea of hell?
Running out of fuel on a confused sea (that’s when you don’t know what the tide is doing), and throwing the anchor out without a rope tied to the end…

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
Sarah Jessica Parker the American actor and producer and a few cast members from A Perfect Storm.

Favourite animal?
A dog. We have a 5 year old Alsatian /Collie cross called Prince. He is a lovely dog and spends a lot of his time trying to eat stones.

What couldn’t you live without?
My bed.

Biggest fear?
Having intoxicated passengers falling overboard.

Biggest thrill?
Riding over a really big wave on the boat. It’s a sea faring Rib so it could handle practically anything.

The world’s most irritating invention?
The mobile phone.

What is your idea of a good night in?
I am not in much in the summer but in winter I enjoy a good bottle of fruit wine and a warm fire.

Do you have a hobby?
My boat.

Biggest disappointment?
Boats corroding. They can break your heart sometimes. Lots of things can deteriorate because of the salt in the water.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
1500-1600 the era of the Armadas and tall ships. It would have been great to be a captain of such fine vessels.

World’s most useful invention?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) for boats. You always know exactly where you are in any weather.

What do you have for breakfast?
Porridge with half a punnet of either strawberries or blueberries. I usually throw on a banana too.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Make sure you wear a lifejacket and have plenty of fuel on board a boat. Take a mobile phone, a knife and a bottle of whiskey…

Personal philosophy
Keep it simple… Don’t fly too high.

20 YEARS OF THE SWILLY LIFEBOAT STATION

On a cold winter's night, with storm at its height, the lifeboat answered the call.

They pitched and they tossed till we thought they were lost, as we watched from the harbour wall

Though the night was pitch black, there was no turning back, for someone was waiting out there

But each volunteer had to live with his fear as they joined in a silent prayer.

Phil Coulter from his song Home from the Sea


Quote
“When the pager rings at 2am after being at work the previous day. I jump out of bed and head down to the lifeboat station. There is no time to feel tired”. Mark Barnett - Coxwain



20 YEARS OF THE SWILLY LIFEBOAT STATION

The Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station has been in existence since 1988, and is celebrating 20 years of service. In that time, the voluntary lifeboat crew have saved 34 people from certain death and rescuing many others from the perils of the ocean.

How it began
On a cold December day in the early 1980’s, Brian Coulter went windsurfing out of Fahan and got into difficulty. When the alarm was raised that he had disappeard there were no facilities in place to set up a search. His body was found the following morning. It was felt that if a search could have been made, he would have been rescued. Several of Brians friends contacted the RNLI and asked for a lifeboat to be stationed along the Swilly. In 1988 a D class boat was commisioned at Neds point. Brians brother Phil held a concert at the Plaza in Buncrana to help fund the boat and Phil has been the Patron ever since he cut the tape at the opening ceremony.

The lifeboat was now operational and it needed a person with strong leadership skills to develop it further. Pat Keaney was made Honoury Secretary and worked until 1992 when he handed over the reigns to Liam McGee, who is the present Lifeboat Operations Manager.

Contacting the lifeboat station
If there is an emergency the Lifeboat Station have a team of volunteers always on hand to take the calls. Barry Stephenson, John McCarter and Kate Heaney are Deputy Launching Authority Personnel and are ready to act on a call out. There is also a new addition as Eunan McConnell has just joined up as the latest member of the team.

The boats
When the station first opened, the crew had a 16 foot inflatable (D class) to battle the storms and waves. The second boat was the Atlantic 21 (rib). The station now operates two boats. The new B class lifeboat Atlantic 85 was officially named on the 5th of April of this year. Named Minnie and Ernest George Barry. Since its arrival at the station it has been called out 15 times and rescued at least 3 people. The larger boat, the Mariners Friend, is away for some work to be done on the engine and will be back in a couple of weeks. Until then the station will be using the Lord Salton, which can cope with all weather conditions, just like the Mariner’s Friend.


Recognition of service awards
Coxswain Mark Barnett from Buncrana received an award on Vellum for recognition of leadership and seamanship when he helped to rescue the vessel Mary –Ellen and her crew of six. On the 12th of November 2006. George O’Hagan was presented with a framed letter signed by the chairman and certificete vellums were presented to Dan Gallanagh,Alan O’Hagan, Gregory McDaid and Stephen McGavin, who were all part of the crew that night.


Volunteering with the RNLI.
There are opportunities for crewmembers and land-based volunteers in the Lifeboat Institute, The Swilly team number 25 but are always looking for new recruits. . If you are interested in volunteering at the local station contact Liam on 074 93 61700 for further reading go to the main website rnli.org.uk of check out the Lough Swilly website on http://www.loughswillyrnli.com/

Fundraising
There are volunteer fundraisers all over the country. Locally there was a very successful Night at the Dogs in Lifford, which raised €32,000 and the most recent was the fashion show at the Mt Errigal hotel which raised €15,000


STRANGE SHOUTS
Over the last 20 years, since the lifeboats have been in operation, there have been some interesting shouts. Here are just a few:

Last year the crew were called out to the cliffs at Dunree Head and rescued a black and white collie dog. They gave it the nickname of Rocky and one of the crew looked after him before finding a suitable foster home.

The crew were called out to help dolphins in trouble near the White Strand in Malin. Emmett Johnston and the lifeboat team tried to coax the dolphins back to sea but they kept coming back. It was then decided the mammals had come in to the shore because of either the warm water or to mate. (Should you find any dolphins, dead or alive, in the area please contact Emmett Johnston, NPWS on 087-2867055)

A cow got cut off by the tide near Linsfort and was stuck in a cave. Stephen McGavigan,one of the crew members told me that it was the “Strangest shouts I have ever been on. The cow was eventually ledback onto dry land by two of the team”

The boat “Horizon” was recently shipwrecked near Saldana Head. The crew were rescued but the boat remains there on the rocks.


DID YOU KNOW?

Between 2001 and 2008, the all weather boat has been launched 80 times and directly saved 8 lives.

Between 1988 and 2000 the inshore boat stationed at Ned’ Point has been launched 418 times and directly saved 26 lives.

In total the RNLI has saved over 136,000 people since it started it 1824

Earlier this year the station held a lifejacket awareness campaign. Statistics show only 52% of boat passengers would wear them. Lifejackets save lives. Boating is very unpredictable, so a well-fitted jacket is vital.



Home, home, home from the sea.
Angels of mercy, answer our plea.
And carry us home, home, home from the sea.
Carry us safely home from the sea


Phil Coulter from his song Home from the Sea

5 MINUTES WITH - LINDA MCGRORY

Linda is the founder and editor of InishowenNews.com – a free daily online news service for the people of Inishowen. The website was set up in March 2007 by Linda and her husband, Brendan Deehan, a web designer. The couple are delighted to be celebrating the website’s first anniversary. Year one has seen InishowenNews.com go from strength-to-strength with its daily updated news, obituaries, community notes, sport and photographs. Also, the expanding Business Directory at InishowenNews.com helps people to quickly find local products and services online. From its early days with only a few hundred visitors, the website now has more than 10,000 loyal readers every month and continues to grow rapidly.


What have you been downloading on your iPod?- what music/radio station do you listen to?
I don’t have an iPod but I do have a Nintendo DS (Braintraining) – Does that make me a bit more hip again? I listen to many radio stations, both local and national, and I do most of my channel hopping in the car. I like many types of music but one of my favourite musicians is Bruce Springsteen.


What would you never throw away?
My contacts book – it’s your most important tool as a reporter.


What book are you reading?
‘District and Circle’ by Seamus Heaney.


What was your favourite childhood game?
There were many, but I liked Chinese Ropes – remember that anyone?


Have you been to the cinema recently?
Haven’t been to the cinema recently – too busy. The last DVD I watched was ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Entertaining enough but it would have been useless without Meryl Streep.


What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I always start with the front page and go from there – I’ll root out the Sudoku puzzle at night sometimes to wind down.


What is your idea of a good night out?
A nice meal followed by a comedy show or a good concert.


Most embarrassing moment of your life?
Have you got all day?


What is your idea of a great meal?
I love Thai food, Indian and Italian – and it’s hard to beat a bit of fresh fish cooked simply.


Have you a favourite TV programme?
I’m a Countdown addict – I record it and watch it later. I also like the legal drama Damages and Property Ladder.


How do you relax?
I love walking by the sea – either the Moville/Greencastle Shore Walk or along Lough Swilly from Ned’s Point to Stragill – bliss. We’re so lucky to have those natural resources so close to us.


What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I always wanted to be a reporter/writer.


Where would you like to go for your holidays?
Cuba. I would also like Brendan and I to go on a road trip around Montana and Wyoming in America.


Your idea of heaven?
A white sandy beach, warm aqua blue waters and nothing to do but relax.


Your idea of hell?
Being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a wet, cold night. Thankfully, we don’t have that problem in Inishowen.

What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?
One would be Morgan Freeman – he’s a great actor and has the most mesmerising voice.

Favourite animal?
I like friendly dogs – but haven’t got one yet. I like my neighbour Kathleen Barr’s dog Bobbi. She’s so friendly and stands outside my house when I’m making chowder. My sister Irene has a great cat who plays fetch-the-ball and has the strangest miaow – it sounds like a fire engine siren.

Biggest fear?

Bereavement.

Biggest delight?

Holidays and days off work.

The world’s most irritating invention?

Alarm clock.


Personal philosophy?
Life is short and nobody knows what’s round the corner – try to appreciate what you have.


What is your idea of a good night in?
Nice meal, preferably cooked for me, and a good DVD.


World’s most useful invention?
The lists goes on…internet, the car, microwave porridge…


Any last words?
Hope last words aren’t needed for a while yet!

SWILLY SUNSET

SWILLY GARDENING CLUB

SWILLY GARDENING CLUB IS ONE YEAR OLD
One year ago this month a group of gardening enthusiasts living around Buncrana got together and formed the Swilly Gardening Club. These intrepid enthusiasts realised there are plenty of other keen gardeners in the area that were looking for somewhere to learn more about horticulture. “You only have to look into peoples gardens around Inishowen to realise that there is a wealth of knowledge and interest when it comes to plant care” says Ian Gomersall, a member of the group. When the group was formed a year ago the committee didn’t really know what the reaction to it would be. They were not disappointed. In fact the attendance on the first night last February was fantastic. They practically filled the main hall at the local school! Over the first year the club has had some very prominent speakers to entertain and enlighten the members. Gordon Toner from Limavady, started the year by talking about spring bulbs and alpines and showing slides of his fabulous collection. Danny Mc Laughlin from Carndonagh came in and gave a talk about what to do in the garden in April. Stephanie Stephens from Greencastle talked about organic gardening in July and Patrick McCartney from Moville sang songs and cracked jokes in October. Other events throughout the year included a quiz night, a very successful plant sale and a bus trip to visit gardens of interest around Northern Ireland. In August there was a show night where members could bring their own grown plant or vegetables to be judged.

The club will be starting up again in February on Monday the 21st of February in the main hall, Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana at 8pm. The speaker on the night will be Clive Alcorn, from Letterkenny who will be showing us how to make colourful planters for this time of year. Throughout the year the club committee will be searching the country for speakers to give stimulating talks on all aspects of gardening.

The cost of the evening will be €2 for members and €5 for non-members which includes entry into the prize draw. At the first meeting there will be the opportunity to pay an annual subscription. Tea and coffee are served and the evening is great for networking with likeminded gardeners.

The club now meet at the Angling Centre