Christmas on call for Aran lifeboat’s two new crew

This will be a different kind of Christmas for many – but for two men in particular, it will be spent in expectation of an emergency call that could take them and their colleagues onto the high seas off the coast of Aran.

Because fisherman and father of five Georgie Gillan and NUIG student Shane Crawford are the most recent volunteers to join the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat crew.

So this year, they will spend their first Christmas Day on call – ready to drop everything, like their colleagues, to help launch the lifeboat and save those in trouble at sea.

Not that this is anything new to the charity’s brave volunteers; along with Galway and Clifden lifeboat crews, the crew on the Aran Islands are on call for all sorts of rescues throughout the year.

Last week, for example the RNLI Aran Islands Lifeboat escorted the broken down FV Ferreira Martinez under tow by FV Playa De Tuya into Galway Harbour along with the Galway Pilot – another day in the life of a volunteer crew.

And that’s why Georgie and Shane are also asking the public to consider supporting the RNLI this Christmas – by helping to fund their vital equipment as their brave volunteers save lives at sea.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale now – or download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie