Marine Mammal team hold training exercise

Dundalk Democrat - Saturday April 4th 2003

The Marine Mammal Rescue Team (MMRT) held a training exercise in Clogherhead last week, with a number of local groups involved.

Eugene Brennan and Lili NI Chonhtiir MMRT co-ordinators, held the exercise and several voluntary groups from Co Louth took part as one team. Human Safety and Animal Welfare was emphasised to the participants in that order.

At the Coast Guard Station, Eugene and Lili of MMRT gave a lecture on rescuing sea mammals stranded on the beach or in the shallows, followed by the presentation of a video on the dangers of all sea mammal rescues.

The volunteers then went to the beach where a replica of a whale filled with water had to be manhandled out to a depth in the water where a real whale could swim away. This was done successfully by those present.

The team then returned to the Coast Guard Station for a lecture and video. Eugene Brennan of the MMRT thanked all who took part and said it was their team work that made the exercise a great success.

The voluntary groups making up the team were: the Coast Guard in Clogherhèad consisting of Martin Dawe, Eric Kirwan, Kieran Feehan, Jonathan Farrell, Cormac Plunket and Thomas Gorman. From the Boyne Fishermen's Rescue were Michael Hodgins, Derek Gallagher, Frank Smyth, Peter Monaghan, Patrick Duffy, Andrew Farrell, Emma Monaghan, Gerry Hodgins, and Michael Vaughey. The Civil Defence of Co Louth brought James P Neary, Michael Carroll, Audrey Matthews, JP Flanagan, Eleanor Wogan, Michael McBride, Paul Durnin, Gary McGrane, Jerome Byrne and Michael Carroll.

The BFRRS also supplied a safety boat.

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