Good progress in move to have slipway on Dee

Dundalk Democrat - Saturday 29th March 2003

Back in August 2002, Ardee woman, Mrs. Mary Johnson, began a campaign to have a river rescue service provided for Ardee. Before that, Mary had played a leading role in raising funds, and in having a new Voice Control Paging System installed for the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service, and Garda Coastwatch Service.

Indeed, such was her work in fundraising for the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service, and Garda Coastwatch, and the contribution made by the people of Ardee and district, a new Rescue Boat was purchased and brought to Ardee and named Ferdia.

The boat was blessed at a ceremony at the front of the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Ardee, by Rev. Fr.Eamon Treanor, C.C. Speaking last August Mary said: "We need to have safety measures put in place along the River Dee, and the Mid Louth area. To have proper access for the rescue service to gain entry to the river in the case of an emergency, for the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service, or any other rescue personnel, a new slipway will have to be provided.

"As it is, there are no access entries along the Dee from Ardee to Annagassan, for a rescue boat. There are also no buoys, at any point along the Dee in the Ardee area. Mary added, that the Boyne Fishermen Rescue and Recovery Service men were willing to come to Ardee to train locals who would be interested in Search and Rescue. "We want the same river e rescue services that are in place in most other towns in Ireland."

Since August, quite a lot of progress has been made on the provision of the matters outlined above, and Mary is hopeful that.all will be in place in the not too distance future.

This week she said: "We had asked for a meeting with the local Ardee Town Council members to update them on the progress we have made to date. However, due to some misunderstanding, we were not invited to the March meeting of the Town Council, and another rescue service was".

Mary, who is a founder member of Families who lost loved ones Through Drowning, Went on to say that they and the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service and Garda Coastwatch Service have been making very good progress with their campaign to have the new slipway, buoys, and volunteers provided for Ardee.

"We have been working on this project since last August, and we are getting full co-operation from all sides on the matter." Chairman of Ardee Town Council, Cllr. Tom Minogue, has said: "There was some misunderstanding regarding the meeting with the representatives of the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service last week."

As it happened, another organisation attended our meeting. However, we on the Ardee Town Council will be more than willing to meet with the representatives of the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Services, and Garda Coastwatch Service. A meeting can be arranged in the near future on this matter.

A number of people are lined up to be trained as volunteers in River Rescue and Recovery. Also there are plans to have a new rescue boat located in Ardee, which will, when all the volunteers are trained, be operated by the members of the Boyne Fishermen River Rescue and Recovery Service, and Garda Coastwatch Service.

It is clear that much behind-thescenes work has been going on since last August, and the efforts by those involved will be sure of the full backing from the people of Ardee.

© Dundalk Democrat