Donegal RNLI volunteers take to pitch at Croke Park

RNLI representatives from Lough Swilly and Bundoran took to the pitch during yesterday’s All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final at Croke Park, to promote the charity’s water safety partnership with the GAA.

Before the throw-in at the Clare and Kilkenny decider and in front of thousands gathered at the stadium, RNLI volunteers dressed in their full lifeboat kit, unfurled a giant flag showing an all-weather lifeboat in action.

A second group of RNLI crew wearing county jerseys unfurled a flag with a water safety

message, calling on everyone to Float to Live.

Among the Donegal RNLI crew were Dessy Daly, Shane Smyth, Packie Corr, Caroline Harte and Killian O’Kelly from Bundoran and Gary McLoughlin from Lough Swilly.

Now in its sixth year, the RNLI and GAA water safety partnership serves to raise awareness of drowning prevention and to educate communities on how to stay safe in and around the water. The partnership is part of the GAA Healthy Clubs’ programme and has seen RNLI lifeboat crew visiting GAA clubs around Ireland to deliver water safety talks to all age groups.

Speaking about yesterday’s event in Croke Park, Killian O’Kelly, RNLI water safety

education manager and a helm at Bundoran said this partnership highlights the

shared values between the RNLI and the GAA, notably volunteerism and

the importance of communities.

"It was a privilege for our crew here at Bundoran and Lough Swilly to be invited to Croke Park on such a big day in the GAA’s championship calendar and to have the opportunity to promote a key drowning prevention message, float to live," he said.