It’s merrily ddown the stream in Blackwater River Raft Run

THE normally calm and serene atmosphere along the River Blackwater between Ballyhooly and Fermoy was shattered last Sunday afternoon - all in the most worthy of causes.

The second annual Blackwater Search and Rescue Unit Raft Run saw more than 20 craft of all shapes and sizes take to the water for some high jinks and craic under the blazing summer sun.

Spectators lined the 8km course from Ballyhooly Bride to Ashe Quay in Fermoy to cheer on the intrepid men and women in their magnificently weird and wonderful floating machines.

Blackwater Sub Aqua Club spokesman Kenneth Barry said members were overwhelmed by the support the event received, with all monies raised on the day going to help fund the day-today running of the unit.

“With Ballyhooly Bridge packed with spectators and the river bank crowded to standing point the mix of colour , innovative raft themes, the sense of building tension and smiling faces all combined to generate the most amazing festival atmosphere,” said Mr Barry.

“It was clear straight away that some of the rafts would be faster than others, but that did not really matter. The whole idea of the day was to have some fun on the river for a few hours before arriving safety back to Fermoy where a huge crowd had gathered at the finish line at Barnane in Fermoy,” he added.

Mr Barry thanked the army of volunteers who helped marshal the river, dole out refreshments to competitors and entertain the crowds at the finish line in Fermoy.

“We are grateful to them and to all who took part in the run for helping to make it such a success by raising essential funds to help us in our work,” he said.

To see more pictures from the day visit the club’s dedicated Facebook page.

Organised chaos: Rafts getting ready at the start line of last Sunday’s annual Blackwater Search and Recovery Raft Run.

Water-borne acrobatics with the crew of the ‘SS Sinktanic’ - Kevin McCarthy, Reuben Dowling, Stephen Dowling, Owen Moore, Tony Buckley and Sarah Leane.

David McDonnell, Sean O’Donovan, Colm McCarthy, Patrick Meade, Michael McCarthy and Sean Byrne having the craic on the Cavanagh’s Ford raft.

Slip sliding away: Making the most of the onboard facilities on the ‘SS Kestral’ were: Roger O’Brien, Kack O’Brien, Eddie O’Brien, Mark O’Brien, Pat Casey and Stephan Sillian

The crew of SuperValu ‘Party Boat’ - Vicky O’Donovan, Emma Clancy, Monike Janyike, Fiona McCarthy, Jeff Riordan and Ryan Coady being presented with their ‘Best Complete Raft’ award.

Sarah Vaughan of the Blackwater Search and Rescue Unit giving a helping hand to Pat Casey, Oisin Casey, Alan Casey and Niamh Mulcahy in the raft ‘Fauzy’.

David Riordan, Monica Riordan, Adam Gayor, Fergus Delea and Fergus McNamara aboard ‘Trump’s Mexican Wall’.