Fun day to kickstart bid for new Blessington rescue boat
THE organisers of Blessington’s first St Patrick’s Day Parade are now turning their attention to another great cause – helping to get a new rescue boat to patrol the Blessington Lakes.
The group is organising a super-sized family fun day and music festival next month in a bid to kickstart the fundraising for this vital vessel.
The rescue boat and its volunteer crew have been patrolling the lakes for over ten years now. The craft was already 20 years old when they acquired it and they have spent a considerable sum, as well as investing plenty of time, in modifying it to suit their needs. While it has served them well, it is now becoming more difficult to get parts for it, while the thirsty twin engines prevent them from engaging in lengthy operations as they are forced to return to base to refuel. On top of that, the boat is also too small.
All the volunteers are highly-qualified in a range of areas and have been involved in a number of search and rescue operations in the last 18 months. They work closely with the mountain rescue teams, have been called in to help by the gardaí and, when operational, would liaise with rescue helicopters. They have also been called to bring their expertise to other lakes within the county, including Loch Dan and Loch Tay.
The rescue team have a longterm plan of retiring their trusty vessel and have been in consultation with boat builders who can construct a craft to their specifications.
Unfortunately, with annual expenses in the region of €5,000 and having recently spent €12,000 on a new slipway by the boathouse, it is difficult for them to get ahead with collecting the funds they need for this new boat.
While local fundraisers such as bag packs and social evenings are ongoing, the team behind Blessington’s first St Patrick’s Day Parade has decided to lend their support to the rescue team and kickstart their fundraising campaign.
To that end, the family fun day and music festival will take place from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, at Poulaphouca House Hotel. Among the attractions will be an enormous slide, bouncy castles, a funffair, facepainting, and loads of different games while there will be music to suit all preferences from the stage.
From 8 p.m., the first of around 13 bands will take to the stage and the finish will be a Guns and Roses semi-tribute act.
Family tickets will cost €20, and all-day or evening ticket will also €20. These will be available around Blessington or at the entrance.