The Kilkee Development Association sets up a marine rescue service.
The new rescue and recovery boat for Kilkee needs a permanent home at the water's edge. At present, the boat is no help to anyone being kept a mile away from the shore in Manuel De Lucia's garden.
Manuel De Lucia has pulled 19 people from the water and has recovered over 20 bodies. He believes that keeping the boat in his garden adds an additional 15 minutes to the rescue time. He is not convinced of the impact of erecting warning signs about the dangers of the sea.
The people of Kilkee are under no illusions about the power of the ocean.
After two years of fundraising, the new Kilkee rescue boat was ordered. Work has begun on the construction of a rescue centre. In April 1983, the Kilkee Development Association received a letter from the Revenue Commissioners indicating that they are liable for VAT on the boat to the value of £575. The association is not happy about these additional costs given that they are supplying a service which should be provided by the government.
More money is also needed to complete the rescue centre which is being built by AnCO with the help of donations and some funding from Clare County Council. They are hoping to have the centre in operation for the summer season next year. Manuel De Lucia believes that the government should fund the construction of more centres like this one around the coast. He says that the cost of establishing a rescue centre is around £25,000.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 August 1983. The reporter is Andrew Kelly.
