Participants of all ages obtain a life saving qualification at a water safety course in Killala.
At the request of the Ballina Fire Brigade Unit, a water safety course took place from 15 to 20 July at Ross Beach in Killala, County Mayo. Instructor Gabriel Rooney led the course participants, who ranged in age from under 10s to over 40s. The water temperature proved challenging for some of the younger participants.
The weather was so bad one day that everyone was forced to move to the more sheltered waters of the community centre pool at Killala.
On the beach at Ross for the final test, all the members of the fire brigade passed their elementary life-saving exam. Their qualification can be put into action during water rescue operations in the area.
Ballina Fire Brigade Unit has the first fully equipped water rescue service in the county, providing a much-needed dimension to emergency services in the north west.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 26 July 1985. The reporter is Mary Butler.
