LIFE-BOAT OUT FOR 17 HOURS Galway Bay, Co. Galway. At 11.10 on the evening of Thursday the 29th of August, 1963, the honorary secretary received a telephone message from the harbour master at Galway that the 35-foot launch St. Patrick of Galway with an adult and six youths on board was missing in Galway Bay between Black Head and West Margeretta buoy. The life-boat Mary Stanford, on temporary duty at the station, left the pier at 12.15 a.m. within two hours of high water. There was a full gale blowing from the south-west and poor visibility. During the search off Black Head the life-boat found the dredger Teardach. The master had lost his way and requested a pilot from the life-boat. The life-boat led the dredger to anchorage at Mutton Island at 5 a.m.

and resumed its search. At 5.30 a message was received from Valentia radio station giving the position of the launch.

The life-boat found her at 7 a.m. in the tow of the trawler Elsie Mabel of Galway.

As the life-boat arrived the tow parted twice. The life-boat took over as the launch was in danger from heavy seas and those on board had asked to be taken on the life-boat. Two life-boatmen boarded the launch to look after the tow which was taken to Galway Docks at 10.0 a.m. After she had been refuelled and the crew had had a meal the lifeboat returned to her station at 5.30 p.m.

She had been away from her moorings over 17 hours. The father of three of the youths made a donation to the Institution's funds..