January gales A HALFDECKER motor fishing boat was seen to be dragging her anchors off Arranmore, Aran Island, on the afternoon of Wednesday January 11, 1984.

A gale was blowing from the north west, the seas were very rough and visibility was poor; the tide was ebbing.

Two men went aboard to see what could be done, but the weather was deteriorating and with the gale now gusting to storm force 10 the fishing boat continued to be driven towards Calf Island. The honorary secretary of Arranmore lifeboat station was informed of the situation at 1445 and a quarter of an hour later the 52ft Barnett relief lifeboat Rowland Watts, on temporary duty at Arranmore, slipped her moorings and, taking her boarding boat with her, put to sea under the command of Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Bernard Byrne.

The fishing boat, about half a mile north east of the station, was already on the rocks of Calf Island by the time the lifeboat reached her. Lines were put aboard in an effort to pull the boat off the rocks, but the winds were too strong and the tide was ebbing. The lifeboat took the two men off, using the boarding boat, but no more could be done for the half decker, which eventually sank.

The lifeboat was back on her moorings, once again ready for service at 2100.

The severe gales and very rough seas continued and by Friday January 13 food supplies on Aran were becoming exhausted. Rowland Watts was launched at noon to bring supplies of bread, milk and other foods from the mainland; she arrived back at her moorings at 1430. When the storms had not abated by Monday January 16 the local dispensary began to run out of badlyneeded drugs and some patients were in danger. The lifeboat therefore set off once more for the mainland through the very rough seas to fetch these essential medical supplies.

By Thursday January 19 the gales had abated, the wind backing to west and moderating to force 4. The seas were calm although there was still an eight foot swell. At 1245 the station honorary secretary was told that the fishing trawler Onedin had sprung a leak six miles south west of Arranmore; she had a crew of five on board. Rowland Watts slipped her moorings at 1300 under the command of Coxswain Byrne. Two other trawlers had also gone to the help of Onedin and fire brigade men went aboard her with pumps to try to clear the water. The fishing boat was towed for several miles, but despite all the strenuous efforts to pump her out she eventually sank. All her crew except the skipper had been taken off by another trawler and the lifeboat took the skipper and firemen off before the boat sank; she returned to station at 1930..