Aground in a storm IT WAS BLOWING A GALE from the south south east, gusting to storm force 10 at times when, on the evening of Friday December 12, 1986, the honorary secretary of Clogher Head lifeboat station received news that a fishing boat had run aground on Drogheda Bar.

At 1805 the station's 37ft Oakley class lifeboat, Valentine Wyndham-Quin, launched from her carriage under the command of Coxswain Fergal Sharkey and set out in darkness for the casualty, four miles to the south south west.

When the lifeboat reached the scene some 45 minutes later the fishing vessel, Gerlisa, had been driven off the bar by the heavy swell over the sandbanks and had fetched up aground on the lee shore at Baltray, north of Drogheda Bar.

The water was too shallow for the lifeboat to get near the stricken vessel.

So, at the request of Gerlisa's skipper, who feared for his crew's safety in the prevailing weather, a helicopter which had been standing by moved in to begin airlifting the crew to safety. Throughout this operation the lifeboat stood by.keeping radio contact on VHP and illuminating the scene with her searchlight and parachute flares.

By 2030 the five-man crew were all landed safely on the beach at Baltray.

The lifeboat returned to Clogher Head Pier at 2115 where the crew remained on board until midnight when the big tide and heavy seas had subsided sufficiently to allow the lifeboat to return to her carriage.

A letter was later sent to the station signed by Lt Cdr Brian Miles, deputy director and chief of operations, thanking Coxswain Fergal Sharkey and his crew for their commendable actions throughout this gruelling service..