ACHILL ISLAND | 5 JANUARY
Volunteers from Achill Island launched their all-weather lifeboat when two hill walkers got stuck 60m up a steep cliff face near Mweelrea Mountain, Co Mayo. Low visibility prevented the Coast Guard helicopter from helping. In fog, rain and gusty winds, the lifeboat crew deployed their inflatable XP boat (pictured) to ferry seven members of the Mayo Mountain Rescue Team to the base of the cliff, and back again a while later with the hill walkers.