The Inisheer Rocket Crew were a group of men trained in maritime rescue, on
Inisheer
Inisheer ( ga, Inis Oírr , or ) is the smallest and most easterly of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. With 281 residents as of the 2016 census, it is second-most populous of the Arans. Caomhán of Inishe ...
, one of the
Aran Islands,
County Galway
"Righteousness and Justice"
, anthem = ()
, image_map = Island of Ireland location map Galway.svg
, map_caption = Location in Ireland
, area_footnotes =
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off the coast of Ireland.
The was driven onto the rocks near Inisheer after heavy storms in 1960. Its crew of 11 men were trapped on the ship. The Rocket Crew rescued the entire crew from the stricken vessel using a
breeches buoy
A breeches buoy is a rope-based rescue device used to extract people from wrecked vessels, or to transfer people from one place to another in situations of danger. The device resembles a round emergency personal flotation device with a leg harn ...
. The breeches buoy had been in existence on the island since 1901, but had never been used prior to this. The Rocket Crew had only enough fuel to launch three rockets, and stood up in their necks in the water to rescue the crew.
The Rocket Crew consisted of Coleman Conneely, Andrew Conneely, Martin Conneely, Patrick Conneely x2,Liam Conneely, Joseph Conneely, Anne Conneely, Martin Folan, Martin Flaherty, Edward Flaherty, Sean Sharry, Martin Sharry, Thomas Costelloe, Martin O'Donnell, Patrick Griffin and Michael O'Donnell.
The event is captured in a pictorial display at the
National Maritime Museum in
Dún Laoghaire.
References
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External links
The Last Voyage of the M.V. Plassy
Gallery
Image:Inissheer plessey.JPG, The wreck of the ''Plassey''
Image:Inisheer eastern coast.JPG, Inisheer Eastern coastline
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Aran Islands
Shipwrecks of Ireland
Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
Maritime incidents in 1960