Achill Coast Guard to finally move into new station

Achill Coast Guard Station.

Achill Coast Guard to finally move into new station


Anton McNulty

The Achill Coast Guard unit is expected to move into its new state-of-the-art headquarters by the end of the month after an agreement over the lease of the building.
On Wednesday evening last, the long-running saga of the Achill Coast Guard station, which was first revealed in The Mayo News, was resolved followed a meeting in Athlone between officials of Mayo County Council and the Department of Transport - who have responsibility for the Coast Guard.
Peter Hynes, Director of Services with Mayo County Council confirmed to The Mayo News that arrangements are being put in place for the Coast Guard unit to move into their new premises before the end of this month.
One person who will be more than relieved to see the saga come to an end will be Minister Noel Dempsey’s private secretary who has been inundated with phonecalls and e-mails from Patrick Williamson, who has lobbied since September for the building to be opened.
Patrick was rescued from the sea by the Achill Coast Guard last August and nominated them for a National Courage Award which the unit won last November. On hearing of the unit’s plight, he lobbied on their behalf and by his own admission has sent 1,800 e-mails and made 1,200 phone calls to different correspondents on the issue.
“I am absolutely delighted that this issue has been resolved,“ said Patrick who lives in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham and is the Chairman of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors.
“Once the pressure was put on Noel Demspey he put the pressure on his staff to sort it out because it was becoming an embarrassment. We had to go for the jugular and I got his personal secretarys number by fluke. I kept ringing her asking what was going on and when the unit were getting in. I must have driven them crazy. This will raise the morale of the crew and hopefully they will now get a bigger rescue boat and more modern equipment,” he said.
Patrick added that he was going to invite them to take part in the Birmingham St Patrick’s Day Parade in 2011 and praised the work of everyone who lobbied for the station to be opened.
The new building which also contains the new Achill Fire Station was completed at the cost of approximately €2million in 2007 in a co-funded project involving Mayo County Council, the Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport.
While the Fire Brigade moved into the building in the Spring of 2008, the Coast Guard Station was left empty and the local crew were forced to work out of rented accommodation without proper facilities. As a mark of solidarity with their colleagues, the Fire Brigade refused to fly their flag over the building until the Coast Guard move in.
The new building is located in the village of Achill Sound beside the Parish Church and the Coast Guard asked the public for their co-operation and not park in front of the building.
The news was welcomed by Fine Gael TD, Michael Ring who said he was glad a resolution had been found.
“I am truly delighted that this dispute has been resolved in a positive manner to the benefit of the Achill Coast Guard. They are now hopeful of occupying the new purpose built facility shortly and I wish them well in their new facility,” he said. Local councillor MicheΡl McNamara and Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny also welcomed the news.