Caitriona Lucas recovers a dog from a cliff ledge at Rehy West, Co Clare. Photograph: Pat Flynn
CLARE FM will air a documentary to mark the sixth anniversary of Caitriona Lucas’ death.
September 12th 2016 was a day that tragedy shook the county. The capsizing of a rigid inflatable Irish Coast Guard search and rescue boat near the cliffs of a heavy Atlantic swell in Kilkee saw three volunteer thrown from the vessel into the sea.
Two Kilkee-based members of the volunteer service were subsequently rescued during a major multi-agency operation however, the third person was 41 year old mum of two Caitriona Lucas from Liscannor, a volunteer with the Irish Coast Guard based in Doolin for ten years.
Caitriona was recovered unconscious from the water and airlifted to hospital as attempts were continued to resuscitate her. She later passed away in University Hospital Limerick. She was the first member of the Coast Guard to die on duty and flags were flown at half-mast as a county and country mourned Caitriona.
In 2017, she was posthumously named Clare person of the year. In 2019, An Post launched two new stamps acknowledging the work of the Irish Coast Guard’s search and rescue operations. The stamps designed by Vermillion Design were based on an original painting by Caitriona.
To mark the sixth anniversary of Caitriona’s passing, Clare FM has produced a tribute to honour her life. The documentary – ‘Caitriona Lucas, Fearless’ – and has been produced with the support of her family, Bernard, Ben, and Emma Lucas.
Documentary producer and Clare FM’s Programme Director, Padraic Flaherty said, “Caitriona was a true hero and deserves to be honoured with a tribute documentary. In this special programme we look back at her early years in Ballyvaughan, joining the Coast Guard and being posthumously awarded the Clare person of the year award.
“True heroes make a difference in people’s lives and this is what Caitriona did. She, along with her colleagues in the Coast Guard, saved people in the grimmest situations and gave people hope”.
To coincide with Caitriona’s sixth anniversary this tribute documentary will be broadcast on Clare FM this Monday (12th September 2022) at 11am.
