*Johnny Casey in Lahinch.

A Lahinch surfer has saved an ‘exhausted’ sheep from drowning after the sheep had fallen off a cliff edge at the Clare seaside resort.

By Gordon Deegan

Johnny Casey was out surfing waves at Lahinch at the southern end of the beach when he spotted the ‘marooned’ sheep in a little cave on a ledge at the cliffs.

Mr Casey said today that with the tide coming in, there was a real fear that the sheep would drown and he went about rescuing the female sheep.

Recalling the recent rescue effort for the ewe, Mr Casey – who celebrates his 30th birthday this weekend – stated that he saw the sheep was “standing there motionless on the ledge. She ended up there after falling down the cliff”.

He stated: “I paddled in when I saw the sheep. I got one more wave and off I went. I went over to her and she was quite shaken.”

Mr Casey then went to the family home of the Leahys who farm the lands along the Cliff edge “and I told Mrs Leahy that one of their sheep had gone off the Cliffs”. He stated: “The tide was on its way in and there was a lot of swell with the waves. I grew on a farm in Barefield outside Ennis so I have a bit of experience dealing with livestock and I said that I would go down and get it back.” He then proceeded with one of the Leahy sons to rescue the sheep.

With the tide coming in, Johnny stated: “We had to wade through rock pools and the water coming in. When we got to her, the sheep was so tired that she couldn’t walk. She was absolutely exhausted. The poor thing couldn’t stand and her legs were going out from under her.”

He added: “The tide was coming in and it would probably have drowned if she was left there. We threw her on the shoulders and carried her back across the reef. I ended up drenched and absolutely soaked.”

The two reached the prom and placed the sheep on a rope and Johnny escorted her up the village to wait for a tractor to transport the sheep back to her home farm.

Johnny admitted that he did receive some funny looks from friends and passers-by as he escorted the sheep up the vilage on the rope. He stated: “I was thinking to myself ‘how did I get involved in this?’”

The insurance professional stated that he “didn’t bat an eyelid” over his rescue effort. He stated: “I grew up with sheep, goats, bullocks, horses so it was nothing out of my day.” Mr Casey said that the sheep wouldn’t have been spotted from the land as it was hiding in the cave.

Related News

immersion heater
'No inference in immersion switch' undertakings between warring couple
ennis 04-04-20 5 abbey st car park
Test excavations to begin on Abbey St car park in preparation for Ennis 2040 development
horse-pony
East Clare horse breeder to go to court in pony cataract row
bramble lane ennis
Calls for Bramble Lane traffic calming to be assessed
Latest News
Clare Cup Rd3 Fairgreen Celtic v Coole FC
Coole FC confident progress will be visible in second season in the top flight
shannon airport departures gate-2
Shannon Airport's summer campaign shortlisted for digital marketing award
immersion heater
'No inference in immersion switch' undertakings between warring couple
mark fitzgerald
Two year term for Mark Fitzgerald as Clare boss with Buckley & Tarrant confirmed for coaching roles
conor henry kilkishen celtic
Kilkishen Celtic out to hold their own in first season in the top flight
Premium
immersion heater
'No inference in immersion switch' undertakings between warring couple
mark fitzgerald
Two year term for Mark Fitzgerald as Clare boss with Buckley & Tarrant confirmed for coaching roles
conor henry kilkishen celtic
Kilkishen Celtic out to hold their own in first season in the top flight
ennis 04-04-20 5 abbey st car park
Test excavations to begin on Abbey St car park in preparation for Ennis 2040 development
clare football huddle 1
Club delegates to be asked to propose Mark Fitzgerald as new Clare football boss

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top
Enable Notifications for the latest news and updates OK No thanks