Twelve people were rescued in weekend incidents at sea in Cos Louth and Cork.
The Irish Coast Guard picked up six people stranded on a sandbank after their yacht ran aground in Dundalk Harbour at about 4.30 p.m. on Saturday.
The six were rescued by Clogherhead lifeboat and another vessel. Their yacht, Cu na Mara, was towed back to Dundalk after the tide turned.
Meanwhile, two male swimmers were rescued in Ballycotton Bay, Co Cork, after one man tried to save another who got into difficulties.
The Crosshaven Coast Guard Unit administered first aid and oxygen to the swimmers, who sustained cuts and bruises after they came ashore near a rocky area at about 6 p.m. on Saturday. The men were treated at University Hospital Cork.
In a separate incident, a catamaran that got into difficulties 23 miles east of Ballycotton was towed back to port by Ballycotton lifeboat on Saturday afternoon. Two adults and two children were on board the Yellow Cat vessel, which had experienced steering difficulties.
Meanwhile, in a simulated exercise, Ballybunion Irish Coast Guard airlifted three Scouts in a Sikorsky helicopter from a fake blazing 40-foot tower on Saturday at Curragh Chase Scout Centre, Co Limerick.
More than 300 Scouts and their leaders watched the demonstration during the Scouting Association of Ireland's National Smythe Cup Finals, held over four days.
Twenty-five Scout troops took part in eight challenges including raft-building and racing, and constructing an abseiling rig and a large catapult. The competition ended yesterday. The winning troop, presented with the Smythe Cup, was 54th Dublin-Cornelscourt. The second place winner of the Bain Shield was 14th Kilkenny-Bennettsbridge. The Camp Chief's award went to third-place winner, 3rd Donegal-Raphoe.