THE MARINE Casualty Investigation Board has initiated an inquiry into the loss at sea of a Connemara fisherman when his gleoiteog capsized and sank in Galway bay at the weekend.
Johnny Sheáin Jeaic Mac Donncha (67), one of the most experienced traditional boat sailors on the west coast, could not be revived when he was recovered from the water on Saturday morning off Kilcolgan Point.
His younger brother Josie was treated in hospital and later released.
Both had been taken from the water by the crew of an accompanying vessel. One of them jumped into the water to try and assist the two men when their boat got into difficulty.
The brothers were sailing their gleoiteog McHugh, from Kinvara to Rossaveal, accompanied by the leath-bhád Galway hooker Bláth na hÓige. Both had competed in the recent Cruinniú na mBád festival in Kinvara.
The two craft were taking advantage of a weather window to return to Connemara for a regatta in Rossaveal yesterday – which was cancelled after the incident occurred. Kilcolgan Point is known to have turbulence due to several rocks and shallows, and is located on Tawin island about halfway between Kinvara and Galway.
The Bláth na hÓigecrew of four raised the alarm, and Valentia Coast Guard tasked the Irish Coast Guard Shannon-based Sikorsky helicopter and the Galway inshore lifeboat, Dóchas, to assist.
Josie Sheáin Jeaic was winched aboard the Shannon helicopter and taken to University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG). He was said to be very shocked but recovering from his ordeal. It is understood that both men had been wearing lifejackets.
The helicopter crew of pilots Liam Flynn and Andy Rees, winch team Paul Truss and Jim O'Neill, had difficulty in communicating with the Bláth na hÓigeinitially, as the rescue could not be effected while the vessel's sails were up. The vessel went broadside into a heavy swell when the sails were lowered, making the winching operation very difficult.
The lifeboat crew of helmsman Ciarán Oliver, Barry Heskin, John Byrne and Olivia Byrne took Johnny Sheáin Jeaic's body to Galway docks to a waiting ambulance, and a postmortem was due to be carried out at UCHG. The inshore lifeboat returned to accompany the Bláth na hÓigeto shore.
The Mac Donnchas have been very involved in the traditional boat revival in Carna, restoring craft and training young sailors.
Johnny Shéain Jeaic, a father of five and an active fisherman, had worked in North America and returned to Carna about 25-years ago.
Johnny Shéain Jeaic was involved in many searches at sea, including the loss of 12 fishermen, nine of whom were Spanish and three African, off the north Connemara coast when the Spanish vessel, Arosa, hit the Skerd rocks in October 2000.
He would also have known the four crew members of the St Oliverwho died when their vessel hit rocks while en route from Carna to Rossaveal five years ago next week.
Parish priest Fr Peadar Ó Conghaile said that the Carna community was numb with shock.
“Unfortunately, like many coastal communities, we are far too familiar with tragedy at sea. People around here have a great respect for the sea because they’ve all seen it claim lives in the past, but nothing prepares you for the shock.”
Efforts were made to locate the McHughoff Kilcolgan Point at the weekend, but there was no sign of it during initial searches.
