All Ireland preview: GAA and RNLI unite

RNLI volunteers took to the pitch ahead of the All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final at Croke Park earlier this month to promote the charity’s water safety partnership with the GAA.

Ahead of the game on 5 July, which saw Cork thump Dublin 7-26 to 2-21 to earn a place in the All-Ireland final against Tipperary, both the GAA and the RNLI delivered key water safety messages the 80,000 people attending the sellout match.

The partnership between the two organisations aims to reduce the number of people who lose their lives through drowning each year. While most of this work is carried out at club level through educational talks and presentations, the charity has been offered the opportunity for the last eight years to deliver a pitch activation in Croke Park on a key date in the GAA’s calendar.

Naoive Coggin, mother of Cian Nugent, a young student who drowned after getting into difficulty in a rip current while swimming off Ardmore in Waterford in 2023, delivered a powerful pitchside interview in front of the packed stadium. She told her story to raise awareness of the importance of sharing water safety advice.

The joint activity consisted of a flag display on the pitch just before throw-in at the Cork and Dublin decider. One flag displayed an image of two lifeboats at sea while the other highlighted the partnership, with the banner ‘Saving Lives Together’. RNLI volunteers in full kit crossed the touchline and paraded towards the Hogan Stand before coming to a halt and allowing the flags to be displayed until the national anthem was played.

Earlier in the afternoon, as fans entered the turnstiles they were greeted by an Atlantic 85 class lifeboat which was on display while a team from the RNLI were on hand to interact, share water safety advice and demonstrate how to use essential lifesaving equipment such as a throw bag.

RNLI Water Safety Head Gareth Morrison also presented Kinsale RNLI volunteer Gerard Quinn with an Excellence in Volunteering award in recognition of his tireless efforts to reduce drownings in his community. Mr Morrison has reached over 27,000 people with water safety messages in the last three years, through school visits, events, and lifejacket clinics.

Among the crew were Michael Livingstone from Crosshaven RNLI. Speaking about the event in Croke Park, he said: “This partnership highlights the shared values between ourselves in the RNLI and the GAA, notably volunteerism and the importance of communities. It is always a privilege for volunteers like ours at Crosshaven and Kinsale, to be invited to Croke Park on such a big day in the GAA’s championship calendar and to have the opportunity to promote water safety.”

He continued: “We are now in peak summer season and one of the key messages we want people to know is that if you get into difficulty in the water this summer, ‘Float to Live’. Tilt your head back with ears submerged. Relax and try to control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat. It's ok if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once you are through this initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can. Should you see someone else in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”