Lough Corrib – Multi Agency Exercise

5 October 2026

A great day was had on Saturday 3rd October at the multi agency training exercise held on Lough Corrib. The exercise was led by Galway Civil Defence, working alongside Civil Defence units from Clare, Limerick and Roscommon, Westport Coast Guard, and Corrib Mask Search and Rescue (CMSAR).

CMSAR were tasked with providing local navigation advice and leading the line out to the designated training area, covering the waters between Lisloughrey, Inchagoill Cleenillaun, Ardilaun, Scallop.

Once on scene, the search area was divided into 10 separate sectors, with crews assigned to carry out coordinated searches. Earlier in the day, a training dummy and two small tenders had been placed at unknown locations within the search area, giving crews realistic targets to locate and recover. All three targets were found and recovered in just over an hour.

The agencies were also joined by Rescue 115 , the Irish Coast Guard helicopter based at Shannon, which was deployed to the area to take part in the exercise and add an important air-support element to the operation.

It was an important and very successful day of training, giving all of the participating organisations an opportunity to work together on the water, practise coordinated search techniques, communications and navigation, and strengthen the working relationships that are so important when responding to a real emergency.

Exercises like this are invaluable. They allow crews from different organisations and counties to train together in realistic conditions and ensure that, when called upon for real, are ready to work effectively as one team.

Galway Civil Defence deserve great credit for organising and leading the exercise.

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