Thoughts and Prayers for the Fishing Community of Union Hall, Ireland

I know, I know, you don't know what to do with yourselves with three blogs in the span of two days, but one, I figured out that I can actually access the blog on my work computer (probably not a good realization) and two, I couldn't let the news set forth in this post go unmentioned - especially since so many of you followed my adventures in Union Hall, Ireland this past Spring and Summer. 

I learned today from my friend in Ireland that a terrible tragedy has occurred with one of the Union Hall fishing boats/crews. The tragedy has hit the village very hard.  Union Hall definitely holds a place in my heart and my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected.  Here is a bit on what has happened:

CORK, Ireland -- There are growing concerns for five people who went missing after a trawler capsized off the west Cork coast. Authorities rescued a survivor near Union Hall harbor, where the Tit Bonhomme was believed to have hit rocks on Sunday morning. The 69-feet Irish-registered fishing vessel was moving into shore when it encountered difficulties beside the Adam and Eve islands. The ship's crew made a distress call to the coastguard at around 6 a.m., but it was cut off and all radio contact was lost. Coastguard choppers from Shannon and Waterford were dispatched to the scene, along with lifeboats from Baltimore and Courtmacsherry. The lone survivor, an Egyptian national, was pulled from the sea at around 8 a.m. and has been transported to Cork University hospital. According to Vincent O'Donovan of Courtmacsherry lifeboat station, the Tit Bonhomme took a pounding in the rough waters. The lifeboat deployed shortly after 6 a.m. spotted debris in the water close to the mouth of Union Hall harbor about an hour and a half later. Preliminary reports suggested that two more survivors managed to make it on to the rocks, but confusion remains, and the coastguard stated that five people were still missing.

Here are a few related links:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/irish-trawler-tragedy-sparks-massive-search-off-cork-coast-16104259.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/cork-trawler-tragedy-we-lost-the-people-we-dont-want-to-lose-the-bodies-as-well-16104552.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/cork-trawler-tragedy-ships-crew-trapped-in-wreck-says-father-as-search-goes-on-16105109.html

Sorry to go from big metal chickens to boat tragedies, but that's how life unfolds sometimes.

See ya,
Amy O'Sullilvan