A 320km memorial cycle in honour of the Irish Coast Guard members who have lost their lives on active service is being organised by Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit.
The cycle, which is called Miles in their Memory, will see 11 members of the Ballyglass Coast Guard, 30 cyclists from Belmullet Gardai and Belmullet Cycling Club, along with 45 other cyclists, take on the 320km journey.
The route of the cycle will take the cyclists from Dublin Airport, the base of Rescue 116 which was lost in a tragic accident last year, to Blacksod Lighthouse, where the rescue operation for that accident was based.
The cycle will depart Dublin on Saturday, March 10, at 8am and will finish at Blacksod Lighthouse at 6.15pm the following day. The cyclists will be met by lighthouse keeper Vincent Sweeney and a minute's silence will be observed before a wreath laying ceremony at the helipad at the lighthouse.
The members of Ballyglass Coast Guard work closely with the crews of the Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopters throughout the year, they worked tirelessly during the initial 42 day search for the missing crew after R116 went down after colliding with Blackrock Island. The search for missing crew members Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smyth is still ongoing.
