Emotional Shane McCrudden reflects on 14 years with Killybegs Coast Guard

It is the end of an era for Killybegs Coast Guard as long serving volunteer Shane McCrudden departs to take up a new role as Sector Manager with the Irish Coast Guard. Click on the arrows for more photos from a gathering organised by Killybegs Coast Guard to pay tribute to their departing colleague

Shane has been involved with Killybegs Coast Guard for 14 years, achieving the highest role of Officer in Charge. He has been a dedicated member of the unit, responding with a cool, clear head to numerous difficult situations on the water and along the coast in Donegal and beyond.

“We cover south Donegal but you never know where you will end up being sent, it could be anywhere in Donegal and sometimes further afield,” he said. “You go where you are needed, that is the nature of what we do.”

Shane appreciates the importance of water safety awareness in the prevention of tragedies, and he also understands the value of good communication, always ready to assist and support clubs and organisations involved in water based activities. 

“We come across so many catastrophic situations that could have been prevented if just one or two things had been done differently,” he told Donegal Live.

“That is why getting the safety message is so important to me. The change needs to start with reducing risks from the very start, just chatting to people and saying, ‘This is where you need to be at.’

“It is not all about courses and radio training and all those things. I have seen where it has gone catastrophically wrong, and I don’t take the approach of telling people what they want to hear, I tell them what they need to hear.

“I have great admiration for clubs, volunteers taking on a lot of responsibility. When you have youth around water, that is the upper end of seriousness. We are happy to support those people as best we can.”

Shane is also full of praise for other emergency services. And their dedication was brought home to him recently on an evening when the Killybegs Coast Guard had gathered to pay tribute to Shane.

“The crew from the ambulance service was literally outside the door about to come in when they got a call and had to head off,” he said. 

“That would have been the same for us, if a call had come while we were all sitting there, we would have dropped everything to respond.

“I would like to pay tribute to the gardaí too. They have been on many a difficult shout with us, and they are the first port of call in all sorts of situations. Whatever it is, you call the guards, they are always in the thick of it and they don’t get the credit they deserve.”

Shane was deeply moved by the evening of tributes organised by Killybegs Coast Guard Unit, who gathered on Wednesday to bid farewell to their Officer in Charge. Past members joined them for the evening as did Shane’s fiancée Sinead and daughter Rosie.

“They are a fantastic team, and I am experiencing such a rollercoaster of emotions,” he said. 

“Normally they are telling me I talk too much, but they finally managed after 14 years to leave me speechless. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the words, it was that I couldn’t get them out, I was so emotional.

“They gave me the most beautiful gifts. One of them was a photobook and it was like This is Your Life with Eamonn Andrews. As well as all the photos in the book, there was a USB stick and video messages from loads of people; my friend Manus Boyle who was recently elected to the council, Mary Coughlan who has been heavily involved with the Coast Guard and whose late husband David Charlton was an active member, Paddy Byrne from Sliabh Liag Boat Trips, even Daniel O’Donnell, and so many others. It means so much to me. 

“It is bittersweet to be moving on. Four of us started together 14 years ago and are great friends. But I have to say, everyone there is a friend, they are a fantastic bunch of people and I know they will continue to serve Killybegs and south Donegal well.”

Shane’s colleagues in Killybegs Coast Guard paid tribute on social media, saying: “In his time within the Killybegs Coast Guard, Shane achieved every role possible within the  Coast Guard Unit. 

Shane was a Boat Coxswain, a Cliff Instructor and also served as Deputy Officer in Charge, and for his last year in the unit as Officer in Charge.

“Shane has passed on his many skills, talents  and knowledge to current and past members over the years. 

“He had the ability to keep a cool, calm, and professional approach to every situation he encountered.

“We are beyond sad to see Shane go but he has left us with an abundance of knowledge that has made our unit what it is today.

“Shane, from everyone here in the unit and indeed in Killybegs and beyond we wish you all the very best in your new role within the Irish Coast Guard.”

Deputy Officer in Charge Ronan McFadden will now step up to the role of Acting Officer in Charge at Killybegs Coast Guard.