The death of a woman crew member with the Irish Coast Guard during an operation off the Co Clare coast yesterday was a tragedy of enormous proportions.
Two of her colleagues, a man and a woman, were eventually rescued after their vessel overturned as they took part in a search for a missing man near the cliffs at Kilkee.
Coast Guard staff across Ireland, north and south, go on duty in all weather conditions whenever their services are needed at any time of the night or day.
Their courage has always been hugely admired by the entire community, and there will be widespread grief over yesterday's death.
