Donate
Charities like ours depend on donations, big and small, so every single contribution is important.
Whether you’re making a one-off donation or you’re planning to commit to long-term financial support, the difference you’ll make with either one is immeasurable.
Donations help us continue our work of patrolling the waters, maintaining our top-of-the-line equipment, and raising awareness about water safety.
WHAT WE DO
We’re a team of volunteers who are dedicated to ensuring that Galway’s waterways are safe. The River Corrib is one of the fastest rivers in Europe, which means it can be very dangerous, too. This river is the spot for many fatalities each year. So many of these are avoidable, and our mission is to do our bit to monitor the waterways on a regular basis.
We carry out approximately 8-10 patrols each month – plus 6 patrols during peak times like festivals and end-of-semester exams. Our aim is to provide a presence along the canals, bridges, and more so that people who are distressed, disoriented, or suicidal can receive some support from us. We typically start any interactions with a conversation by asking the person how they are doing while also encouraging them to step away from the danger of the water.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
Knowing where your money goes is important, and we are proud to say that every single donation made to Claddagh Watch Patrol is put to great use towards our vital mission.
To date, your money has helped us to buy high-tech equipment that helps us to our voluntary work, including:
– 10 torches donated by the Kelly family of Lecarrow in memory of their precious daughter who passed away in 2020.
– A thermal camera that enables us to track the body heat of a casualty in the water – received thanks to Shane Lennon of Galway who did a fundraiser and ran two marathons during lockdown on Salthill Promenade.
– A line-thrower kit donated by the King family from Oranmore. The funds were raised in Boston by uncles in memory of their departed nephew. This kit can propel a life jacket on a line 120 metres towards a casualty in the water.
– A megaray searchlight – This searchlight has a beam of 2.3 km. It is a portable light and is the only one of its kind in the country.
– A spotting scope – This is a telescope on a stand that enables us to follow someone in the water or someone on land that we might be concerned about.
– Our Nissan Primastar 211 registration van sponsored by Windsors. This is kitted out as a mobile control room with additional equipment and kit.
– AED defibrillator – Generously purchased and donated by the Connacht Hospitality Group. Claddagh Watch Patrol have also paid for and installed another AED in the foyer of Jury’s Inn at Spanish Arch as there were no nearby AEDs in the area, and we strongly felt that an AED in the Wolfe Tone Bridge area was essential – which it has been on a number of occasions.
– Dacia Duster – Paid for with funds raised by our friends at Vyatris, Inverin. They were the first company to have Claddagh Watch Patrol as Charity of the Year back in 2020. This is used along with the Nissan van whenever foot patrol is called off due to heavy rain or extreme cold.
GET INVOLVED
Getting involved with Claddagh Watch Patrol is as easy as contacting us, which you can do here.
Alternatively, if you see us set up at a stall or out fundraising in public, feel free to strike up a conversation with us to find out how to get involved.
In addition to volunteers, fundraisers are the lifeblood of our operation, so if you or your company would like to arrange a fundraiser, we are ready to work with you.
Our own initiative to raise funds is vital, but we require a lot of assistance to finance our important work of keeping the waterways safe. Thankfully, we have a fantastic community of supporters across the city and county of Galway who have consistently helped us in immense ways.
So many of these events have raised vital money for Claddagh Watch Patrol – helping to ensure we can continue to do the work we do. Some of these events have included the Remembrance Ball; Viatris Galway’s fundraiser; Galway Motorbike Enthusiast’s donation, Botown’s charity night; Creggan Medical’s fundraiser; as well as a number of University of Galway events – Groovy Tuesdays, Psych Society, and other groups.
