Five rescued from fishing vessel off Inis Mór

Muireann Duffy

Five crew members were rescued on Sunday morning after their fishing vessel got into difficultly off Inis Mór.

The Valentia Coast Guard received an emergency call shortly after 5am, with the 21-meter vessel reporting it was aground on the northern side of the largest of the three Aran Islands.

The Shannon-based R115 helicopter, Aran Islands lifeboat, and North Aran Coast Guard Unit were tasked to the scene.

The five crew members had abandoned the vessel into a life raft and were subsequently winched to safety.

They were taken to University Hospital Galway via helicopter, but were reported to be in "good spirits after their ordeal", a statement from the Coast Guard said.