For the second consecutive year, Clogherhead RNLI volunteer Padraig Rath was among those who took to the pitch ahead of Saturday’s (5 July) All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final at Croke Park, to promote the charity’s water safety partnership with the GAA.

While most of this work is carried out at club level through educational talks and presentations, the charity has been offered the opportunity for the last eight years to deliver a pitch activation in Croke Park on a key date in the GAA’s calendar.

Together on Saturday, both organisations delivered key water safety messages to over 80,000 people who were attending the sellout match between Cork and Dublin and the earlier camogie championship quarter-final between Waterford and Clare.

The joint activity consisted of a flag display on the pitch just before throw-in at the Cork and Dublin decider. One flag displayed an image of two lifeboats at sea while the other, highlighted the partnership, with the banner ‘Saving Lives Together’.

RNLI volunteers in full kit crossed the touchline and paraded towards the Hogan Stand before coming to a halt and allowing the flags to be displayed until the National Anthem was played.

Padraig, who is the Clogherhead RNLI Water Safety Officer said: ‘This partnership highlights the shared values between ourselves in the RNLI and the GAA, notably volunteerism and the importance of communities. It is always a privilege for volunteers like ours at Clogherhead, to be invited to Croke Park on such a big day in the GAA’s championship calendar and to have the opportunity to promote water safety.

‘We are now in peak summer season and one of the key messages we want people to know is that if you get into difficulty in the water this summer, Float to Live. Tilt your head back with ears submerged. Relax and try to control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat. It's ok if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once you are through this initial shock, call for help or swim to safety if you can. Should you see someone else in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’