Participants in the Crossfit Nenagh memorial work last Saturday. Photograph by Odhran Ducie.

Crossfit Nenagh workout in memory of R116 crew

Fair play to all who took part in last Saturday's Crossfit Nenagh workout in memory of the ill-fated crew of Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 helicopter.

Crossfit groups all over Ireland and around the world joined in a gruelling hour-long test of stamina and endurance in solidarity with the four crew members that perished when R116 crashed off the north Mayo coast last March. As well as raising awareness, the event also served as a fundraiser for the RNLI, which assisted in the search for the missing helicopter crew.

Dozens of participants slogged their way through last Saturday's workout in Nenagh, which, among other challenges, included 116 repetitions of various weight bearing stages as partners worked together to complete the session. There was a workout for young people as well as the adults on what was a family fun day, replete with barbeque, face painting and bouncy castles.

Spin South West broadcasted from the event, and it was planned that an Irish Coast Guard helicopter would also be involved. Unfortunately the helicopter (R118) was called away to the emergency involving a missing diver off Donegal, a situation that again underlined for all the importance of our rescue services.

The memorial workout was organised by husband and wife Tom and Chloë Grace, who run Crossfit Nenagh. For Chloë there was a personal significance as she knew Captain Dara Fitzpatrick (45), one of the crew members that died when R116 crashed at Blackrock Island on March 14th.

Thanking everyone who took part in and supported last Saturday's successful event in Nenagh and elsewhere, she said the R116 memorial workout would become an annual event.

The tragic fate of R116 has captivated the nation's attention. The body of Mark Duffy (51) was also recovered but the other two crew members, Paul Ormsby (53) and Ciarán Smith (38), were never found.

Crossfit Nenagh is encouraging people to donate to the RNLI lifeboat service at https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate