Athlone Sub Aqua assists with Coosan relaunch of rescued boat

Athlone Sub Aqua Club provided support for the relaunch of the vessel 'Old's Cool' at Coosan Point recently.

'Old's Cool', built by Fergal Butler in 2013, unfortunately sank in Lough Ree during the summer of 2015, while under passage from Lanesborough to Athlone.

Undeterred, Fergal embarked on an eight-year quest, meticulously searching Lough Ree for his beloved vessel using side-scan sonar.

With each potential target identified, he would send the coordinates to the Athlone Sub Aqua Club for its Search and Recovery (SAR) divers to investigate.

The breakthrough came in January 2023, when Fergal once again sent coordinates of a potential target to Liam Sherringham, the club's Search and Recovery Diving Officer.

A dedicated team of SAR divers, including Johnny Roach and Ethan Devaney, assembled and travelled to the location. Their dive confirmed the discovery of 'Old's Cool' resting upside down on the lakebed.

Following the recovery of the boat, Fergal spent the next two years restoring his cherished boat back to its former glory.

The Athlone Sub Aqua Club said it was delighted to be involved in the relaunch, and extends its best wishes to Fergal for many successful years with 'Old's Cool'.