Historic election for popular local Ballina club
The new committee of the Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club, Ballina
Grainne Uaile Sub Aqua Club (SAC) began the new year in historic fashion by electing Kathy McSharry as its first female chairperson.
In Kathy, the club has elected a chairperson with real passion for diving, gained over a long association with the club. She joined in January 2011 after participating in the Grainne Uaile SAC’s ‘Try A Dive’, which takes place annually in November.
“As chairperson, I want to maintain and build on the club’s achievements to date and continue the discovery into the great wide open for current club members and those yet to be," she said.
“We also have an increasing number of female members year on year and it is timely we have a female chairperson in 2025, our 45th year in existence."
In 2024, the club drew over 100 divers to a dive rally in Killala Bay, a highly successful event it intends to hold again in 2025. In addition, the sinking of MV Shingle last year provided the club with a new novel amenity.
The SAC recently took part in their first community event of 2025, providing cover for the annual New Year's Swim in Enniscrone where over 200 swimmers braved the cold waters.
The club is currently introducing new trainees to facilitate their preparation for sea diving by April as well as maintaining equipment for the busier periods of the year.
The training of the club's Search and Recovery Unit carries on year-round as they may be called upon at any time in the event of a drowning tragedy.
The new committee is as follows: Kathy McSharry (Chairperson/Child Protection Officer), William Winters (Vice-Chair), Frances Doherty (Secretary), Christy McDonagh (Treasurer), JF Brisson (Diving Officer), Kate Hills (Training Officer), Yvonne Jackson (Public Relations Officer), Lukasz Pociask (Search and Recovery Officer), Mick Reddington (Equipment Officer), Mary Caden (Event Officer).
