Lough Ree RNLI came to the aid of four people on board a barge which ran aground near Athlone yesterday afternoon.
The 36ft Dutch barge was stranded where the River Shannon meets Lough Ree.
Launched at 1.30pm the lifeboat reached the scene near Lough Ree Yacht Club seven minutes later.
The volunteer crew found four people on board safe and well and proceeded to tow the barge off the rocks.
The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew assessed the barge for damage and accompanied the craft and crew to Athlone Town Marina.
Lough Ree RNLI are reminding us that Navigation can be difficult at this time of year for boat users, with obstacles hidden or obscured by Winter flood waters