Emergency services responding to an incident in Co Clare this afternoon were provided with Garda escorts as part of a traffic management plan put in place for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open golf being held at Lahinch.
Coast Guard and National Ambulance Service crews had to travel through Lahinch where tens of thousands of people have gathered for the European Tour golfing event.
A woman had to be airlifted to hospital after she was injured in a fall this afternoon. It’s understood she suffered leg injuries after she fell on rocks at around 4.30pm.
Coast Guard volunteers from Doolin, who had to pass through Lahinch to get to the scene, received a Garda escort involving patrol cars and motorcycle outriders. An ambulance from Ennistymon was also provided with a Garda escort to ensure they also reached the scene without delay.
The Shannon based Irish Coast Guard helicopter was also tasked to the incident.
The woman, understood to be in her 60s and from Limerick, was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and the helicopter winchman/paramedic before she was taken on board the aircraft and flown to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.
A Garda spokesman confirmed: “We have a very comprehensive traffic management plan in place for the Irish Open and this includes providing for all contingencies including facilitating emergency services who have to pass through Lahinch to reach incidents. This involves ensuring emergency services can safely and efficiently pass through areas where crowds have gathered and has been very effective.”