Meet Daragh Bolton

What is your role in the Irish Coast Guard? Can you describe a bit about what you do?

My role is as a Function Support Officer (FSO) within the Marine Management section, managing all Irish Coast Guard boat operations nationwide. This function oversees the operational capability, training, and readiness of IRCG boat units across the coast. The Function Support Officer’s play a critical role within the Irish Coast Guard by providing the governance, coordination and support that underpins operational delivery nationwide. One FSO is assigned to each of the functions (Boat, Land SAR, Fleet/ Equipment, and Drone) and acts as the link between strategic oversight and day‑to‑day frontline operations, ensuring that units are properly equipped, supported and aligned with organisational standards. By managing risk, capability, compliance and continuous improvement across specialist functions, the FSO’s enables Coast Guard Units to focus on what they do best—responding effectively and safely to incidents and providing life‑saving services along the coast.

My responsibilities are wide‑ranging and include deputising for the Operations and Training Officer (Function Manager), leading and supporting projects, managing procurement processes for equipment and services, and overseeing contracts with third‑party providers. I also support the operational status of all boat units by monitoring asset condition, availability, and readiness to ensure our fleet remains capable of responding effectively.

A significant element of my role involves the development of the Coast Guard’s medical framework across all units. This work includes assessing current volunteer training levels and standards, analysing our areas of operation and the types of casualties typically encountered, and identifying opportunities to enhance medical capability and consistency nationwide. The objective is to ensure our medical response remains proportionate, effective and aligned with operational risk.

The volunteers of the Irish Coast Guard deliver an exceptional service around our coastline. My role is focused on providing them with the strongest possible operational environment—ensuring they have the equipment, training frameworks and organisational support required to perform safely, effectively and to the highest standard, while delivering the best possible care to those they respond to.

Why did you join the Irish Coast Guard?

I was a volunteer in the Greystones unit before I moved to the full-time role, before that I was a volunteer auxiliary firefighter (AFS) with Wicklow Civil Defence but moved to IRCG through recommendations from a number of friends who still volunteer in the unit. I was really impressed with the level of training and number of different functions I could get involved in so I knew the IRCG would bring more challenges and opportunities to learn new skills.

What skills are most important for your role?

Teamwork, collaboration, initiative, and communication skills are vital to be able to manage the multi-role requirements of an FSO. It is a dynamic and highly rewarding position, where the breadth of skills I have developed throughout my career enables me to bring fresh perspectives and innovative approaches to improving how we support the service. A critical skillset within the role is effective time management and multi‑tasking, particularly the ability to prioritise work based on risk and operational readiness. This ensures that the FSO function plays a meaningful part in enabling each unit’s capacity to respond safely, efficiently and effectively.

What kind of training have you completed as a Coast Guard member?

Since moving into a full‑time role, I have focused on further developing my boat operations expertise in order to strengthen my knowledge across all aspects of IRCG boat operations. As a volunteer, I was progressing towards the role of Deputy Coxswain, and I was really happy to be able to continue this training pathway in my current position. This has enabled me to develop a deeper operational understanding, allowing me to better support individual boat units nationwide.

I have successfully completed all advanced boat courses with our training provider and continue to build and maintain my skills and knowledge. I strongly believe that Function Support Officers should act as subject matter experts within their respective functions. This depth of knowledge is essential to fully understand the operational needs of Coast Guard Units and to ensure that equipment, services and systems are sourced and implemented appropriately.

A detailed understanding of service and product capabilities is particularly important in procurement, which forms a significant part of my role. To support this, I have completed a number of public procurement courses focused on tendering and evaluation. These qualifications enable me to manage procurement processes effectively, run tenders in a structured and compliant manner, and provide informed support to procurement activities across the Marine Management section. This combination of operational expertise and procurement capability allows me to contribute meaningfully to improving operational readiness and enhancing the level of response and care provided by IRCG boat units.

I have also successfully completed Incident Command System (ICS) training, which has given me a strong understanding of a standardised and scalable approach to incident management applicable across a wide range of sectors, including emergency response organisations, ports and harbours, energy infrastructure, and government operations. I am trained in the use of common command structures, processes, and terminology that enable effective coordination between multiple agencies and stakeholders and can apply ICS principles to both emergency incidents and planned events, supporting Incident Commanders through clear objective-setting, efficient resource management, and a unified organisational framework.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Coast Guard?

I had always believed that a full‑time role within the Coast Guard was largely out of reach without a Naval or Merchant Navy background. Seeing the opportunities now available to volunteers who bring different skill sets into these emerging roles is extremely positive and reflects the evolving needs of the organisation.

I have spent my entire career working within security, safety and emergency service environments, and through my involvement with the IRCG I have come to realise that almost all of the skills I developed throughout my professional career are directly transferable to the Coast Guard context. As a volunteer, I was proud to support this vital community emergency service; however, combining that volunteer mindset with my professional experience has allowed me to apply my expertise on a broader and more impactful level.

Moving into a full‑time role has confirmed that this is where my skills, experience and values align most strongly. I am motivated by service, operational excellence and continuous improvement, and I see this reflected daily in the team I work alongside — a team that consistently goes above and beyond to ensure Coast Guard Units are properly supported and, crucially, valued.

Being able to contribute to building an organisation that prioritises readiness, professionalism and care, while supporting volunteers to deliver the highest possible standard of response and casualty care, has been both professionally rewarding and personally fulfilling.