EXERCISES in the Bluestacks Mountains by members of the Defence Forces have sparked a mayday alert.
The Sligo 118 Rescue helicopter was scrambled over Lough Eske after reports of a flare in the area.
There had been fears that someone on the lake was in difficulty in a boat.
But when the Coast Guard helicopter arrived at the scene, it discovered the Defence Forces were carrying out an exercise in the area and had fired off flares.
The chopper crew were also called to another false alarm after reports of smoke coming from a boat.
However nothing was found and the crew were stood down.