#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI travelled to Greystones on Sunday afternoon (18 August) for the unveiling of a plaque in memory of RNLI coxswain John Doyle and two members of his family, who lost their lives in 1892.

The deceased were trying to assist a vessel breaking away from her moorings in Greystones Harbour on 14 October 1892, a Friday night when heavy seas and a north-east gale prevailed in the Irish Sea.

That night, the schooner Mersey, which was moored alongside the jetty at Greystones, threatened to break up where she lay, and the owner resolved to let her drive on the beach.

John Doyle and William Doyle - with Herbert Doyle, son of the latter - went out along the jetty to cast a rope to the vessel and, having done so, were making their return when a great wave suddenly engulfed them. They had often gone out to save life and were famed for their bravery.

John and William Doyle left large families, and there were many tearful eyes at the funeral service in St Patrick's Church for the three Doyles, many of whose descendants are still in Greystones.



The Anchor amusement centre and restaurant at the harbour was originally a lifeboat house, and between 1871 and 1896 there were two lifeboats, the Sarah Tancred and the Richard Brown, the latter of which John Doyle served as coxswain.

As the Wicklow lifeboat entered Greystones, the crew scattered flower petals inside the harbour entrance as a mark of respect for coxswain Doyle.

John Doyle’s granddaughter Betty Lowe unveiled the plaque on the pier wall. During the ceremony, the lifeboat crew presented her with a framed photograph of the Wicklow lifeboat and an RNLI flag.

Lowe was inspired to erect the memorial after attending the unveiling of The Beacon of Hope sculpture in 2009 at the RNLI headquarters in Poole. Her grandfather’s name is one of hundreds on the memorial who have given their lives selflessly to save others over the last 200 years.



Speaking after the ceremony, Wicklow RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Tommy Dover said: "We would like to thank Mrs Lowe and her family for inviting us to the ceremony, it was a great privilege to be involved."

#rnli – The Baltimore RNLI inshore lifeboat went to the assistance of a motor cruiser whose engine failed near Horse Island in West Cork this afternoon Tuesday 20th August. The alarm was raised at 15:05 and within minutes the lifeboat was underway. Helm John Kearney and his crew proceeded through the islands of Roaring Water Bay to rendezvous with the stricken vessel which had subsequently anchored between Horse Island and Castle Island.The 6.5m day cruiser whose engine had overheated had a party of 2 men, 2 women and 2 dogs on board at the time and had been on passage from Baltimore to Schull. The lifeboat crew passed a tow to the vessel and took her in tow returning her to her moorings in Baltimore Harbour.

Helm John Kearney commended them for staying calm, he said 'They did everything right, they were wearing life jackets and anchored promptly to secure their safety when her engines failed'.

Helm John Kearney, crew Ger O"Brien and Peter Losberg. Slip crew John O'Flynn, Colin Rochford and Declan Tiernan.

#RNLI - Some 46 people completed the 750m course on Lough Erne in the revived Castle Island Charity Swim recently - including three Enniskillen RNLI lifeboat crew in full kit!

As reported last month on Afloat.ie, the swim traditionally took place annually with the support of the Blake family, and Enniskillen RNLI hailed as a "great honour" the chance to bring back the annual event.


Apart from the action on the water on Sunday 11 August, the day featured was a family fun morning on shore with a bouncy castle, face painting and an ice cream stand.  



Lifeboat volunteer crewman Adrian Kelly said of the day: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who got involved on all levels. I really hope everyone enjoyed the event and that we can give it a go next year."

#RNLI - The RNLI has posted video to YouTube of the Bangor lifeboat crew's rescue of two canoeists from the water at Belfast Lough last Monday 12 August.

The two paddlers were reported to be suffering from the cold and exhaustion but were taken to safety by the Bangor RNLI volunteers.

#RNLI - Skerries RNLI carried out a search of an area north of Balbriggan on Wednesday night (14 August) after a vessel in the area reported sighting a distress flare.

The volunteer crew launched their inshore lifeboat shortly after 9.30pm with Philip Ferguson as helm and crew members Adam Scott, Stephen Crowley and AJ Hughes on board.

Dublin Coast Guard requested the lifeboat to launch to investigate a report of a distress flare north of Balbriggan Harbour in North Co Dublin. 



The lifeboat proceeded directly to the area indicated by the coastguard and conducted an extensive search. Clogherhead RNLI were also tasked and carried out a search further north, while the Skerries Coast Guard unit carried out a search of the coastline in the area.

Just after 10.30pm, the Dublin Coast Guard declared that they were satisfied that a thorough search had been carried out, and with nothing found all units were stood down to return to base.



Speaking after the call-out, Philip Ferguson said: "Conditions were very good on scene and while it was quite a dark night, visibility was reasonably good which helped our search.

"Our volunteer crew are always ready to launch to any sign that somebody is in difficulty at sea and we are happy that on this occasion no lives were in danger."

#RNLI - Both Wicklow lifeboats were diverted to Brittas Bay last Sunday morning (11 August) while on a routine exercise in the bay.

At 10.57am the Irish Coast Guard tasked the lifeboats to investigate a report of a small motor boat with two people drifting off the beach.

A member of the public had raised the alarm, as they believed the occupants might be in need of assistance.

As the lifeboats were proceeding to the small boat, they were stood down by the coastguard after it was ascertained that the two people were fine and able to return to shore under their own power.


The lifeboats then resumed exercise in the Wicklow bay area.

Speaking after the incident, Wicklow RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer Tommy Dover said: "This was volunteer crew member Alan Goucher’s first call-out as a helm in charge of the inshore lifeboat and Connie O'Gara’s first call-out on the all-weather lifeboat as a mechanic."

#RNLI - Howth RNLI lifeboat station held an open day last Sunday 11 August, welcoming a great number of locals and visitors who came to see the station, explore the lifeboats and meet the crew.

The children in particular enjoyed meeting Stormy Stan and taking part in fun competitions.

Everyone got the opportunity to get aboard the lifeboats and find out more about the lifesaving work carried out by the volunteer crew members.

The Sea Safety Team was also on hand to give advice about lifejackets and safety precautions at sea. 

Howth RNLI depends on the generous support of the local community to help save lives at sea.

The same weekend as the open day, the volunteer lifeboat crew was involved in three rescues in a single 24-hour period, bringing 11 people to safety. 

#RNLI - Holyhead RNLI volunteers were called to launch two lifeboats at the same time during two different incidents on Anglesey in North Wales yesterday 12 August.

Holyhead RNLI relief lifeboat 17-38 and volunteer crew responded to a Pan Pan (communication of an urgent situation onboard) in the Irish Sea just over three miles north-west of Holyhead.

The vessel, a 15m motor launch with five people on board, had lost all steering. Vessels near by stood until the lifeboat arrived, and the boat was taken under tow to Holyhead Marina.

At the same time, the Holyhead inshore lifeboat was launched to three people struggling in the sea off Penrhos beach area.

When the volunteer crew arrived, the three had made it to land but a child in the group was looking very unwell. The RNLI crew wrapped him up to keep warm until ambulance arrived.

In the meantime, an air ambulance was requested and landed at Stanley Hospital nearby to take the casualty for treatment. Holyhead's local coastguard team were also in attendance.

#RNLI - Youghal RNLI launched yesterday evening (12 August) to a report of a six-meter pleasure craft that was adrift 200m east of Youghal shipping quay in Co Cork.

The lifeboat, helmed by John Griffin Jr with crew members Patsy O’Mahony and Joe Moore on board, launched at at 6.19pm and quickly located the pleasure cruiser, subsequently ascertaining that the boat had suffered engine failure.

There were three people on board; two males and one female. All were wearing lifejackets and were safe and well. The weather at the time was blowing a Force 2-3 north westerly wind with a slight swell.



The volunteer crew established a tow and brought the boat and the three casualties back to its moorings at Ferry Point in Youghal.

#RNLI - Two maritime legends finally met last bank holiday weekend at the Gathering of the Fleet Maritime Festival when Arklow RNLI lifeboat operations manager Jimmy Tyrell climbed aboard the new Shannon class lifeboat.

Jimmy, and his father before him, lobbied the life-saving charity for many years to call one of their lifeboat classes after an Irish river - and was finally rewarded when the Shannon class lifeboat was put into production last year.

Its arrival at this year’s Gathering of the Fleet in the Wicklow port town was one of the highlights of the event. 

The lifeboat is on a tour of RNLI stations to introduce volunteer lifeboat crews to the new vessel, and Jimmy Tyrell was given a warm welcome onboard and had a full tour of the lifeboat from its RNLI crew.

The Shannon class lifeboat is the first all-weather lifeboat to be powered by twin water jets instead of propellers, making it more manoeuvrable and safer to operate in shallow water. It has a top speed of 25 knots and is due to replace the Mersey class lifeboat.

Just prior to the departure of the new Shannon class lifeboat, named Jock & Annie Slater, Arklow RNLI’s crew made a presentation to Jimmy Tyrell and the boat's coxswain to mark the visit and its importance to everyone at Arklow RNLI.

East Coast FM also broadcast their popular morning radio show with Declan Meehan live from the Arklow RNLI lifeboat station, with special guests Diarmuid Gavin and Shane Byrne joined by Arklow RNLI volunteers to get involved in the fun. 

The lifeboat crew gave their guests a warm welcome, but had taken the precaution of having a fully kitted-out crew on scene in case they received a call-out during the show.

The Gathering of the Fleet, held in aid of the RNLI, played host to vessels of all shapes and sizes over the August bank holiday weekend. 

Commenting on the festival, Arklow RNLI lifeboat press officer Mark Corcoran said: “This weekend was the fruition of months of hard work by the committee. Living on the east coast, the sea is such a big part of everyone’s lives and we wanted to celebrate our proud maritime history and traditions with this Gathering of the Fleet Maritime Festival. 

"Thanks to all the boat owners near and far and to the many people who have given their time and energy to make this year’s event something special.”