All in a Row Challenge Presents €20,000 to RNLI & Irish Underwater Search & Recovery Unit

7th March 2022

The Irish Underwater Search and Recovery team receiving their cheque with Irishtown/Ringsend Lord Mayor Derek Buckley, and Philip Smith and Dave Cox of St. Patrick’s Rowing Club Credit: Bryan Smith/Irish film making /RNLI

The “All in a Row” team which smashed a 1,000 km target in eight hours on the Liffey late last year has presented €20,000 to two leading marine rescue charities.

The RNLI’s Howth station and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit were nominated to benefit from the event, held last December on the River Liffey.

Some 40 skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs participated in the event, which started from St. Patrick’s Rowing Club at the Tom Clarke Bridge (formerly the East Link Bridge).

Rowers turned at the Ha’penny Bridge, before heading back downriver to the Tom Clarke Bridge.

Rose Michael, (right) Howth RNLI Lifeboats and Pauline McGann, RNLI Community Manager receiving the funds raised

The event, now an annual challenge, is undertaken to raise monies for marine rescue and also to highlight the Liffey as one of Dublin’s best amenities, according to the organisers.

Speaking at the presentation, Mayor of Irishtown/Ringsend Derek Buckley said “the local community effort involved in raising these funds is remarkable and we look forward to hosting this event in our community again next December”.

The All in a Row Crew are Dave Kelly (Chair) - Draiocht Na Life, Philip Murphy -St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Eoin Gaffney - Phoenix Masters Swimming Club, Mick Curry -Stella Maris Rowing Club, Peter Carey – Phoenix Rowing Club, Tony Kelly – East Wall Water Sports Group, Dave Cox – St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Chris Kennedy – St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Gerry Coonan – Wild Water Kayak Club, Eimear McCormack – St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Seamus Hallahan – Dublin Vikings Dragon Boats, Eugene Kierans & Richard Kaye – Irish Underwater Search and Recovery and Rose Michael, Royal National Lifeboat Association Howth Station.

On the water support was provided by RNLI Dun Laoghaire, Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club, East Wall Water Sports Centre, Irish Underwater Search and Recovery and the No. 11 Liffey Ferry.

The Sea Scouts from 1st Port Dublin and 5th Wicklow (Bray) provided “very welcome hot drinks ashore”, the organisers said.

Published in RNLI Lifeboats, Dublin Bay, River Liffey

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

How can one support the RNLI?

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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