#SAOIRSE RONAN – Volunteer lifeboat crew with Wicklow RNLI received a surprise visitor during their navigation course this morning (Monday 23 January 2012).  Well known actress Saoirse Ronan dropped in to say hello while filming nearby. The actress was filming scenes for director Neil Jordan's new film 'Byzantium' at Wicklow harbour.

The Hollywood actress makes her slipway debut

Tommy Dover, Wicklow RNLI volunteer said, " Saoirse kindly agreed to pose with some of the lifeboat crew from Wicklow RNLI and hear all about the work of the charity. We were delighted to welcome her and if she ever wants to sign up as lifeboat crew, she is more than welcome."

The RNLI is holding their SOS fundraising day this Friday with events happening all around the country.  Funds raised are going towards purchasing new lifejackets for the volunteer lifeboat crews. The target is €160,000.

Wicklow RNLI lifeboat crew are no strangers to famous actors visiting the lifeboat station.  Both Brendan Gleeson and Don Cheadle called into the lifeboat station while they were filming The Guard nearby.

#ANGLING - Strongs winds and heavy seas weren't enough to dampen the spirits of the anglers taking part in the Courtown Sea Anglers RNLI fundraising event last Sunday, the Gorey Guardian reports.

Top winner on the day in the shore angling competition at Kilgorman beach was James Ryan from New Ross, who hooked an impressive 24 fish - all of which went back in the water under catch-and-release rules.

Anglers from Galway, Belfast, Clare, Wicklow, Dublin, Waterford and across Wexford took part. It is hoped that more than €4,200 was raised to support the Courtown lifeboat.

#GLANDORE SEARCH – The Naval Vessel LE Niamh has joined up to 18 other vessels including lifeboats from Baltimore and Courtmacsherry and a large fleet of up to 18 fishing vessels in a bid to locate five men missing from a trawler that ran aground off the Cork coast earlier this morning. The Naval Service have also sent a diving team, who were engaged in a search for a missing person in the River Corrib in Galway, to the scene.

As reported earlier today, the 40–foot fishing vessel the Tit Bonhomme sank in heavy seas close to Adam and Eve Island at the entrance to Union Hall harbour at around 6am.

One crewman, who is Egyptian, was rescued from the sea by a Coastguard helicopter.

His five crewmates, two from Ireland, three from Egypt, are still missing.

The Examiner has more here and  images of wreckage from RTE news here

#BUNDORAN RESCUE – On Saturday 14th January, following a distress call, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat were tasked to assist a surfer in trouble at Tullan Strand, Bundoran.

The surfer got into difficulty around 4pm after his surf board snapped during a session on a busy afternoon at Bundoran's second beach. His friend immediately called the emergency services and Bundoran Lifeboat Crew were tasked to the scene. Launching within six minutes of the initial page, the crew were on scene within minutes by which time the surfer had made his way to shore safely. The lifeboat was then stood down.

Malin Head Coast Guard also tasked the Rescue 118 Helicopter from Sligo to the scene who arrived shortly afterwards. Volunteer crew members from Bundoran Lifeboat who made their way to Tullan Strand on land, spoke with the surfer to evaluate whether further medical attention was required.

Bundoran Lifeboat Training Coordinator Shane O'Neill who attended to the surfer said 'Thankfully, following his surfboard being snapped the surfer was able to make his way back to shore safely. However his friend was absolutely correct to call the emergency services as he believed he was in trouble. Bundoran Lifeboat is on call 24 hours a day seven days a week and are always ready to respond to an emergency'

#LECTURES – The winter talk's series organised by the Dublin Bay Old Gaffers Association (DBOGA) continues at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, Ringsend, Dublin.

This month's lecture entitled 'The Second Chapter –On Diesel Engines Care and Maintenance' presented by Sean Walsh is to be held next Tuesday 17th January, starting at 8 pm. All are welcome to the evening with proceeds going to the RNLI.

In total there are five talks in the winter/spring 2011-2012 program, which started last October and will run to March. For further information about the DBOGA click HERE and the PYBC visit www.poolbegmarina.ie

#RNLI - Peel Lifeboat Station is three times proud as a trio of its volunteers will receive awards for their services to the RNLI.

IsleOfMan.com reports that the badge winners were announced at the RNLI headquarters in Poole as part of its 2012 awards list.

Bronze badges will go to Francis Watterson and press officer and past chairman Malcolm Kelly, while Adrienne Teare was awarded a gold badge.

All three will be presented with their badges at a function later this year.

RNLI Peel is one of five lifeboat stations on the Isle of Man servicing much of the Irish Sea between northern England, Scotland and Ireland.

#RNLI – The RNLI has launched a campaign which will see every lifeboat station in Ireland take delivery of new specially designed lifejackets this year.  The lifejackets have been commissioned by the RNLI for search and rescue work and have been given the seal of approval from lifeboat volunteers.

Irish lifeboat crews at Dun Laoghaire, Wexford and Bangor were involved in the trials.  Every aspect of a search and rescue operation was examined with the lifejackets designed to work in conjunction with the lifeboat volunteer to protect them and to aid their work.

The RNLI operates 43 lifeboat stations in Ireland ranging from the operation of inshore lifeboats up to all weather lifeboats capable of going one hundred miles out to sea.  The cost of providing the lifejackets is estimated at €160,000 with costs at each station ranging from €2,500 up to €5,500.  The charity is hoping that its national SOS fundraising day, to be held on Friday 27 January, will help raise some of the funds needed.

The RNLI continually looks to advance and improve its safety equipment.  In the 1850s narrow strips of cork were sewn onto a canvas vest so the lifejacket could move with the body.  Today crew lifejackets reflect decades of technological advancements.  The new designs are more ergonomic and fitted to let the individual swim unhindered to aid casualties.  They are lighter and more buoyant and will support the weight of a casualty being brought to safety by a crewmember in the water.  They also have a luminous spray hood with visor, which can be pulled over the crewmembers head if they are in water to protect against sea spry while also making them highly visible.  The lifejackets also come fitted with all the industry standard features such as water activated emergency lights, integral flare pockets, crotch straps and zipped pockets for casualty care cards, torches, gloves or knives.

Martyn Smith, RNLI Divisional Inspector for Ireland said, "Lifejackets are an essential piece of every lifeboat volunteer's kit.  Whether they are operating from their lifeboat or recovering a casualty from the sea, their lifejacket is a lifesaver.  This new design which is specially developed for search and rescue has some very important features that will aid them in their work.  Replacing and updating our lifejackets is an ambitious project but one we feel is important as our crews deserve the best in equipment.  I am grateful to the Irish lifeboat stations who trialled the lifejackets, they have helped deliver an outstanding piece of life saving equipment."

Emma Gibson, RNLI Area Fundraising Manager added, "The RNLI is a charity that relies on the generosity of the public and we are asking people to help us equip our lifeboat volunteers.  Our national SOS fundraising day will take place on Friday 27 January and for this one we hope people will do something to help us raise funds for these new lifejackets.

The RNLI will also recycle the individual parts of the old lifejackets that have come to the end of their operational life, from steel and brass components to the fabric.  If people wish to help or get involved with Lifejackets for Lifesavers they can call the RNLI on 01 895 1800 or email [email protected]

#COASTGUARD – Funding for the Coast Guard and the RNLI will be protected at existing levels in 2012, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar confirmed today (Saturday). Speaking during a New Year's Eve visit to thank volunteers at the Coast Guard Station at Howth, Co. Dublin, Minister Varadkar also confirmed that the Coast Guard would remain within the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport.

Minister Varadkar said: 'The Coast Guard performs an essential role all year round. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to every member of staff and volunteer for their efforts during 2011. I would also like to express my gratitude to the families of all the rescuers who make it possible for the volunteers to provide this 24 hour commitment throughout the year'.

Coast Guard Director Chris Reynolds confirmed that 2011 was one of the busiest years for the Coast Guard since its foundation. The Coast Guard responded to nearly 2,000 incidents this year, resulting in 163 lives being saved and over 3,300 persons assisted. The Coast Guard helicopters alone performed 551 missions during the year. Mr Reynolds said that staying within the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport would facilitate the Coast Guard in the further development of maritime safety in Ireland, while also retaining its existing networks.

Minister Varadkar confirmed that the Coast Guard will receive €4.37 million for current purposes again this year, not including the helicopter service, and the RNLI annual grant of €150,000 will also be retained in 2012. The Minister has also allocated capital funding to allow the Coast Guard's aging fleet to be refreshed with new vessels over the next two years. New vessels have already been allocated to Coast Guard Stations at Achill, Bunbeg, Killala, Greencastle, Doolin and Killaloe.

The Minister confirmed that he has given the OPW the go-ahead to tender for a new Coast Guard Volunteer and Pollution Response Centre in Killybegs, Co. Donegal, and he re-confirmed his commitment to proceed with a similar station in Doolin within the life of the capital expenditure programme. 2012 will also see a significant improvement in the provision of helicopter rescue services with the arrival in Ireland of the new S92A Coast Guard helicopter in Shannon at the end of January.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard's second national telecommunications network has been commissioned, providing a completely independent back-up service for the Coast Guard ship-to-shore communication network.

Mr Reynolds said: 'Ireland is a maritime nation which has rights over an area of seabed 10 times the size of Ireland. Ninety nine per cent of our trade goes by sea and it's no surprise that most of our population lives within 30km of the coast. In carrying out our goal to prevent, prepare and respond, the men and women of the Coast Guard staff, its volunteers, our helicopter crews and our partners in the Navy, Air Corps, RNLI, CRBI and mountain rescue, have continued to provide a world-class service. This has only been possible through the incredible service offered by locally-based volunteers nationwide and the commitment of this Government to maintain these essential front line services in difficult times'.

#LIFEBOAT – The crew of the RNLI lifeboat station at Dun Laoghaire will hold the traditional ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve and for all lives lost at sea in the past year.

A short ceremony will be held at the lighthouse end of the East Pier at mid-day on Christmas Eve that will include music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.  Both RNLI lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire will launch and the crews will lay wreaths at sea.

The ceremony is an annual Christmas Eve tradition that remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co. Dublin.  All lives lost at sea in 2011 will also be included in the ceremony.

A special replica of the monument erected at the RNLI head-quarters in Poole, Dorset to remember all lifeboat crews lost while on duty, including the 15 Dun Laoghaire crew from 1895 will be presented to the station by Mr. Terence Johnson, Chairman of the Lifeboat management Group and will be on permanent display at the station.

"This event has become part of our local Christmas community tradition," said Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dun Laoghaire.  "Whether a descendant of the original lifeboat crew or simply looking for something alternative on Christmas Eve, everyone and their families are welcome to join us."

#SANTA – The arrival of Santa Claus to Mullaghmore Pier by Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat on Sunday afternoon was delayed due to a hoax distress call received to Malin Head Coast Guard.

As the four Bundoran Lifeboat crew were about to embark on their trip to Mullaghmore, they were diverted and tasked to an alleged incident in Donegal Town where, following a phone call to the Coast Guard at Malin Head, it was believed that four people were in an upturned boat near the quay in the town.

Santa afloat in an RNLI RIB

Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat sped to the scene. The Rescue 118 Helicopter was also tasked from its base in Strandhill as were the Killybegs Coast Guard. As the rescue services reached the scene the call was declared a hoax and they were stood down. Speaking about the incident, Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat Deputy Launching Authority Patrick O'Doherty commented 'it's sad in this day that people still get a kick out of making hoax calls to the rescue services – not one but three services were tasked on this occasion making them all unavailable should a real call for a real emergency have come in. The Gardai have been informed about this and will no doubt make their own enquiries.'

Following the incident the Bundoran Lifeboat crew carried on to their original destination of Mullaghmore Pier where they joined in the fun with Santa and the boys and girls of the area. Santa was then zipped into his lifejacket, boarded the lifeboat and was waved off from the pier by the assembled crowd. Just before he got on the lifeboat Santa said 'I'd like to thank the hardworking volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat. Their work to save lives at sea is to be applauded and I know that I will be in safe hands on Christmas Eve should there be an emergency with the sleigh as I fly over the area'.