#rnli – After 39 years of dedication to Howth RNLI, 27 years as lifeboat coxswain, Robert Duffy has retired. Thanks to his bravery and determination, he helped to save hundreds of lives at sea during his time as a volunteer crew member. Fred Connolly, a crew member of long standing will be taking over as Howth RNLI's new coxswain.

A native of Howth, when he was a child Robert used to scamper to the top of the pier with his friends to watch as the lifeboat was launched and sped out of Howth harbor to rescue mariners in distress. When he was old enough he joined his brothers George, Jim and Michael on the lifeboat crew. His skills and expertise as a seafarer were invaluable in his role as coxswain; he was looked up to and respected by all the crew.

"Robert was an extremely skilled coxswain and gave remarkable service to Howth Lifeboat for almost forty years. He deserves a long and healthy retirement from the lifeboat service," said Rupert Jeffares the Lifeboat Operations Manager with Howth RNLI.

Russell Rafter, Chairman Howth RNLI commented, 'On behalf of everyone at Howth RNLI I'd like to acknowledge the selfless dedication and personal sacrifices made by Robert Duffy during his time as a crew member with the lifeboat in Howth. Many people owe their lives to Robert. He will be sorely missed and we wish him and his wife Margaret all the best for the future.'

#rnli – Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat launched in winds gusting F8 last night, to assist nine people on board a 40–ft cruiser, suffering engine failure.

At 6.35pm on Saturday evening, May 10, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat to launch to assist a vessel reported adrift in severe weather conditions, close to Hare Island.

The lifeboat launched at 7.35pm with Helm Eleanor Hooker, Ger Egan and Lian Knight on board. Winds were south westerly, Force 7/8, gusting F8, visibility was moderate, with frequent line squalls. The RNLI lifeboat came alongside the cruiser at 6.50pm.

There were nine people on board the casualty vessel, all wearing lifejackets. Some of the group quite anxious given the weather conditions. They had travelled the length of the lake from Terryglass and suffered engine failure at Hare Island. All their mobile telephones were out of charge. A member of the public, who had observed their plight from the shore, alerted the emergency services.

Crew on the casualty vessel, which had been adrift for 45 minutes, had dropped anchor, but as it was not holding, had created a sea anchor with a large bucket on a line. This slowed the drift of the boat and prevented it from being pushed into the shallows, but, as they were lying side on to the weather, there was significant yaw and roll.

An RNLI crewmember boarded the vessel and checked for any other potential problems. None were found. Once a tow was set up, they weighed anchor and took in the sea drogue and the casualty vessel was towed to Garrykenndy Harbour. Conditions were worsening during the tow, but at 7.16pm the cruiser was tied safely alongside in Garrykennedy.

Once alongside, one of the people on board showed signs of severe sea sickness. The RNLI crew administered First Aid and when satisfied that he was responding well, left him in the care of his companions, one of whom was a medical doctor.

Lough Derg RNLI helm Eleanor Hooker said 'these are the conditions the RNLI volunteer crew train for'. She praised her fellow crew for their professionalism and efficiency under such extreme weather, saying 'we worked as a team to bring these people and their boat safely to shore'.

The Lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service again at 8.30pm.

#RNLI - The family of late musician Rory Gallagher have generously donated a replica Fender Stratocaster guitar, along with his original Oberheimer warm-up amplifier and stencilled flight case, to raise funds for Ballycotton RNLI.

The items will be auctioned later this month in aid of the Cork lifeboat station, whose lifeboat crew save lives at sea all year round.

The California-made Oberheim studio amp (serial 003), which was purchased by the guitarist in the mid 1970s, is extremely rare and remains in good working order.

These items will be offered for bidding as part of Whyte's Pop & Rock Memorabilia auction on Saturday 31 May from 4pm-6pm.

Viewing will be at Whyte’s galleries in Molesworth Street on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May from 10am-5pm and Saturday 31 May from 9am-noon. Whyte’s have generously agreed to waive their commission so that all proceeds will go to the RNLI.

Dónal Gallagher, brother of the late blues-rock musician, said: "Rory would visit Ballycotton, where he was inspired to write material. This part of the country was very special to him and our family is delighted to be able to do this for Ballycotton RNLI.

"The volunteer lifeboat crew based there launches their lifeboat in all weathers and to all types of emergencies, saving lives at sea and helping those in trouble. 

"I hope people who have a love of Rory’s music and are interested in the auction will take pleasure in knowing that in purchasing this incredible guitar and Rory’s own amp and flight case, that they are helping a great charity."

Speaking on Gallagher family’s kind donation to the charity, chair of the Ballycotton RNLI fundraising branch, Fiona Flynn, said: "We are extremely honoured by the Gallagher family’s kind donation... Rory Gallagher is one of the most respected and talented musicians ever to come out of Ireland and we are delighted that his family have chosen Ballycotton lifeboat station to benefit from this special auction."

Last year Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat launched 28 times and rescued 10 people. The majority of lifeboat crews are volunteers who undergo rigorous training to deal with every type of emergency at sea.

#RNLI - A fishing vessel that developed steering trouble in Belfast Lough was towed to safety by Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat Saxon, assisted by Bangor RNLI’s inshore lifeboat.

The Donaghadee lifeboat launched at 3.20pm yesterday (Friday 9 May) after a request from Belfast Coastguard.

At the scene, six miles north-east of Orlock Point, a secure tow-line was established to the stricken trawler, which had a crew of six.

The vessel was towed to Bangor Harbour where the crew of Bangor’s Atlantic class lifeboat Jessie Hillyard assisted, safely guiding the trawler to a berth at the Eisenhower Pier. The Donaghdee lifeboat stood down at 5.40pm.

Donaghadee RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager Alan Couser said: “This rescue was a fine example of swift action and good teamwork by two lifeboat crews. Another potential tragedy has been averted.”

Elsewhere, a 75-foot fishing boat St Claire was finally towed to safety in Cork Harbour by the Courtmacsherry lifeboat last night after a marathon 11-hour operation.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the vessel had got into difficulties earlier in the day some 35 miles off the West Cork coast.

Poor sea conditions with strong winds resulted in a slowed return journey to shore.

Courtmacsherry RNLI deputy launching authority Dermot O'Mahony said: "All aboard the trawler were mighty pleased to be in safe harbour tonight. 

"I would like to commend the volunteer lifeboat crew on their quick response for what has turned out to be a lengthy call-out."

The lifeboat crew on yesterday's call-out were coxswain Sean O 'arrell, mechanic Stewart Russell and crew Dara Gannon, Ken Cashman, Gary Barrett, Ciaran Hurley and Dave Philips.

#lifeboat – Courtmacsherry RNLI All Weather Lifeboat continues to tow a 75–foot fishing vessel that had got into difficulties earlier today 35 miles off Courtmacsherry in West Cork. It is now proceeding to take the trawler to the safefy of Cork Harbour. As the conditions at sea today are poor with strong winds, it will be 7.30 pm this evening before both vessels arrive at the mouth of the Harbour. Following the successful location of the stricken Trawler at 10 am this morning, both vessels are making slow pace in poor conditions. There are six crew on board the fishing vessel.

#RNLI - Red Bay RNLI was involved in the rescue Sunday afternoon (4 May) of a man who fell overboard from a boat near Cushendall in Co Antrim.

The man had fallen from the vessel near Waterfoot pier and was in the water for nearly 30 minutes. Members of the public raised the alarm.

A local fish farm boat located the man in the water and he was then moved to the lifeboat, where he was treated for hypothermia before been transferred to a waiting ambulance crew.

His condition is thought not to be life-threatening.

#sailathon – Had you been walking the East or West Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Saturday morning around 9pm you would have seen an INSC 1720 rigged as a committee boat make its way out into Dun Laoghaire Harbour's training area. This was to be the committee and mother ship for the Irish National Sailing Schools annual charity Sail-A-Thon, this year in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Approximately an hour later at 10am 75 young sailors aged from as young as 7years took to the waters of Dun Laoghaire Harbour and made their way up to the main harbour. Some INSS instructors took to the piers both East and West with collection buckets to show why so many young sailors were out on the waters of Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

To break up the day there were various games and races throughout the day as the strong easterly winds built up during the day. Our keen sailors took a short break for lunch as many needed to re-energise before heading back out for the afternoon stint.

To wrap up the day, members of the Dun Laoghaire lifeboat unit called in to allow the children to ask them questions and also to be presented with the cheque for the amount raised on the day. There was a BBQ in full swing with many parents of the children also coming down to meet the lifeboat crew.

The presented cheque was €1,855 for the day with many more sponsorship forms and money still to be collected.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's second call-out this bank holiday weekend – after Friday's early morning tow of a stricken yacht - saw two on board a 13m cruiser brought to safety early today (4 May) after their vessel suffered engine failure.

The station's all-weather lifeboat was launched at 6.44am and located the vessel a short time later, two miles east of Wicklow Harbour.

Volunteer crew member Terry Sillery went on board the motor cruiser to assist with establishing a towline.

Weather conditions in the area at the time were blowing a westerly force three wind and there was poor visibility.

The motor cruiser was on passage to Wales when it developed engine trouble. The owner put down an anchor so the vessel would not drift and contacted the Irish Coast Guard for assistance.

The stricken motor cruiser was towed into Wicklow Harbour and safety secured alongside the East Pier at 7.40am.

The crew on the call-out were coxswain Dave O'Leary, mechanic Tommy Murphy, Terry Sillery, Carol Flahive, Brian Sinnott, Connie O'Gara, John Vize and Alan Goucher.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI launched in the early hours of yesterday morning (Friday 2 May) to bring a yacht and its crew of three to safety.

The volunteer crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 2.57am in response to a call for assistance from an English yacht with three people on board some 23 miles north-east of Wicklow Harbour.

The alarm was raised after the skipper of a yacht contacted the coastguard to say he was unable to make any headway due to insufficient wind, and was having difficulties after the boat’s engine had failed.

The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Tommy McAulay and five volunteer crew members, located the vessel at 4.20am. A towline was passed and the casualty was towed into Wicklow Harbour, arriving safely at 6.55am.

Speaking following the call out, Wicklow RNLI lifeboat operations manager Des Davitt said: "Our volunteers are always on call and prepared to respond to any emergency at any time. 

"We were delighted to be of assistance at this early hour and were glad to be able to bring these three people and their yacht safely to shore."

The lifeboat crew on the call out were coxswain Tommy McAulay, mechanic Brendan Copeland and crew members John Vize, Tommy Murphy, Connie O Gara and Alan Goucher.

#lusitania – The Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Lusitania Centenary Committee is appealing to anyone or any organisation that may have Lusitania artefacts, stories and memorabilia or know of any family members of those lost or saved in the tragedy to get in contact.

Next Wednesday 7 May, marks the 99th anniversary since the sinking of the Lusitania and Courtmacsherry RNLI's lifeboat will be visiting her resting place to lay a wreath to remember those lost.

The RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner, launched in 1907 by the Cunard line, a holder of the Blue Riband and briefly the world's biggest ship. On 7 May 1915 on passage from New York, she was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat South of Courtmacsherry Bay, West Cork, Ireland with the tragic loss of over 1,200 lives.

Shortly after she was hit, Courtmacsherry RNLI's lifeboat, Ketzia Gwilt which was then stationed at Barry's Point under the command of Coxswain Timothy Keohane and his crew of 14 men, was requested to respond to reports of a large four funnel steamer in distress south east of the Seven Heads.
Courtmacsherry's lifeboat was launched, but in calm conditions without any wind, the sails were of no use so the entire distance of over 12 nautical miles to the casualty had to be rowed by the lifeboat crew.

Next year, to commemorate the centenary of the sinking, the crew of Courtmacsherry RNLI will perform a re-enactment of their call to service on that tragic day in 1915 and will row out to the site of the disaster in a restored original pulling and sailing lifeboat from 1900.

This commemoration event will be held during the May Bank holiday weekend and will be accompanied by a Lusitania exhibition in the lifeboat station and other related events at local venues.

Tadgh MacCarthy, Courtmacsherry RNLI second mechanic and committee member said: 'My ambition to join the lifeboat crew came at a very young age, shaped by the stories that my grandmother told me of watching the Lusitania sinking from the school yard in Butlerstown. As I grew older this enthusiasm also grew so eventually I followed in my grandfather and grand uncle's footsteps and joined the lifeboat crew to keep the tradition of providing help to those in need at sea.'

Dara Gannon from the Courtmacsherry Lifeboat Lusitania Centenary Committee added: 'The loss of the Lusitania is a huge part of Courtmacsherry history and it's not long since some retired lifeboat crew from that day in 1915 were around to recall it. Every Courtmacsherry crew member today holds admiration for all the hardy crewmen of long ago that responded in the attempts to rescue life that tragic day and hope that this centenary commemoration not only makes people think of the loss of life but also the gallant efforts made to save it.'

Anyone with information, questions or contributions are asked to email [email protected] or contact the station at +353 23 8846600. If you would like to learn more about Courtmacsherry RNLI Lifeboat's call to the sinking of the Lusitania, please visit our website at www.lusitaniacentenary.ie