Kilmore Quay RNLI crew members Michelle Hinchy and Trevor Devereux took a rare day off from the pager yesterday for a special reason. The couple switched their lifejackets and yellow wellies for wedding day finery to marry in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

However, the day could not pass without a stop at the lifeboat station and some photos with Kilmore Quay’s Tamar class all-weather lifeboat, Killarney. Between them the bride and groom have over 50 years voluntary service with Kilmore Quay RNLI. Michelle, currently the station’s only female crew member, is also training to become a lifeboat navigator. Trevor is a qualified lifeboat Coxswain and mechanic, and alongside his volunteering duties, recently took up the role of Regional Resilience Coxswain Mechanic working at other lifeboat stations when needed.

Speaking following their wedding, Michelle said: ‘We had a wonderful day. The RNLI is a huge part of our lives, and it was odd not to be carrying a pager today but fantastic to celebrate with all our family, friends and especially our RNLI family, some that had travelled from far and wide to be here.’

Members of the station team were delighted to join the happy couple on their special day and the whole crew extend their best wishes to Trevor and Michelle for continued happiness in their life together.

John Grace, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: ‘Michelle and Trevor are very much a part of our RNLI family here in Kilmore Quay. All of us at the station send them our congratulations and wish them fair winds and following seas.’

Kilmore Quay RNLI responded to two separate requests from the Irish Coast Guard for assistance with pleasure craft in the vicinity of the Saltee Islands over the weekend.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard at 2.00 pm on Saturday to assist a rigid inflatable boat (R.I.B.) with five people on board that had lost steering. The lifeboat launched at 2:18 pm and made its way to the south side of the Great Saltee, where the crew of the R.I.B. had managed to tie on to a buoy and await assistance. All on board were safe and well. The lifeboat crew established a towline and brought the boat back to Kilmore Quay, arriving at 3.12 pm.

At 5.30 pm on Sunday evening, the crew responded to a request from the Irish Coast Guard to assist a lone sailor on an 8m yacht approximately six nautical miles southeast of Kilmore Quay. The yacht had experienced a navigation system failure. Arriving on the scene at 6.00 pm and after checking the person onboard was safe and well, a towline was established.

The yacht was brought back to Kilmore Quay harbour arriving at 7.25 pm.

The weather and sea conditions were good on both occasions.

Speaking following both callouts, Kilmore Quay RNLI Coxswain, Eugene Kehoe, said: ‘Even the best-maintained equipment can sometimes go wrong, so it is important always to be prepared for when it does happen as these people were. They did the right thing in calling for help when they did. I would urge anyone heading out to sea always carry a reliable means of communication, VHF, or a mobile phone in a waterproof case in case you need to call for help and always wear a lifejacket. If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’

Kilmore Quay RNLI last night came to the aid of an injured fisherman on board a fishing vessel 33 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney by the Irish Coast Guard at 10.23 pm to evacuate an injured person from a fishing vessel. The man was working on a 24-metre fishing trawler located 33 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay when he suffered a serious injury to his hand.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Eugene Kehoe and with six crew members onboard, immediately launched and made its way to the scene, arriving at 11.45 pm. Once on scene, the casualty was assessed and then taken onboard the lifeboat where he was attended to by RNLI first aiders on the return journey to Kilmore Quay. The lifeboat arrived back in the harbour at 1.17 am where an ambulance was waiting to take the casualty to hospital.

Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Coxswain, Eugen Kehoe said: ‘This was a good outcome, and thankfully, conditions were calm and favourable. We want to wish the injured man all the best and a speedy recovery. I would also like to commend our volunteer crew who, despite the late call and darkness of night, did not hesitate to respond.’

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call-out were Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Philip Walsh, Aidan Bates, Nigel Kehoe, Trevor Devereux, Sean Furlong, Robbie Connolly and Deputy Launching Authority Eddie Byrne.

Kilmore Quay RNLI launched in County Wexford this morning (1 May) to assist nine people onboard an angling charter boat that had fouled its prop east of the Saltee Islands.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard this morning. The lifeboat under Coxswain Eugene Kehoe and six crew members onboard, arrived on scene at 10:00 am. Having checked all onboard were safe and well, a towline was quickly established. The lifeboat was soon underway to Kilmore Quay, arriving back at the harbour at 10.43am. Weather and sea conditions were good at the time.

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call-out were Coxswain Eugene Kehoe, Philip Walsh, Aidan Bates, Nigel Kehoe, Adam Kelly, Michelle Hinchy, Dean Roche.

Kilmore Quay RNLI came to the aid of three people this morning (Monday, 12 September) after their becalmed yacht experienced engine failure 30 miles off the Wexford coast

The volunteer crew launched their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, following a request by the Irish Coast Guard shortly after 9:00 am. Weather conditions at the time were fair, with some fog, light winds and calm seas. The conditions prevented the crew of the 10.5m yacht from using sail power. The subsequent engine failure meant the yacht was becalmed and unable to move.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Philip Walsh with five crew members onboard, immediately launched and made its way to the scene 30 miles south of Kilmore Quay, arriving at 11:11 am.

The lifeboat crew checked that all onboard the yacht were safe and well before assessing the situation with the vessel. A decision was made to establish a towline and return to the nearest port, which was Kilmore Quay. The passage back to port with the vessel under tow took just over three and a half hours.

Arriving back in the harbour at 2:50 pm, the casualty vessel was secured alongside the marina, assisted by the Kilmore Quay unit of the Irish Coast Guard. The lifeboat returned to its berth and was made ready for service again by the crew.

Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Grace, said: ‘Even the best-maintained equipment can have unexpected problems, which is why it is so important to carry a means of communication when heading out to sea. If you find yourself in difficulty, or you see someone in trouble, on or near the water, call the Coast Guard on 112 or 999.’

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call out were Coxswain Philip Walsh, crew members Sam Nunn, Tom Lambert, Robbie Connolly, Michelle Hinchy and Jack Devereux.

This summer marks 175 years since a lifeboat service was first established in Kilmore Quay. The occasion will be celebrated with an exhibition curated by local author and historian, John Power, over the weekend August 26-28 in the Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay.

In 1846 the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI ) was asked by Inspector General Dombraine to provide a lifeboat for Kilmore Quay. The Institution sent a lifeboat on 28 July 1847. It was put under the care of the Coastguards stationed in Kilmore Quay at the time and so began 175 years of voluntary service to save lives at sea.

John Power is an authority on local maritime history and has published three volumes on the subject as well as the book Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, a tribute to local rescue services published in 1993. This will be John’s 12th exhibition.

Speaking about the upcoming exhibition, John Power said: ‘A lot of material has been collected for this Exhibition through photographs, artefacts, and models of some of the lifeboats that served at the station, including many of the rescues carried out over that period. Hon secretaries, coxswains, engineers and lifeboat crews, volunteers and fundraisers will be features and many more surprises'.

Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Grace added: ‘The RNLI lifeboat service is an integral part of Kilmore Quay, and we are thrilled with the exhibition that John has put together and incredibly grateful to him for all his effort. We hope everyone can come down and enjoy the story of how it all started through to today’s modern service and see the tremendous commitment of our volunteer crews through the years.’

The exhibition will open at 6:00 pm on Friday 26 August with the official launch taking place at 7:00 pm. The exhibition will be open on Saturday 27 August from 11 am to 5:30 pm and on Sunday 28 August from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is free.

Venue: Stella Maris Centre, Kilmore Quay
Admission: Free
Opening Times:
Friday 26 August 6 pm (Official Launch 7pm)
Saturday 27 August 11 am to 5:30 pm
Sunday 28 August 11 am to 6 pm

Kilmore Quay RNLI were called in the early hours of Saturday (13 August) to assist a lone sailor whose yacht had run aground just outside Kilmore Quay harbour, having also launched the previous afternoon to assist two people whose yacht experienced engine failure.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat Killarney by the Irish Coast Guard at 2:34am on Saturday morning in response to a ‘Pan Pan’ call received from a solo sailor whose 10m yacht had run aground in low water just outside Kilmore Quay harbour.

Under coxswain Eugene Kehoe with four crew members on board, the lifeboat immediately launched and made its way to the scene. Conditions at the time were calm and clear.

As the water was too shallow for the Killarney to come alongside, the lifeboat’s inflatable Y-boat was launched to make the final approach to the yacht and check that the crew member on board was safe and well.

With the tide rising, the decision was taken to wait on the tide to refloat the boat. At 3:13am the yacht was refloated and made its way back to Kilmore Quay harbour escorted by the lifeboat, arriving at 3:35am.

On Friday afternoon (August 12), the crew were requested to launch by the coastguard to assist two people aboard a yacht with engine failure.

The lifeboat immediately launched and made its way to the yacht which was anchored on the northeast side of the Great Saltee.

Arriving on scene 11 minutes later, the crew assessed the situation and decided to establish a towline.

Having retrieved the yacht’s anchor and with a towline secured, the lifeboat was soon underway back to Kilmore Quay, arriving back at the harbour 2:48pm.

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in both callouts were coxswain Eugene Kehoe, mechanic Philp Walsh, Aidan Bates, Michelle Hinchy, Dean Roche, Nigel Kehoe, Mark Power and Shane Devereux.

Kilmore Quay RNLI launched at 9 pm last night (Monday 18 July) to assist three young people on board a four-metre RIB that had suffered engine failure approximately one mile south of the Great Saltee Island.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard at 9 pm yesterday evening to assist a four-metre RIB with three young people on board that had experienced engine failure and were drifting on the tide. Weather conditions at the time were calm.

The lifeboat, under Coxswain Philip Walsh with six crew members onboard, immediately launched and made its way to the scene.

Arriving on scene, the crew checked everyone on board the RIB was safe and well before assessing the situation. It was decided to establish a towline and transfer those on board the RIB to the lifeboat.

With a towline secured and the crew of the RIB safely aboard, the lifeboat was soon underway back to Kilmore Quay, arriving back at the harbour at 10.07 pm

Speaking following the call out, Kilmore Quay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Grace, said: ‘Thankfully there was a positive outcome to this evening's call out., With such good weather more people are spending more time on the water making it the charity's busiest time of year. Even the best-maintained equipment can go wrong, so it is important to always be prepared for when it does happen. I would urge anyone heading out to sea to tell someone where you are going and when you will be back, carry a reliable means of communication, VHF or a mobile phone in a waterproof case in case you need to call for help and always wear a lifejacket’

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call-out were Coxswain Philip Walsh, Dean Roche, Sam Nunn, PJ Bates, Shane Devereux, Dan Tierney and Tom Lambert.

Kilmore Quay RNLI launched on Friday evening (22 April) to assist a yacht with an injured crew member 20 miles off the Wexford coast.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch their all-weather Tamar class lifeboat, Killarney, by the Irish Coast Guard at 4:00 pm to assist the crew of a 40-foot ketch that was approximately 20 nautical miles south of Kilmore Quay.

One of the two crew on board the ketch had sustained an injury to his shoulder. Conditions in the area at the time were overcast and squally, with a Force 5 north easterly wind. The sea state at the time was described as moderate.

The lifeboat under Coxswain Aidan Bates with four crew members on board immediately launched and made its way to the scene. Arriving on scene at 5:10 pm, the crew launched their Y-boat, transferring a crew member to the vessel to assess the situation. A decision was made to establish a towline and return the vessel and crew to the nearest port which was Kilmore Quay. At 5:22 pm with the towline secured the boats were underway.

The lifeboat crew member remained onboard the yacht for the passage back to Kilmore Quay, arriving safely back to the harbour at 8:00pm. The local Irish Coast Guard Unit provided assistance to the injured man.

The Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat crew involved in the call out were Coxswain Aidan Bates, mechanic Philip Walsh and crew members Trevor Devereux, Sean Furlong and Nigel Kehoe.

Eleven-year-old Tommy Kehoe was one of around 60 sea swimmers who completed a fundraising challenge on the Little Beach in Kilmore Quay on New Year’s Eve in aid of the Co Wexford village’s RNLI lifeboat.

Organised by local women Melinda Kehoe, Grainne O'Brien and Simmi Duffin, the 20 Dips in December challenge saw local swimmers take part in, not one but 20 sponsored swims in the sea during the month of December.

The weather and sea conditions throughout the month were a key consideration for the swimmers. Even though there were some days where conditions did not allow for a dip, there were enough favourable days to allow for the challenge to be completed safely by the hardy swimmers.

Among them was Melinda’s son Tommy, who even fitted in a dip in the mornings before school. And his efforts have been well rewarded as so far he has raised €1,140 for the local lifeboat. Donations can still be made on the event’s JustGiving page.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, fundraising in aid of Kilmore Quay lifeboat has taken place throughout the year as guidelines allowed.

Dedicated supporters of the RNLI in the area have organised walks, swims, cycles, vintage runs, online bingo, and head shaves among other activities, raising vital funds to maintain the charity's lifesaving services.

Speaking following the final swim on Friday, Kilmore Quay RNLI lifeboat operations manager John Grace said: “There is a fantastic community spirit here today. Tommy has raised an incredible sum of money for the RNLI, as have all the participants.

“We cannot thank everyone who took part and all who support Kilmore Quay RNLI throughout the year enough for all their efforts and generosity.”

Those taking part in the 20 Dips in December challenge swim regularly in the sea throughout the year. If you are considering doing so, please check out the safety tips on Swim Ireland’s website regarding winter swimming in Ireland or contact a local open-water swimming group.