#RNLI - Lough Ree RNLI is celebrating its first year in service and is holding an open day on Saturday 31 August for the public to come and see how the station operates.
The volunteer crew at the station will be on hand to meet and greet people as well as put on a display to show how the inshore lifeboat is launched, some of the exercises it carries out and how it is then recovered.
Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat station in Co Westmeath went into operation on a trial period in July last year and since then has been a busy station, with 14 call-outs in its first six months of operation and a further 24 shouts to date in 2013.
The call-outs have been varied from helping boats that have got into difficulty in rough weather, to helping vessels which have got lost while on the lake day and night, to a boat sinking rapidly after hitting hidden debris in the water.
All RNLI lifeboat stations are run on a volunteer basis and it is through the time and dedication shown by their volunteer crew members that they are able to provide communities, including Lough Ree's, with such a vital search and rescue service.
All at Lough Ree RNLI are looking forward to meeting visitors at the station in Coosan Point on Saturday 31 August between 2pm and 4pm.