Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew gathered at noon on Christmas Eve, with around 200 people, at the end of the East Pier to lay wreaths at sea and remember 15 of their lifeboat colleagues who lost their lives while on a rescue mission in Gale force conditions in 1895.
As Afloat reported previously, the ceremony was also held to remember all those who lost their lives through drowning around the coast, on inland waters, and abroad.
As the RNLI prepares to mark its 200th year in operation in 2024, the station marked the anniversary by placing wreaths in the sea from the all-weather lifeboat.
The annual ceremony has become a Christmas Eve tradition for the Dublin lifeboat station. Both Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s inshore and all-weather lifeboat launched and the volunteer lifeboat crew laid the wreaths off the east pier in view of the public.
Piper Ruairí Somers played a lament from the Lighthouse Battery, and musician William Byrne will perform the ‘Ballad of the Palme.’
On 24 December 1895, the 'Civil Service No. 1' Dun Laoghaire lifeboat was wrecked while proceeding to the assistance of the SS Palme of Finland. The entire crew, 15 in total, were drowned. The lifeboat capsized 600 yards from the distressed vessel, and although every effort was made to send help to the lifeboat and to the Palme, nothing could be done.
The second Dun Laoghaire lifeboat 'Hannah Pickard' also launched but it too capsized under sail, fortunately all crew returned safely. The Captain, his wife, his child and 17 crew were eventually rescued on the 26th of December by the SS Tearaght.
The short ceremony occurred under the lighthouse at the end of the East Pier. It includes an ecumenical blessing, a reading from a news article published at the time and music.
