Dublin’s Tom Clarke bridge was lifted for an RNLI lifeboat on Monday morning – but it wasn’t in response to a tasking.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour lifeboat steamed up the Liffey and berthed on North Wall Quay to mark the publication of two special edition stamps issued by An Post.
The stamps designed by Dave Mooney were “launched” at An Post’s new headquarters, the Exo building on the Docklands as part of a number of events held in Dublin and London to mark two centuries of the RNLI.
Attending the Dublin event was RNLI Head of Region, Ireland, Anna Classon, and An Post chief executive officer David McRedmond, while a number of Irish representatives travelled to a special service of thanksgiving in Westminster Abbey.
Lough Derg helm and writer Eleanor Hooker was invited to read her poem “Float to Live” at the Westminster Abbey service. Also present were colleagues from the Lough Ree station, including lifeboat operations manager Kevin Ganly, treasurer Vincent Rafter and station visits officer Paul Kelly.
RNLI Lough Derg helm Eleanor Hooker reading her poem, “Float to Live” at Westminster Abbey during a special service of thanksgiving to mark the RNLI bicentenary
Meanwhile, Lough Ree’s volunteer helm Liam Sheringham was in Dublin. The stamps issued by An Post depict an Atlantic 85 lifeboat, similar to the “Tara Scougall” based at his station.
At Westminster (L-R) Vincent Rafter, Mark Dowie, CEO RNLI, Kevin Ganly, Paul Kelly
The first RNLI lifeboat station was established in Arklow, Co. Wicklow in 1826, and there are 46 stations on the island of Ireland. Lough Ree RNLI is one of four which are on inland waters.
To mark the bicentenary Irish Rail facilitated the lighting up of the White Bridge in Athlone in yellow over the weekend.
Further events are planned in the course of the year, according to the RNLI, including a special “One Moment, One Crew’” occasion on August 1st and the arrival of a commemorative scroll which will visit selected lifeboat stations.
Athlone Town Bridge lit up to commemorate the bicentenary of the RNLI. The first RNLI lifeboat station was established in Arklow, Co. Wicklow in 1826
An Post’s new stamps are the latest in a series on maritime themes. In April 2021, it issued a set of four stamps celebrating eight Irish participants in Antarctic expeditions of the 1800s and early 1900s, including Kerryman Tom Crean.
A set of stamps to commemorate the Commissioners of Irish Lights was issued by An Post in October 2016.
