Galway RNLI Crew to Host Lifeboat Station Open Day This Weekend

23rd September 2024

Galway RNLI volunteer crew Mike Swan and Joanne Casserly putting up the poster for the lifeboat station open day Credit: RNLI/Aoife Morrissy

The volunteer crew based in the RNLI lifeboat station at the New Docks in Galway will open their doors this Saturday 28 September from noon to 4pm and everyone is welcome.

This will be the first open day at the lifeboat station since before the pandemic and takes place on the same day as the Galway Docklands Festival being organised by the Galway Hooker Sailing Club.

Mike Swan, lifeboat operations manager said: “This year is RNLI200 when we are celebrating the charity’s 200-year anniversary and Saturday’s open day will be the first since the pandemic which will make it a really special day.

“We are looking forward to welcoming people down to the station to have a look around, see the lifeboat up close and meet the crew.

“We will be launching the lifeboat at 1pm and 3pm and that always generates a lot of interest seeing the crew using a davit crane outside the station to lower the lifeboat in and out of the water.

“There will be an emphasis on search and rescue and how the agencies work together to keep our waterways safe for the people of Galway and visitors to our city and county. We will be joined by Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit, the Claddagh Watch Patrol, Galway Fire and Rescue Service and Civil Defence. We will also have RNLI water safety crew here with advice on how to have fun and stay safe in the water and on the beach.

“In addition we will have a display of the schools’ artwork throughout the station. This year’s art competition theme is ‘Celebrating 200 years of lifesaving work’ and we look forward to seeing all the entries from the primary school children in our area. We will have a pop-up shop, Stormy Stan will drop by to meet the kids and it wouldn’t be an RNLI open day without some competitive welly throwing.

“We will open the doors from 12pm to 4pm and we look forward to meeting people who support us to do the work we do and everyone who has an interest in and spends time on or by the water as a pastime or for work. The Galway Lifeboat Station is located in the New Docks, Galway Harbour at Eircode H91 X782. See you Saturday.”

Published in RNLI Lifeboats, Galway Harbour

Published in RNLI Lifeboats

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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

Which is Ireland's busiest lifeboat station?

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Do the RNLI get paid?

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

How many RNLI Lifeboat stations in Ireland?

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

How many lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions?

How many people are rescued by the RNLI?

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

What type of boats does the RNLI have?

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

How are lifeboats called out?

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

What is the relationship between the Irish Coast Guard and the RNLI in Ireland?

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

What is a coxswain?

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

What training do RNLI lifeboat crews get?

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

How can one support the RNLI?

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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