The RNLI is launching its Christmas fundraising appeal, as its volunteer lifeboat crews, including those at Wicklow and Arklow lifeboat stations, selflessly prepare to spend their Christmas on call. Among those on call this year at Wicklow RNLI are three lifeboat crew who have just become, or are about to become, new fathers.
Lifeboat volunteers Mark Kavanagh and Cian Kelly have both welcomed baby girls in the last few weeks with their partners, Aine and Nicola, while Adam Byrne and his partner Chloe are due a baby boy in early January. All three lifeboat volunteers will be on call in case the lifeboat is needed during the festive season, with their partners fully supportive of them needing to rush off if the lifeboat launches.
Mark, who works in Ashford studio on film and TV projects, is the longest serving volunteer of the three crew, with twenty years at the charity. He joined up the minute he reached seventeen and never looked back. Born and living locally, Mark’s uncle was lifeboat crew, and the family had a little fishing boat. He is a Helm on the station’s D-class lifeboat and also crew on the All-Weather Shannon. Baby Saoirse arrived on the 20th of November and is Mark and Aine’s first child.
Speaking on why he still loves volunteering for the lifeboats, Mark said, ‘My life has changed a lot over the last few years and welcoming a new baby with Aine brings it all home. The RNLI is a community organisation, and generations of families have benefited from it. I’m going to be on call over Christmas, as I want to be there for other families that may need us. I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my loved ones, and this Christmas is a bit more special with Saoirse here.’
Cian Kelly and his partner Nicola recently welcomed baby Lainey to the family. Cian has been on the crew for about eighteen months and is training on both lifeboats. An electrician by trade, Cian will also be on call over the Christmas.
Commenting on his volunteering on the lifeboats, Cian said, ‘I grew up with tales of the old Wicklow Coxswain Ruben Dover, and my own father ran the Greystones Coast Guard Unit for many years. Living where we do, you can’t help but be aware of the sea and the possibility that someone might need our help if they get into trouble out there. I’m on paternity leave at the moment so I’m around if the pager goes off and I’ll respond, along with my colleagues. It’s a great group of people and if Lainey wants to be a lifeboat volunteer when she grows up, I’d be a very proud dad.’
Adam Byrne is an expectant father, with partner Chloe due on the 12th of January. They know they are expecting a boy, and he will join his brother Ben. This will be his second Christmas wearing a lifeboat pager but along with the rest of Wicklow RNLI, he will be on call, unless Chloe goes into labour early and needs him. Along with his colleagues, Adam is on both lifeboats. He wasn’t from the area but moved to Wicklow from Dublin. A sustainability engineer, Adam works from home, which means he can make lifeboat shouts during the day.
Speaking of his love of being a lifeboat volunteer, Adam said, ‘I always wanted to join the lifeboats but where we lived in Dublin, we were too far away from the stations. I was thrilled when we moved to Wicklow, and I could actually do it. The skills you learn and the training we all get, before the lifeboat even launches, gives you huge confidence. I wanted to give something back to the place I now call home and will raise my family in, and this is the perfect way to do that. We are so grateful for the support we get from everyone, which lets us continue to save lives at sea.’
On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period* every year, with 119 launches in 2024. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.
