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Displaying items by tag: RNLI Lifeboats

The family of Ruth Maguire, who was drowned in Carlingford Lough last March, have raised £9,000 for Newcastle RNLI in her memory. Newcastle RNLI was involved in the search for Ruth along with other search and rescue agencies and recovered her from the lough after an extensive search. The lifeboat station was incredibly moved by the kind gesture from Ruth’s loved ones and have expressed their deep gratitude for the substantial donation.

Following the tragedy, Ruth’s family have carried out numerous fundraising events between Newcastle and Belfast. These included a sponsored walk of Slieve Donard and her brother-in-law completed the Belfast Marathon. A major fundraising night was also held in Byransford GAA club in Newcastle which was supported by people throughout the county.

Speaking during the handover of the cheque to Newcastle RNLI by members of the Maguire family including Ruth’s finance Jim, Newcastle Lifeboat Operations Manager Lisa Ramsden said, ‘We are completely overwhelmed by this donation. It was our sad duty to help bring Ruth home that day but the crew were honoured to be able to return her to her loved ones. Ruth was a local girl and we felt her loss, it was a difficult callout for the station and our hearts went out to her family and friends.’

‘We are astounded that in the weeks and months following her loss, that the family thought of others at this time and raised funds in her memory. It is a beautiful and fitting tribute to Ruth and we are extremely grateful for it. We will always remember Ruth and are proud that the funds raised in her memory will be spent here in Newcastle to help the work of the RNLI in saving lives.’

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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#JohnFKennedy – A 50 year-old former Dun Laoghaire Harbour RNLI lifeboat which gave sterling service for more than two decades saving many lives, remains operating albeit in private ownership as a charter excursion boat, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The ‘Waveney’ class RNLB John F Kennedy built in 1966 at Lowestoft, was based at the Irish station until decommissioned in 1989. It was not until 1996 that the 44ft long Motor Lifeboat (MLB) was sold for the first time into private ownership on the Tyne, however her latest career is based on the English Channel.

Family run boat business, Bay Charters, according to Ships Monthly, have acquired the former lifeboat to run operations out of Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne on the East Sussex coast. Named, Fortitude, the boat carries out charters for up to 12 passengers on fishing trips, diving to wreck sites and sightseeing excursions.

The Waveney class, Afloat adds are named after the River Waveney which flows into the North Sea at Great Yarmouth, however the origins are actually based from the design of the U.S. Coast Guard in which 110 were built.

The design drew considerable attention from overseas at the Ninth International Lifeboat Conference in Scotland in 1963. This led to the adoption of the class by the RNLI. Their first production-built Waveney class lifeboat was RNLB John F Kennedy, which was stationed at Dun Laoghaire from 1967.

In total, the RNLI had 22 such lifeboats in service in the UK and Ireland between 1964 until 1999.

The Waveney's were by the 1990's being superseded by faster boats, among them Dun Laoghaire’s current Trent class All Weather lifeboat (ALB) , RNLB Anna Livia, now in her 21st year of service. Also on station is a smaller D class inshore lifeboat craft (ILB) Realt Na Mara.

Many of the Waveney’s were sold for lifeboat services overseas notably in Australia and New Zealand. To read more on the RNLI, particularly the work of the Dun Laoghaire station, click here.

In 2015, the RNLI had the honour of bringing the first ‘Shannon’ class lifeboat home to Ireland. It was the first all-weather lifeboat class to be named in recognition of the contribution and bravery of the RNLI’s Irish volunteers, who have been saving lives in Ireland since 1826.

Last year the RNLI carried out 1,098 launches bringing 1,244 people to safety.

This year's Heritage Week (20-28 August) includes a one-day maritime lecture's seminar organised by the Maritime Institute of Ireland. The lectures will take place in Dún Laoghaire Club, Eblana Avenue, Dún Laoghaire (12.30 to 6pm) on Sunday 28th August.
In addition to the lectures there will be an exhibition of Model Boats, by Garry Mooney, secretary of the Irish Model Boat Club, throughout the day.

Below is listing of the lecture programme and times.

12.30 – 1.30 pm. Neutral Ireland's Role in the Sinking of the Bismark, May, 1941. By Dr. Michael Kennedy, Executive Editor, Documents on Irish Foreign Policy, Royal Irish Academy.

1.30 – 2.30 pm. Traditional Boats of Ireland. - Wooden workboats from all the Maritime Counties of Ireland. By Darina Tully, Lecturer and Maritime Archaeologist.

2.30 – 3.30 pm. Too Many Bags in the Lifeboat. A Lifeboat Tragedy at Bray 1876. By James Scannell, Lecturer and P.R.O of the Old Dublin Society.

3.30 – 4.00pm. Model Boats, A short talk to accompany the exhibition. By Garry Mooney secretary of the Irish Model Boat Club.

4.00 – 5.00 pm. Maritime Guinness, The Ships, Yachts and Barges of the Guinness Dynasty. By Dr. Edward Bourke, Diver, Maritime Historian and Author of "Guinness, the Family, the Business and the Black Stuff"

5.00 – 6.00 pm. Ireland's Armada Heritage. The Story of the Spanish Armada of 1588.The discoveries of the wrecks on the Irish Coast and the recovery of artifacts. By Cormac Lowth, Lecturer, Author and Diver.

For further information contact Barney Yourell Mob: 087 900 7466 No seminar charge – donations accepted

Information in general on the Maritime Institute of Ireland can be found on www.mariner.ie and for all the other events held during the National Heritage Week go to www.heritageweek.ie/

Published in Boating Fixtures

The Kilmore Quay Seafood Festival starts this evening, now in its 42nd year, the four-day festival is surrounded by the culinary delights of locally caught fresh seafood, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In addition festival-goers can take part in the varied programme which caters for all age-groups. At 7.30pm tonight is the opening Grand Festival Parade featuring a 'Visitors From the Deep' float and Wexford's Community Samba Band 'Bloco de Fud Este'.

The festival will include a Seafood Platter Prize Competition, a children's creative art-workshop making 'Fish Kite-Windsocks', a Friday Fish Market with reduced prices and chefs cooking culinary dishes for sample-tastings and a Beach Band Barbecue.

On both the Saturday and Sunday there is the Tuskar Marine Modellors with their model boats and ships exhibition held in the Stella Maris Centre
and the Quay Times exhibition. Also throughout the weekend the Festival Arts Exhibition will be open in the RNLI Lifeboat House, noting Kilmore Quay is the first Irish lifeboat station to have the new Tamar-class lifeboat, the RNLB Killarney which can be viewed at its moorings.

On Saturday starting at 2.30pm is the "The Celtic Link Challenge" - Yacht Race when boats leave the marina at 3pm and return two hours later. The winners trophy will be presented in the Bird Rock Cafe at 6pm. If adverse weather conditions prevail the race will be re-scheduled for 2.30pm on the Sunday - weather permitting! For more information contact 086 2576862 and www.kilmorequayboatclub.com

To view the complete list of the festival programme, noting certain events and activities require an admission charge click HERE

Published in Maritime Festivals

Royal Irish Yacht Club - Frequently Asked Questions

The Royal Irish Yacht Club is situated in a central location in Dun Laoghaire Harbour with excellent access and visiting sailors can be sure of a special welcome. The clubhouse is located in the prime middle ground of the harbour in front of the town marina and it is Dun Laoghaire's oldest yacht club. 

What's a brief history of the Royal Irish Yacht Club?

The yacht club was founded in 1831, with the Marquess of Anglesey, who commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo being its first Commodore. 

John Skipton Mulvany designed the clubhouse, which still retains a number of original architectural features since being opened in 1851.

It was granted an ensign by the Admiralty of a white ensign with the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of Ireland beneath the Union Jack in canton.

Many prominent names feature among the past members of the Club. The first Duke of Wellington was elected in 1833, followed by other illustrious men including the eccentric Admiral Sir Charles Napier, Sir Dominic Corrigan the distinguished physician, Sir Thomas Lipton, novelist, George A. Birmingham, yachtsman and author, Conor O'Brien, and famous naval historian and author, Patrick O Brian. 

In the club's constitution, it was unique among yacht clubs in that it required yacht owners to provide the club's commodore with information about the coast and any deep-sea fisheries they encountered on all of their voyages.

In 1846, the club was granted permission to use the Royal prefix by Queen Victoria. The club built a new clubhouse in 1851. Despite the Republic of Ireland breaking away from the United Kingdom, the Royal Irish Yacht Club elected to retain its Royal title.

In 1848, a yachting trophy called "Her Majesty's Plate" was established by Queen Victoria to be contested at Kingstown where the Royal Irish Yacht Club is based. The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland at the time, George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon suggested it should be contested by the Royal Irish Yacht Club and the Royal St. George Yacht Club in an annual regatta, a suggestion that was approved by both clubs with the Royal St. George hosting the first competitive regatta.

The RIYC celebrated its 185th Anniversary in 2016 with the staging of several special events in addition to being well represented afloat, both nationally and internationally. It was the year the club was also awarded Irish Yacht Club of the Year as Afloat's W M Nixon details here.

The building is now a listed structure and retains to this day all its original architectural features combined with state of the art facilities for sailors both ashore and afloat.

What is the Royal Irish Yacht Club's emblem?

The Club's emblem shows a harp with the figure of Nice, the Greek winged goddess of victory, surmounted by a crown. This emblem has remained unchanged since the foundation of the Club; a symbol of continuity and respect for the history and tradition of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

What is the Royal Irish Yacht Club's ensign?

The RIYC's original white ensign was granted by Royal Warrant in 1831. Though the Royal Irish Yacht Club later changed the ensign to remove the St George's Cross and replace the Union Jack with the tricolour of the Republic of Ireland, the original ensign may still be used by British members of the Royal Irish Yacht Club

Who is the Commodore of the Royal Irish Yacht Club?

The current Commodore is Jerry Dowling, and the Vice-Commodore is Tim Carpenter.

The RIYC Flag Officers are: 

What reciprocal club arrangements does the Royal Irish Yacht Club have?  

As one of Ireland's leading club's, the Royal Irish Yacht Club has significant reciprocal arrangements with yacht clubs across Ireland and the UK, Europe, USA and Canada and the rest of the World. If you are visiting from another Club, please have with a letter of introduction from your Club or introduce yourself to the Club Secretary or to a member of management staff, who will show you the Club's facilities.

What car parking does the Royal Irish Yacht Club have at its Dun Laoghaire clubhouse?

The RIYC has car parking outside of its clubhouse for the use of its members. Paid public car parking is available next door to the club at the marina car park. There is also paid parking on offer within the harbour area at the Coatl Harbour (a 5-minute walk) and at an underground car park adjacent to the Royal St. George Yacht Club (a 3-minute walk). Look for parking signs. Clamping is in operation in the harbour area.

What facilities does the Royal Irish Yacht Clubhouse offer? 

The Royal Irish Yacht Club offers a relaxed, warm and welcoming atmosphere in one of the best situated and appointed clubhouses in these islands. Its prestige in yachting circles is high and its annual regatta remains one of the most attractive events in the sailing calendar. It offers both casual and formal dining with an extensive wine list and full bar facilities. The Club caters for parties, informal events, educational seminars, themed dinners and all occasions. The RIYC has a number of venues within the Club each of which provides a different ambience to match particular needs.

What are the Royal Irish Yacht Club's Boathouse facilities?

The RIYC boathouse team run the launch service to the club's swinging moorings, provide lifting for dry-sailed boats, lift and scrub boats, as well as maintaining the fabric of the deck, pontoon infrastructure, and swinging moorings. They also maintain the club crane, the only such mobile crane of the Dun Laoghaire Yacht Clubs.

What facilities are offered for junior sailing at the Royal Irish Yacht Club?

One of the missions of the Royal Irish Yacht Club is to promote sailing as a passion for life by encouraging children and young adults to learn how to sail through its summer courses and class-specific training throughout the year. 

RIYC has an active junior section. Its summer sailing courses are very popular and the club regularly has over 50 children attending courses in any week. The aim is for those children to develop lifelong friendships through sailing with other children in the club, and across the other clubs in the bay.
 
Many RIYC children go on to compete for the club at regional and national championships and some have gone on to represent Ireland at international competitions and the Olympic Regatta itself.
 
In supporting its young sailors and the wider sailing community, the RIYC regularly hosts junior sailing events including national and regional championships in classes such as the Optmist, Feva and 29er.
 
Competition is not everything though and as the club website states:  "Many of our junior sailors have gone on the become sailing instructors and enjoy teaching both in Ireland and abroad.  Ultimately, we take most pleasure from the number of junior sailors who become adult sailors and enjoy a lifetime of sailing with the club". 

At A Glance – Royal Irish Yacht Regatta 2023 Dates

  • RS Feva East Coast Championships - 6th May to 7th May 2023
  • Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta - 6th-9th July 2023
  • Cape 31 Irish National Championships
  • RIYC Junior Regatta
  • J Cup Ireland 2023 - August 26th/27th 2023
  • Annual Pursuit Race

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