#rnli – The RNLI is issuing its own call for help, appealing for volunteers to help with 'Mayday' – the charity's forthcoming national fundraising event in Ireland – which will be taking place from 1–5 May this year.

The charity is calling on people to show their support by volunteering to help with street collections and a range of other fundraising events, which will be taking place across Ireland during the five days.

The charity is asking if people can give just a couple of hours of their time – maybe to get involved with a street collection or to help run an event.
Events will have a 'welly' theme, in a nod to the iconic yellow wellies – an essential piece of kit – worn by the charity's volunteer lifeboat crew members. Welly walks and 'Wear your wellies to work' are just two examples.

Last year, RNLI lifeboat crews from Ireland's 44 lifeboat stations launched 1,087 times, rescuing 1,278 people. They are on-call 24/7, every day of the year, ready to respond to emergencies at sea.

Emma Gibson, RNLI Community Fundraising Area Manager, says:

'The RNLI's dedicated volunteer lifeboat crews around Ireland are always ready to respond to the Mayday calls of those in distress at sea. We're now hoping people will respond to our call for help, by volunteering a bit of their time to help run some of the great events we have planned for the five days spanning the Mayday bank holiday weekend.

'Mayday is the RNLI's national fundraising event for Ireland. Last year we raised over €114,000 and we're hoping we can exceed that this year, with people's help. We're encouraging anyone who can spare some time to help us to get in touch. We have some fun events planned, so hopefully people will enjoy themselves while also doing their bit to support this lifesaving charity.'

All money raised through Mayday fundraising events in Ireland will support the RNLI's work in Ireland – it will be used to fund crew training, buy new crew kit, or contribute towards the running costs of a lifeboat station.

Stan Bradbury, Lough Ree RNLI crew member, pictured, said: 'Thanks to the money raised through campaigns such as Mayday, the RNLI's volunteer crew can continue to train so we are highly skilled and efficient to carry out our lifesaving work. There are many ways to get involved with Mayday and no matter how small, your generosity will help'.

Anyone interested in getting involved can see what is going on in their area and sign up to volunteer at www.rnli.org/Mayday or call 01 895 1837.

#RNLI - Courtown RNLI's lifeboat was launched on Saturday evening (1 March) to reports of a dump truck submerged off Ardamine Beach in the Wexford town.

The driver of the 25-tonne dump truck had managed to get out of the cab and onto the bonnet before the tide completely submerged it. 

He was rescued from the top of the vehicle by the lifeboat crew of Glen Deacon, Áine Stafford and James Mahon and taken back to the lifeboat station.

The truck was later recovered from the sea at the next low water.

#RNLI - Bangor RNLI received a request from Belfast Coastguard yesterday evening (1 March) to launch their lifeboat and assist four people onboard a 23ft rigid inflatable boat, or RIB, that experienced engine failure north of Ballyholme Bay on the southern shores of Belfast Lough.

Within minutes of their rescue pagers being activated, the crew had assembled and had launched their inshore lifeboat, which proceeded at full speed towards the stricken vessel.

Upon arrival, the crew found that the four on board the RIB, who were experienced mariners, had followed procedure and made the correct decision to call for assistance at the first sign of trouble.

Calm on scene, weather conditions allowed for a tow line to be quickly rigged, and the vessel was then taken under tow to the safety of Bangor Marina.

Following the rescue, RNLI volunteer helmsman Iain Dobie took the opportunity to underline an important safety message.

"We always urge everyone going afloat to make sure their engine and fuel systems and are well maintained and in good working order," he said. "Engine failure close to shore and commercial shipping routes could lead to a life threatening situation."

Dobie added: "We're happy that everyone is now safely ashore."

#WaterSafety - The RNLI will host four free Surfers Survival Clinics next weekend, Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March, on the East Strand in Portrush.

The clinics, which are run by the charity’s lifeguards, are open to surfing enthusiasts of all abilities and are aimed at developing both knowledge and skills in surf safety.

The RNLI programme, which is now being run for the third year in Northern Ireland, will show surfers how to develop their rescue techniques, learn basic first aid and surf etiquette and learn them how to help themselves and others if they get into trouble in the surf.

More people are taking to the sea every year for enjoyment and the Causeway Coast is a popular area for water sports including surfing and body boarding. The clinics have proved popular with surfers who use them as a chance to brush up on their knowledge and skills and pass on their experiences to others.

There are 10 seasonal RNLI lifeguarded units in Northern Ireland, each equipped with lifeguards ready to respond in the event of an emergency. RNLI lifeguards aim to reach any casualty up to 300m from shore within the red and yellow flags within three and a half minutes. Lifeguards are also on hand to provide advice and assistance to all water users.

Last year, Northern Ireland experienced one of its hottest summers for years and this was reflected in a busy season for the lifeguards located across the Causeway Coast in Co Down.

In all, RNLI lifeguards responded to 302 incidents compared to 159 in 2012 and came to the aid of 330 people who found themselves in difficulty, which is an increase of 153 from the year before.

The Causeway Coast, where there are seven units, was the busiest area, with lifeguards responding to 222 incidents and assisting 247 people.

Speaking ahead of next weekend’s clinics, RNLI lifeguard supervisor Tim Doran said: “Surfers of all abilities will benefit from the Surfers Survival Clinic. Amateur surfers will get the chance to learn safety skills, duck diving and surf etiquette which should help them minimise any injuries should they get into trouble.

“The more experienced surfer will be shown rescue and first aid demonstrations so that they can continue developing their skills in the surf.”

Spaces are limited for each session so advance booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Anyone who wishes to take part in the RNLI’s Surfers Survival Clinic should be aged 18. To book a space or for more information contact Tim on +44 (0) 77 899 25998.

#dancingRNLI – Despite its battering at the hands of the winter storms Baltimore's maritime community made the best of things by producing an upbeat video to show how resilient the little village is.Filmed on 16th February 2014 hours after storms had ravaged West Cork - this coastal community turned out to dance. Look out for a cast of familiar faces, including a dancing RNLI Lifeboat crew. 

#RNLI - One hundred years ago, nine volunteer lifeboat crew from Fethard RNLI lost their lives as lifeboat crews rescued 10 people after Norwegian vessel, the Mexico, struck rocks off the Wexford coast.

Hundreds of people gathered to attend events in Wexford this weekend to mark the centenary of the Fethard lifeboat tragedy.

At Fethard Quay, four RNLI lifeboats from Fethard, Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay gathered, and their lifeboat crews lay wreaths in the sea from the lifeboat stations, relatives of the lifeboat men who were lost and of those who survived, along with wreaths from relatives of the crew of the Mexico who had travelled from Norway for the anniversary.

#RNLI - Portrush RNLI volunteer Karl O’Neill is becoming one of the RNLI's all-rounders, for as well as being helm for the Portrush inshore lifeboat and senior RNLI lifeguard, he is now a part of the lifesaving charity's Flood Rescue Team (FRT).

The FRT is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deploy to flooding events in the UK, Ireland and abroad for search and rescue (SAR) operations.

The team comprises RNLI members from across the network who have been specially trained for the risks involved when working in or around fast moving flood water. The team are all either serving volunteer lifeboat crew or operational RNLI staff who volunteer to be part of the team.

As part of his training, O'Neill had to go to Loch Etive, near Oban in Scotland, for a period of four days' intensive training. The training exercises are designed to ensure that the team are fully prepared for dangerous and unpredictable flood waters, which differ greatly from the sea environment.

These exercises allow the volunteers to practise their skills in fast-flowing water, simulating the conditions they could face in a real life situation.

"It was a great experience to be trained for this type of emergency and has equipped me to respond in an emergency when the call comes," said O'Neill on his return to station.

"The training I had already received from the RNLI had given me a good foundation already, but the flood water training was very different to being in the open sea."

Lifeboat operations manager Robin Cardwell added that "the team at Portrush are very proud of Karl in terms of this training. He will be a great asset to any of the FR Teams when called to respond."

Karl O'Neill's family has a long association with Portrush Lifeboat Station, as his grandfather was a mechanic and cox, his uncle Anthony Chambers is the present mechanic and RNLI Bronze Medal awardee, and his cousin Jason Chambers is also on crew.

In other Portrush news, O'Neill and his inshore lifeboat crew got their first service of 2014 last Sunday (16 February) just after their usual training session, when they were called to the assistance of two surfers who got into difficulties off Portstewart Strand.

The weather was unusually mild for a Sunday in February and perfect conditions for surfing. However, the surfers were caught in strong currents and were swept out to sea.

The Inshore lifeboat quickly located the first surfer and got him on board. They then found the other surfer and, after getting him on board, transported both surfers back to the beach.

"It was a beautiful day for surfing on the North Coast but it goes to show that everyone needs to be mindful about sea safety," said Cardwell.

#RNLI - Wicklow RNLI's all-weather lifeboat launched shortly before 4pm yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 19 February) to assist a fishing vessel in difficulties off Wicklow Head.

The skipper of the fishing vessel contacted the Irish Coast Guard for assistance after his vessel developed engine failure in a position east of Wicklow Head.

The lifeboat, under the command of coxswain Dave O'Leary, located the fishing vessel twenty-five minutes after launching.

Weather conditions in the area were described as wind direction south easterly, force six to seven with a three metre swell.

A towline was quickly established, but progress with the tow was slow returning back to Wicklow due to wind and tidal conditions.

The fishing vessel with three crew was finally secured safely alongside the Packet pier at Wicklow Harbour at 7.45pm.

Lifeboat crew on the callout were coxswain Dave O'Leary, mechanic Brenda Copeland, Carol Flahive, Brian Sinnott, Tommy Murphy and John Vize.

#rnli – On the 20 February 1914 fourteen volunteer lifeboat crew with Fethard RNLI set out to rescue the crew of the Norwegian Schooner the Mexico, which had lost its bearings in terrible weather and had been driven onto rocks at Keeragh Island off Fethard-on-Sea in Wexford. Of the fourteen lifeboat crew that set off in the Helen Blake lifeboat only five were to survive. What followed was a three day rescue attempt involving lifeboats from Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East and Rosslare Fort along with a local tug boat. Members of the local community watched the unfolding drama from the shore and waited three days until the surviving ten men were brought safely home.

This weekend, a hundred years later, members of the RNLI in Fethard and Rosslare have planned a weekend of events to commemorate the loss of the nine lifeboat crew and to acknowledge the incredible rescue efforts by the volunteer crews from four lifeboat stations who rescued ten people.

The culmination of these events will be a gathering of lifeboats from Fethard, Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay in Fethard Bay at 10.30am on Saturday 22 February for a wreath laying service at Keeragh Islands, followed by a memorial service at the lifeboat monument in Fethard-On-Sea at 2.30pm.

Other activity planned over the weekend includes a lecture from local historian Liam Ryan in St. Mary's Hall, Fethard and a special concert by Wexford Sinfonia with new music composed by Liam Bates to mark the event and held in Wexford County Hall this Saturday at 8pm. A wreath laying service will also be held at the monument at Rosslare Burrow, Rosslare Strand on Sunday 23 February at 3pm.

On the afternoon of 20 February 1914 when the Fethard lifeboat launched to go to the aid of the Mexico, a huge wave struck the lifeboat and filled it with water. More waves followed and the lifeboat was dashed against the rocks and smashed to pieces. Nine lifeboat crew were drowned and the remaining five made it onto the Keeragh island and assisted the eight crew of the Mexico in leaving their wreck, which had struck the island. Here they remained together for three days enduring numerous rescue attempts by neighbouring lifeboats and a local tug in terrible storms.

On the Monday two of the survivors were rescued by the Dunmore East lifeboat and ten by the Rosslare Fort lifeboat and the tug boat, Wexford. A crewmember from the Mexico succumbed to his injuries and died on the island.

The Fethard lifeboat crew who lost their lives were the Coxswain, Christopher Bird, Michael Handrick, Patrick Stafford, William Bird, Thomas Handrick, Patrick Roche, Patrick Cullen, James Morrissey and William Banville. Richard Bird survived but died two years later from injuries he had received.

Today four of the volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI are descendants of the Fethard lifeboat crew from 1914. They are sisters Emily (22) and Nuala Carroll (20) whose great great grandfather was Patrick Cullen; Michael Roche (23) who is the great great grandson of Patrick Roche and lifeboat helm Eoin Bird (36) whose great great uncle was the Coxswain, Christopher Bird and whose grand uncle was Richard Bird.

Eoin, Michael and Emily will be the lifeboat crew onboard the Fethard RNLI inshore lifeboat on Saturday 22 February and will travel the short distance out to the Keeragh Island along with Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboats to lay wreaths where the lifeboat crew lost their lives a hundred years ago.

Commenting on the anniversary and the plans to commemorate the tragedy Fethard RNLI lifeboat helm Eoin Bird said, "The story of the Mexico tragedy would not be that well known outside the local community but there are many relatives of the men that lost their lives still living here and who have been brought up on stories of the Mexico and who are very proud of their ancestors.

It is hard for us to imagine what they must have gone through at that time. Today our lifeboat crews have state of the art equipment and kit. Those lifeboat men rowed out to the island with their only thought being to save the lives of that crew. I am very proud to be a descendent and to be a lifeboat man today.'

Rosslare lifeboat man Fergus Wickham, a retired RNLI Coxswain and grandson of Edward Wickham, Second Coxswain on the Rosslare Fort lifeboat during that time and great nephew of Coxswain James Wickham, is also proud of the lifeboat crew who carried on and rescued the survivors, "It must have extremely difficult for them both mentally and physically. On the one hand they knew nine of their fellow lifeboat crew had drowned but they also knew they had to save the remaining men on the island who had no shelter or sustenance. They put aside their thoughts for the men who had lost their lives and heroically battled through terrible conditions to carry out an incredible rescue.'

*The laying of wreaths at Keeragh Island by the four RNLI lifeboats from Fethard, Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay is dependent on weather conditions on the day and operational duty.

Ends

Notes for Editor
Photographs from the time of the lifeboat crew and survivors are available.

Photographs from the event in Fethard will be available taken by Patrick Browne

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 087 6483547 [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.ie News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org/press

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations with 43 in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of the Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 137,000 lives. The RNLI is a charity registered in England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland and registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736)

Niamh Stephenson

RNLI Public Relations Manager – Ireland

Telephone: 00 353 1 8900 460 (w) / 00 353 87 1254 124 (m)

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18 February 2014

RNLI to mark centenary of Fethard lifeboat tragedy where nine volunteer lifeboat crew lost their lives and Wexford lifeboat crews rescued ten people

On the 20 February 1914 fourteen volunteer lifeboat crew with Fethard RNLI set out to rescue the crew of the Norwegian Schooner the Mexico , which had lost its bearings in terrible weather and had been driven onto rocks at Keeragh Island off Fethard-on-Sea in Wexford. Of the fourteen lifeboat crew that set off in the Helen Blake lifeboat only five were to survive. What followed was a three day rescue attempt involving lifeboats from Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East and Rosslare Fort along with a local tug boat. Members of the local community watched the unfolding drama from the shore and waited three days until the surviving ten men were brought safely home.

A hundred years later members of the RNLI in Fethard and Rosslare have planned a weekend of events to commemorate the loss of the nine lifeboat crew and to acknowledge the incredible rescue efforts by the volunteer crews from four lifeboat stations who rescued ten people.

The culmination of these events will be a gathering of lifeboats from Fethard, Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay in Fethard Bay at 10.30am on Saturday 22 February for a wreath laying service at Keeragh Islands, followed by a memorial service at the lifeboat monument in Fethard-On-Sea at 2.30pm.

Other activity planned over the weekend includes a lecture from local historian Liam Ryan in St. Mary's Hall, Fethard and a special concert by Wexford Sinfonia with new music composed by Liam Bates to mark the event and held in Wexford County Hall this Saturday at 8pm. A wreath laying service will also be held at the monument at Rosslare Burrow, Rosslare Strand on Sunday 23 February at 3pm.

On the afternoon of 20 February 1914 when the Fethard lifeboat launched to go to the aid of the Mexico , a huge wave struck the lifeboat and filled it with water. More waves followed and the lifeboat was dashed against the rocks and smashed to pieces. Nine lifeboat crew were drowned and the remaining five made it onto the Keeragh island and assisted the eight crew of the Mexico in leaving their wreck, which had struck the island. Here they remained together for three days enduring numerous rescue attempts by neighbouring lifeboats and a local tug in terrible storms.

On the Monday two of the survivors were rescued by the Dunmore East lifeboat and ten by the Rosslare Fort lifeboat and the tug boat, Wexford . A crewmember from the Mexico succumbed to his injuries and died on the island.

The Fethard lifeboat crew who lost their lives were the Coxswain, Christopher Bird, Michael Handrick, Patrick Stafford, William Bird, Thomas Handrick, Patrick Roche, Patrick Cullen, James Morrissey and William Banville. Richard Bird survived but died two years later from injuries he had received.

Today four of the volunteer lifeboat crew at Fethard RNLI are descendants of the Fethard lifeboat crew from 1914. They are sisters Emily (22) and Nuala Carroll (20) whose great great grandfather was Patrick Cullen; Michael Roche (23) who is the great great grandson of Patrick Roche and lifeboat helm Eoin Bird (36) whose great great uncle was the Coxswain, Christopher Bird and whose grand uncle was Richard Bird.

Eoin, Michael and Emily will be the lifeboat crew onboard the Fethard RNLI inshore lifeboat on Saturday 22 February and will travel the short distance out to the Keeragh Island along with Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboats to lay wreaths where the lifeboat crew lost their lives a hundred years ago.

Commenting on the anniversary and the plans to commemorate the tragedy Fethard RNLI lifeboat helm Eoin Bird said, "The story of the Mexico tragedy would not be that well known outside the local community but there are many relatives of the men that lost their lives still living here and who have been brought up on stories of the Mexico and who are very proud of their ancestors.

It is hard for us to imagine what they must have gone through at that time. Today our lifeboat crews have state of the art equipment and kit. Those lifeboat men rowed out to the island with their only thought being to save the lives of that crew. I am very proud to be a descendent and to be a lifeboat man today.'

Rosslare lifeboat man Fergus Wickham, a retired RNLI Coxswain and grandson of Edward Wickham, Second Coxswain on the Rosslare Fort lifeboat during that time and great nephew of Coxswain James Wickham, is also proud of the lifeboat crew who carried on and rescued the survivors, "It must have extremely difficult for them both mentally and physically. On the one hand they knew nine of their fellow lifeboat crew had drowned but they also knew they had to save the remaining men on the island who had no shelter or sustenance. They put aside their thoughts for the men who had lost their lives and heroically battled through terrible conditions to carry out an incredible rescue.'

*The laying of wreaths at Keeragh Island by the four RNLI lifeboats from Fethard, Rosslare, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay is dependent on weather conditions on the day and operational duty.

#brainhacker – Celebrity 'Brainhacker' Keith Barry shows his support for the RNLI at the recent angling exhibition (L-R) George Duffy (Howth RNLI), John McKenna (Lifeboat Sea Safety Officer, Howth RNLI), Keith Barry and Alan Gielty (Achill Island RNLI) pictured at the RNLI stand at the Ireland Angling 2014 exhibition in Dublin (15 Feb 2014). Over 300 people visited the stand to get advice about staying safe at sea and how to properly maintain their lifejackets.

Out of the 18 lifejackets brought to the Lifejacket Clinic, 14 had out-of-date triggers or salt tablets and one had been fired.