Christmas Eve 1895

lifeboat crew

commemoration

The crew at Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboat station will hold its traditional ceremony to remember the 15 volunteers that died on service in 1895 on Christmas Eve and for all lives lost at sea in the past year.

A short ceremony will be held at the lighthouse end of the East Pier at mid-day on Christmas Eve that will include music, an ecumenical blessing, a contemporary newspaper account of the 1895 tragedy and a piped lament.  Both RNLI lifeboats stationed at Dun Laoghaire will launch and the crews will lay wreaths at sea.

The ceremony is an annual Christmas Eve tradition that remembers the lives of the 15 volunteer crew that died when their lifeboat capsized in gale force winds while attempting to rescue those on board the SS Palme that had run aground off Blackrock, Co. Dublin.  All lives lost at sea in 2011 will also be included in the ceremony.

A special replica of the monument erected at the RNLI head-quarters in Poole, Dorset to remember all lifeboat crews lost while on duty, including the 15 Dun Laoghaire crew from 1895 will be presented to the station by Mr. Terence Johnson, Chairman of the Lifeboat management Group and will be on permanent display at the station.

“This event has become part of our local Christmas community tradition,” said Stephen Wynne, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Dun Laoghaire.  “Whether a descendant of the original lifeboat crew or simply looking for something alternative on Christmas Eve, everyone and their families are welcome to join us.”

New propellers fitted to Anna Livia

RNLI technicians from the Divisional Base were in Dun Laoghaire today to fit brand new propellers to our All-Weather lifeboat (ALB) 'Anna Livia'.  The new five-bladed propellers are designed to boost the Trent class maximum speed and improve overall performance.  An initial sea-trial this afternoon resulted in a top speed of 26.5 knots though all RNLI lifeboats are restricted to 2000 RPM (around 21 knots) unless on call as a fuel conservation measure.

Pat & Kathy Kenny name Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s new ILB

Dun Laoghaire RNLI’s new D-class lifeboat was officially named Réalt na Mara during a ceremony on the East Pier in Dun Laoghaire on Saturday, 30th April 2011.  The lifeboat was delivered into the care of the RNLI by Mr Pat Kenny and named by Mrs Kathy Kenny.  The well known couple have been long-standing supporters of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI lifeboats.

The €35,000 inshore lifeboat has been largely funded through a contribution made locally.

Stephen Wynne, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager accepted the lifeboat into the care of the lifeboat station during the ceremony and said; “The naming of our lifeboat is a very special occasion for the station.  It is our way of thanking the public for their generous support and how the funds raised are used.  We are very proud to be the custodians of a brand new lifeboat and we will honour the trust and investment that has been placed in us. Our new vessel will carry our volunteer lifeboat crew out to sea to save lives and bring those in trouble safely home.”

The D class lifeboat is part of the RNLI’s inshore fleet.  It measures five metres in length and can carry three crewmembers onboard.  It is a fast, light weight inflatable that is small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescue close to shore.  It can also be righted by the lifeboat crew in the event of a capsize

Réalt na Mara will be on service along with the Dun Laoghaire All Weather lifeboat Trent class lifeboat Anna Livia.  Last year Dun Laoghaire lifeboat launched fifty times and brought sixty people to safety.

The RNLI is a charity which relies on voluntary contributions and legacies.

The 22-foot open powerboat hit the submerged rocks two hours after low-tide and the collision caused damage to the engine. The crew contacted the Irish Coastguard who alerted the RNLI at Dun Laoghaire and the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched within ten minutes.

The incident occurred around 5pm when the Flying 15 dinghy became swamped by the choppy conditions in the area known as Scotman's Bay between Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove. A sea-angling boat, the Brandon Lisa and a local rigid inflatable (RIB) went to the assistance of the casualty.