Quigleys Marina

New RNLI Lifeboat on Lough Ree

An Atlantic 75 Class Lifeboat. Photo : RNLI

Author: Brian Corcoran, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer

After a long and exciting wait an RNLI Atlantic type inshore lifeboat was delivered on Thursday (1 March 2012) to Lough Ree Yacht club. The 7.5m long rigid inflatable boat (RIB) will be based at the yacht club initially and used for training purposes until the temporary station at Coosan is ready. The new lifeboat station, the 44th for the charity in Ireland, is expected to become operational in June.

Tristan Murphy, RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector, who is involved in setting up the new lifeboat station said:

‘This lifeboat will be a wonderful asset to the local communities around Lough Ree. It will increase awareness of safety on the water and will also promote more activity on the lake. Most importantly its primary function will be to save lives on the waters of Lough Ree.

‘I am so impressed with the amount of local support we are receiving and I have no doubt that this will be an exceptional search and rescue asset to the state.’

Damien Delaney has been appointed Lough Ree RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager and has already recruited 20 local men and women to train as volunteer crew for the service. These volunteer crew members will undergo extensive training both locally on Lough Ree and at the RNLI College at Poole in Dorset.

Dave McCabe, Chairman of Lough Ree RNLI welcomed the 20 volunteers to the inaugural training session at Lough Ree Yacht Club. The on-the-water training sessions will continue on Friday 2 and Sat 3 March.

Vincent Rafter, Fundraising Treasurer for Lough Ree RNLI lifeboat station, has organised the Annual RNLI Flag Day for Sat 10 March around Athlone, Longford, Mullingar and Roscommon. There will be in excess of 60 volunteers supporting the collection on the day.

Commenting on the collection, Lough Ree RNLI spokesperson Brian Corcoran added, ‘Once again we are asking the public for support for this great cause and this time we will have our own station to support. I want to thank the many people who continue to give generously to the lifeboats, we would not be where we are today without them.’

Categories: RNLI News

This piece is taken directly fom irishlifeboats.com

http://www.irishlifeboats.com/apps/blog/show/12939370-lough-ree-rnli-moves-a-step-closer-as-new-lifeboat-arrives-on-the-lake