Skerries RNLI Update

Seventeen callouts, 9 within a 4 week in August and up to 32 people rescued; a busy times for the RNLI Volunteer Crew in Skerries. The year started off slowly with very few callouts between January to July, but from mid July to mid September, the pagers were rarely silent. But the crew have not just been out on rescues, they’ve also been training regularly and helping to raise funds to keep their charity an active force in Skerries.

Some of this training took place in conjunction with yachts and sailing craft from Skerries Sailing Club , local diving clubs, and with the local team of the Irish Coastguards. Ronnie Horan and Stan Pyke, both involved with the RNLI in Skerries are responsible for organising the training with diving clubs and sailing craft locally insuring that the all crew members on the lifeboat are prepared for any incident that might happen in or on our waters locally.

The local Coastguard team regularly meet up with the Lifeboat crew and simulate different types of rescue situations. When both the RNLI and Coastguard services are called out to an incident together, it is usually indicates a high level of seriousness and all parties know how important it is that they work together as one seamless team. Each individual within these two team are extremely conscious that lives depend on their working well and knowing the strengths of each organisation and allowing each to get on and do what it does best. Training together brings with it a co-hesiveness between the RNLI and the Coastguard locally.

But its not all serious work with the volunteer lifeboat crew. They also got involved in a lot of charity events recently. A number of the crew had the very great pleasure of hearing a great band from St Brendans National School 5th class pupils put on a show that ROCKED! The band, known as “Rockshinny” covered many serious rock songs and did so in great style. Not only did they have everyone bopping and rocking, they also managed to raise a staggering €1100. Thanks all and especially to Mr Keary.

And then the crew got involved when local man, Lochlann Walsh and some of his friends, helped organise a fundraising Aquathlon in Skerries for the lifeboat station at the end of August. The weather on the day was like a perfect and 80 athletes took part. Many, but not all, the athletes were local but a very special duo took part. Father and daughter were holidaying with the rest of the family in Co. Down when they spotted the advert and decided to take part. Emily Legg swears she wasn’t trying to beat her ol’ Dads times……!! Sponsorship is still coming in and the final figure is expected to be in the region of €4,000. It’s hoped to make this an annual event so start training!!

Fundraising is vital for keeping the crew and lifeboat station in Skerries operational at all times. As a registered charity, the RNLI depends on fundraising and donations. The lifeboat crew in Skerries and every one of the 42 stations around the country are on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Events like Rockshinny and the Aquathlon, along with many others organised by friends of the RNLI, allow the charity to continue serving their local communities and anyone who uses the waters in and around Ireland.

While many of us don’t want to even think about it just yet! RNLI Christmas Cards will go on sale on Sunday morning 11 – 1pm, 25th October at the station on the Harbour Road. There’s a great selection of cards this year along with a selection of novelty knick knacks. A limited supply of the ever popular RNLI calendars will also be available. But don’t worry, no need to mark it in the diary just yet, reminder notices will go up around the town and in the Parish Bulletin.

So as the lifeboat crew wind down after a very busy summer season, their hard work and training won’t stop. They’ll be ready to put to sea for anyone who might need their help and assistance; they’ll keep on training to make sure that when they do need to put to sea, the lives of those they are attempting to rescue will have the best possible chances. But their job would be almost impossible without the continued support of their families and equally as important, all those people who donate and fundraise crucial €’s on their behalf.

Happy Halloween!! (and don’t be disappointed, purchase your RNLI Christmas Cards starting 25th Oct)!