Cork City Mayor visits Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station on their 150th anniversary. For 150 years men and women of Ballycotton, a small fishing village in East Cork, have been ready to drop what they are doing to answer the shout for help from someone in trouble at sea. They are the crew, past and present, of the Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat.

As an acknowledgement of this outstanding commitment the Lord Mayor of Cork City, Cllr. Brian Bermingham, visited Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat station to meet the Coxswain, Ian Sheridan, and some of the volunteer lifeboat crew. They were welcomed on arrival by Lifeboat Operations Manager, John Tattan and Ballycotton lifeboat press officer, Bláthnaid Lane Walsh.

Mr. Tattan, in his welcoming speech, spoke of the tradition and the commitment of lifeboat crewmembers, some of the current crew having been with the station for up to 30 years. He explained to those present how technology has played a big part in the development of the lifeboat fleet over the last 150 years. The Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat Austin Lidbury is a 14 metre, Trent Class lifeboat, that covers the area from Cork Head, heading east to Mine Head and up to 250 miles off-shore, with a top speed of 25 knots. The visitors were given a guided tour of the station before sitting for a photograph with the lifeboat crew.

Mr. Tattan thanked Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress Bermingham for their visit before they departed the station.

This visit precedes a ceremony on Sunday afternoon on Ballycotton pier where the RNLI will present a special vellum to the Ballycotton lifeboat station celebrating their 150th anniversary of saving lives at sea.

* Ballycotton Lifeboat was founded in 1858. To date, the crew of Ballycotton Lifeboat Station have been awarded seventeen medals by the RNLI, 2 gold, 7 silver and 8 bronze.

* The station has a €2 million, Trent Class lifeboat, Austin Lidbury. This is a 14 metre, all weather lifeboat, with a top speed of 25 knots

* To learn more go to www.ballycottonlifeboat.org

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Bláthnaid Lane Walsh, Lifeboat Press Officer, Ballycotton RNLI station, on 087 4151475 or ballycottonrnli14@eircom.net or Niamh Stephenson, Media Relations Manager Ireland on 087 1254124 or nstephenson@rnli.org.uk

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.ie/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.
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