The Duke of Kent, Prince Edward, accompanied by the British Ambassador Domnick Chilcott, visited the Youghal RNLI station today ( Friday 3rd May 2013). The Duke was welcomed to the Youghal RNLI by Fergus Hopkins, Youghal RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager and Tadgh Kellegher, Chairman of Youghal RNLI. The Duke was then given a tour of the station where he chatted with members of the crew, station personnel and the fundraising committee. The Duke who holds the title of President of the RNLI also visited lifeboat stations in Helvick, An Rinn, Tramore and Dunmore East in Co Waterford. This was the second time the Duke of Kent paid a visit to the Youghal. He last visited the station back in 1998.

Click on the video below – Audio courtesy of Community Radio Youghal CRY 104fm

The RNLI in Cork is counting down to Mayday, the charity’s national fundraising campaign, which recognises Irish volunteer lifeboat crews around the country and raises funds to help them continue their work saving lives at sea.

Now in its second year and running nationwide, from Wednesday the 1st May to Bank Holiday Monday the 6th of May, the RNLI is asking the public to give it some welly and help the charity in their work.

The Mayday appeal is calling on people to lend their support by either purchasing a special RNLI Mayday yellow welly key ring which will be on sale for €2 at various outlets across the country during the campaign or by organising their own welly-themed fundraising event.

The yellow welly is a well known and essential piece of the RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew member’s kit. Waterproof with steel-capped toes, the specially designed boots keep the volunteer crew’s feet warm and dry while also protecting them in dangerous conditions on deck. During gale force winds, rain and ice, keeping a sure footing can mean the difference between life and death for volunteers. Recognising the importance of this piece of kit the charity has made the crewmember’s welly a key part of the MAYDAY campaign.

Events currently scheduled that will raise funds for RNLI MAYDAY in Cork include the Skibereen Flag Day on Friday, the Mayday Swim from Sherkin Island to Baltimore, the Heineken Kinsale Rugby 7s and the Courtmacsherry Step Back in Time exhibition, which is being held over the May bank holiday weekend and includes a visit from President Higgins on the Sunday. All this activity is being supported with the sale of the RNLI yellow welly key-rings in Cork city at Mahon Point and other venues as well as surrounding towns.

Helping the RNLI launch MAYDAY was Ireland AM’s Sinéad Desmond, who was joined by Youghal RNLI volunteer crewmember Erick Brooks. Sinead commented, “I know from covering rescue and search operations how tirelessly the members of the RNLI work, and how utterly dedicated they are to a job that they do voluntarily. They are incredibly brave women and men and I respect them enormously. And as someone who lives by the coast and spends a lot of my time on and in the sea, knowing that they are there if I ever need them is very reassuring. But it is only thanks to the support of the public that they can continue to offer their specialised skills. I’d really urge everyone in Ireland to support MAYDAY, to buy a welly or hold a welly fundraiser. We have a great love of the sea in Ireland and so many of us use it for recreational purposes or for work, and when we are out there the RNLI keep us safe, if that isn’t worth putting your hand in your pocket for I don’t know what is! Get your wellies on!”

Also lending his support is Cork fisherman Kieran Sullivan, who was rescued by Castletownbere RNLI when his vessel Celtic Dawn was taking on water and he ended up in the sea clinging on to the side of a liferaft. Kieran said, “I remember starting to panic when I was in the water and I thought I was in big trouble. I couldn’t keep my head up out of the water for much longer and I was losing my grip on the rope keeping me afloat. It was then I saw the lifeboat coming into view and I knew I would be okay. I thought I was on my own but in a few minutes I was pulled onboard and was safe. As a fisherman I can’t praise the RNLI enough, they are just a call away and I feel safer knowing they are there. I would urge people to support their MAYDAY appeal.”

The RNLI MAYDAY appeal is proudly supported by John West who themselves have a long seagoing tradition. Since 1857 the company has had their own fleet of fishing boats. John West Chief Executive Brendan Murphy added, “The lifeboat crew counts 1,500 members in Ireland, men and women. These volunteers commit all this effort and time for free. Whenever their pagers go, they have to abandon their family or work and just go. At John West we know first-hand the reality of the power of the sea, and we fully appreciate and support the work that the RNLI do in saving lives everyday throughout Ireland.”

The public can also join in the social media campaign and help the RNLI raise awareness of its lifesaving work this Mayday. The charity has invited them to take a photo holding an RNLI Mayday yellow welly key ring and tweet the phrase ‘I am giving it some welly for the RNLI this Mayday’ including #RNLIMAYDAY and mentioning @RNLI. They will be joined by some well known faces who have all agreed to tweet their welly including Dermot O’Leary, Rachel Allen and Sinead Desmond and others.

People looking for more information on how to get involved or where they can purchase a key ring, they log on to rnli.org/mayday

Youghal RNLI 2012 stats – called out on emergency 17 times with over 56 hours at sea and rescued 20 people.

RNLI lifeboats in Ireland brought over 1,000 people to safety last year

Irish lifeboats from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) launched 939 times in 2012 bringing 1,041 people to safety. The figures are being released by the charity following returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The figures also show that the majority of callouts were to pleasure craft, which accounted for 482 of the callouts, while launches to fishing vessels were 115.

 

Dun Laoghaire RNLI brought the highest number of people to safety with 76 individuals rescued by their volunteer lifeboat crews during 46 callouts. They were followed by Kilmore Quay RNLI in county Wexford, who brought 71 people to safety on 29 callouts.

 

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station in Ireland last year was Bangor in county Down, which launched 53 times and rescued 53 people. Over half of their callouts were carried out in the hours of darkness.

 

Other busy stations include Crosshaven RNLI in Cork where lifeboat crews launched their inshore lifeboat 42 times and rescued 31 people. Baltimore RNLI – who, along with Kilmore Quay RNLI, operate Ireland’s two Tamar class lifeboats, the most technologically advanced lifeboat in the Irish fleet – launched their two lifeboats 41 times, rescuing 41 people. They also carried out almost three quarters of their callouts in the hours of darkness. The second Dublin all weather lifeboat station based in Howth, launched 40 times and rescued 48 people.

 

The RNLI’s newest lifeboat station at Coosan Point, Athlone on Lough Ree, which is currently on a one year trial from last June, had a busy first six months launching 14 times and bringing 18 people to safety.

 

The charity’s lifeboat crews also had 122 callouts to people classed as ?ashore?. This figure incorporates launches to people who are ill or injured on an island, cliff or the shoreline, where access by lifeboat is the fastest or safest way to reach the casualty. It also includes medical evacuations from the islands off the coast of Ireland by lifeboat, which is a vital part of the service given by lifeboat stations such as Arranmore Island in county Donegal and the Aran Islands off county Galway.

 

In comparison with the 2011 statistics, 2012 saw a slight drop in lifeboat launches from 983 to 939 but a rise in people rescued from 906 to 1,041, an increase of 135 in the twelve month period.

 

RNLI Operations Manager for Ireland, Martyn Smith, says: ‘The figures show that our volunteers dedicate a huge amount of their time to saving lives at sea. To know that they are on call every day of the year is reassuring for all of us who venture out to sea and on loughs around Ireland.

 

‘While many callouts can be challenging, our volunteer lifeboat crews take the responsibility of bringing loved ones home very seriously. As the figures show, last year they were able to do that for 1,041 people. Not every callout is to save a life but the comfort and reassurance our volunteer crews bring to those in trouble is something the RNLI is very proud of and will continue to provide through the generosity of the public. I would like to say a huge “thank you” to all those who support the RNLI, whether by giving up their time or by making a donation.’

 

Key RNLI figures in 2012

 

On average 20 people a week were rescued by RNLI lifeboat crew in Ireland
Altogether Irish lifeboat crews spent over ten thousand hours at sea on callouts.
51% of lifeboat launches were to power, sail and manual pleasure craft
14% of lifeboat launches were to commercial craft (fishing boats and other commercial vessels)
200 of the lifeboat launches were to boats with mechanical failure
73 callouts were to stranded or grounded vessels

ARDMORE 16TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM 2012

AT ARDMORE BEACH 25TH DEC 2012 AT 12 NOON.

CHANGING FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON THE DAY

FOLLOWED WITH REFRESHMENTS AFTERWARDS.

SPONSORSHIP CARDS AVAILABLE FROM CATHERINE FITZGERALD (087-1218320)

 

The Youghal Lifeboat has a lovely range of Christmas cards for sale again this year. They are available from Muckley’s Jewellers, Crowley’s Petrol Station, Centra and Denis Broderick. The Lifeboat Souvenir shop will be open on Saturday the 1st Of December from 12 until 1.

Please support us and help us save lives at sea.

Well known chef and author Rachel Allen launches the Cork RNLI Lifeboats Charity Reindeer Run

The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, has joined forces with well known chef and author Rachel Allen to launch the RNLI Reindeer Run. Cork has seven RNLI lifeboat stations located at Ballycotton, Youghal, Crosshaven, Courtmachsherry Harbour, Kinsale, Baltimore and Castletownbere. Together, they launched 154 times last year and brought 153 people to safety.

The Cork RNLI Reindeer Run will take place at Fota House and Gardens outside Cobh on Sunday 25 November. All abilities and ages are catered for with participants choosing from a 5km or 10km walk/run or a shorter Santa Saunter. To get into the Christmas spirit all participants are given a pair of novelty antlers to wear and an RNLI Reindeer Run t-shirt. Rookie the Reindeer Run mascot will also be on hand throughout the day to join in the fun.

Rachel Allen has joined lifeboat volunteers to call on runners and walkers of all ages to join in the fun and sign up for the Reindeer Runs. Rachel is a long standing supporter of the RNLI and is familiar with the life-saving work of the charity, living close to Ballycotton lifeboat station.

Speaking at the launch for the RNLI Reindeer Run Rachel said, “I and my family watch as the volunteers launch their all-weather lifeboat on exercise every Wednesday evening. When we see it launch at any other time, we know the callout is for real. We are so lucky to have a service like the RNLI which relies completely on the generosity of the public and voluntary contributions. The Reindeer Runs are a great way for the whole family to have fun while helping the charity to save lives at sea’.

Eileen Kearney, RNLI Community Fundraising Manager is encouraging entrants to register early as places are limited and likely to fill up fast. ‘This is the second RNLI Reindeer Run in Cork and the third one to take place in Dublin. They have become hugely popular and are now a major event on the charity’s Christmas calendar. Irish lifeboats are busy all year round but some of their most challenging callouts occur over the Winter months. While others will be enjoying the Christmas festivities with their loved ones, we know that somewhere RNLI lifeboats will be launched to help save lives at sea’.

Entrants for the Cork Run are asked to register online at rnli.org/reindeer. The closing date is Friday 23 November. The registration cost is €9 for the Santa Saunter, €20 for 5km and €22 for 10km. All children under the age of five are free. There will also be prizes for the best fancy dress.

Crew member Denise Goggin spend 24 hours recently in a life raft at sea in Crosshaven to raise funds for the Youghal RNLI.  Denise is pictured below presenting the cheque for €95 to the fundraising committee at the station.

Denise’s dad John Goggin retired last year as senior helmsman from the Youghal lifeboat crew after seventeen and half years of voluntary service.

 

Date: 20 October 2012
Location: 1 miles north east of Ballycotton lighthouse, East Cork
Incident: Capsized sailing dingy
A pan pan message was sent out and the Ballycotton lifeboat crew pagers were activated. The alert was for a capsized sailing dingy 1 mile north east of Ballycotton lighthouse with one person on board. The lifeboat crew assembled at the lifeboat station and the Ballycotton lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, was launched.

The lone sailor was located within minutes sitting on the hull of the upturned 14 foot dingy. He was wearing a dry suit which helped to keep him warm while he waited for help to arrive. He was taken on board the Ballycotton lifeboat. Attempts were made to right the dingy but these were unsuccessful. It was decided to take the dingy under tow into a more sheltered position in Ballycotton bay.

The Ballycotton lifeboat boarding boat joined the all weather lifeboat and a further attempt was made to right the sailing dingy, which was successful. The dingy was bailed out and towed into Ballycotton harbour where it was placed on moorings.

Pan-pan Meaning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-pan

Youghal RNLI received their new life jackets on Monday the 15th of October. They were able to put them to good use on the following Thursday when they received two call outs. We would like to thank everyone who helped us raise the much needed funds for the life jackets especially the Youghal community and surrounding areas and the Youghal Credit Union.

Related posts:

http://www.youghalonline.com/2012/03/30/youghal-rnli-lifejacket-fundraiser/

http://www.youghalonline.com/2012/06/29/east-cork-youthreach-cheque-presentation-to-the-youghal-rnli-lifejacket-appeal/

http://www.youghalonline.com/2012/03/21/youghal-rnli-lifejacket-appeal/

http://www.youghalonline.com/2010/03/15/jds-golf-society-fundraiser-in-aid-of-youghal-rnli/

http://www.youghalonline.com/tag/the-youghal-rnli-lifeboat/

 

THE YOUGHAL RNLI were called out on Thursday 18th of October at 10.55 am to a report of an 8ft fibre glass punt that was drifting out at Youghal harbour entrance with no persons on board. The Youghal Lifeboat under the helm of Brendan O’ Driscoll with crew members Patsy O’ Manony and Mike Brooks located the punt and proceeded to tow the punt back to the Youghal quay side.

The Lifeboat was requested again that evening at 6pm to a report of a 16ft Canoe that was observed drifting up the river Blackwater near the broads of Clashmore. The Youghal Lifeboat Patricia Jennings, under the helm of Erik Brooks with crew members Patsy O’ Mahony and Joe Moore located the Canoe, and with the help of Youghal Coast Guard managed to establish that the Canoe was owned by a local man and therefore a search for a casualty was not required.

The Lifeboat towed the Canoe to Coolbar in Clashmore where they handed it over to the Youghal Coast Guard. The weather at the time was flat calm.