Kilmore Quay RNLI Receive Over €10,000 in Donations from Christmas Fundraisers

Throughout the month of December, thirty-two hardy swimmers taking part in 20 Dips in December braved the cold water throughout the month to complete the twenty swims challenge. The challenge culminated in a final dip on New Year’s Eve at the Little Beach in Kilmore Quay attended by close to one hundred “dippers”. The participants raised €5,000 in aid of the RNLI.

Rathangan Vintage Club selected Kilmore Quay RNLI as their chosen charity for their Annual Light Up Run in memory of the late Michael Roche, a Kilmore Quay RNLI crewman until his untimely passing in 2025. The vehicle run lit up the roads around Kilmore Quay on Saturday 13 December, bringing Christmas cheer along the route on a dark winters evening. The Club donated €3,925 to the RNLI.

Kilmore SCOPE also selected Kilmore Quay RNLI as their chosen charity for Christmas fundraising events organised throughout December 2025 that included a raffle, a Christmas Memory Tree and a Christmas Social Evening at the AOH Hall in Bridgetown, also in memory of Michael raising €1519.60 in aid of the RNLI.

Speaking at the station today Michael’s father Declan, also a volunteer with Kilmore Quay RNLI, said: “We are extremely grateful as a family and as part of the RNLI for all the tremendous support we have received, and the incredible amount raised in aid of the RNLI.”

Coxswain Aidan Bates said: “We would not exist without the fantastic support of the fundraisers we have throughout the local community who run events throughout the year on our behalf, along with our own fundraising committee who do Trojan work on our behalf. Without this support we could not provide the service we do year-round. We are so lucky to have such a supportive community and very grateful for it.”

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard 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 146,700 lives.

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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.