Sail Training Ireland crew member reunited with lost toys at Clogherhead RNLI

Ten trainees onboard the Brian Ború visited Clogherhead RNLI station. To his surprise, crew member Ronan Collins was presented with toy diggers which he had lost at the age of six in Clogherhead. The toys had been found by the lifeboat crew and had been kept safely in storage at Clogherhead Lifeboat Station.

Clogherhead RNLI mechanic Padraig Rath knew Ronan’s grandfather Noel Keane and was a student of his in St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Drogheda.

Padraig said: ‘When Ronan was young he and his grandparents used to visit the lifeboat station here in Clogherhead. Ronan left his toys behind one day and I kept them in the lifeboat station for when he next came to visit. When Ronan came back last month and mentioned the toys I remembered him and was delighted to give him back the lost diggers. It was great to meet him again. On behalf of the volunteer crew here we wish Ronan all the best in his future voyage with Sail Training Ireland.’

Ronan’s mother Niamh Collins added: ‘I couldn’t believe Ronan’s diggers had been found after all of these years. The whole experience has been emotional for me as it has brought back wonderful memories of my late parents who used to spend a lot of time at Clogherhead with Ronan and his brother Niall.’

Ronan, who was the lucky recipient of a Drogheda Sail Training Bursary through Sail Training Ireland, has sailed on the Brian Ború and will progress to the class A tall ship Pelican of London where he will participate in the 10 day Erasmus+ Three Cities Voyage. He has also volunteered to become a Sail Training Ireland Buddy to assist young people with special needs.

ENDS

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,200 lives.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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