Arranmore RNLI volunteer recognised for 25 years’ service to charity that saves

Nora who is a retired nurse and the station’s Lifeboat Press Officer, first got involved with the RNLI in 1995 when she became the first female crew member to join Arranmore RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat crew.

‘I remember my first call out well,’ Nora recalls. ‘We were involved in an all-night search for a fisherman who fell overboard a trawler and I remembering finding that challenging. The next day my pager went off again, this time for a medical evacuation. I was more confident on this call out when I was helping the injured person. It was then I realised and understood that there is a role for everybody who wants to join a lifeboat crew.’

It wasn’t just at sea that Nora became a hands-on volunteer. She also got involved with the local fundraising team and later became the station’s volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, a role she still holds.

‘This involves writing news releases and doing local radio interviews after call outs and keeping in touch with the local media about any activity that is going on at the station such as safety awareness and education, fundraising and events.’

One of the highlights over the years was a visit to the RNLI College in Poole, where Nora was asked to represent the RNLI in Ireland, for the launch of Volunteer Spirit, a lifeboat which was funded by selling badges.

‘That was a huge honour for me personally, but overall, I have had an exceptional 25 years with the RNLI and I love being part of an organisation that is one big family.’

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Nora could not be presented with her medal in person but said she was delighted to receive the recognition from the RNLI which came with a warm word of thanks from the charity for having achieved over 20 years of extraordinary service.

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For more information please contact Nuala McAloon, RNLI Ireland Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Ireland Media Manager on 087 1254 124 or [email protected]

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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