Christmas on call for Kilmore Quay RNLI family of lifeboat volunteers

As the search and rescue charity launches a Christmas fundraising appeal, the RNLI is highlighting the volunteers who will be on call over Christmas to save lives on the water. One family have four members involved in the lifesaving work of the lifeboats, with three of them on call over Christmas and one helping raise funds for the service provided by the charity.

The RNLI has launched its Christmas lifeboat appeal at RNLI.org/Xmas, as the charity asks for help to continue its lifesaving search and rescue work on the water. With over a thousand lifeboat volunteers around Ireland, over the past five years, RNLI lifeboats have launched 55 times in Ireland during the festive period, bringing 44 people to safety.

The Roche family are well known in the Kilmore Quay area of Wexford and between them volunteer in different ways for the RNLI. Through saving lives at sea, sharing water safety advice or raising funds for the lifeboat station, they each give dedicated service to the charity that saves lives at sea. Declan Roche has been on the lifeboat crew since he was 18 years of age and out with his father on his fishing boat. His son Michael has now followed him onto the crew, along with his nephew Dean, who has also passed out as a lifeboat mechanic. Joining them in their volunteering is Dean’s wife Aoife, who is a member of the local fundraising branch. Lifeboats truly is a family affair for the Roches.

The sea is in the Roche family’s blood with Declan’s grandfather being involved in the Light Ships and then Lighthouses. Both he and his nephew fished with Declan’s father. To have both son and nephew alongside him on the lifeboat crew is something he is very proud of, and the group often go out on the same callouts if they turn up together when the pagers go off. Declan also volunteers as a water safety officer and is one of the charity’s GAA ambassadors, delivering talks to clubs and other organisations and groups, on how to stay safe on the water.

Speaking about why he volunteers for the lifeboat charity, Declan said, ‘I’ve been involved in a lot of rescues during my time on the lifeboat crew and you never know when you might need help. There have been huge changes in the kit we use and in how training is carried out, but there is still the lifeboat crew that go out in all weathers to save a life. That doesn’t change. When I joined Kilmore Quay RNLI, I had a fishing background but lifeboat crew come from all backgrounds and some have no professional maritime experience when they join. The training is rigorous and you get what you put in. We trust them because we train them, and we know that everyone of us is there to save lives.’

‘With our work in water safety, getting to people before they get into trouble, you can see that people are more open and engaged to listen to safety advice as more people are venturing out on the water for activities. One memory I have is of a rescue over the Christmas period where we went out to a windsurfer in trouble. We did the job and brought him home safe. Some years later, he popped up when he brought his class in to the station for a safety talk. We had no idea it was him but he remembered that day well and now he was making sure his kids know about water safety. That’s great to see and means we are making a difference. We couldn’t do it without the support of the public and we never take it for granted.’

The callouts the lifeboat crew launch to would not be possible without donations from the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed by lifeboat crews all year round.

The RNLI has launched its Christmas appeal, as the charity asks for help to continue its lifesaving work at sea. To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

The RNLI encourage those visiting coastal areas this Christmas to:

• Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
• If you get into trouble Float to Live – lie on your back and relax, resisting the urge to thrash about.
• In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Elaine Walsh, Kilmore Quay RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0858551517, email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Media Manager on 087 1254 124 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected]

RNLI online

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

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 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 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.