A busy and productive time for volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station

RNLI volunteers maintain their proficiency in their lifesaving work with competence-based training modules. Volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI train twice weekly on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Recently, Oisín Higgins was successful in his crew pass-out assessments with RNLI Assessor/Trainer Seán Ginnelly while Dom Sharkey has returned as an RNLI helm at the station and was one of the team afloat for Oisín’s assessment.

Seán also assessed and passed Paraic Slattery out on his preliminary shore modules so that he can now train afloat on the lifeboat.

Paraic is a captain with the Irish Coast Guard helicopter 115 based at Shannon and has delivered an informative presentation on his role as a rescue pilot to the station team, including a discussion on the combined operations between RNLI lifeboats and the Coast Guard. His talk reaffirmed the required skill, commitment and training by all involved within the rescue services.

Another new recruit is Triona Breen who has been passed out on her preliminary modules that permit her now to train with her fellow volunteers on the water.

Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI said: ‘We are hugely grateful to Seán as Assessor Trainer whose teaching skills and enthusiasm have a positive impact on all volunteers at the station. Thanks too to Joe O’Donoghue, crew at Lough Derg RNLI who provided classes, resources and his valuable time to help Paraic and Triona with their studies.

We are pleased to see the camaraderie and teamwork as established crew and helms support their fellow volunteers with their training and assessments. It means our crew are ready for whatever scenarios they meet on the water.’

Volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI welcomed Lisa Hollingum, their new Area Lifesaving Manger (ALM), on her visit to the station to meet the crew and Operations Team. As ALM, Lisa’s role is to lead and support a team of staff and volunteers, and actively manage the safe and effective delivery of the RNLI’s lifesaving services

Earlier this year, volunteers from Lough Derg RNLI travelled to the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Coordination Centre on a pre-arranged visit. Members of the station also took the opportunity to visit Valentia RNLI and to see around the all-weather lifeboat and station.

Crew and members of Lough Derg RNLI operations team met Watch Officers Brian Shiels, John Geoghegan and Liam Jenkinson, who showed the crew round the centre and explained their important role maintaining a listening watch on marine distress frequencies. Watch Officers also produce and broadcast Radio Navigational Warnings and notify mariners of navigational hazards. They task and coordinate search and rescue missions with declared search and rescue (SAR) assets such as RNLI lifeboats, Sikorsky helicopters and the Coast Guard volunteer land and water units. The rescue coordination centres process calls that come from members of the public through the 112/999 emergency call system.

‘It was an important visit that forged even closer ties with our colleagues in the Irish Coast Guard,’ Christine said. ‘Members of the station also took the opportunity to visit Valentia RNLI and were given a warm welcome. They were given a tour of the all-weather lifeboat and station.'

Ends

Photo Details

Photo 1

From left, Eleanor Hooker, Helm, Seán Ginnelly, RNLI Assessor/Trainer, Oisín Higgins, Crew, Dom Sharkey, Helm.

Photo 2

From left, Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager, presenting Oisín Higgins with his pager.

Photo 3

From left, Christine O’Malley, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paraic Slattery, Trainee Crew, Seán Ginnelly, RNLI Assessor/Trainer

Photo 4

From left, volunteers at Lough Derg RNLI

Photo 5

From left, Seán Ginnelly, RNLI Assessor/Trainer, Triona Breen, Trainee Crew

Photo 6

Volunteers from Lough Derg RNLI visit the Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Coordination Centre on Valentia Island

Notes to editors

• Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat station has been operating since 2004. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/lough-derg-lifeboat-station
• A photo of Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat can be viewed at: https://www.facebook.com/RNLILoughDerg/

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Eleanor Hooker, Lough Derg RNLI volunteer helm and Lifeboat Press Officer on 0877535207 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media
resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the
RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

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 142,700 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 146,000 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.