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Lough Ree RNLI boathouse becoming a great local visitor attraction

Lifeboats News Release

Local school groups, community associations, supporters of the charity and many donors have made the new boathouse at Lough Ree RNLI one of the emerging visitor attractions in the midlands with last month been one of the busiest periods to date.

Bikers visit Lough Ree RNLI on the Wolfhound Rally

RNLI/Tom McGuire

Hugh Hanlon and Kevin Power

More than 200 people visited the station for the Lough Ree RNLI Open Day on Saturday 10 June. It was an event that proved particularly successful with visitors delighted to have the opportunity to walk through the new facility and get a close up look at the charity’s lifeboat the ‘Tara Scougall’. Volunteer crew were on hand to give the guided tours with face painting a great hit for younger visitors and the RNLI Shop a great attraction for adults.

In a special collaboration with Lough Ree Access for All volunteers hosted a wonderful group from St. Hilda’s Special School, Athlone on Friday 16 June. The day long event allowed the visitors to experience the Lough Ree RNLI facility followed by a trip on the access boat which had come south from Lanesboro for the occasion.

Paul Kelly, Lough Ree RNLI Station Visits Officer said: ‘It is always great to welcome the public to the station. They get to see the environment where we train and operate and RNLI volunteers are delighted to have the opportunity to share life saving tips and advice with our guests.’

Organised group visits will begin again in the autumn and interested parties should make contact on the Lough Ree RNLI website or Facebook page.

Already this summer many day trippers to Coosan Point have had the opportunity to visit when volunteers were at the lifeboat station. Among those were Hugh Hanlon and Kevin Power from Arklow, Co. Wicklow members of the aptly named ‘Iron Butt Association’, a community of long distance motorcyclists. The association hosts the annual Wolfhound Rally which this year has asks members to photograph themselves and their bikes outside 15 named lifeboat stations between May and September. The lads left Lough Ree heading for Achill Island.

On the water things remain busy for Lough Ree RNLI with volunteers responding to 22 call outs in the first half of the year. Kevin Ganly, Lough Ree RNLI Operations Manager encourages everyone using the lake and river this summer to: ‘prepare before taking to the water, ensure that everyone has a floatation device and in the event of an emergency call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Note to Picture Editors: Pic 1: Hugh Hanlon & Kevin Power on bikes; Pic 2: Lough Ree RNLI Operations Manager Kevin Ganly; Pic 3; Guest enjoying Lough Ree Access Boat.

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Tom McGuire, Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0872470245 or email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [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 is the charity that saves lives at sea and on inland waters. 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.

Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Lough Ree RNLI

RNLI/Tom McGuire

Kevin Ganly
On board the Lough Ree 'Access for All' boat

RNLI/Tom McGuire

One of our visitors

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.