RNLI lifesavers in Galway prepare to answer the call this Christmas

On average, RNLI lifeboats launch over 100 times during the Christmas period* every year. Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews are ready to battle the elements to save lives at sea. These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected.

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews including those at Clifden, on the Aran Islands and Galway, are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help. Of the thousands of crew members preparing for a Christmas on call are David Barry and his daughter Caroline Barry who both volunteer with Clifden RNLI.

David Barry is a senior member of Clifden crew and Coxswain on the Shannon class lifeboat St Christopher, next summer he will mark 30 years voluntary service with the RNLI. His daughter Caroline joined the crew in 2022, she has just passed-out as inshore lifeboat crew having taken some time off to have baby Amelia last December.

Caroline said, “I will always be grateful to the RNLI because they saved my father’s life. In 1993 he and a friend were pulled from the water by Clifden’s C class lifeboat. This was before he had joined the lifeboat crew, Dad was sailing from Clifden to Renvyle on a bad night to visit his girlfriend, now my mother, Loretta. The boat capsized in Clifden Bay, the two young men were rescued and the love story continued.

“I have just completed the tier 1 inshore lifeboat training plan and I truly have learned so much. One of the perks of being an RNLI volunteer is having access to top class equipment and training and while the assessments were difficult I have learned new skills, made new friends and grown in confidence throughout this experience.”

“I grew up as part of the RNLI family and I look forward to when my daughter Amelia is old enough to volunteer, you never know, there might be three generations of lifesavers in the family!”

David said, “We had our first shout together a few weeks ago and it was definitely a proud dad moment. When Caroline was a child she loved the sea and we would regularly sail together, now she’s a mother herself, and a fully passed out RNLI crew member and I couldn’t be prouder of her. We are a very tight knit crew in Clifden and I know that if I am not on a call-out that she will be perfectly fine because we all look out for each other."

David said: ‘There’s no feeling quite like bringing someone home safe to their families – especially at Christmas. Even at this time of year, people still get in trouble in the water, and we’re all prepared to leave our own celebrations to help them.

‘But as volunteer lifeboat crew we couldn’t launch without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our own families.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

ENDS

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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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.