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Three newly qualified volunteer crew members for Fethard RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

Fethard RNLI has three newly qualified volunteer crew members following a successful evening of assessments yesterday (Wednesday 9 October) with Coastal Lifeboat Trainer Lenny Fourie.

Fethard RNLI volunteers Mark Brennan, shore crew driver, Cathal O’Connell, D class navigator, Gavin Kearns shore crew, Lenny Fourie, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer and Mike Cooper D class crew after the successful assessments

RNLI/Fethard RNLI

Fethard RNLI volunteers Mark Brennan, shore crew driver, Cathal O’Connell, D class navigator, Gavin Kearns shore crew, Lenny Fourie, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer and Mike Cooper D class crew after the successful assessments

Every RNLI crew member follows a structured programme of competence-based training and assessment relevant to their role. This covers a range of skills and competencies necessary to complete particular tasks both onshore and onboard the lifeboat. Crew training is a continuous process and the learning never stops.

Fethard RNLI inshore lifeboat Naomh Dubhán launched on exercise yesterday evening (Wednesday 9 October) as volunteer crew members Cathal O’Connell, Mike Cooper and Gavin Kearns underwent a number of assessments.

Cathal has been a volunteer crew member for nine years and is now Fethard RNLI’s first inshore lifeboat navigator. In his new role he will work with the helm in charge to ensure the lifeboat is safely navigated at all times.

Mike joined Fethard RNLI in 2019 and has progressed through his training and assessments to become a qualified crew member.

Gavin is one of the newer members at Fethard RNLI having joined in June 2023. Following months of training and practice, he is now the newest member of the shore crew team.

Speaking about these achievements Walter Foley, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication of our volunteers here at Fethard RNLI. They give up their free time for training, assessments and emergency call outs.’

‘Our volunteers are committed to saving lives at sea whenever the pager sounds, 24 hours a day, every day.’

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Photo Detail

Fethard RNLI volunteers Mark Brennan, shore crew driver, Cathal O’Connell, D class navigator, Gavin Kearns shore crew, Lenny Fourie, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer and Mike Cooper D class crew after the successful assessments.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Nadia Blanchfield, Fethard RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer on 0863570628, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead 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.

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.