Arranmore RNLI welcomes new crew members and New Year

Pat is no stranger to Arranmore as he lived on the island with his parents on returning from Scotland. Pat's father still lives on the island and he and Julie decided to make Arranmore their home following years working and living in Canada, (where Julie was born), America, Australia, Hong Kong and various other countries.

Both Pat and Julie said: 'We were getting tired of the rat race and while spending a week on Arranmore post Covid, we decided to make the transition to the more peaceful lifestyle and sense of community on the island. We moved in September 2023 and having settled in we signed up to join the lifeboat crew in 2024 as people were so kind to us and we wanted to be part of the community and especially this lifesaving service that has been saving lives around the coastline for 200 years.

‘The training is excellent and all crew members are trained in all aspects of saving lives at sea. It is a privilege to be part of the RNLI and meeting likeminded people whose one aim is to save lives. We spent some time at the National Maritime College of Ireland in Cork doing sea survival training along with crews from all over Ireland which was a fantastic experience.’

Both Pat and Julie said they are looking forward to their new lives on Arranmore and are currently looking for a site to build their permanent home.

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Nora Flanagan, Arranmore, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0878047032 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, RNLI 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.

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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.