Sligo Bay RNLI volunteer recognised ahead of International Women’s Day

Eithne joined the RNLI over 25 years ago and became the first female helm at Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station in 1998, at a time when there were few female helms in the service.

On 1 August 1999, she was appointed Inshore Lifeboat retained mechanic, the first appointment of a woman to this position across the RNLI. In September 2021, she was appointed as Sligo Bay RNLI’s first local trainer assessor, and in 2024 took up the position of Launch Authority. In 2023, Eithne was the RNLI’s nominee for the inaugural Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Award.

Eithne has also been the motivator within her own family as her brother Eoin and sister Fionnuala joined the crew after her. Outside the operational area, Eithne is a key contributor to the station's annual Wild Atlantic Shanty Festival and her son Ruairi is currently chair of the Sligo Bay RNLI events group.

Speaking about her achievements, Willie Murphy, chair of Sligo Bay RNLI said: 'Since joining the RNLI at Sligo Bay Lifeboat Station, Eithne has been a role model, advocate, supporter and in particular, mentor to women in search and rescue and to our volunteers generally. Although she will herself proclaim that we are all the same, her leadership and example have been instrumental in ensuring that women have been and continue to be represented at all levels at Sligo Bay.

‘We cannot overstate her pivotal role at the station. In addition to her hundreds of hours at sea, and people rescued, she has been directly involved in the saving of nine lives. On one call out, the lifeboat suffered a hard slam in heavy seas resulting in an injury for Eithne, but she pressed on towards the casualty until the lifeboat was stood down by the Coast Guard when the casualty had made their own way ashore. After a couple of weeks, she was back afloat and in her own wording saying, 'it's what we do.'

Meanwhile, ahead of International Women’s Day this Saturday, Sligo Bay RNLI lifeboat launch vehicle driver Linda Bradley were among around 80 women to attend the RNLI’s #WomenInSAR Training Week at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset.

The action-packed five-day event aimed to bring together women from RNLI teams across Ireland and the UK to inspire, connect and share their experiences while learning new skills.

Dermot Gillen, Sligo Bay RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘The RNLI’s Women in SAR Training Week has been a fantastic opportunity for women like Linda to come together, share knowledge and grow stronger as a community, all while learning new lifesaving skills.

‘Everyone is working hard to create a more diverse RNLI and a crucial part of that is encouraging women into search and rescue roles. We’re incredibly proud of all our volunteers who continue to support our mission to save lives at sea.’

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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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