Howth's station history

Silver Medal awarded to Mr Thomas Jones, Second Mate of the Packet Escape for the rescue by boat of four persons from the sloop John and William on 8 April.

Lifeboat house constructed at a cost of £205.

Howth lifeboat capsized on exercise without loss of life.

Silver Medal awarded to Coxswain John White for gallant services in saving life from shipwreck and especially on the occasion of the rescue of three men from the barque Eva that went aground on Baldoyle Strand in a strong south-easterly gale on 25 March.  Despite the lifeboat filling several times she arrived on scene to find the sea making a clean breach over the casualty but still managed to take off the three crew that were lashed in the mizzen rigging

Silver Medal awarded to Thomas Rickard, George Caulfield, James McLaughlan, C Kelly and Edward Rourke for gallant services.  On 11 May 1897 the trawler Dodger of Ringsend sprang a leak and signalled to the hooker Storm King of Howth, which took her in tow but she immediately began to sink.  The Storm King launched a boat manned by Thomas Rickard and George Caulfield who took off the Dodger’s crew of two but the vessel’s boom fouled the boat and sank it, leaving the four men struggling in the water.  They regained and righted the boat but she was capsized three times by rough seas.  The hooker Maymaid of Howth then bore down and sent a boat manned by McLaughlan, Kelly and Rourke who picked up the four men incurring great risk to their own boat being capsized.

Lifeboat placed afloat.  Old lifeboat house handed over to Board of Public Works.

Arrangements made for using a yawl to board the lifeboat when rough weather prevented the crew from reaching her by pier.

Bronze Medal awarded to Petty Officer Charles Slater, HM Coastguard, and Patrick Rickard, for their endeavours to save the life of a soldier who fell over a cliff at Howth on 18 May 1919.  Petty officer Slater, Mr Rickard and two others launched a motor boat in a strong south-south-easterly gale and rough seas and when they arrived on scene Petty Officer Slater jumped overboard and swam to the rocks but found the soldier had been killed.  Mr Rickard also entered the water and together they recovered the body.

Centenary Vellum awarded to station.

The owners of the motor vessel Boliver gave the lifeboat crew one hundred guineas after a service on 4 March.

Member of crew Patrick Rourke died from heart attack after answering maroons for service call.

Bronze Medal awarded to Coxswain Joseph McLoughlin for saving the crew of three from the fishing vessel Ros Cairbre whose engine had failed and was being swept onto a lee shore north of Howth lighthouse in a full southerly gale on the night of 14 July 1964.  After two and a half miles against a very rough sea and flood tide, the casualty was found under cliffs on the north side of Freshwater Bay.  Coxswain McLoughlin went alongside the trawler and made fast; he drew the casualty clear and with her crew of six men aboard, towed her to Howth.

Inshore lifeboat station established with the placing on service of a D class lifeboat.  Cost of D class defrayed by Boy Scouts of Ireland Jubilee Fund.

A celebration Vellum awarded to station for the 150th Anniversary.

Bronze Medal awarded to Frank Hendy and the Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum accorded to Mr Tony Brown in recognition of their initiative, determination and excellent seamanship when they put out in an 18ft outboard motor boat and saved the yacht Sula Bassana and her crew of five.  The yacht had grounded on rocks in a strong easterly wind, a very heavy and confused sea on 28 August 1976.

Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Coxswain Robert Duffy in recognition of his courage, determination and seamanship when the Duke of Atholl lifeboat made 15 approaches to rescue five of the crew from the fishing vessel Vision which was aground, holed and taking water on Lambay Island, east of Burren Rocks Beacon in a near gale and rough seas and then recovered the remaining survivor stranded on the Island on 30 November 1994.

Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Second Coxswain/Mechanic George Duffy in recognition of his calm leadership, courage and endurance when, after the Howth lifeboat City of Dublin failed to effect a rescue from seaward, he led a team of lifeboatmen along the breakwater in repeated attempts to rescue the four crew of the fishing vessel Scarlet Buccaneer which had gone aground on the outer side of Howth East Pier breakwater and broke up in gale force winds and very rough seas in the early hours of 16 November.  Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum was accorded to Deputy Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic Ian Sheridan in recognition of his courage, endurance and personal initiative when, from the breakwater, he attempted to rescue the remaining survivor who was still clinging to the wreck after the other three had been washed overboard.  All of the crew of the Scarlet Buccaneer were recovered but unfortunately one died whilst en route to hospital.  Framed letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, David Acland, was awarded to crew members Eamonn Howard, Michael Duffy and Jim Duffy, a member of the public, Mr Patrick Kelly and individual letters to the aircrew of Helicopter Rescue 122 – Flight Lieutenant Henry Pottle, Flight Lieutenant Patrick Thirkell and Flight Sergeant Alan Falconer.  Letters signed by the Director and Chief of Operations were also sent to those principally involved in this incident.

A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution, David Acland, was awarded to Coxswain Robert Duffy, Second Coxswain George Duffy, Assistant Mechanic Ian Sheridan, crew members Frederick Connolly, Damian Cronin, Eamonn Howard, David Howard, and Brian McConkey for the long and arduous tow of the fishing vessel Emer Marie which was disabled with its trawl fouling its propeller.  The Emer Marie was 28 metres long and was 185 tonnes GRT.  The service was conducted in Force 10 winds and atrocious conditions.

The new station Trent class lifeboat ON1258 Roy Barker III was placed on service on 11 March.  This lifeboat was funded by the City of Dublin Appeal. Lifeboat ON1112 City of Dublin has been withdrawn to the relief fleet.

The new class of lifeboat IB1, D659 George Godfrey Benbow was placed on service on Tuesday 7 Feb.  D530 has been withdrawn to the Relief Fleet.