Lough Ree RNLI all set for the charity’s 200th birthday

With the theme of ‘Commemorate, Celebrate, inspire’ a full calendar of activities is planned throughout the year in Ireland and the UK. On 4ths March 2024, the actual birthday, a number of large public events are planned including a Thanksgiving Service at Westminster Cathedral. On 1st August 2024 ‘One Moment, One Crew’ will see volunteers gather at 18.24 to mark the year and the importance of every volunteer to the charity.

Many local events will also take place including a ‘Connecting Communities’ initiative which will see a commemorative scroll travel to RNLI facilities and be signed on behalf of the crew by one of the volunteers. Lough Ree RNLI expect to welcome the scroll in late summer 2024.

In preparation for the celebrations Lough Ree RNLI volunteer crew are ready to welcome the public to the lifeboat station at Coosan Point in the next few weeks.

On the next two Saturdays 18 November and 25 November the charity will host a pop-up shop at the lifeboat station. This will be the first opportunity for supporters and patrons of the charity to locally acquire specially designed merchandise marking RNLI 200.

The shop will also carry the full range of RNLI Christmas Cards along with many new products and a wide range of stocking fillers.

The RNLI shop at the lifeboat station at Coosan Point is open from 12.30 to 3pm on 18 and 25 November and will have the facility to take card payments.

Next month on 16 December 2024 the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI host a special Open Day at the lifeboat station with a ‘family festive’ theme. Activities planned include face painting, a kids DJ and a visit from Santa in the afternoon.

Lough Ree Station Visits Officer Paul Kelly said: ‘we have had a very special year welcoming visitors to our new facility. Among the most enthusiastic are our younger supporters and we look forward to seeing them again on one of these days at lifeboat station.’

Ends

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Tom McGuire, Lough Ree RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0872470245 or email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea and on inland waters. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,200 lives.

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 142,700 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.