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RNLI Service

Dunmore East Lifeboat Station

Dunmore East Lifeboat - RNLI The original formation of Dunmore East lifeboat station was in 1884. Since the station was reopened in 1925, having been closed for the previous 6 years, the lifeboat has taken part in many rescues. As a benchmark of success many Medal presentations and badges of gallantry have been given over the years to the crewmembers who were involved in sea rescues, too many to mention here individually.

The Boat

The Dunmore East lifeboat is a Trent class named “Elizabeth & Ronald”, which has a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 nautical miles. A new Trent class lifeboat cost over ٟm.

The Crew

The Crew who are 16 in number, all live locally and are always on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Cox is Joey Murphy whose skills and experience are of huge benefit to the whole crew. The Crews skills and training require regular updating, as new technology upgradings on the Trent class lifeboat the “Elizabeth and Ronald” are ongoing. There is one female member of the crew Frances Crummy, who as a member of the crew for the past 20 years has this year received an award as the only woman in both Ireland and England to hold this service record. The volunteer lifeboat crews have launched over 560 times. Saving 287 lives.

The Branch Committee

The branch committee headed by The Honorary Secretary John Butler look after the overall running of the station, the crew, maintenance and administration.

The Fundraising Committee

The Dunmore East fundraising Committee, made up of 24 women and 3 men, work tirelessly to raise funds for the R.N.L.I as this charitable organisation rely entirely on voluntary subscriptions that the fundraising committee organise through out the year. Their annual fundraising events vary from the Christmas bazaar to members of the committee taking part in the all Ireland women’s mini-marathon. A large majority of funds collected comes from the purses of local people.

The Building

Dunmore East in its lifeboat station has one of the most up to date facilities in Ireland. The two-story building at the head of the busy harbour was completed in the year 2000. The building includes all the facilities for the crew, a shop, which is well stocked with many interesting items and souvenirs is open to the public on weekends in the summer months. The fundraising committee give their time on a voluntary basis and often have to give up family time including Sunday afternoons to sell items in the shop; The future plan is to include a museum which will stock many old photographs and items of interest and will be a historical record of the lifeboat station and crews that have served on the lifeboat in Dunmore East through its long and beneficial existence.