Lough Derg Lifeboat Station is located at Lough Derg Yacht Club, in Dromineer, a small village on the eastern shore of Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon, in County Tipperary, Ireland.
A lifeboat station was established on Lough Derg in 2004 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).[1]
The station currently operates the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Jean Spier (B-911), on station since 2019.[2]
History
In 2003, the Irish Coast Guard took over responsibility for Inland Search and Rescue. A request was made of the RNLI to place a lifeboat on Lough Derg, the largest lake on the River Shannon. At approximately 39 kilometres (24 mi) long and up to 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide, it is effectively a small sea, and attracts thousands of leisure craft each year onto its waters.[3]
A site at the Lough Derg Yacht Club at Dromineer was deemed strategically suitable, both physically, and with sufficient local population to provide crew. A group of volunteers were selected, and training was undertaken at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. The relief B-class (Atlantic 21) Inshore lifeboat Clothworker (B-586) was initially sent to the station, and the station was declared operational at 8.45pm on Tuesday 25 May 2004.[1][3]
On the 18 July 2007, another lifeboat from the relief fleet, the larger B-class (Atlantic 75) Vera Skilton (B-705), was placed at the station. Over the next twelve years, a succession of Atlantic 75-class lifeboats from the relief fleet were placed on station, the last being Elsinore (B-781), previously on service at Sligo Bay.[1][2]
After 15 years on service, Lough Derg would finally get a 'new' lifeboat assigned to the station. The B-class (Atlantic 85) Jean Spier (B-911) arrived on station on 5 March 2019. The boat was funded by Mr Robert Spier, and named after his late wife. At a naming ceremony on Saturday 11 May, the lifeboat was formally accepted by Paddy McLaughlin, RNLI Irish Council Member, and then handed to the care of Lough Derg RNLI.[4]
The Lough Derg crew would feature in Series 5, Episode 4, of the BBC Television series 'Saving Lives at Sea' in 2020, to rescue a man who had fallen overboard in rough weather, and a night time launch into the fog responding to voices heard.[5]
Lough Derg lifeboats
| Op. No.[a] | Name | In service[2] | Class | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-586 | Clothworker | 2004–2007 | B-class (Atlantic 21) | |
| B-705 | Vera Skilton | 2007–2010 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-736 | Toshiba Wave Warrior | 2010–2012 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-755 | London's Anniversary 175 | 2012–2013 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-747 | Rockabill | 2013–2015 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-781 | Elsinore | 2015–2019 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-911 | Jean Spier | 2019– | B-class (Atlantic 85) |
Launch and recovery tractors
| Op. No.[a] | Reg. No. | Type | In service[2] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TA52 | 02-D-86634 | New Holland TN55D | 2022– |
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Lough Derg's station history". Lough Derg Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
- ^ a b "The Lough of the Irish". The Lifeboat. 60 (577). Autumn 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ Cavanagh, Lizzie (14 May 2019). "Lough Derg RNLI holds naming ceremony for new Atlantic 85 B-911 Jean Spier". RNLI. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Series 5 Episode 4". Saving Lives at Sea. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2024.