North Mayo family among volunteers at Ballyglass RNLI preparing to answer the call this Christmas

The RNLI is launching its Christmas fundraising appeal, as its volunteer lifeboat crews prepare to spend Christmas on call. Among those preparing for Christmas in Mayo, is a family of six from Belmullet, where the mother and father are fundraisers for Ballyglass RNLI and their four children are all on call for the lifeboat.

Margaret and Ricky Geraghty are parents to Ryan, Kyle, Brandon and Kayley. Margaret became a volunteer for the charity after seeing all her children volunteer on the lifeboats and she then persuaded husband Ricky to join her. The family own a filling station and motor factory in Belmullet, and all were born and raised in the town. The children have been around the water all their lives and spent a lot of time on the Inishkea Islands when they were growing up. Margaret gets an alert when any of them are out on the lifeboat and knows they train regularly to be ready for every possible emergency on the water.

Commenting on her family’s connection with the RNLI, Margaret said, ‘I’ve watched all my children volunteer in turn, starting with my eldest Ryan. He was followed after a few years by his brother and then the two youngest joined. I couldn’t have stopped them even if I wanted to as they love the water, and I couldn’t be prouder. I don’t worry about them as I know they put safety first and have developed the skills and experience they need to do the job. There is a little bit of friendly competition between them but that’s healthy. People stop me in the street and ask about the lifeboat all the time.’

Ryan is the eldest of the Geraghty children and three months ago, became a father himself, with his partner Katelyn, to baby Croía. She is the first of the grandchildren for Margaret and Ricky and Ryan has hopes she will one day, when she’s old enough, follow him onto the lifeboat.

Speaking on what he gets out of volunteering with the RNLI, Ryan said, ‘I’m not sure if there are any other families out there with all the children on the lifeboat but for us it feels normal. I’m a Helm on the inshore lifeboat and I love it; every callout is different. I’ve been out with one or two of my siblings but where possible we would try not to do that and there are plenty of great crew here. Between our parents' fundraising and the children's lifesaving, everything revolves around lifeboats.  The support we get from our community here is incredible too.  We couldn’t do it without that.’

Whatever weather winter throws at them, RNLI crews including those at Ballyglass and Achill RNLI in county Mayo, are ready to leave their celebrations with friends and family to battle the elements and save lives on the water.  

These rescues, and others all year round, are only made possible by the RNLI’s generous supporters, helping to fund the essential kit, training and equipment needed to keep crews prepared and protected. Christmas is a time for family and friends, but the RNLI’s volunteer crews are ready to leave their own celebrations this festive season and answer the call for help.  

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

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