Mayo lifeboat crew and members honoured for long and dedicated service

Members of the Achill RNLI were honoured for their long service and commitment to the west Mayo lifeboat station which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

At a presentation ceremony hosted by Achill RNLI in Ted's Bar in Cashel on Saturday night, a number of people were honoured for the great service they have given to the Achill Island Lifeboat over many years.

Among those who were honoured were Seán Ginnelly, Patrick McNamara and Seamus Butler were all presented with their 20 Year Long Service Medals.

The Station Lifeboat Operations Manager, Ciarán Needham who was MC for the occasion made the presentations to Seán and Patrick and thanked them for their service and commented on their dedication and commitment to the lifeboat over all those years.

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As an acknowledgment to the support of their families, Ciarán presented a bouquet of flowers to Elaine, Sean’s wife and the Achill RNLI Coxwain, Dave Curtis presented a bouquet to Sheila McNamara, Patrick’s mother.

Linda Gene Byrne, Head of Water Safety with the RNLI was then called upon to present a 20 Year Long Service Medal to Seamus Butler who is the Achill Lifeboat Water Safety Officer. Linda thanked Seamus for his long and dedicated service to saving lives at sea in the community for over 20 years.

John Killeen, a trustee and Council member of the RNLI and his wife Mary were the guests of honour for the evening and John was on hand to present the King’s Coronation Medals, which are given to those who provide exceptional medical services to the RNLI.

Dr Noreen Lineen Curtis and Dr Edward King were both called to the stage and presented with the medals for their services to the Achill Lifeboat over many years as Lifeboat Honorary Medical Advisors.

In accepting their medals, both doctors spoke of the importance of the lifeboat service to the Achill and islands communities.

Seamus Cafferkey and Michael Lavelle, representatives of the Achill Men’s Shed were also presented with a signed Certificate of Thanks by the RNLI Chief Executive. This was in recognition for the service their members give to the community and in particular the assistance they provide to the Achill Lifeboat in supervising and managing traffic at the annual Open Day and New Year’s Day Swim each year.

Crew members who had recently successfully completed a variety of courses were also presented them with their certificates on the night.

In closing the event, Ciarán Needham mentioned the relevance of this year as it is the 30th anniversary of the arrival of the first lifeboat to be placed on station in Achill in 1996. Ciarán outlined the plans in train for later this year to celebrate the event to which the public and in particular everybody who had any involvement with the lifeboat in any capacity over the past 30 years are cordially invited.

Achill RNLI would like to thank the Achill community who have supported and continue to support the lifeboat and her volunteer crew so generously all down the years.