Mayo lifeboat crew take part in 'One Moment One Crew' event

TWO Mayo RNLI crews participated in a special photo moment to create a photographic record of those involved with the lifesaving charity in this, its 200th anniversary year.

Members of Achill RNLI gathered at their lifeboat station in Kildownet on Achill Island last Thursday evening to take part in the 'One Moment One Crew' event organised by the RNLI. Members of the Ballyglass RNLI in north Mayo also took part in the event at their station overlooking Broadhaven Bay. 

The charity, which was founded in 1824, asked its volunteers and staff from around Ireland and Britain to take a photo of themselves, their crew or their team, at as close to 18.24 on 1/8/24 as possible.

Representatives including volunteer crew, fundraisers, volunteer shore crew and their families and loved ones, from Achill Island RNLI, took part and photos have been uploaded to an online portal and will be used to create a montage image.

Achill Island RNLI, one of two lifeboat stations in Co Mayo, has been proudly saving lives at sea in an area between Blacksod Bay and Inishturk since 1996. The ‘community lifeboat’ also serves Clare Island and Inishturk by providing medical evacuations when requested.

The RNLI celebrated its 200^th anniversary on March 4, and this photographic moment is one of a range of events and programmes which the charity has organised to mark its bicentenary.

Anjie Rook, RNLI Associate Director, who is overseeing the RNLI’s 200th anniversary programmes, said: “The RNLI has been saving lives at sea for 200 years thanks to its incredible people – the courageous lifeboat crews and lifeguards who put their own lives at risk to save others; the dedicated fundraisers who raise the income to power those rescues; the committed volunteers who give their own time in a range of other roles such as giving out water safety advice or helping to run our retail shops and museums, and the staff who provide vital support to our volunteers.

“We have encouraged anyone who has some form of involvement with the RNLI to participate in this special One Moment for One Crew photographic event, to capture a record of everyone who, at this moment in time, is playing some part in the RNLI’s lifesaving work, continuing its legacy and securing its future.

“During our 200^th anniversary year we have been remembering our past, celebrating the lifesaving service we provide today, and aiming to inspire future generations of lifesavers and supporters. One Moment for One Crew is very much about celebrating the people of today’s RNLI and, we hope, inspiring those future generations who will take the RNLI into its third century of lifesaving,” Anjie said.