New £1m lifeboat named in ceremony

THE Irish coastline's fourth new £1 million Trent class lifeboat was named at a ceremony in Dunmore East, Co Waterford, at the weekend. The RNLB Elizabeth and Ronald has been funded by a legacy from the Manners Clark family in Surrey, England.

Three other Trents are stationed at Arklow, Co Wicklow; Courtmacsherry, Co Cork; and Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin. It was named by Mrs Sherill Burrows, wife of Mr Richard Burrows who is a member of the RNLI management committee.

Dunmore East lifeboat station was established in 1884. Over the last century, its volunteer crews have launched on 472 services and saved 281 lives. Last week in Arklow, a Dutch benefactor, Mr Frits Oppenheim (86), named the Trentclass RNLB Ger Tigchelaar after his late wife. The new craft's ability had been demonstrated just hours before the naming ceremony, when the crew under coxswain Ned Dillon was called out to assist a vessel.